Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-08-14
THE PRIMARY CANVASS.
A LARGE AND INTERESTING MEETING
AT ROCK HILL.

A LARGE AND INTERESTING MEETING
AT ROCK HILL.
>
The primary canvass in this county was
formally opened at Rock Hill on Monday
last which was the first appointment made
by the County Executive Committee for the
various candidates for nomination to meet
the people and place their claims for suf
frage before them. Ample accommodations
had been made for the speakers and theil
hearers, in Springs Grove, where commo
dious stand was erected and seats provided
under the direction of committee consist
ing of Messrs. w. J. Roddy, T. A. Rob
ertson and S. II. FreW. The speakers
stand, on which was displayed large
United States flag, was neatly decorated
with flowers, evergreens, and bunting, &
tribute to the occasion by a number of Ia
dies consisting of Mrs. DR.. IT. c. Robert
son, Miss Annie Pride, Miss Emma Roach
Miss Annie Williams and Miss Susie Sit
graves, and was pleasant reminder of Wo
mans devotion to the political welfare O.
the State in the stirring days of 1876, wher
her unbounded faith in the prevalence O.
the right and her unswerving devotion tc
the cause contributed so largely to the sue
cess of redeeming the State. The day was
pleasant, and large crowd, estimated al
450 to 500 voters, assembled in town. Ac
cording to programme, at IL o'clock the
procession, headed by the Rock Hill Cor
net Band, under the lead of Mr.. R. H. Hope
Jr., was formed in front of the Globe hote
and under direction of Marshals A. II
White, D. G. Williams and f. r. Avery
proceeded to the stand.
The meeting was presided over by 1redel
JONES' precinct chairman, who on calling the as
semblage to order, requested Rev. j. Sprat
White to invoke the divine blessing
After prayer, the chairman congratulated his
| hearers on the prospect before them, and con
| graduated them especially on the fact that the
prospects ofthe agricultural and other industria
occupations of York county are propitious The
political horizon, too, he said, is clear, not only
as to the county and State, but the outlook fol
the success Of the National Democratic ticket i:
| favorable. The prospect for the placing of New
York's illustrious Governor in the Presidential
chair, and Indianas favorite son, eX-Governol
| Hendricks, in the Vice-President's chair, is IA
vorable, if every Democrat will do his duty anC
| 90 to the polls next November With thesucces:
of the National Democratic ticket, the people O
the entire country will again enjoy the blessing:
| OF an honest ana economical government. AS u
the success of the Democratic State ticket, there
can be no donbt. In the nomination of thai
| ticket the Convention was harmonious and unit
ed and the people will cheerfully sustain 1T. II
regard to the State Senatorshlp from York, NJ
| felt that with the gentlemen from whom voter!
were called upon to make a choice, no matter
which one might be selected, the interests Of thu
people would be safe in his hands. In the inau
guration of the county campaign, he hoped al
| personal differences, if any exist, would bt
buried remarking that the Democratic party is
the State, and the State is more important thar
the individual. He then introduced the Senate
rial candidates, beginning with
C. E. SPENCER, esq,
who congratulated his hearers upon the fine
assemblage Of voters present to hear the various
candidates present their claims He alluded te
the contest OF 1876, and as compared with th(
achievements of that canvass and the important
issues involved, all questions in the present
campaign as to who shall be preferred as legis
lative Representatives dwindle into insignif
cance. In the days of 1876 the contest was fol
constitutional liberty It was grand and glori
Gus fight of intelligence against ignorance. In
that memorable struggle we all joined hands and
thought only of intelligence predominating over
ignorance; honesty over corruption: But thel
we did not make the necessary effort in National
politics. Weworked to redeem our beloved State
from the thraldom then environing it, making
National issues only secondary question. NOW
that our State has been redeemed and in the en-
joyment of honest home rule government, we
can turn our attention more directly to ques.
tions involved in the National campaign and
we stand here to-day pledged to do all within oul
power to secure honest government by the elec-
tion of the National Democratic ticket.
He appeared before the people for the highest
office within the gift of the county-that of State
Senator. While he had been introduced as a
young man, he would remark that his age should
be no objection as to his qualifications for the po
sition. In olden times Senator was required tc
1,oo oil Rntp nIy oc hatwqnn the infancy
Of old age and the einfancy of youth, the common
sense Of humanity has decided in favor of the
latter Men who had not the vigor of young
manhood about them were not in former times
deemed capable; but now our people in thell
wisdom have fixed the age of aSenator at twen-
ty-five years, for the reason that he should have
lived long enough to acquire some experience
learn the general principles of government, and
form the character which comes only with age
Twenty-Five years is old enough for this purpose
and while he did not deem it necessary to say
how old he is, he is at least over twenty Live.
1t has been urged by one of his competitors
that the State Senator should have experience to
be useful to his constituents and should begin
his legislative career in the lower House, but
while that argument would apply to Congress
man in that large representative body of the Ma.
ton, it would not apply to State Senator, and
he cited the fact that Senator's Witherspoon and
law offices, and he felt that he has had sufficient
experience to 60 direct to that branch Of the Gen
eral Assembly and make good Senator, giving
dignity to the county. He asked, If one OF my
competitors was fortunate enough to get into the
Senate for an unexpired term of two years, IS
that any reason why he should be elected to serve
four wears longer? If you think differently
will bear defeat gracefully. He admitted that in
the hall of Congress, where there were three nun
dred members, a new member can have no lnfiu-
ence until he has had time to haveacquired some
reputation, but in the Senate Of South Carolina
composed Of but thrty-tive members, such is
not the case. A man in public life in South Car
olina soon becomes known by reputation all over
the State. He has had business connections with
the public officers Of the State and can soon be-
come sufficiently acquainted with all Of them,
as well as legislators, to be an efficient Senator
so far as regards experience of that nature to be
acquired hereafter. A man in South Carolina
soon becomes known when he acts uprightly
and prudently, and if he commands any infu-
ence at his home, the fact is ascertained soon
enough in the Senate chamber.
He said he was not a politician and aspired not
to be a political leader. He cared nothing for
the reputation of political leader. He was be-
fore the people on the reputation he has made in
the Court House. He then combatted the obJec-
election of lawyers to the General Assembly,
and trusted to the fairness of the people to honor
members of that profession if they deserve 1t,
while, OH the other hand, other things being
equal, the farmer should be similarly honored.
The mere pursuit of man should not alone en-
ter into the question of his fitness for the trust
He honored the agricultural profession. AS a
lawyer he lived through and by the farmers, and
if they should send him to the Senate he would
striveto make them an honest and faithful Sena-
tor. The farmers interest is his interest. They
are the bone and sinew Of the country, on whom
depends its prosperity.
GEN. +. NJ. LAW
was next introduced. He not only congratula-
ted himself but those before him upon the large
gathering of the voters of York county, who by
manifesting the interest they did in the choice of
rulers, were disposed to perpetuate the institu-
tons descended from their fathers, and which is
now in their keeping. In the exercise of that