Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1880-02-12
Com Carv,s CharIeston sneech.

Gary. He responded eio4uently, touching
briefly on education, finance, taxation
railroads and straight. out Democracy. Ht
did no: however, allude to the existing
controversy. Speaker Sheppard ana Ma
jor Farley, who were also in the city, were
loudly called for, and made short speeches
We give Gen. Gary's speech:
FeAow CHI, ms. | am gratifed at this
serenade. Words can not express tie
pleasure your presence inspires. | an
thrilled with delight at the sight OF the
rank and file Of the Slralght-out Democ-
racy Of Charleston. This grand old City
by the Sea, filled with beautiful and REIN
ed women, brave and cultivated men, with
the laurels of the first Revolution still
green upon her brow, and the battle scars
Of the late war still fresh upon her shields,
makes her the pride and boast Of every
true South Carolinian. This is the first
opportunity l have had to thank you for
the splendid victory won in the campaign
of 167S-a campaign based upon the
platform Of white supremacy, honest gov
eminent, home rule bv home folks, and
the preservation and perpetuation OF the
civilization of the Anglo-Saxon race.
When the wal closed, with poverty aud
d. olation all over the S nth, the career
oil a politician was entirely outside of the
plan of my future life. Position, witEou;
money to sustain it, appeared to ma the
old story of Tantalus. | determined 10
address my energies and my talents to my
profession. | pursued the even tenor o.
my life with little pleasure and some sue
cess, until the grand uprising OF our PEG
pie in 1876, in their supreme effort to
throw off the worst government the world
ever saw. When the Democracy of Edge
field met to organize and give direction TO
this spontaneous effort against the corrup-
ton and misruie Of q carpet-bag govern
ment, the leadership of the county was
rendered to me. | did not hesitate for 4
moment to accept the high trnst, and re
solved to give to the campaign my time,
my intellect, my energy, my money, and,
If necessary, my life, TO redeem our down
trodden State. | felt that | owed this
grand tffort to free ourselves and posteritv
from fraud, corruption and m:srule. ]
owed it 10 our beautiful! and noble women,
who are the sou! OF chivairy, and who
rival in beauty the Maid of Athens AMI
in courage and heroism the Maid Of Sara
gossa. Vino can forget their glorious
cheers IN cur successes, and their brave
sympathy in the dark hour OF ouriei.lt'
| owed 1t 10 the blood thattlowed through
my veins, TO the great Caucasian race
which have always been the standard
bearers Of a refined civilization IN every
age and CT Inc. owed it 10 the brave
spirits who ( |! in The grand struggle for
constitutional liberty.
During the campaign Of 1876, on the
18th of August, at Elgefe!d @. II the
Democracy met Governor Cham
berlalr with his white, yellow and h'ark
around him. After Il short and
sharp conflict We routed them, "horse,
foot and dragoon." Tnis splcndid victor
thrilled tie public heart, awakened n"T
hopes, inspired the iainthearted it WIS
the decisive victory OF the campaign, and
proved a Waterloo to the Republican
party.
Tue campaign closed on the 7th Of No
vember, 1876, and The State was redeem
ed. The voice OF rejoicing echoed from
the blue tops Of the mountains TO the white
of the ocean. When the votes We're
counted, to Edgeield was awarded the
proud distinction OF being first among her
equals. Since the splendid victory of
in the Slraightout fight Of
1878 against such heavy Radical odds,
Edgefeld gracefully yields 10 her the white
plume of precedence, and bids her God
speed as the banner county of the Democ-
racy of South Carolina
When | entered the arena Of politics |
advocated the adoption OF the political
creed of our fathers, favored the elimina-
ton from our party platform ofeveryth'ng
except the Democracy OF Jefferson, OF
Madison, OF Jackson, and Of our W
great Calhoun. 1t seemed to me to be
impossible to induce the honest rank and
lie Of Dur party to throw aside the prln-
iples that they had inherited from q no.
,te ancestry for the shifting policies O. TIE
+ccompliYhed demagogues Who were SEEK
ne political prefernent and a lucrative
,fiice al the sacrifice ofall self respect and
very sacred principle.
Ny first obi ,ctive pointaaw WIS 10 secure
he office Of the Executive Of the State,
Is l regarded it the key TO The whole TO-
itical situation.
Second. To get control OF the legislative
department.. Third. To reorgaaize the
Judicial department Of the government by
urnlng out all Of the Radical judges. Al
er this had been accomplished favored
close and rigid scrutiny and lnvestiga-
ion of the public debt. desired u see
he f~raudc.5n; and dishonest debt separa-
ed from the honest and valid debt of the
and in this way TO ascertain what
We bona ide owed, and to SEE what were
he assets and other resources Of the State
O pay the same. The report Of the bond
committee Of the General Assembly, the
of the Bond Court and the deci-
ion of the Supreme Court of The State
lava clearly indicated the wisdom Of this
inc Of action, Whereby millions Of dollars
lave been saved TO lie taxpayers Of The
Applause
! desired 10 establish Il system Of com
non schools, 10 see The academy Of The
school master spring up on every Till ard
n every valley Of he State. | wished 10
zee the whites and blacks educated at diff
schools and colleges. believed
nat those whom q Il had separated, no
nan had Alright to join together. have
,aen opposed to opening the South Caro-
ina University upon the Same system that
,btained Lciore the war, whcn the poor
nan was taxed to educate the rich mtn's
on. 1t was a system that educated the
.ristocrat.c and exclusive few, TO the neg
ect Of Democrats, and uneXclnslvc masses.
opnosed the dlion OF the South Carroll
IA University and Cla!lin University (col-
,re,i,) under the same presidency 1t was
/ union against the law OF God, against
he interest Of both races, against the ex-
,erience of the clyilIzad world. | was
lad when the tru>tees Of Ciail:n Unlver-
lty rejected the charter. In my Judgment
hey acted wisely and for The best inter-
of the youths OF both races; | favor
d opening tie S nth Carolina University
lpon the plan adoLtcd 10y the last ses-
ion of our Legislature. 1t will be open
d free of charge for tuition OF ali the
,hite youths Of the State. We need at
he present time a practical and scientific
ducatior, a system applicable to the
'oor hoy and his poor fathers. LAppianse.
While the ante beNtm system which
,r,. tod in fbis State uroduced such rep