The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-08-08
4 FIELD DAY IN FLORENCE.
TILLE1AN AND BIGHAM THE FAvoRITEs
WITH THE CROWD.

, Address 80 Lieutenant Governor
Mauldin and Colonel Il. w. Ed
wards also Speak.-.Captain Till
man Arraigns the State Admins
) tratiOn Bighanl Attempts tt
Prove His SlanderOus Assertion.
...SeyeraI Rows Imminent but ar<
i Averted.
FLORENCE, S. c., August 2-The fourth II
the series OF district meetings in the prelimi
nary canvass arranged by the Stdte Demo
cratic Executive Committee was held here 10
day, and while not favored with very large
attendance, was, in certain respects, II very re
markable meeting.
Remarkable. however, in a way not reflect
Ing credit on the assemblage, and wnlcl
would be highly discreditable to the section
in which it was held If it was accepted as rep
resentative Of the intelligence and fairness o
Its people, which, happily, is not believed te
be the case.
Captain Tillman arrived from Sumter shortly
before 9 o'clock, and all stopped at the jacob
Early in the day the streets of that lively
little town and future city showed, by, the
presence Of many strangers, that Somethlne
out OF the ordinary was to occur. The major
ity of the visitors seemed to be from Marion
County, though the country round about was
we'll represented, and, as was afterwards
made evident, the supporters of MIR. Blgham
had made it special duty to be In Florence
to-day.
! The meeting was held Mt the old Gamble
Hotel, few hundred feet from the RAILROAD
track at the Southern end OF the town. Ihe
speakers occupied seats in lofty-roofed piaz
20 and spoke therefrom, and here too, were
seats for the ladies, but only q half dozen o.
the fair sex were present. The audience stooo
beneath the shade OF the trees IN 'front.' OF tme oe
hotel, and numbered probably between 800
Governor Richardson was first on the
ground; Mr.. Bigham came next. Juggling q
Il .t.o ,1.1 NNttC rrit
man behind carrying as many more. Captain
Tillman came last. and his appearance was
the signal for opening the exercises.
| At O. little before noon Mr.. j. w. Beasley
the Chairman of the meeting, introduced Gov
ernor Richardson, who spoke for about an
hour in substance as follows:
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Fellow. Citizens
don't intend TO inflict mass of material up
on you which l have here; yet, being the
governor of this State, and being ordered
here by the Democratic party, that glorious
organization that has made US free and made
us what we are, wish to explain the opera,
| tions of your government, which has been so
severely assailed and charged with various
faults. ,.
been as pure and free from reproach as Vir-
| tuous woman, except during the Radical adj
ministration. Is 1t within the range of posi-.
bility that men, who have been so brave and
true In the time Of war and peace, have now
become corrupt?
think not. think can prove that it is
not so. think can prove the government
under which you now live is as much In favor
| of reform rs any you have ever had. The
question Is, how can the reforms be effected
II God so made the world that even the
Church itself which does His work, cannot bc
conducted without money, how can man
| work and government be expected to be con-
Quoted without funds? There Is golden
You may oo tax fne peope o
properly life and property.
l want to bring few things to the attention
of the people of Darlington. First, matter
stood. Though a small matter In itself, /
think 1t should be correctly placed before you,
as being connected with the administrator
PaWley matter. No information was given
| the Executive bearing on the character OF the
prisoner, who bore good name, only knew
| that citizen Of this State was In prison IN
Savannah. Your Executive, knowing only
that this person bearing an honored name
was incarcerated in Savannah, letter comes,
signed by another honcred man;
tbro% no o e ON other
| It is well known the Attorney General is
placed where he is to give information TO the
Executive onall points OF @ law; 10 We're I ~ othi
am farmer; don't pretend to know law.
The action taken in the Pawley matter was
| taken under the advice OF the judicial depart
mcnt, and more than all else because tele,
gram was received stating that PaWley said
| he would come back without Il rcquisition.
What right had put the State OF South
Carolina to expense when the man was repre-
sented as being willing to come without re-
quisitlon? 1 would have been recreant to my
| duty il had allowed it, under the informa-
| ton then had. But it would have been
treasury to secure the prisoners return, If the
| true circumstances had been known.
There isaDother matter OF q personal ma
ture wish TO refer to. 1t is In regard 70 the inc
and present candidate for the Senate from
| Marion County. In my remarks at Green
| willie in reference 10 the refections maue py
| Mr.. Bigham IL regard TO the furniture OF the
Executive mansion, had but one obJect-to
show whether Governor Thompson was gull
| ty or not.
| ANY animadvcrsions then made were not
intended as reflections on Mr. Blgham or any any
one else. make no charges against Mr.: Big.
! ham. / will never asperse the. character OF
any man. AS long as the robes of office en-
vclop me, shall be the last TO besmirch them
or lower the dignity OF the Chief Executive OF
south Carolina. [Applause. would not
have been true man, with the information |
| had in my possession had not said that
did not believe the charges against Governor
Thompson.
If they are true, he should be brought home
| 10 South Carolina and incarcerated In the pen
| itentiary on the Congaree River. II they are
true; ah, my friends, what reflection and
disgrace on one of the highest names in
South Carolina. But, my friends, do not be-
| lieve the charges are true.
When l became governor 1 lnstitutea
| would not receive it until an inventory OF It's
contents was made, and copy placed IN the
office Of the Secretary OF State. 1t was at my
| suggestion, after q conference, thot Mr.. Dcane
prepared and offered the resolution making
| the Secretary of State custodian of that house
| when not In possession Of the Governor him.
self. and that he should take receipt.
The Governor exhibited list of all the ar.
| tices in the Executive Mansion when Coy
ernor Thompson left, and offered to prove TO
any one who would look over the books al
Columbia that Governor Thompson could not
be guilty Of the charge brought against MIN.
Continuing he said:
am not the defender of Governor Thomp.
son, but am O citizen of South Carolina, and
with the information In my power to give, L
was bound TO give 1t as no one else could.
Governor Thompson Is able to defend him
SELF Look where he Isl In Washington,
having in trust 500, goo 900, and friend friend and
public officers otherwise than you would any
average, ordinary citizen. II any Of them
aye accused of wrong doing, bring an indict-
ment against them. Don't 60 about the coun-
brought to trial and which are based on ru-
mors.
The charge is made, among other things,
that the state ms Is exraYasan
ernment IS no more worthy OF your support
than the Radical Government was. II not
true, 1 only ask the same justice that obtains
justice, and. IL they are corrupt, turn them
out. You know the ordinary procedure in
criminal trials. Doesn't the state have to
prove the accused guilty? and Is not the ac-
guilty? Now, are you going to take your
| State officers on the charge OF every one and
condemn them without trial and without IL
refragible evidence that the charges are true7
II you judges do wrong, as Mr.. Bigham says,
i'm peach them; and If he succeeds In getting