The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-11-17

balcony and window on the public square and
along the entire route o! the procession,
which WIS formed, in part. rs follows:
Foremost among them was the dark Cor
ncr" club of Edgchcld, commanded by Capt.
J. 6; blackwell, with banner carried hy Mr..
T.. w. I.yon-0n one side of which was the
name of tn club, and OH the reverse Slde
"Bl0Ody Shirt"
Olhcr clubs followed:
The Dae West club, by Capt. Samuel Ag-
new.
The Greenwood club, by Capt. c. A. c. Wal
The Colscsbury club. by Capt. NJ G. Zeiglcr.
The Midway club, by Capt. Willie Blndlry.
The Bordeaux club, by capt. j. g. Hollo'
The Eradicys Mills club, by Capt Dora Jay.
The Lebanon club, by Capt. j. s. Gilbert:
Tie Magnolia club. by Capt Z: A. Mce.lunS
The Ninety Six club, by Capt. Luther Broad
dus.
10 say nothing OF the hundreds of Red
Shirts that came from all parts OF The county
without organization, but joined The process:
sion, all of whom were well mounted, and
ma le q brilliant display.
Arriving at the stand tic Democrats found
The place !lcHsc!y packed by Il great cloud or
u'nn OF Democrats, who were on horseback,
came near the crowd of negroes, they nrcned
ranks, one side going to the right and the olh-
cr to the lrfl and completely surrounded Inc
mined hnrSemcn as ever met IN army.
Upon the stand were seated:
On The Republican side: Governor D. II.
Chamberlain, Congressman S. l.. lloge, State
superintendent of Education S. j. illson.
Tin thc Democratic side: Hon. ID. Wyatt
Aiken, General S. McGowan. Colonel j. ).
CuthraJI.
Ahovc the SPEAKERS floated the United
ucIS. The Abhcvile Silver Cnrnet Band and
the Due West Band on behalf of the Demo-
Gratis, and the .Abbcvi;lc colorcd Band on be-
half OF the Republicans, furnished music,
l,,h., ntN,f tad rslf
which had been prepared for the ocrilslnn.
Colonel C0thran, the Democratic County
Chairman, i'll behalf Of the Republican speak
rrs, invoked perfect order and fair hearing.
pIc,Igng the ability Of his fricn'ls to answer
their arguments. During the day the crowd
NJ various times manifested impaticnce al
ihe speeches nf the Republicans and each
time colonel Cothran spoke 10 them IN such
way as to restore quiet.
Mr.. n. y. Tnibcrt, the Republican County
Chairman called the meeting to order, ard
introduced Governor Chnmbrriain, The first
speaker. His speech was conservative ana
trin,;erate. During its delivery, an EdSef1elu
man stood on the seal OF The platform behind
whore Chamberlain was standing. and con-
SANITY answered the jreiS of The horScmGn
with whoup and the wave Of great blud-
yrun which he passed above his head, and SO
near TO his seal thmt the stray hairs ON his
bald head were waved by the air current.
After Governor chamberlain had consumer
his hour, The lIOn d. Wyatt Aiken who had
been appointed To reply To him, was intro'luc.
ed by Col. Coihr.in "aS the coming member OF
Congress- This WAS The mGSt memorable
ard The most effective speech of his life. In
the plaincSt English and In the most forcib!e
manner he eXpOSed the sophistries OF Gov
crnnr Chamberlain, and rcciletl the evil which
Chamberlain and his party had inflicted upon
The State. He endorsed every ythng that had
hccn said in favor of free speech and quiet
campaign, but sud II the Republicans wanted
to imau.urate violence, we were ready FOR
them. These Red Shirts who were forbidden
10 organize military companies while the
state militia was entirely In the hands of the
negroes, had organized Democratic clubs,
which would bc about as effective MS If they
had been allowed to organize military compa-
IIirs. He alluded to the treachcry OF tie lte.
publicans in tho recent assignment or public
arms tn Newbcrry, labelled, 'AGricnltural
ing the spirit with which the Republicans
wCrc entering upon the campaign. Colonel
Aiken made Il ScnIhng review OF Governor
Chamhcrlai ms administration, charging him
with hypocrisy in his course respecting The
Hamburg matter, ard in his letter TO PrrSi-
dent Grant, and arragning his adm niStrn-
lion for imbecility and corruption In the dis
charge of hi, nigh trust, alleging and sustain
terrncr to various Speculntlons.
Colonel Cothran next introduced "the gal:
liant and generous McGowun,' who followed
in mn aulc and elaborate argument, showing
the corruption Of the Republican party: tie
necessity Tor the government to change hands
occasionally; and especially for the rcnsOn
sectional hatred and luminosity between the
North and South, while 1t catered 10 race pre-
judice in the Southern Slater.
J.K. JillsDm WAS next introduced. He was
In Il bad numor, and banded epithctS with
his Democratic hearers for awhile and finally
concluded his speech without much OF an I'M
prc>siOl one way or tue other.
General McGowan next introduced Colonel
Cothian, as the '.organzer Of Victory" ana
uncnce in appealing to the manhood OF the
county, met with Il hearty response from the
pcople, and the negroes became so much dis
that quite number OF them made Il
move tU go away. To this the Red Shirts de-
INJURED. Drawing their pistols, they ordered
them back, saying that ''Colonel Cothian
wanted 10 give them some good medicine.
which they needed and which they should
take" This enforced delay was painful To
them, and Colonel Cntlran gave them good
medicine" throughout, and promised his
Democratic triendSa peaceful and triumphant
victory In November.
After Colonel Cothran's speech, Mr.. r. n
To:bcrt made speech, during which lime the
ruling spirits OF the day Me<SrS. Mc(iOwan,
i'o,irnr and Aiken, hal taken leave uf the
grounds, and greater confusion ana Dad b!OOu
WAS apparent. Al The final breaking up oi
the meeting, The colorcd tlag-bcarcrs were adj
viScd TO roll MP their flags, and cease to doany
further act to stir up strife. This they refused
to do. On the WAY TO the public square their
flag was waved dc;iantly, accompanied by IT.
rllutlllI words. lUlS WIS TtpilcU ID ny iL SuI-
ley of pistol shots. The fla! !-hrarrr ran for
his life and escaped with one or two wounds
For half an hour aftCrwaru there was fnu'n
firing in the air. which CAUSED general sttm-
prIr.
Connected with the blood-cnrdling tragedy
there il often - laugIablc force, andSo, 10 COLI
cludc thc exciting scenes of Il day which WAS
destined to become historic, there was 4 luul-
crnu> side of that picture.
AS has been stated, dntngnnismSha had sprung
up between the white Elan and the negro.
the negro he'd the government hut was Jn;ii-
Gus of the power and va!0rof II Is white neigh
iur The " hitr man believed that The rule Of
sivr, but insulting and offensive to his pride
and patriotism. He felt that he hal been
wrongIuIy deprived Of the land of his fat hers,
and which belonged To him by itl*! iuhcri I
Iunrc. The government of the alien had or 4
IaniZrd The State II pops from the ranks of the
roInrrd people, while the white man was Inr-
bldpn to Org;niZr military companies. The
nero military companies were II constant
n.rnnru. While the white men wonH violate
no law of The country by organizing military
vet they had Il perfect right to or
.;IniHr Democratic clubs, and these cl:iBS llai
the right lD elect Captains. and there w:tS no
law against carrying Firearms. Every MEN,
hrr of every Democratic club had Il pistol. and
every club had Il Captain. and all were mounts
I'd on horseback, wrl in" red shirts, ana. ~ Il
whulr We r. more terrible to the Radicals than
IN army with banners.
There wils present On that day much not
blood on the side Of the whites, while on The
side of the negroes there Was Il hraraGu nnG
an exhibition Of self Suilicicncy which was IT.
rItiilin~ Persons who realized the situation
were in constant e n that some rl- II ac' fnight
nrcrip:tItc Il conflict OF races, and ilauS urAte
n scene OF violence and blond>lIed.
y len the ltadlcal lag-bcarcr was Hired up