The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1882-09-07
The State Campaign.

According to previous announcement the
State campaign speakers visited this place
lnst Saturday. On account of the shorness
Of the aotice given, and the excitement
about the primary election OH the day be-
fore, such preparations for the reception Of
the speakers as was desirable, could not
he made. The crowd in attendance was
equal TO that Of any other similar occasion
since 1876, though had it not been for the
primary election we think u much larger
crowd would have been present. Colonel
Hugh s. Thompson, our standard bearer
for Governor was the first speaker intro
duced, who held his audience spell boun !
for about As minutes, | e first compared
The cost Of State Government under Radical
and Democratic rule, showing the venality
and extravaganza Of the Republicans ard
the honesty and economy of the Democrats
He showed by facts and figures that the Dem
ocrats had kept every pledge made in 1876
He then turned to the subject Of education
and dwelt upon this vital subject at length.
Being perfectly familiar with all the details
y
teresting account Of how the depnl tment
Ind been brought out Of chaotic condition
TO that of order and profci ency; how he had
found debt Of about $4,000 against the
department, and how ii had been paid off
and the number of children attending the
free schools increased to at least one-third
more, of both races, than were attending
them when he took charge of the office of
superintendent of education. lie said that
the education Of the masses was the great
est and most important question now be-
fore the people of South Carolina, and he
should loose no opportunity, as Governor
of the State, when elected, to make the
system as perfect as possible, and place the
opportunity of good common school edu-
cation within the reach of every youth Of
the State. We only wish space permitted
us to follow the eloquent speaker through
his entire speech on this great subj ect but
We shall have TO content ourself with only
reference to it. The speech was well re
ceived and we have ouly heard the highest
Communications of it upon every side:
The Hon. John e. Sheppard, nominee for
L'entenant Governor followed Col. Thomp.
son. and delivered u most eloquent, force
able and convincing speech, lie handled
Greenbackers, Radicals and Inde pendcnts
without gloves, and frequently called forth
loud and continued cheers from the audi.
ence. Mr.. Sheppard is one of the most
eloquent and forceable speakers in the
State, and made very fire impression
upon his hearers.
he was followed by Col. j. N. Lipscombe
nominee for Secretary of State, who by his
wit anu anecdotes kept the orowed in n
constant uproar of laughter and applause
Col. B. W. Edwards, of Darlington, who
has been assigned to campaign work by the
State Executive Committee, next followed
in very fine speech.
The Hon. d. Wyatt Aiken, the Democrat
ic candidate for Congress from this Dis
trict followed next, and as all the groun,
In reference 10 State politics hail been GOV
cred, he confined himself to Federal polite
and spoke specially upon the tariff question
Col. Aiken is a free trader, and showed b.
facts aud figures how the agricultural in.
serest of the country was oppressed by th
protective tariff policy of the Republica
party in the int crest of Northern manufao
tnrers and monopolist. Col Aiken's speeUl
was listened TO with great deal of inter
est by The entire audience, who seemed 4,
Sc much pleased with il.