The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-03-20

cepted, and when the day came the crowd
was tremendous. The democrats had
tried to get Howell Cobb and Herschel
johnson and Absolom Chapel and 9TH
ers to come up, but thay all had other
fish to fry, and so little Alex had it all
his own way. Well, not exactly either,
for there was feller there by the name
of Russell, an eccentric, smart, cheeky,
random sort of man who had wonder
full gift of language and who, like Fran
els Train, dident care much what he said,
and was no respecter of persons. Rus
sell swoie by all the gods that if nobody
else would reply to Stephens he would.
and he would skin him alive, and let him
ride home in his bones "Condipg him" "
he said, "Iet him stay in his own district
and shiny on his own side"
Mr.. Stephens made a fine speech, and
the crowd cheered and shoutet tumultu.
ously as he arraigned the democracy and
held them up to ridicule, and when he
got through the wings were more than
satisfied, and Mr.. Stephens was satisfied,
too-he came down from the stand and
was receiving the congratulations
of his friends, when suddenly Russell
mounted the rostrum and, rapping on
the plank in front of him, screamed out
in an unearthly yell: "Fellow citizens |"
Everybody knew him, and everybody
wanted to hear him, and hushed into
silence. After sentence or two Mr..
Stephens was attracted to him, and with
curious and astoaished interest, inquired,
"Who is that mani" After Russell had
paid an eloquent tribute to the glorious
old democratic party, and giving it credit
for every good thing that had. been done
since the fell of Adam, he then turned
to Mr.. Stephens and, with withering
scorn, said :: "And what have you and
your party been doing and trying to do j
what made you vote away the public
lands so that yankees and furreners could
get 'em and our people scouldent? What
made you vote for high tariff on sugar
and coffee and raise the price 80 that our
poor people couldent buy it" Mr..
Stephens rose up excited and irritated
and stretching out his long arm to the
audience, screamed out: II never did it,
my fellow-citizens-I deny the fact and
call upon the gentleman for his proof"
With the utmost self.possession, Russell
said, "You do-you call for the proof.
Sir, if was to go two miles from home
to make speech / would carry my proof
with me. wouldent be vain enough to
90 without it; but, sir, am at home
these people know me-they raised me
and when assert thing they believe
it. You are the man to bring the proof"
The crowd shouted and laughed as
unanimously as they had done for Mr.
Stephens, and he sat down disgusted.
Russell continued: "And what was your
motive when you were member; of the
legislature in voting for law that pro.
hibited man from voting unless he was
worth $500? Answer me that while you
are here face to face with these humble
citizens of Gordon county" At this Mr..
Stephens rose again furious with indig-
nation and screamed: "It is false, sir-it
is false; deny the fact"
"You do," said Russell, scornfully; II
supposed you would-you deny the fact.
That is just what you have been doing
for twenty years-going about over the
country denying facts" And the crowd
went wild with merriment, for even the
wings couldent help joining in the fun.
Mr.. Stephens turned to his companions
and said with tone of despair, "Let us
20 to the hotel" and, they went.
I thought of all this while Mr.. Ste
phens was telling us of his triumphs over
verteran foes, and so when be came to a
pause l timidly said "Mr. Stephens, did
you ever encounter man by the name
of Russell up at Calhoun
With q merry glisten of his won derful
eyes he strengthened up and said 81
did, l did, yes, / did. l will never forget
that man. He got me completely. II |
had known him I would not have said a
word in reply, but l dident know him.
He cured me of one expression. | fire.
quently used to emphasize my denial Of
lies and slander, and that Was to say II
deny the fact" "I had never thought of
it's grammatical absurdity. but that man
Russell taught me and Iquit it. l think
he had the most wonderful flow of Ian.
guage and lies of any man ever mel"
Mr.. Stephens then made pretty. fair
recital Of his rencounter and bis "utter
defeat as he expressed it, all of which
We enjoyed. Where are they now? Old
father time has cut all down but three,
Hardeman and Thornton and myself are
here, but all the rest of that bright,
intelligent crew are gone. 1t looks like
most everybody is dead. IF they are not
they will be before long, and another set
will be in their places and have their
jokes and fash their wit and merriment
all the same.
BILL ARP.