The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1890-09-11
THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION.
Delegates to State and Congressional Con-
ventions Elected-Ton Finley Speaks
= and is Endorsed for ConGress-No
White Republican Present-Anti-
Brayton Delegates to State
Convention.

"hlte hepuDllcau
Brayton Delegates to State
Convention.
The Republican County Convention
met in Newberry on Saturday. They
first assembled in the court house,
but when County Chairman, Henry
Kennedy, raped the Convention 20
| order he said lie desired to make
statement and that was that the Clerk
of Court had informed him that he
could not occupy the court house longer
than one o'clock, and one of two alter
natives presented themselves, either to
finish their business by that hour or go
elsewhere and secure hall at cost OF
two dollars. 1t was decided that the
| work before the Convention was too
| important 10 be rushed through by that
! hour. The Clerk afterwards sent word
that the court house could be occupied
until three o'clock, but that even Was
not time enough. 1t was then eleven
O'Clock. They were right as 1t was near
six o'clock when the Convention ad-
journed. So they adjourned to the
Odd Fellows Hall i'll Amisoka, and the
Convention met there.
The Herald and News man went
down, and thought he would see the
thing through, but business moved
slowly, and the hall was about the
hottest place we have been IN lately,
and we had to come out occasionally to
get Whit of fresh air.
There was some wrangling over the
| organization, and the way it was to be
effected.
Henry Kennedy, rs County Chair
man, called the Convention to order,
and Jason Jones, the Secretary, read
the call, which ordered the Convention
to elect delegates to the State ConVen-
ton. The Congressional Convention
has not yet been called, but delegates
to it were also elected.
P. L. Spearman was elected tenpor-
ary president, but it was finally ordered
that it was the duty of the County
Chairman to appoint committee ON
credentials and hear the report, and
Kennedy resumed the chair and ap-
pointed the following committee on
credentials: No. ,, p. H. Wilson; No.
1, w. IT. Bird; No. 6, NJ. G. Jackson;
No. I, P. L. Spearman; No. S, T. A.
Williams; No. 8, a. P. Jones; No. ~,
W. l.. Counts; No. II, Abram Wicker.
There was a contest from No. l, and
no one was appointed from that town.
ship. Townships 8 and 5 were not
represented.
Berry Neely thought that very inn
portant thing had been omitted too
long, and he moved that the Rev.
Jackson lead in prayer. Some delegates
objected and thought the proper place
for the prayer to come in was when the
Convention was permanently organ
lied, but the majority thought prayer
could do no harm at any time, and the
Rev. Jackson came forward and
offered an earnest prayer.
Kennedy said there were two things
that had to be done, and that might be
we'll be attended to while the commit
tee on credentials was making up its
report. The first was to raise the 81
to pay for the hall. The money was
soon raised by voluntary contributions
of five and ten cents from the members.
The reporter was permitted to take
part in this proceeding. The second
thing was to hear an address from q
distinguished visitor of their own color
who was present, the Hon. Tom Finley,
once of Abbev:lle, but late of Washing
ton, D. G. He wore badge Of some
sort which be said was evidence that
he had good position in Washington
that was paying him good salary, but
he intimatcd during his remarks that
he would not be averse to representing
the Third Congressional District in
Congress, and felt that he had the abil-
ity so to do.
Kennedy in presenting Finley said
that they were about to enter upon a
contest that would try every one of
Them. That the Republicans wanted
aud intended to have Congressman
from every District in South Carolina.
FINLEY's SPEECH.
We devote considerable space to this
Convention and to Finley's speech as
showing the feelings Of the negroes on
the political situation. We take it that
our readers will be interested in know
ing what is going on and what may be
expected.
Finley said he desired to know the
feelings of the negroes, and for that
reason he had come down here to find
out. They say you are opposed to the
passage of the election bill, and now |
want you to say whether you are or not.
(All said they were not opposed to it,
AS for me, I am in favor of it. Been
heap things to delay bill. Laid schemes
to kill it. Say The negro didn't want
it. I am sent here to find out. Cost
me nothing to come. Ny expenses are
all paid. He said the negro did not
want social equality. All that he wants
is justice and he would be happy.
They ask me at Washington why we
don't shoot and fight. All we want is
justice. Don't want to ''do!ninize" over
the white man. You are nothing but
negroes as certain as God made You,
and never will be anything else. Don't
intend to 60 to any other country. We
are not responsible for being brought
here, and they intended to stay since
they were here. Been alleged in
Washington to keep from the passage
of the election bill that all the negroes
are liars, thieves. rogues, and all the
women strumpets. That deny to be
true. They beat me in Abbeville. If
wanted to have prejudice l could have
prosecuted them, but want no preju-
dice. Tom Finley was a good fellow
in AbbevilIe, and when I wanted a
petition to 90 and get work in Alabama,
T got the best recommendation you
ever saw. but when Tom Finley was
about to be postmaster at Abbevllle he
was grand rascal. But if the white
man is ready we are willing to shade
hands over the bloody chasm. But how
about these good white Republicans
who are around about election time
and pat you on the shoulder and say
vote for me. They don't know you
when there are any white people about,
and when it is daylight but you are
very clever fellows and they think
heap of you when they are not seen by
white men. They will meet with you
at night when they want your votes,
and that is all they care for you. /
know more about the government ut
Warrington than Brayton and Tolbert,
know things they can't find out:
What ruined you in '7G. You elected
Internal scoundrels. Never intend
for men to lead you. Russell and Tol-
b,rt op6 Rrroa IroDt CDu 10 vote. for