The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-08-17
POLITICAL MEETINGS.
THE CENTRE OF GRAVITY AND
DUE WEST ENTERTAIN
THE CANDIDATES. AND
THEIR FRIENDS.
large Crowds. Manly Speeches, Pref
ty Women, IA Splendid Dinners
the Order Of the Days.

The first political meeting we hav'
attended this season outside Of tn,
Court House, was that held ut the Cen
tire Of Gravity on last Friday. Ths
day dawned bright and clear. and al
early start was taken from Abbeville t.
avoid the heat a much as possible. AT
ter a pleasant drive Of about three hours
we knew we must be i'm the neighbor
hood Of the Centre Of Gravity from tho
vehicles which we saw coming in every
direction. Arriving there, II large Grove
was found to be assembled. and it was
not long before the speaking
ed.
"A stand had been erected and was
covered with flowers and evergreens,
and the campaign flag Of the MCGOWAN
Campaign Club, foatcd in the breeze
from one corner Of the stand.
The meeting was presided over by
Mr.. Williams Black in Il courteous dig
nifcd manner. He introduced rs the
first speaker,
Hon. w. A. Moore.
He made a short speech. and stated
that he was decidedly in favor of reform.
He was a tiller Of the soil. but was not
one who thought a man ought to be
sent to the Legislature simply because
he was a farmer He did think though,
a farmer ought to understand the inter
ests Of that class better than any
| Others He referred to the hatter,ng
vote his " township had given him.
A great many questions had been
elected into the campaign. Among them
was that of prohibition. The Demo-
cratic party had driven a nail through
that ard clinched it on the other side.
He thought the Jury Commissioner
might be dispensed with. 1t was a use
less office. If elected he would serve
the people to the best Of his ability.
The next speaker was
DR.. Geo. H. wadde1I.
He said he vas glad Of having nm OPP
portunity to meet the good people Of
this section. He was unaccustomed to
public speaking though, and would only
attempt to give his views in n plain
sensible manner, without any attempt at
oratory. lie spoke of the b]urdensome
taxes of radical times, and compared
them with tho 'e of to-day, and thought
there was still room for reduction. He
expressed himself as in favor Of reform.
but warned the people not to expect too
much from legislation. More depended
upon themselves. He was in favor Of
charging a tuition fee in the South Caro-
lima College and opposed outright to the
canal. He also favored q separation Of
the Agricultural College from the Uni
ycrsity. He expressed himself as viii
ing to answer any question Of public
policy that might be asked him. Hearing
none, he thanked the audience for their
attention and gave way to the next
speaker. -
Mi. Black then introduced
DIR. q. p. Hawthorn,
who said, hat at the solicitation of
friends he had consented TO become an
aspirant for Legislative honors, and if
called to that service by his fellow
countrymen and Democrats he would
serve them to the best of his ability.
DE expressed himself as belonging to
1.-THE wool-hat and one-gallus crowd" and
hence unaccustomed to speaking off
hand. He had committed some or his
views to writing and would submit them
to the audience without any attempt at
oratorv. He expressed himself as de-
cidedly in favor Of reform. The expen-
ses of the government were too heavy
and should be cut down. A number of
useless offices should be done away
with. Supervisor of Registration, and
) nry Commissioner were useless offices.
The fees in the Masters office should
cut down. The Office Of Auditor ought
be abolished. All salaries from
down ought to be reduced.
The Railroad Commissioners ought to
done away with. OF course he was
opposed to the canal, and thought the
South Carolina College ought to
made self-sustainig by reducing
salaries of professors and charging atui-
ton fee. He was not in favor of a sep
arate Agricultural College yet and op-
posed the proposed Female School. He
was in favor Of reducing the per diem
Of the members of the Legislature, and
thus save $3.50 a day.
There may have been other measures
hat this speaker objected, but we failed
% remember them all.
The next speaker was
O.. r. Calhoun, ESQ.
AS he stepped forth he was received
with applause. He expressed his graft
at being able to. speak to these
people, his friends. They come from a
who were the bone and sinew Of
~s -k - r - L. IL. /