Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-10-07
POLITICAL MEETINGS.
REPUBLICAN MEETING ON SATURDAY

REPUBLICAN MEETING ON SATURDAY.
1t was not generally known by the white
people that a Republican meeting was appoint
ed for Yorkville on Saturday last nor indeed,
was there any intimation given them Of such
intended demonstration until Friday evening,
when the cotton pickers round about notified
their employers that they would not work the
next day. This notice was given generally,
and with such uniformity, in the absence of
any known reason for such action, as to excite
inquiry and the result Of the investigation
was to awaken, perhaps for the first time in
the minds of many, the fact that the Republic
can party in York county, though sleeping for
the past four years, is by no means dead, and
that the somnolency which had lulled the
Democracy into a sense of perfect security,
is, after all, only the possum policy as described
by Gen. Kennedy in his speech here last week,
But as the campaign progresses, Radicalism is
beginning to loom it's head, and the meeting
of last Saturday fully demonstrated that the
party does not intend to remain passive in
York county the present year.
The meeting here last Saturday was Osten-
sibly for the purpose of hearing Mr.. Blythe,
Republican candidate for Congress but us he
stated in his speech that the summons which
opinion obtains that the county manipulators
called the meeting more for the purpose of
testing the enthusiasm of s'the party,' than Il
desire to hear Mr. Blythe.
About three hundred of the faithful gath
cred, and music by the c0lored band was the
signal for them to assemble in the Court
House. There were also in the court room
about fifty white Democrats, who gave the
speakers a respectful hearing.
The meeting was called to order by Nelson
Hammond, colored, who moved that ex-Con-
gresham A. s. Wallace act as chairman. The
motion was carried vociferously, and on tax
ing the chair, Mr.. Wallace briefly said /: II
will introduce as the first speaker to-day, Mr..
Nelson Hammond
Nelson mounted the nostrlm' and pro-
ceeded to say that he was glad to meet SO
large an audience. 1t had been four years
since he had spoken upon Republicanisr in
South Carolina, and he felt thankful that he
was again privileged to address a meeting of
his party. 1t buoyed up his heart with joy to
see so many Republicans before him. He was
glad to see the party reOrganizing and the
colored people returning to their fold. He
hoped that hereafter they would stand shoulder
to shoulder, and not do as some of them had
done in 1876, desert their party and 60 over to
the Democrats. 1t had been the boast of the
Democrats that the Republican party was a
negro party, but if that had been said, it could
also be said that the Democrats have negroes
in their party, too. Some of the negroes had
joined the Democrats, but they now see the
doing they would live better But if they did
live any better, they worked harder and got
less wages than formerly. He said he wanted
to see in the next election the largest vote for
Garfield and for Mr.. Blythe that Republicans
had ever rolled up in York and he hoped in
the coming election the colored people would
not suffer themselves to be led by the whites
To the ladies, he would say, if your brothers
or sweethearts vote the Democratic ticket,
kick them out of your house. He then re-
ferred to Mr.. A. S. Wallace as the Moses of
the Republican party, and closed his eulOgistic
remarks amid great applause.
The chairman then introduced
ssHON. ABsALOM BLYTHE,
well known in this community as a gentleman
and lawyer, who will give an account of him
self"
Mr.. Blythe said: appear before you in re-
sponse to summons from your county chair
man, and regret that am not in condi-
tion to address you at length. When the
summons reached me, was attending Court
at Pickens, Judge Mackey presiding, and you
who know that Judges manner of working
night and day, may understand the fatigues
of the court, besides loss of sleep in travelling
last night.
But it is my duty and privilege as candi-
date to appear before you. congratulate
you upon the peace and prosperity of your
the State and hope, in the conduct Of the
present campaign, nothing will occur to mar
the good feeling, quiet and order in our midst.
There is now great contest going on
throughout the country. Perhaps it is fortn-
nate for us that the heat of that contest is
transferred to another ield-the North. There,
to-day, thousands are being addressed by
speakers on both sides, and there the battle
will be fought and won. But while acting on
ly minor part in the great contest, it is our
duty and privilege to assemble together and
give expressions to our views, and better pre-
pare ourselves for going to the ballot-box.
The Republicans and Democrats are the
great parties arrayed against each other. In
GIlc DGdCcS lSSuCo dlC UCLO1C pOO-
pie of National character-issues which we
are too much inclined to ignore-questions of
tariff, the currency, &C., and as these issues
are expelled in the South, shall address you
on such issues only as concern South Carolina.
The issue as now before you of this county,
is the Presidential contest and the contest for
Federal officers. So far as the State Repnbli-
can ticket is concerned, there is now none be-
fore you. You have before you State Demo-
cratic ticket, and also State ticket Of anoth-
er party, but as yet the Republicans have put
in no ticket. The late State Convention con-
sidered the question in secret session, and after
one or two days. discussion arrived at the con-
clusion that it would be better for the mate
rial interests of the State and the Republican
party to put forward no ticket The matter,
however, is left with the State Executive Com
mttee, and if, in their wisdom, they deem it
proper to make nominations which they are
fully empowered to do-they can make them at
any time. My judgment is that there will be
no State ticket. And so far as the State elec-
tion is concerned, the contest is narrowed
down to the Greenback and Democratic parties
1t is, therefore, not our fight, though Republi-
cans can support either wing, as they may
choose. But whether or not you vote with
either, there is still enough to claim your at
tention.
If the Republicans of this State 60 for
ward and vote in the National contest for men
of their choice, the State will give majority
for Garfield.
It has been said, and privately conceded,
that in the two last elections in this State, un-
fairness was practiced by the Democrats yet
I think in this election you will have fair
vote and fair count. think, in 1876 and
1878, the Democrats acted wrong because they
thought they were acting under great neces-
sity, which, in their opinion, justified them in
doing things that were wrong. Though not
iustified in committing this wrong. they put