The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-08

means simply this, that where Mr.. Adair,
| renting to all sorts of people, issued
| twenty distress warrants year ago, he
issues one now; it means that out of every
twenty families evicted two years ago
there are nineteen happy in their homes
tonight. [Applause.] And yet we are
told we must vote to restore the old order
because it has reduced Governor Browns
rental column S., 900 year. Applause. ]
At the end Of this sentence the scene
was almost indescribable. Thousands Of
handkerchlefs waved as before, men held
their hats and walking sticks and whirled
them in the air. The cheering was al
most deafening.]
Mr.. Grady resumed speaking.
My friends, don't believe that state
ment, to begin with. I do not believe
his rent income is fairly and permanently
| diminished five thousand dollars year
and if it is he is my friend, and I con-
gratulate both him and myself on the
fact that he is able to stand it. I say this
in no spirit of sarcasm or criticism, but I
do say if there is law, if there is gov
ermental theory, if there is, may it please
you, an untried experiment that will
shelter one honest woman and two un-
conscious children in their homes, it is
our duty to vote that law and this govern
ment'ss duty to enforce it, though it
should cut it down $4,000. Tremendous
applause. And the reason for that it is
| not based in communism, but in human
| ity. If the government owes any duty
to the individual it is that every man, wo-
man and child that leads an honest life is
| entitled to food and shelter; and there is
difference to be found between dimin-
ishing the luxury of the rich and protec-
ting the poor in their birthright; it is
manliness, and humanity, and good gov
ernment to let the rich suffer. [Ap-
plause.]
THE HOMES OF THE PEOPLE.
am going to stick to the home because
tits the type and center of our city, OF our
| civilization. Prosperous homes mean a
prosperous city; cherries homes an I'M
prosperous town. From the comfortable
home, with its ruddy windows and it's
laughing children, streams the light that
illumes every department of trade or in
dustry, whether the light comes from the
cottage or palace. From the cheerless
and desolate home comes the chill that
paralyzes every interest worth preserv-
ing.
When you 60 into home, what is the
hearthstone, to see if there is a fire. The
hearthstone is the heart of the home, and
the fire glowing and sparkling, with the
little children gathered about IL ruddy
faced and happy, is to the house what
sunshine is toGod's flowers. It is about
| the hearthstone that the family gathers.
There you find the wife, the helpmate of
the husband and his joy-who has shared
his sorrow and his trouble-you find the
little ones cherished. The old grandmoth-
or in the corner, smiling and peaceful,
her last, best days blessed and softened
by flial love and care. [Applause.)
Think about the picture around the
hearthstone in an humble home. Did
you ever think about grandmother and a
little child? Is there any love on earth
as sweet and pathetic? See them, as they
sit about the hearthstone Of the home.
How they cling to each otherl How
the little one chambers about her knees
and looks into her face. How the old
heart is bathed afresh in the rapture of
the child, and how the old withered lips
are attuned and used to the childish pratt
tie! How closely they cling together
and yet how diverse are their ways! The
old grandmother with the lengthening
shadows falling on her back as she walks
down the hill, her face turned towards
the skies beyond the pearly gates of
which she can almost hear the singing of
the hosts awaiting to bid her welcome {;
the child turned with ardent face to the
attractions and contentious of the world,
with the rising sun falling full on its
eyes. (Applause.)
At last the time for separation comes.
AS each takes its od-given way, how
ready to go, and yet how 10th to part |!
How they turn rs they drift away, look
ing one to the other, while the parting
words grow fainter and fainter and fainter,
until they all fall by the wayside and the
child's voice is lost in the rising clamor
Of the world, and her voice me1ts away
in the kindling music Of the skies. ZAP
plause.) There they sit about the hearth
stone, the grandmother and the child, and
between them the wife, holding in her
heart the double love that binds them to-
gether. (Applause.l
father, son and husband in one-as he
works at his bench or walks, whlstllng
through the icy night, all happy in the
consciousness that his loved ones are warm
and snug, and happy in their home.
What would he take for the consciousness
that instead of huddling comfortless
about chill heartstone, the fire burns
brightly for them? What would YOU take
to rob him of that consciousness ? Well,
now keep that picture in your mind
while tell you what the coal dealers of
Atlanta say about their retail trade this
winter.
Here is their testimony!
Do you remember how you used to see
the women with q quarter or fifty-cent
piece shiyering at the coal yards, hurry
ing to buy handful Of coal, that they
might get home where their little ones
were suffering? How you used to sec
men hurrying through the streets with
basket coal of on their arm, knowing that
at home the breath from their lungs was
almost freezing on the children's lips?
And the little hand-carts that used to fill
your streets, carrying handful of coal,
barely enough to give child taste of
fire? And don't you know the number
of houses there were that in spite of all
this were cold and cheerless and without
relief?
Where are the people who used to buy
a pinch Of coal, and the hand-carts that
used to haul it? They are gone! Mr..
Wilson testifies: "There has been re-
markable change in my business. Men
that used to buy fifty cents worth now
buy a ton. used to have twenty little
hand-carts to deliver coal in now use