Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-09-21
THE ROCK HILL MEETING.

Last SATURDAY WAS tue udy dppolIileu loi d
Joint discussion at Rock Hill by the candidates
in the primary canvass. At about O'Clock P.
NJ, the Rock Hill Cornet Band repaired to the
stand provided for the speakers and played
several fine selections, by which time crowd
of probably one hundred and fifty persons
assembled.
Col. Cad. Jones presided in place of W. B.
Wilson, Jr., Esq, Precinct Chairman, and
after calling the meeting to order introduced
as the first speaker, J. j. Hemphill cand-
date for Congress, who came by invitation
to address his fellow citizens that day.
Mr.. Hemphill spoke for about an hour, 60
ing over very nearly the same ground as that
occupied in his speech here Oh the previous
Wednesday, report of which is given else
where in this paper. He made the point that
when he spoke at Yorkville, the statement
had gone out that Mackey had retired from
the Congressional canvass, but he then eau
toned his hearers to take the statement with
many grains of allowance, as there was no
telling what would be the outcome of the
movement. Subsequent developments had
proved the correctness Of his suspicious. 1t
was only publicly known that after Mackey
had declared his intention of withdrawing,
and after he really had withdrawn, his BROTH
er-in-law, Mr.. Lloyd, suddenly arrived at
Chester in great haste from Washington,
and soon after his arrival the ex-Judge en-
ployed the telegraph by sending messages
to various points and while the contents
of these messages were of course unknown
to the public, yet as he also announced that
he had decided to take the field again, the
suppostlon in Chester is that Mr.. Lloyd's s
sudden appearance, under all the circumstan-
ces, was in some manner connected with the
movement, and it is probable the Judges
movements are due to influences in Wash
ington. 1t is the purpose of the administra-
tion to secure the defeat of all the Democratic
Congressional candidates in South Carolina,
if possible, and one of the schemes to secure
that end in this district is to keep both Cash
and Mackey in the field in opposition to the
Democratic nominee. In this connection he
urged the Democracy to he vigilant, remind
ing them that if they lost in this canvass it
would be attributable more to supinenesS than
any other cause. He said the endorsement of
Col. Cash by the Republican party rendered
him virtually the nominee of that party, and
though he might claim to he an independent
Democrat, yet his endorsement by the State
Republican Convention was the equivalent of
having the word Radical written across his
back Col. Cash may be honest in his inten-
tions; he may be an able man but with this
Republican endorsement he is overloaded. Of
Mackey'S career he deemed it unnecessary to
speak. In the first place, he did not care to
abuse him, as it was not entirely uncertain
but he might claim to be a good Democrat
yet before the election. Such prediction had
already been made. While good Democratic
Judge, in 1880, he consented to accept the
Republican nomination for Congress in this
district, and promised to make sharp can
vass but the Republican leaders, after con-
sultation, decided that they could not risk
him; and besides they would not stultify them
selves by bringing him out as their standard
bearer, after his desertion from the party.
Mr.. Hemphill discussed at some length
questions of national import-the customs and
internal revenue laws, etc., and altogether
made very favorable impression upon liS
hearers, many OF whom he had never met or
the hustings before.
Col. w. B. Wilson, candidate for RepreSen-
tative in the Legislature was next introduced.
Col. Wilson spoke at some length upon nation
al questions as affecting the Democratic party
in the South, and especially warned his hear
ers of the danger of a false security in which
he feared too many Of the Democracy of
South Carolina were already lulled. lie fear-
ed that while we are sleeping in fancied Sc
curity the enemy, ever watchful, ever vigilant,
would yet secure the victory. He spoke es
pecially of the dangers to arise from dissen-
sions in the Democratic ranks, and counseled
harmony and unity in the Democratic party
as the only party of safety. Democrats may
differ as to their views on the Lien law, Pro-
hibition, the Constitutional amendment, and
other local issues, but yet these questions can
be discussed inside of the Democratic ranks.
AS to the proposed Constitutional amendment,
while it is question for the people to vote upon
and determine for themselves, he felt bound
to oppose it as a hazardous experiment to
secure the end for which it is intended. 1t is
only by Democratic vote that the amend
ment can be adopted, and, as, so long as the
Democratic party is in power, the proposed
reduction of the area of counties is not neces-
sary for the object claimed to be sought; so,
should the Republicans come into power, they
could use the amendment to our harm. He
did not view the question with local or sec
tional feeling, but alone for the welfare of the
State and as it is question for the people