The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1890-05-08
THE YILLNIAN CAMPAIGN.
An Interesting Joint Debate at Rldgoway.

oASSe1uE5 Va VIC IlIludu CdlupalRu WAS
held here to day. Last night it was the
common talk that there would be gath.
ering of from 1.5C0 to 1000 people. As
a fact, however, only about 300 appeared
at the meeting to-day. Subsequent pro.
ceedings showed that of the 300 about
100 were opposed to the Tillman political
creed.
Three speeches were made, the first by
Capt. TiIlman, the second by Col. You
mans, of Barnwell, and the third by
Major Woodward, of Winusboro.
Capt. Tillman made the strongest
speech he has ever delivered, and his
two hundred men stuck to him without
reserve the whole day. The third hun.
dred stuck to Youmans all day, and when
the speaking was over they were still
with him.
It rained and rained all day, chasing
the crowd on and from pillar to post until
the last act in the performance took place
in the ware house ofthe Charlotte, CoIum.
5ia and Augusta Railroad Company at
this place.
There were representatives present
from the several papers Of the State and
vicinity. The Charleston Tillmonican
had three representatives present at all
times, except when the important joint
debate between Col. Youmans and Capt.
Tiflman took place, and which resulted
in the secession of the Tillmsn men from
the meeting.
The cause and circumstances of this
withdrawal will be forever discussed in
the ensuing campaign, and fortunately
for the truth Of history, the only Repor-
ter from Charleston present when the
dramatic finale was being enacted was
the Reporter for the Sunday Me,us.
It came about this way: Col. Youmans
was speaking. He charged Tillman with
inconsistency in his position now and
some years ago when he declared he was
not candidate; was working solely for
the people. Col Youmans also made a
great deal of fun of Tillman's picture Of
the cat watching the rat, and in general
showed that the Tillman party had got
what they wanted from the Legislature
Hatch fund, land scrip and all. Col
Youmans said that if Tillman were nom.
mated he, Youmans, would support him
in the fight and asked Tillman if he
didn't believe it. Tillman said yes.
The subject was next changed to the
census and the question of reapportion-
ment. This debate grew very warm
Tillman took the floor, and said, speaking
to Col. Youmans:
"Do you stand here to day. in the face
of the Constitution of this State, which
you were sworn TO obey, and justify the
act of robbing Beaufort County of Rep.
resentatives to give to Hampton County p
Youmans: mo ). I don't admitit. l do
not admit that I or any of the party
robbed Beaufort County of its delegates .
Tillman: "Can you stand here to-day
to justify that fact, that Richland. with
its 5000 white people, has two more
delegates than Spartanburg, with nearly
twice as many Democratic votes?
want to ask you if, when man goes and
swears to obey constitution, if he does
not obey it isn't he liar 2"
Youmanz "You mean to say then
that the Legislature perjured itself in
taking the oath to the Constitution; and
because the census for reapportionmen'
was not taken 2"
Tillman: eyes. The legislators sWore
to obey the Constitution, of 1868, which
is to day in force; and it provided fol
the taking of the census. Let me read
it. The section was read. What ]
mean to say is that the legislators sWore
to obey it, and they didn't do it." Loud
applause, confusion and hurrahs fol
Tillman counter hurrahs for Youmans.
"Now let me read from Article g.
THE yelling and shouting for Tillmar
not ceasiug, he turned round on The
crowd fercely and shouted: "Hush up
you are worse than set of jackasses." :"
Capt. Tillman then went on to read the
section requiring a reapportionment or
the basis Of population and stating tha
the Legislature had not done its duty.
Youmans: ''The Legislature passed ar
Act requiring such an enumeration to be
made and I defy Capt. Tillmsn to say
that such provision was not made"
Tillman 81 know the census was mo-
taken. What WIS the use of passing an
Act without giving the money for tbs
work r"
Youmans: "Oh that is not the ques
tion. You charge the legislators with
being perjurers. You don't eeny tha
they passed such an Act ?"
Tillman: produce the Act"
Youmans "Oh, no; you made the in
dictment; you must sustain it or admit
that the accusation is false" At thil
point in the proceedings the meeting wal
wild with excitement. Itwas beyond the
control of any human agency. Tillmar
got up pale and excited. He evidently
desired to talk, but there was no chance.
Eventually Col. Woodward gotup on the
bend of the table and shouted "Three
cheers for straightout Democracyp Thi'
started pandemonium again, and beside!
it was raining torrents. When partia
silence was restored Col. Youmans got
back on the stand and said:
"Gentlemen, Capt. Tillman has indict
ed the State as pe1urer and the legis
lators as perjurers. This is big indict'
ment, and ask him to prove it." Grea
confusion.
Tillman "Gentlemen of Fairfield,
came here proposing fair and honora
bic discussion. Task you to say ifI have
done anything to day to suffer such un-
fairness. Twill not listen to another word
from you (Col Youmans) ifyou dom
prove your charge of lying against me-
Youmans "Well, I have forgotten
that in campaign you called me rene.
gade and a traitor. 1t was you whc
charged me first with being a perjurel
and you can't prove the Indictment"
Tillman then turned his back on the
speaker and left the depot, being follow,
ed out by about the 200 friends.
Outside on the platform he called his
friends together and sent for the Repor-
ter of the Sunday Nelus. Capt Tillman
was about to speak when Mr.. Meares, the
chairman of the Ridgeway Alliance, got
up on the box and said that the meeting
was called in the interest of Tillman and
that ssit was bound to him."
Capt. Tillman then addressed the meet.
ing briefly. He wanted TO know if in
all fairness they had any excuse for
attempting to treat him in that way
He called Col. Youmans's speech a rig
marole. He said that Col. Youmans had
put himself beyond the pale of gentle
man and that he couldn't continue the