The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1888-09-05
DAWSON AND TlLlMAN.

DAWSON AND TlLLMAN.
B. r. Tinman made a personal and
abusive speech in Charleston last
week, that would reflect little credit
on any one. Had he not returned to
Charleston, he would in the estima-
ton of many, have stood much high
er. Capt. Dawson met his charges,
and came off best man. He termed
the people of Charleston arrant cow
ards, and blamed them for mot even
killing a Niger" boasting that be
had participated in the Hamburg af-
fair. His speech was rather void of
saneness. We copy from the Sum-
ter Admnce a condensed report of the
occasion:
At last these doughty champions have
met and broken lance in the political
lists. The Captains organ plays such a
lively tune over the affair that it is evident
he regards it SIS success for him. We are
glad the thing is done and over with, and
nobody hurt except, it may be by the good
mutual tongue-lashing that the champions
gave one another. But to the story.
At $40 o'clock on Tuesday evening,
while heavy masses of threatening clouds
flleG the heavens above Capt Tllman,
who says he fears neither God, man, or
devil as to certain subjects and on certain
occasions, faced crowd of 1000 people
!! from the portico of the City Hall tn Char
lesion. DR.. A. W. Eckle introduced the
speaker with remarks to the effect that Mt q
recent meeting in that city riot had oc-
cured which had besmirched the fair fame
of that eminently respectable town, and
that as an atonement for this outrage on
decency, some OF the Charleston Democracy
had invited Ben to return and give them o
talk which the speaker engaged should not
be interrupted as at the previous meeting.
Tllman mounted the rostrum and began
his speech to crowd that had increased to
about 5000 according to tie n q C., 1000
according to the World. He began by re-
ferring to his fighting capacities, which he
said were large as compared with his power
to preach, and then proceeded to advocate
honest government and freedom from ring
rule. He said the people of Charleston
were peculiar in the depth and extent of
their cowardice and submission to this sort
of rule He swore that if the sort Of thing
that was quietly submitted to in Charleston
were even attempted in Edgefeld, the party
attempting it would be lynched. He also
swore about the taxes Charleston people
paid, and alleged that they only stood it be-
cause they were getting rich off of Edsefeld
and other backwoods settlements. He al
legged that every city Of over 5000 people
in the State was ruled by ring. In Char
lesion it was worse than anywhere else.
They must stop sending fat lawyers to leg
islate for them and put fat farmers in their
place. They must get rid of the surplus
Legislators they now Lave, or else he (Ben)
and his cohorts would suspect them of steal
ing their money.
he swore to God that the people We're
putting themselves in the mine because
they were afraid of the Nens and Courier,
and accused Capt Dawson of having legs
long enough to reach from Georgetown to
Beaufort and feet large enough to cover
both those towns or counties. He also said
that the gallant Captain was not fit to lick
his boots or those of his hearers. He COM
pared Capt. Dawson to the old man of the
sea, and the State to Sinbad. He then pro-
ceeded to show up, as he called it, Daw-
sons political and personal record. He
called the captain big buzzard-he read
his letter to Woodruff in 1868, and other
matter, editorials principally from the
Daily Se,cs, and extracts from. the frauds
committee report, with most of which our
people are already familiar. Meanwhile q
messenger had been dispatched down Broad
street to the Neps and Courier Office to tell
the Captain that Tllman had begun per-
sonal attack on him. Responding prompt
ly, Capt. Dawson appeared mounting the
steps of the city hall and said he desired to
interrupt the speaker. Tllman was evi-
dently surprised but he came to the scratch
and said he would be glad to hear what the
gentleman had to say. Capt. Dawson then
said he had come to meet his accuser face
to face, and answer him, leaving the YER
dict to the judgment of his fellow citizens
He then took seat awaiting the close of
Tillnan's speech. That worthy producer
of black eyes and funerals on slight provo.
cation, went on to comment on the Ham
burg massacre and the-to our miad-cour-
apeous and proper stand taken by the Ne,os
and Courier on that subject, which was, how
ever, too much for the "one-eyed perch"
of this new "what will he do with it, who
said he and other Edgeield gentlemen had
saved the State by means of that riot and
massacre, having dared even the devil to
save the State"
The speaker then instituted compari-
son of Dawsonism and Tillmanism much to
the advantage of his side, of course, and
wound up by relating the old story of the
jackass-howitzer Us employed by the army
officer against the Indians.
Capt. Dawson then replied to the gentle
men from Edgefeld in his Characteristic
style. As to the charge of political d:shon-
esty he referred to the fact that while in
1876 he opposed the straightout Democratic
movement he was in accord in his views
with a large number of the best men Of
South Carolina, but that when the move
ment was determined on he threw all his
ability, energy and the influence of his pa-
per to support the cause. He challenged
criticism and referred to his record as to
personal honesty. Referring to the Wood
ruff incident Capt. Dawson said that the in
vestieating committee had completely e1-
onerated the Neacs and Courier. Woodruff
was engaged by him as agent and cores
pondent at Colum bia but when he got on to
WoodrufTs and Jones's corrupt doings he e1-
exposed them and that was what caused the
stir and resulted in the appointment of the
frauds investigation committee. Had he
ANYTHING to conceal would he have so e1-
noce6 Woodruff?