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

emf ertan that belief for one minute.
Why is all this agitation: Are the farmers
poor and oppressed? To-day the State OF
South Carolina is richer than she has ever
been. Look at tho towns and cities that have
sprung up and grown to such dimensions
within Il few years. Look at the farmers
lands better, have better stock and cattle, bet.
ter farming utensils, live in better houses,
dress better, and best of all. educate their sons
and daughters better. Our friends made n
Carolina University students are said TO have
inSulted the Farmers Convention. Don't You
know that the majority of the students III
that College are the sons of farmers?
But, my friends. the hour Is late ana you
| have been here long. Let me say there Is no
corruption In South Carolina. Your govern,
| ment Is an honest and economical one. And
rs long as strength is left me, will protest
against this wholesale effort to defame and
malgn her.
Speech of Colonel Eugene B. Gary.
1t seldom happens in the history Of coun-
| try that the people rise up In all parts and at
| tend public gatherings for the purpose simply
Of advancing politically, any single indlvid'
In 1876, the people did not wear their red
shirts, leave the fields. and other places OF
business. simply to elect Wade Hampton
Governor Of South Carolina.
We had higher and boiler mission be-
| fore us.
He was the representative put forward as
the Standard bearer of u political party, and
| IL was the deep Interest we felt IN that party
that caused the great political upheaVal Oh
| 1876.
To-day the friends of the reform movement
have not met simply to assist In conferrlne
honors upon Capt. Tillman.
| lie has been suggested as candidate for
Governor by convention OF certain members
Of the Democratic party, subject to the actlon
of the State Convention, who desire
change which Is the great law Of nature:
We have now n higher and holier missloa
before us. as we had In 1876, than the political
| advancement of any one man.
| We meet as Democrats under the call OF the
state Democratic Executive Committee. TO
present TO the people the reasons urged for
| change and reform, and we are not to be
frightened from the duty before us by the
ghost and hobgoblin stories Of those who
think they can frighten the weak kneed and
| faint hearted.
1t is no new thing for the people to rise up
and ask reform In the Government, nor Is the
demand for q change confined to our State.
We find the same fight going on In other
States.
When we review the history Of the past, we
| find that Magma Charta was forced from King
John at Runnymede In order that the peo-
Pile might be protected IN their rights.
| Does II seem possible that the crown would
have desired to prevent u person lodged In
Iail from applying for the writ of habeas cor
pus to inquire into the cause Of his custody ?
| Does II seem that the crown would have op-
| -
Jury OF his peers, instead OF by the officers ap
pointed ny the crown?
Does 1t seem that the Government Of Great
| Britain would have desired to impose n tax
ou the American Colonies without allowing
them representations In the Government?
| Captain Tillman is the candidate suggested
| by the reform movement, and not the reform
| movement itself, as Napoleon Bonaparte was
the ougroth Of the French revolution, but did
| not cause the revolution. or as Washington
was made famous by the war l776. II Capt.
| mo n ba1 1iypA this rpforn,
would have come and If for any cause Capt.
| Tillman could not continue in this campaign,
| there are others who would take his place.
When Abraham Lincoln was killed the
Republican party became stronger than be-
| fore his death.
Upon hearing of his death Garfield remark.
ed, Abraham Lincoln is dead, but the Repub.
Tic still lives. This re form movement is not
confined to the farmers.
| 1t Is composed OF those Democrats who en-
dorse the platform adopted at the March
| We want fairness in the distribution of Off.
GERS, economy In the Government and to re.
mand to private life political chaperncs and
those who have had Il monopoly in holding
the offices.
II any OF us have political ambition. or
sons whs may desire to run for office II
should be that, they would not have to con:
suit some gentleman holding high political
position To know whether or not they should
become candidate for office.
Speech OF Hon. Ellis g. Graydon.
Mr.. Chairman and Ladies and Gentlemen
l have come before you today TO announce
that am a candidate for the high and honor
South Carolina. | regret exceedingly that !
have not time TO speak TO you at some length
upon the issues OF the campaign, but the late.
ness of the hour admonishes me that can
not deta!n you much longer.
| A few things. however, will say. with your
permission. was a member of the Leglsla.
ture in 1884 when the census and apportion-
ment bill came before 1t. voted for it,
spoke for it. fought for 1t to tile last ditch.
thought then and think now 1t should have
passed, but am not here TO charge or believe
Ijurers. l believe that they saw their duty in
a. different light from what saw mine, and
think they had as good right TO their opin-
Another thing | wish to say Is this: You
have heard great deal of prating about the
necessity Tor economy, retrenchment and re-
form. but no one has told you where it can be
effected. am here To say that South Carroll
ma has rs honest government as any com.
monwealth in the world has ever had, and
that all these charges of corruption, political
lcprosy, addition, division and silence" are
absolutely without foundation. Not only
have we an honest government, but we have
IN economi cal one. will not insult your in.
tellisenee by quoting from Radical, but
since the "rObbcr Governor or South Caro-
lima has been quoted, | will ask you why ii
was that the speak er did not go further and
tell you that while the pcr capita rate OF taxa.
tion then was 1891 now IL Is only s!.Ti or g. IL
more than II Is now.
| have been member OF the Legislature foI
four years and was member of the Commit.
tee of Ways and Means which has the control
Of all the fiscal affairs OF the government
Not cent of taxes can be levied, not dollar
can be appropriated, unless the bill for the
purpose goes through that committee. l can
futhfully say that that committee laborcd
faithfully and honestly TO bring every appro
prlation and every levy down To the lowest
point consistent with efficiency In the admin
istration OF the government. No, fellow -citi.
zens. these charges and insnuationS are no,
true. South Carolina has not only an honest
governm ent, but one OF the most economical
In the world. l thank you for your attention
and only regret that have not time to speak
TO you mere at length upon these questions.