The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-04-02


some time before the hour appointed, WIN
delegates, visitors and citizens, and inciuoeo
among the number II great many lauleS.
A brighter day could not o. nave eant oeen IeI hnII
n ~ happy augury. Interest in the proceeu-
ings OF the meeting was nt tefer neat, anu er.
ery scrap OF information TO be had wus eager
IL sought and devourtd by oHclais' clli|ehs
and newspaper men alike.
THE STORY OF THE DAY.
The convention was called to order at l2::O
by President Shell, and the proceedings were
opened with prayer by the Rev. u. W. hia'''
MIR. Shell then read a communication from
four young south Carolinnns, styling them-
selves "Olangeburgs plowIooy*: NOV ,ahom. absuu
They wished the convention God-speeu anu
nresented IL with black walnut sarel, made
by themselves. ,.,, ,orsa
MR.. SHELLS ADDRESS.
Mr.. Shell then spoke rs follows, elictins APP
pluuse at several periods Of the address:
Gentlemen OF the Convention: Az Iresr
ticio chairman of Its executive committees, IL
IL is my duty 10 call this body TO order anu OF Or
vanize IT, It Is not necessary 10 reau the au-
dress issued by the commiltee, ou. ~ nnr nnr.
In have clear understanding as 10 cur PuI,
pose in assembling here Will proceed 10 reaa
ihe cali at the end of the address. IL Is rs ioi'
lows: o., ,,o,r from this
call list That this Is d convention oi DEM
,rrats true ami loyal, and that we are only
exercising our rights as freemen 10 come 10
ss I've deem best. I'd. That this is not II far
noer., con vention unless II Is because other
GLASSES and callings have refused 10 pave any
thing to do with selecting uelegales .,, OK.
That Il is a convention OF those VINO sym
nathize with the views and purposes SET lorln
fn the address OF the executive committee
aud that If there are any delegates mere VINO
are opposed 10 tme nns fhy,HiS by t they are here
either under misapprehepsion, or they have
come as obstructionists and rnarplots. 70 ere
ate discord and thwart thg irends bine SI ie ce
cept what have seen in the papers, and IL Is
not for me to decide upon the creuentlals oi
tion Itself must be the judge OF that matter:
So I pass on To other things. , !,
n tn perhups incumbent upon me, ana IL
will help TO clearer understanding Oh thg
sitnatlon, II shall explain how and why
issued the address, a part Of which has just
The executive committee OF the Farmers
Association Is composed OF one rom eacn
county, and under our constitution It mas
charge of everything connected win the
management of the association, ana Is aotno-
rized TO take any steps likely To aid tne pur'
noses for which the organ nizatl0n was FORMED.
Ali Of you have heard Of the Farmers move
ment and what 1t has been trying to accom-
plish. MN ,,oor,v cot forth
in the address, and shall not rehearse them,
as ali YOU have read the document The exc
cutive committee held meeting last NoVern,
Der In this city. Sixteen counties. arer lnli
discnssion OF the situation and q careful con.
alteration OF what should be done, ordered
me toi>sue the address and called this conven,
tion. had no discretion In the matter anu
am only the mouthpiece OF the committee. Re
membering how we had been tricked and be,
trsyed during the last campaign, we decided
that we must quietly surrender or make the l. :,
sue fairly and squarely before the people ana
let them decide.
tis necessary to begin early in order to get
an even start, and from the how! that has
been raised think that the ring believes we
n ss. II we have got II. let us keep II, and
when the Democratic convention meets next
August We can give these gentry rest II
you ars not caJoled or intln,ida'ea ny me me
Democratic party. and in November W. will
elect men to office who will have some regard
for the rights and welfare of the people.
We do not want to foreslall oi dictate TO the
Democratic party, AS has been charged, but
we want free and fair expression OF the Will
of the party after the people have heard the
issue discussed on the hustingS; and, by the
eternal God We intend 10 have il!
The cards have been stocked and the game
lost often enough by these unfsir methods,
and we Intend have fair play or know the reil,
SON why. We want the majority TO rule. and
we propose to see that II does ulc, and II II de-
cides that we nre wrong, we will submit. II
ft decides that We are right, our opponents
must submit or bolt the ticket.
All this talk about our dividing the party
ia bosh. We have been beaten. and that, too.
by unfair MEANS and we submitted 10 IT
without q murmur.
The accusation that we are doing every
thing to disrupt or endanser the party Is an
insult to US and dishOnOrS the man or paper
that makes the charge.
have no desire TO boast OF my own record,
xltar if,f f.I,tn n ~
q Democrat In 1876, as q man. citizen, am
ready TO compare records with any OF those
who have abused and sandered me; and ev
cry leader Of the Farmsr,' movement from
We did our dity in 1876 and were In the
thlckest Of the fight for the redemption Of the
state from Radicalism when many who are
now abusing us were skulking around advo-
catirg Dan chamberlain for Governor South
Carolina. Esau and Jacob.
Weare doing our duty now 10 trying to re-
deem the State from ring rule and make the
Democratic party carry ont It's pledges to the
people. There are more offices now than un-
der tho Republicans; our taxes are nearly as
much in dollars and the burden OF paying
them Is fUurfold as great, because one dollar
now will purchase what two bought then,
while cotton is much lower. Favoritism, is the
rule In dispensing the offices, and man must
belong to q certain set" before ne can e expeei i,
are kent there, often To the public injury, pre-
vided their social aud Esmily relations are
aristocratio, and the legislature has more
than once ncted In Il way to create Il suspicion
Of sinister influences ut work.
The people know these things and have
been mourning for years. Their cries lave
gone unheeded; and, until the agitation for
reform. known as the Farmers movement
began four years ago, there appeared 10 be no
remedy for these evils other thali submission
or All independent movement. But one was
Invented or discovered by plain farmer.
who had never been connected with politics.
Capt. B. X. Tillmun began TO ngitate for re-
form inside the party. His record as DEM
ocrat, his character US man, are unimpcach-
able. The ability he displayed excited ad-
miratiou, aud the people rallied to his sup
port from almost every county. The farmers
began to move" they are moving still; they
will keep on moving Till they reach their
destination. and that rs to reform the party
and purify the State Government. This is
our business here, and we have but to &C ON
plish both at the next election. Instead of
his being abused, the state owes heavy debt
Of gratitude to the man who showed us how
to accomplish these ends and yet maintain
the unity OF the Angl Saxon race.
One word more, and / am done. Taunts
and accusations have been heaped upon ne
ns an of1ce- seeker, demagogue, trying to
array class against class, Il man who has
sinndered aud misreprescutec the State and
Its officers
To the first charge can only say that am
clerk OF the court In Laurens county, and my
people have kept me In that place for SIX
years. have been chosen to that place by
primary election, and the last time by Il vote
Of lSOO 10 6UO for my opponent.
Am no: here seeking any Office at your
hands, and would not accept one If tender
ed me- am actuate by no selfish or am
bilious motive. and have spent my time and
money for four Years for love Of tie cause. II
IT. succeeds under my leadership, it will be
glory enough for me.
! have never attack cd any class OF my fel
low citizens. In Laurens county my friends
areRmong all classes, and those who accuse
Inc OF arraying class against class have SIM
ply said what they cannot prove.
4, revar6 Tn the address NJ