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

answer for my conscience or support for
remorse. (Applause.) I don't know
how any other father feels, but this is the
way feel, if God, permits me to Utter
the truth.
Now for a last word, my friends. T
never spoke to you from deeper convic-
ton than speak tonight. 1 beg Of you,
in the interest of peace and fairness, to
give this experiment fair trial. Note
what it has done in year Of imperfect
demonstrate what it can do. Then if it
fails it will fall, if it is good it will stand.
If you are in doubt about what you
should do give US the benefit of the
doubt. Give the doubt to the churches
of the city that stand unbroken in the
cause. Give the doubt to the 10000
prayers that ascend nightly for this cause
from the women and children in Allan
ia, prayers uttered SO silently that you
cannot catch their whispered utterance,
but so sincerely that they speed their
soft entreaty through the singing hosts
of beaven into the heart Of the living
God. If you are in doubt as to what
your duty is, turn for this once, to your
old mother whose gray hairs shall plead
with you as nothing else should-remem-
ber how she has loved you all her life
and how her old heart yearns for you
now. Take her old hand in yours, look
into her eyes fearlessly as you did when
yon were a barefoot boy, and say, II
have run my politics all my life, and to-
day am going to give one vote for you.
How shall 1 cast it" Watch the tears
start from her shining eyes, feel thelump
rising in your throat, and tell me if that
is not better than personal liberty" If
you are in doubt ask your wife-ask
her who years ago put her little hand in
yours, and, adoring and trusting, left the
old home nest and went out with
you into the unknown world-rememb Der
how she has stood by you when all else
forsook-how she has lived only in your
life, and carried your SORROWS as her own,
and ask her how you shall vote. do
not believe that women should counsel
men in politics, but this question is deep
er than politics. Your wife need not tell
| you how to vote on tariff, or on can
didates or on any political issue, but this
| is her election as well as yours. On this
jeopardy is staked the home you builded
together, the happiness you have had to-
gether, and the welfare Of the little
children In whose veins your blood and
hers runs commingled. Her stake and
theirs on this election is greater than
yours. Then ask her, if you have any
doubt how you shall vote on that day.
| Now, a word to the good women here.
You can do great work quietly and gen.
tly in your homes for this cause and for
the good of your city. You can do this
work in the home circle, where no man
can say you nay.
Mothers. go to your son on election
morning, call him back to the time when
he learned Gods name at your knees,
and wake when he would in the night,
he would find your soft eyes above him
and your loving arms about him, and
say: MY son, find your way this morn
ing in memory TO those days when moth
| ing stood between us, and when these
kind hands sheltered and protected you."
Wives, go to your husbands that morn
ing. Not in pique or criticism, but with
a love and tenderness that shall break
through his pride and indifference, lay
his hand lovingly on the heads Of the lit
tie ones, the pride Of his life and yours
oh, you who went down into the very
jaws of death that you might give them
to him !-and say: "My husband, what
ever you do to-day, do it for these little
ones and me!' [Applause.] -.
Now, my friends, have done. What
l have spoken to you tonight I have
spoken in sober earnestness and truth.
If what I have said has impressed you,
beg Of you to let the impression deepen
rather than pass away, for I know and
you know that this issue goes deeper
than words can 60. It involves thou
sands Of hearts now rejoicing that late
were breaking; it involves the happiness
Of women and children, the most sacred
charges vouchsafed to our care, it in
wolves the fate of this tremendous ex-
pertinent that Atlanta must settle for the
American people. Against 1t there is
ty. Your city has prospered before. II
you are merchant or manufacturer,
your books will tell you this. You
know that you have prospered this
year in your business, ask your
neighbor of his business. Look abroad
about You on these bustling streets, and
on these busy stores; on these shops and
factories, in which the fires scarcely ever
die, and then vote in the light of reason
and Of conscience, and however you vote,
may God bless you, and the city you love
SO well. Tremendous applause.1
Then looking over the vast audience,
stilled to hear the voice of the speaker,
Mr.. Grady said with great earnestness
and eloquence:
"The best reforms Of this earth come
through waste and storm and doubt and
suspicion the sun itself when it rises on
each day wastes the radiance of the moon
and blots the starlight from the skies, but
only to Unlock the earth from the clasp
of night and plant the stars anew in the
opening flowers. Behind that sun, as
behind this movement, we may be sure
there stands the Lord God Almighty,
master and maker of the universe, from
whose hand the spheres are rolled to
their orbits, and whose voice has been
the harmony of this world since the
morning stars sang together. (Tremen-
dous. loud and long-continued applause.)
Card from Mr.. Grady.
Mr.. Grady on the morning after the
election printed the following card:
When every thing else I have said or