Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1890-06-12
! is. lEt tlWIET.L!s:E!t' Y q e COURIER.
R.As HoMPsoN. ID. "A. SMITH. h. T. JAYNEs
BY THOMPSON, SMITH & JAYNES.
~ - -
THURSDAY,JUNE12 IL, 1880. \
State Campaign.
Opening in GreenviIIe.
THURSDAY JUNE 12, 1850.
.[EplroRrAL coRREspcNDENcE.] J

was evidont that the Democracy of
Greenville folt no slight interest in the
political issues of the day. Tho trains
running into tho city Monday afternoon
and night brought all the candidates for
the various State offices, both declared
and prospective, as we'll as many of their
respective friends, and interested spec
tators cf the days proceedings. Tuos-
day morning witnessed great in.gathe-
ring of the County Democracy, composed
of the thrifty farmers of this banner
county of the Piedmont belt Since the
days Of tho historic '73 it is said that no
suoh gathering of the people has ever
been known. Being tho day fixed for
the formal opening Of the State campaign,
oil manifested an eager desire to learn on
what limo it would bc projected
BY II o'clock some 1000 people had
assembled in tho beautiful city park
whore tho meeting was called to order by
County Chair ..'n b. f. Perry, who in
vited Rev. j. x. lifton to lead in prayer.
An earnest and eloquent prayer to the
God Of Nations--thc God of all grace
and wisdom-to preside over tho dclibc-
rations of the hour, and safely to guide
our ship Of State, deeply impressed many
with tho solomuity of tho occasion.
Chairman rorry thon introduced Capt.
B. r. Tillman, of Edgchcld, who, on
rising from his seat and advancing to the
front OF tho stand, was received with
deafening applause, the repeated renewal
Of which gave tho Captain abundance of
timo to arrange OH tho speakers table a
suspicious looking bundle of papers,
which, we afterwards found, contained
his "ammunition," as le said.
lie began his two hours speech with q
pleasant reference to Grccnvillc city and
county, which show on every hand signs
of progress and prosperity. lie was
glad, too, that the people could see him
plain farmer-but yet the most "noto-
rious" or rather "notcd man" in South
Carolina, because lie had been the most
maligned and misrepresentcd. Then,
drawing nearer to the theme of his
discussion, he said: eve are assembled
here to-day OH momentous occasion-
on tho turning point of anew revolution.
Old things arc to be done away with and
new things arc to bc done We arc on
the eve of new departure hope, not
only in politics, but in everything; for
government has great deal to do with
tho progress of tho people,"
Ho then went into u detailed discus
sion of what, for a better torn, wo may
call "Tillmanism," going over the same
ground and making in substance the
same speech that he did at Ridgeway and
Anderson. Space forbids n minute re-
port of his lengthy speech, and besides,
tho same has been heretofore published
in our columns. During tho two hours
of is delivery he was frequently inter-
rupted by applause when he made some
telling point, or related an ab. anecdote.
He made strong appeal for primary
election in every county in tho State, for
tho election Of State officers, and severely |
criticised tho convention system. Next
was passed in review the matter of re-
the privilege tax on fer
tilizers for Clemson College, the Hatch
fund, and the Agricultural Department,
in consecutive order.
Nothing new, over and above his pre-
ViQus charges Oh these matters, were
brought out, save that he repeated his
charges against Commission a. p. Butler,
and offered some proof by reading let
tor from l.. S. Connor, of Oangeburg,
stating that the Department had knowl-
Ddgc Of several tons of adultcratcd fer
tilizers at that place, which were carried
over from ono season to another, but
which were never seized and confiscated
rs required hy law, They wore only pun
shed by the improved (P) method of
ftalicising," adopted by Mr.. Butler.
And just here he indulgcd in bit of
,elling satire on states" as a mode of
punishment for frauds, crimes, lynch law,
&c. He then charged in general terms that
opr political fabric is pcrmcatcd with
political lcprosy. In closing, he paid his
respects TO Mr.. a. B. Williams, of the
ireenvil!c Ne,cs, and read different quo
ations from editorials in this paper, con-
,rasting "Williamsism," as he termed it,
before tho March Convention, with evil
iamsism" since the Convention, and at
eHiptci u uiicIcillltllon Oh w lllla1nS- |
SIN" from "rillmanism," which diifcr-
'ncc, he said, was so slight on principles
If public policy that it would be hard
o see it with microscope. This slight
Inference" he then proceeded to illus
rate by relating an anccdote, pointed il
$ true, but tho low vulgarity of which
orbids its publication. And thus his
wo hours Grafton was brought to a
'lose, and he took his scat amid long con-
inued applause.
Attorney General Earle was then in
reduced, and on coming to the front,
he tumult and applause of the multitude
an high. Mingled cries of "Tillman"
md earle" could be heard on all sides
But silence being at length In measure
the distinguished speaker began
lis hours address by reference to
ireenville as his "nativc heath" and
hat here as poor boy he began lifcs
)attle. Then ho said: 81 am here to
iiscuss tempcrately, dispassionatcly, but
the issues of to-day, and to
speak the truth rs know it. | am here
IS citizen and Democrat-not as tho
lomince of a faction. 1 claim tho right
IF tho citizen to bn heard in dofcnsc nc