The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-09-23
Tillman Tackles Columbia.

pAS AoSI nSSk 0ONCiuoi 1iiih'oa ooAo -
his speech:
"I notice in the papers that it was th'
purpose of tho laboring men to celebrate
this day. And I saw what the committed
said about myself and the city aldermen
not acknowledging the invitations.
did not write any answer, because
didn't know whether 1 had any busines;
foolipg with you or not. The first time
Ispoke ont here I got a pretty hot re-
ception and the last time I came here
had a pretty cold time of it. 1 was
snubbed by the centennial committee
for some cause or other, and thought the
man who did it would get the worst oi
it. I don't tmiud being snubbed once, but
twice is two much. So when another in
vitation came, thought you might be
fixing up job to give me another cold
time of it. When certain Quaker had
been slapped on the face he turned the
other side and got another slap. Then
he said: Now, l followed the injunction
of the Bible and the laws are fulfilled
and I'll give thee hell Icame here this
time to give you all little-scissors.
T will say this much, I have been here
nearly one year as the chief magistrate
of the State. I was put here by the
laboring men of South Carolina. I have
nothing against your city. I stand here as
the representative of the Democracy and
equality before the ballot box, and 80
help me God I intend to fight for them
and maintain them at all costs. I will
glory in the prosperity of your city and
wish it progress, although I meet scowl-
ing faces as I march down your main
streets. Why then do come here7 1
saw in the paper that I had snubbed the
committee. God forbid that I should
ever come to snub the citizens of South
Carolina, especially those ~ho live by the
sweat of their brow. Thus I made up
my mind to come here and show you,
though as march to right or left and
meet scowlipg facea, that consider my
self the servant of the whole people.
"But what of South Carolina? Iii q
great State. Shall I talk of her past
history, or her future? 1t seems to me
her forward progress is most important.
A gentleman from the North, repre-
senting a newspaper, called on me q
short time ago. He asked, among other
things, what did South Carolina need
more than all just now. I replied in
stantly-snd the more I think of it the
more wisdom I see in my reply. l told
him, first, We needed more white men /;
second, intelligence, then capital. Most
men would have said capital first. I
think if you could bleach the negroes
into white men you would treble the pro-
duct per acre. If you want to see South
Carolina prosper you have got to have
more industry, educate your children
and have more brain and less muscle.
With intelligence at the helm and at the
plough handle there will come prosperity.
Pardon me if I touch on the political
conditions which confront US. Last year
you passed through the most malignant
campaign on record. Now every man in
South Carolina should bend every energy
to reunite the branches of the Democratic
party. I wish we could bring them to-
gether in peace and harmony. If you
disrupt the Democratic party Pandora's
box of evils will be turned loose. Every.
body knows it will mean the ruin to the
State. 1t will mean the return of the
carpet bag rule. We can not divide and
stay any length of time. The State has
fine prospect, but if they in their folly
and madness break forth they will bring
ruin untold The people of South Caro-
lima are patriotic though antagonistical,
and should cease these chickering's"
In responding to the toast "the city Of
Columbia"-Governor Tillman having
responded to "the State of South Caro-
liua"-Msyor McMsster said this should
be time for everybody and everything
to harmonizs. The committee had tried
to make things harmonize. But it was
his duty to resent an unjust accusation
against the city and challenge Governor
Tillmap's remarks. HE said extreme
care had been taken to exclude anything
of politics from the affair referred to
and he regretted that there were some un.
fortunate events. say thst the matter
referred to was also due to IN accident,
and hope the governor will pardon me
and take the correction as it is. (Cheers).
This is dinner table and I hope to see
nothing but q pleasant affair. am fear.