The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-09-17

to have been an inheritance. l was compell-
ed to discuss the issues upon different status
to what had intended, but the jury of last
resort, the people, sustained me. Having as
said awhile ago very distinguished gentle
man from Sumter, who was my opponent.
and one of the best lawyers of the State-and
you know he fought me ably, he made the
answer, and you know the result That
would be vindication enough here at home,
bnt how am to get the news abroad, how Is
the good nan name & OF the state "a to be T reelalmed
the United States, that my election means
that the Democratic party Of South Carolina
have been derelict, and that II Is rotten. Be
fore :he Democratic party, the rank and file
represented here tonight, deny it. [CheerS.l
Because we neglected our duties, our cltl.
Zenship, and allowed certain clements TO get
possession Of the government ana run IL IN Il
certain way, and because we chose to come
forward and take possession OF our BIRTH
right and run 1t in different way, does that
mean that South Carolina has proven herself
think So it is the first time ever heard that
even the legislature constituted the state, or
that the state officers constituted the state, or
that the whole government constitutes ,, inc
constitute the state. The people neglected
their duty, and. MS said. when they choose
to find fault and come forward and state Wa
with an arrogance never before wotnssed.
| said In this hall two years ago, you arc
damn ng back the water, ana when lS9O comes
with full head on. you will see some fine
grinding done! [Cheers.]
was told then by one of the leaders of the
opposition, or one Of the leaders OF fthegovern-
ment, you have your party under your nat;
the people don't back yon;" but he recognizes
tonight whether am u prophet or he.
do not prize the vindication you have Civ
en- me for the vindication alone, for my con-
science has been clear and sleep all night.
I no %
bad bed fellow. Ii the vindcation hadn't
come, and had told me TO go about your buSi-
ness, you are not to be trusted, would have
slept just as sweetly, because have been ac-
tuated all the time from sense Of duty; but
you have given me priceless heritage to
hand my children.
The revolution through which we have pass
edit is nothing else-has naturally caused
great many men who are in high places to go
to the bottom, and has placed new men on
top. Revolutions always do that. Those who
were on top resisted going down. They dld
all they could to keep the wheel from mov-
ing, but 1t would turn.
III am the dcmagogue. the crank and all
that sort Of SSW VIII tbs De cam and
angels will do no more. You all remember
the words of the poet:
"He who surpasses and subduts mankind.
Must look down on the hate ofthose below
Imust take this hatred as my portion.
cannot help it. 1t is here and it seems TO me
II Is ineradicable. But can say 1t lruthfully
tonight that1 have no personal enemity a.
calnst any Anti Tillmanite in South Carolina
who has treated me with decency. There are
a few isolated instances where it would be
lie for me to say il, and you would not believe
me If l were to claim that have no resent
ment; but take the most OF those that oppose
mel recognize their right to do 1t, and |
have no emnity 10 crafty, therefore, eS'
pect not to try to punish those who have OPP
posed me politically.
My line of conduct, so far as I shall nave
any control of the government, or any direc-
tion Of affairs, will be to try to get the best
men for the benefit Of the people,.
have made no pledges to anybody. I am
body helr, or an office, or anything Of the
kind, if you do thus and so. I went before
the people on the merits of the question; nlter
I vas selected by the March convention / dis
cussed the Question on its issues, and stand
here the nominee of the party for governor,
and no earthly power can prevent my elec-
ton unless die. lCheersl
stand here with none of these contamina-
ting influences which usually surround poll
ticians. am not politician, thank God.
There are some things that could wish
different, and one is that those who have op-
PISSED me, having been beaten fairly, honestly
and snuare!y, should have long since subSid-
ed gracefully; but ten days ago the county In
which this city is located. by resolution
passed at their convention, under the whoop,
instructed its delegates to this convention TO
withhold their endorsement from king the
nomination unanimous.
Let's contrast things little. ] have been
in politics five years. l came here In 1856
with about 12O nen-j uSt came promiscuouSly
without concert of acticn-men sent by the
people in the interest of reform and certain
policies. Well, they beat us. and we made
the nomination unanimous, went home and
elected the ticket. l came here in 1888 with
| 10, lacking only 20 necessary TO nominate.
We were beaten again, and you know how
that nomination unanimous, went forward
without a murmur, stood up to the rack like
men and elected the ticket tCheers.l
jority unprecedented In the history OF the
people with uuapimity unknown, have seen
fit to place me at the head Of the government,
what do we behoiu1 Wei, the aStion ni
statue at C;esar's feast. Caesar was giving q
feast to the popnlace to try to increase his
popularity, and in his vast villas, fine lawn
and flower garden, he hadsset here and There
the statue OF every Roman worthy, but POM
pey the Great was absent. The very absence
OF Pompey, the man who had died for the
Roman constitution ana Ior roman Ilnertt,
an attempt on C;esar's part to cast slur upon
his antagonist, only called the peoples at
tention 10 it the more; and Richland's refusal
to endorse the Democratic nominee and make
his nominal on unanimous only adds-Wei,
won't characterize ii, but leave you to fill /.
out. lCheers)
Ism and the necessity for Democratic unity
IN tQlS STATE WulCu III SOul ooItS
is the very essence OF the life OF the state,
and its posterity. White supremacy you
know must DO maintained at all hazards, and
if the majority Of white men are not willing
TO submit 10 the minority, and the latter ap-
peal 10 the negro as they threaten TO do, and
as they have done on the coast, 1t gives me
no alarm. You put this Democratic banneri
in nv hands. The Democratic banner WAS
first brought into prominence and held up by
the strong arm OF 1876 and l have no more
fear of any effort, il it should be made on that
line, of any danger or harm coming TO the
Democracy Of the state, except In n few isola-
ted,places than ] fear that / will be killed
and have no fear Of that.
take IL upon me here tonight though it
may be unnecessary but 1t has gone abroad
and il has been told TO my dctrlment that l
had myself guarded In Charleston. II is an
Infamous lie because | knew nothing OF II,
and had nothing TO do with il, and If IT was
done didn't know it until l lett the city.
/ will not detan you much longer, but
there Is one point OF public policy under the
administration ol myself and the gentlemen
whome you have called to take charge OF the
government which deem 1t necessary, to
touch upon tonight. and that is the public
now-that is, how to pay those bonds that
become due in '93, | believe.
1t has been said by some Of those who
claim to have experience in finance that they
fear that these ineXpcriec ced men would not
be able to refund the debt. My answer to
that Is this: Honesty knows no experience to
pay q just debt. have always paid my own,
and IN the name of God, why should try, as
has been asserted that would, to do anything