The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1884-10-08
GRANDEST RALLY OF ALL
50 SAID GOVERNOR WADE HAMP.
Ton.
Red Shirts-Bands-''!Th Old Reform.
er"-Ladies, Men and Children, all
Come to Hear Our Speakers-The
Days Of '76 Come Back Again.
The Reception.

Governor Thompson. Senator Hampton,
Acknowledgement Miles and Hon. |. M.
Bryan, and escorted them to the resi-
dcnces Of the gentlemen who were to en-
terrain them. The Abbcvillc Band in it's
splendid rcd wagon, with numerous
United States flags floating thercfrom,
led the procession to the depot. The
Governors Guards formed in open
ranks in the depot, and the honored
speakers passed through to their carria-
ges. Outside Maj. Zeigler, with fifty
mounted red shirts, was ready to wei
come .hem with n yell of 1876. .
at night the torchlight procession
was formed at the Court House under
command of Chief Marshal Bonham.
Maj. Zeigler's company, Captain Evans
Lebanon company, Captain c. A.
Whites company and Captain j. B.
Moscley's made up a contingent of two
hundred mounted men. Tho Governors
Guards and very many others on foot
swcllcd the throng. Led by the Able
vile Band the procession, armed with
flaming torches, marched to a. point OPP
posite the residence Of Mr.. j. NJ. Giles;
then countcrmarched and proceeded to
n point opposite the residence Of Col.
Robertson, and returned 10 the square
and was maSScd in front Of the balcony
Of the now hotel. Upon this balcony
we're a large number Of beautiful wom-
Ell. Hon. W. G. Bcnct, with some Of
the speakers, occupied central places.
AS soon as the music ceased, Mr.. Bcnct
introduced Gov. Thompson to the en-
thusiastic audience below. The Cover
nor. in view of his much speaking in
this campaign and Of his oncrous duties
on the morrow, excused himself after
thanking the audience for their warm
welcome, and saying it .gratificd him to
see that in gallant old Abbcville the
fires Of enthusiasm and patriotism that
redeemed South Carolina in 1876 still
blazcd brightly. AS soon rs the Gov
ernor had finished, loud cries arose for
Hampton; but he was not present, and
the chairman introduced the Hon. G. Il.
Miles. The Acknowledgement said he
had often heard that South Carolinians
were the .hungriest people for speeches
he ever. saw and from this ~demonstra-
ton he thought it: was true; but that on
the morrow they would have their fill.
The Attorney General paid some grace
full compliments to the chivalrv and
beauty of Abbcvillc. Hon. |. NJ. Bryan,
Elector at Large, was next presented.
Mr.. Bryan spoke we'll and wisely that the
county Of Abbtvillc was consecratcd in
its past by memories Of the .illustrious
statesman Calhoun, the brilliant orator
McDuitip, and by the lives Of hundreds
Of warriors who died in her defense. Mr..
Bryun.-was loudly checrcd. AT this
juncture the crowd called Justify for
Mr.. Bcnet, and in response he made a
speech full Of wit and happy hits. He
said inter Uiiu that he wanted the band
to learn to play before the 4th Of No
vembcr the Mullignn Guards. That Mr..
Blaine had hccn dancing to the tune of
Fishers hornpipe. aud on the 4th Of No.
vcmher would lie buried to. the tune OF
the Mulligan Guards.
After Mr.. 8cnets speech. cries OF
Cothran! Cothran! arose md would
not be stilled. The Judge had rrfrail-
ed from getting on the stand, and was
standing quietly in the +, rear Of the
crowd. But he vas unearthed and
brought forward amidst widest enthu-
siasm. The Judge spoke in that mag
nctic voice that led the Democracy
Of Abbevillc in the stormy days of rs.
He said he did not think the Judicial Of
fico ought to be carried into politics and
it was fortunately true that there was
now no great necessity. But il nccessa-
ry he would take the Office into politics
for the salvation and redemption of his
State. The crowd uncercmoniously un
horscd the Chief Marshal. and escorted
him to the stand. Capt. Bonham said
that in this campaign he was prepared
TO expend his cloqucnce: i'll action and
threatened to court martial his men
who had SO summarily dismounted him
Cries Of Gary brought Col. Il. b. Gary
to the. front who made a ringing anu
cheering speech, which unfortunately
we did not catch
Between the speeches, tho ABbeyillt
Band ]discoursed stirring music-ant
the occasion was full of enthusiasm.
indeed the Torchlight Procession: was {
grand success. The red sllirted horse,
men, the waving torches, the %infantr,
afoot the surging crowds that lined tn,
side walks, the bevy of beautiful wo
men, and the crowds Of gallant men
made up u scene Of brilliancy and beau.
ty rarely seen in SO small q place.
Carl Mckinley the brilliant cores
: pendent Of the Ners and ,C4u1Ier il
'76 came to Abbevillc to OUR big meet
ing. lie is par excellence the CORES
pendent for such an occasion, His ia
cile pen and ready wit and quick npprc
citation fit him cminently to report Sucl
an occasion.
The Democracy Triumphant.
This day considering all tho advcrs
r circumstances has been a grand triumph
for the loyalty Of the Abbevillc Dcmoc
racy. The elements %conspired 10 brin,
: defeat upon tho occasion-the: discour
aging prospect Of the crops, was enougl
to dampen the ardor and turn patriot
: Thoughts towards provision against tn
wolf at the door, Notwithstanding al
this Abbevillc County has shown. he
: true fealty to the principles Of democra
. cy and tho honest effort for reform
She has sped. the departing guests wit