The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-06-18

| Ing OF the bitterness enSenuercu ny inc pro-
crcssvc" career of these "reformers," the
evils OF which cannot be rcmedlcd In genera
| tions, If ever the result was, what it must ev-
CT be when such violations of the theory OF
sion md chaos, inficting fearful Injury on NIL,
but greatest on the class fer whose special
benefit and advantage it was ostensbly and
so unwisey attempted.
While H. Is not for me to judge OF the mo.
tives of any man, n OF even of those carpet bag
.reformerS." whose actions We should and do
Justly execrate. will suy that if their pur-
| pose was to bury lis in the ashes OF our ruins.
under the weight Of au organized majority,
who were known TO have no conception wat.
ever OF republican government. but reaSoha.
bly, expected TO sympathlZe In vcnSeful hate
and act with reckless passion, the gracious
consideration Of providing us with republi.
can government was most diubolically adapt.
ed TO It's accomplishment.
| Gen. BrattOn then cOntrastcd the condition
Of government at the close of the war with the
present form OF constitutional liberty. This
| iS the only type OF government which affords
guarantee to the liberty Of the people, for as
| long as they have the Intelligence and man.
hood to maintain and enforce their constitu.
ton, all the liberty which they are entitled
under 1t Is absolutely secure. The agency
which enabled us to establish and maintain
| Democratic party.
The charge now practically implies what
others did not-bad faith In our management
that has been given to us.
If the purpose were, and know 1t cannot
be, the disntcgratlon and final destruction OF
our party our friends who have called II up
again might be congratulated on It's aptness
| for the business, for by q fair construction II
Is q simpleand plain arrmignment, not simply
on Its methods, but Of the party Itself and its
princip Piles as n cheat and n fraud, which never
have given. and do not now give US, what we
are entitled to-thls Republican government.
But cannot attribute such purpose TO any
sons Of Sonlh Carolina. In the excitement OF
| tipo 81 ri fo . a
bridge that has afforded us safe passage thus
far, which has tendency 10 weaken and i'm.
pair its efficiency.
| The purpose OF our anccstors-to cast Off ev.
cry semblance of personal or arbitrary power
when they determined to exercise their SOW.
ereisnty, was next touched, together with the
provisions for filling Office The incumbents
only exercised power while in oiIice.its pow
er was the office. AS long as the offices were
conducted on that principle, IL was govern
mcnt "of The people," 1t Is the sort OF gov
ernment we regnined when In the depths OF
our adyersty we pough.boys, "bourbons,,
and "nristocrats' OF South Carolina arraycd
ourselves on the lines Of the constitution, and
enforced its authority against overwhc hcimtng
odds. Thus was our society organized Into Il
state. Our state joined other States in anoth.
er compact establishing the government OF
the United States. The only material point oI
difference In the conduct OF these govern
ments Is in the mode OF providing their main
tenunce.
Our present troubles are attributable to NAL
administration In the Federal government.
| It's long continued control By the Republican
party, which has never been capable OF oper-
aLing Il constitutional government, has result
ed In progressive Entertainments Oh the SOW
ereignty to which II owes allegiance. We are
in danger of having an olignrchy fastened on
u.s. an arstOoracy through the Instrumental
ty of the Federal government, not the state,
hich is in very deed the only protecting
shield Of our individual liberties against en-
croachmcnts of unlawful power.
This new lpyclDOmcnt of the Farmers
movement Is distracting us In wrangle
among ourselves on false and omparatively
unmportant issues, and Is In perfect accord
with the sllilful tactics OF our unscrupulous
foe; and this where liberty itself is being
jeopartized, and It's rescue is the great stake
for which we are arraycd. Squabblc and
i've col OF the debt we inherited from our our carpet
bag friends, they amount to less than 81 cents
per capita.
The unrest of the people arising from the
condition OF their private affairs Is not con-
fined to this State, and Is not attributable 10
any cause within its borders or control. The
| condition Is this, that notwithstanding the
production CT wealth is greater than ever be.
| fore throughout the world, not only in the ag.
gregate, but per capita, the workers who pro-
duce it are everywhere for the most part In
straitened circumstances The difficulty lies
| in imperfect distribution.
The difference OF the condition Of working
people in Europe and America was then dis.
cussed, showing the American condition far
superior.
| I should have said while on first principles
that the only individual sovereign power
which was retained by the people was that
which would enable them TO control the con.
duct of.thelr government and enforce the au'
thority Of the constitution. That power Is ex.
ercised through the ballot, and thus all voters
are equals In power and influence In their
control of their government SO far as human
agency can make them SO. There can be no
arstocracy in this country without violation
Of the institutions under which we live. Here
in South Carolina we are all B0urbons and ar.
istocrats or we are all common people.
One word In conclusion TO my young friends
on whom the calamity OF our defeat in war
has fallen, the deprivation OF their facilities
for education. You are sons OF sires who
have stood with me shoulder TO shoulder on
the bloody field OF battle In defense of the
constitution, who in the depths of our adver.
sity arrayed themselves solidly on It's lines
and by their numbers and tenaciiy en- nforced
respect for 1t. You are flesh of our flesh, bone
of our bone. and appeal to you not to allow
yourselves to be led away from the faith oi
your fathers.
Captain Tillman is Introduced.
The next gentlemen who will address you
needs no introduction from me. His name is
u household word In Abbevil lie county, and
is Synonymous with rctrenchment and re.
form. now ask your attention In behalf OF
Capt. i. r. Tillman, of Edgeteld.
As B. R.Tillman came to the front to speak.
IOur DTCLly llllle Vi .hI, w ". SIO'
mer came TO the front of the stage, benring
beautiful bouquets, which were passed up to
the speaker.
Doc Bowic-Dont get scared. We are all
here.
Tillman-Do look like was scared?
At this time about fifty voices were shout
Ing and yelling at the top OF their voices,
when Tillman said:
Gentlemen: can't speak, unless you keep
quiet. Gentlemen, please be seated so that
the ladies may sec and hear.
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and entlemcn:
F.. W. Il. Nance-Thals right, Captain; no
revolt here.
Tilman-Fonr years ago l had the honor Of
addressing the Democracy OF Abbeville coun-
ty In the Court House. Then some one ella i'm
ed that the newspapers had made me. re.
piled that they had not half made me. II
any one may Judge by the present situation,
they have about finished me.
1t gives p,e pleasure to meet you.
Voicc-We are glad to see you.
Tillman-Thc occasion which brings us to-
gether Is II momentous one.
There has not been such movement since
lS7(i.
Tillman-I make no appeals to prejudice or
passion. The platform, which l wrote, L.
where l stand. and invite your conSidera-
tlon of the different planks Of thut patform
Upon the principles OF that platform we go
before the people, for the endorsement or dis
approval. = ,,,o
surround us, we can have but one political
marty In South Carolina.
Whenever the white people divide, that fac.
ton which can come nearer TO the negro Will
draw him into their ranks, and the next step
will be the death of the Democratic party In
this commonwealth.
For my distinguished friend. and / mean IL.
General Earle-I have great respect. | voted
for him In 1852 when his friends slaughtered
him. lie is not n rIngster butan honest man.
But he represents the sentiment OF the old
ring, and Of General Bratton have nothing
disrcspertful to say. The Register after call
Ing on General }ratton, now cries out calls
on Sheppard. "Oh, save us" and oil seem to