Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1890-06-19
Progress OF the Campaign.

We take from our exchanges the
following report of the campaign
meetings of last week. At Laurcns
on Thursday the crowd were cuthu-
siastic for 1'illman and their conduct
at times disgraccful. Gen. Bratton
was the first speaker. lie said:
have experienced many personal
kindnesscs from the citizens of Lau-
rcns, although but cold comfort po-
litically. You may do it again, but
that is for you to decide. 1t is with
feelings of Kindness that | address
you. 1t will be done with frhnkncss,
but from the demonstrations | have
seen and heard suppose your minds
arc made up. C"Ycs, sir You are
right; hurrah for Ben Tillman !'D
The crowd was carried away for
n while, but an impnssioncd appeal
from Chairman Shell brought them
to their senses.
Gen. Bratton, continuing, said: |
will make a. fair, frank statement,
and expect it to be taken for what it
is worth. The cause Of our trouble
is not within the limits Of our State,
except as brought about by partisan
strife. When this movement first
began ] kept quiet and remained
quiet until these agitatons reached
the danger line. CA voice: "No
danger while Tillman is ut the
hcad.w This set the crowd wild
again, and for several minutes con-
fusion reigncd. Chairman Shell, in
attempting to restore order, asked:
"Shall it be said that Gen. Bratton
was driven from this stand and de-
nicd a hcaring?" This reached the
crowd who answered, "No," and
gave q hurrah for Bratton.
In rcsuming Gen. Brat,on said
If | have to say what will please
you in order to get hearing, | will
sit down. have como here MS q
citizen to speak to sovereign citizens.
We are at critical period in our
history. If you will hear me | will
show you where it is. CA oicc
"It's on your side Of the fence, Gene
ral.O This brought out another
Storm of hurrahs for Tillman. Gen.
Bratton said Every time anybody
says anything about Radicalism you
say he charges you with Radicalism
From the beginning ] have defended
those engaged in this movement,
for have friends in it who are as
pure men and good Democrats as
arc in the State.
At this point there cnsucd Il pc
riod of the greatest disorder. Chair
man Shell could not restore order.
so Capt. Tillman advanced to the
front of the stand, and, after get
ting the ear of the yelling multi
tude, said: want to ask you, as you
seem to be rabid Tillmanitcs, do yon
want it to go out from here that you
don't want to hear the other side ?
DO you want to be defeated in other
counties ? In the name of common
deccncy, | ask you to keep quiet and
give Gen. Bratton respectful hear
ing.
After n general hurrah for "Our
Ben" the disorder subsidized, and Gen.
Bratton resumed his remarks.
When Gen. Earle was introduced
the crowd began yelling for Tilman
and it was some time before he
could proceed. AS soon as he could
he said
| have heard that Lanrcns was
hospitable, and that she treated
strangers well. | like brave men,
but | have little use for towards,
if a brave man looks me in the face
and tells his opinion, however differ
cnt it may be from mine, | will not
denouncc him. Every man has a
right to his opinion. In what will
say will differ from you and Capt.
Tillman, but ! have nothing against
him personally. When / first spoke
in this campaign at Anderson he
asked me il | thought he was a
Democrat. | answered yes. "Will
/ bolt the nomination % he next
asked, and ] answered frankly and
honestly "No." You will not. /
III .Hsr