The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-03-23


tie is Joined, and the struggle will continue
until the highest officers of the Stale will have
q better and nobler ambition than the be-
smirching OF somebody's good name:
But this editor has no disposition 10 fore
stal the action of the meeting. -
On motion of W. c. Nc jowan. ESQ, Hon.
J. G. Maxwell was called TO the chair
On motion of Hon. W. Fl. Parker. Capt.
J. Robinson was requested TO act as Secre'
tary.
DR.. MaxweIl's Speech.
Taking the chair. DIR. Maxwell said:
Gentlemen OF the Conventional thank you
the honor OF presiding over SO large and in.
tellfgent q convention. The Court House Is
well filled, and had 1t not been for this m:ser-
able weather and disappointment in not get
ting train this house would have been
p ,cfscd. see before me many FARMERS who
nave come from the TeInotest corners OF this
large county to take part In the con'ervatiye.
patriotic purpose OF this meeting.
thank them and l thank MesSrs. Calhoun.
Graydon and MCGOWAN and others for their
aid In securing this enthusiastic meeting. ]
hold In my hand Il telegram from Ninety.Sx
saying twenty-five intended coming.
THE ORIGIN OF THE MOVEMENT.
In January I was asked if would meet a
number OF gentlemen from different paris OF
the State in Columb bia for conference, re-
Piled that 1 would, but suggested to them a
place. Afterwards I received q notice To meet
in Columbia on February 4th. The result of
that meeting was the address OF the "Thr-
teen." 1t was the purpose Of that address to
be conservative In tone and positive In our
demand that we act strictly in the lines Of
the Democratic party. The cali has been
criticised by both friends and foe. but we
knew no better plan OF getting the question
before the people.
Col. Earle had 10 make his gallant fight two
years ago, even without the sanction OF n con-
vention. The "Thirleen" thought II wnuld
be best to make u nomination on the 9th.
but that and all other action Will bs left en-
tirely with the convention of the 18th, pro.
vided that action is in the Democratic party.
Many of our friends think, to let the Tillman
party alone they will 60 to pieces. l cannot
think SO. To let them alone means Tillman
as our United States Senator and weaker
and perhaps worse man us our future Cover
nor.
. NO VICTORY WON WITHOUT a FIGHT.
The Federal. Whig and Knownothing par-
ties were not killed by being let alone, but by
opposition. 1t was the fight of Illlnan and
Cleveland that weakened the Republican par
ty. II was the fight of the Democrats in rs
that gave us control OF this State. II a con-
tInuouS fight had been kept up against the
politicians in power In this county they
would never have had such sweeping sway.
Our foes say the "Thlrteen" were officers
seek erS, do not believe there Is but one OF
the 'lnlfteen' WHO COuiu Uc lnuuCeQ 10 max z
u canvass for office, but If we had all been Of
flee seekers, the charge comes with ili-grace
FROM The gentleman who made the charge on
this floor several days ago. That gentleman
Scott, Tor Judge under Moses, has been cam
Il idate for either the House or Senate ever
since '1G-eXcept two yearS-waS an applicant
for Sri.adier General-had his name connect
ed with the JuugeShip When the late Judge
Thomson was elected-wheE he had Lhe
for the Senate In 'S6. felt his way
for Secretary OF State-while holding over as
your Senator, made the race Tor Clerk OF the
still your Senator, 1t is rumorcd
that he again had his eye upon the position of
OF State and has alreHdy buasted
that he would be Governor Tillman'S sue
ceSsor as Governor.
WHAT TILLMAS pRoMISED-THE FINANCES.
Gentlemen-the Tilman canvass promised
you u reduction ofeXpenseS-thcy have fai led
TO give 1t To you-they have created Instead
of abolishing otlices-they have not reduced
u salary. The Governor has cost you Sl50,00O
by refusing 10 let the Cuosaw Company con-
tinue work until the Courts decided the rights
OF the State. He has increased your expenses
by the employment OF counsel and unneces-
sary litigation IN the CooSaw case, the Apr-
cultural Hall and other matters. / have been
charitable enough 10 believe that the low
price of State bonds Is due TO the fact that In
vestors do not wish 10 buy bonds that are
due, but q friend who Is frequently In the
Northern markets, thinks IL Is fear OF the
Stale Government. Whether Tillman Is re-
sponsible for the low price Of bonds or not
he Is certainly responsible for not being able
to procure money to buy al that are offered
at 81 cents, and Tor not floating the balance III
four instead of six per cent
PROMISES NOT KEPT
Gentlemen-let us refer 10 one or two de.
parimentS 10 see If the promises OF reform
have been kept. Our officers haYe not been
paid but 10 harmOniZe our peO-
pie, am in favor Of moderately reducing all
salaries 10 meet the demands of the present
hard times, we have only four officers who
are extravagantly paid. The two oSeurgen ts-lt-
arm should not receive more than the menI-
bers. The two clerks should he paid SJU0 in
stead OF II OlO. 1t Is a hard months work, but
500 would be q big mouths pay. Who fills
those oiiices-iny friend Dr. Sum Pope, who
has vibrated from medicine To law, and from
south Carolina to Texas ever since the war.
Who has attended more economic canvasses
than any member OF the General Assembly,
and who Is said always To Keep sharp eye on
Congress or Il Railroad commissioner, but lie
never says reduce the clerks salary. Gen.
Gray, Il refOriner, an eX-member of the LcgiS-
lature, candidnte in 1877 for Commissioner
Of the Court OF Claims-tor Comptroller Gene
raj, &c, but he says nothing about reducing
the clerks salary.
WHERE SOME MONEY HAS GONE.
Let us refer TO the South Carolina College,
am not fighting this institution, l favor CIV.
Ing IL every dollar necessary, but want TO
show the position OF relormers, ten years ago
IL was said, If Abbevile could only change
It's Senator, relormer would reduce the eX-
penses during my ten years service the
highest appropriation was between sixteen
and seventeen thousand dollars, now after re-
moving large part of it to Clemson, the ap-
preparation is thirty thousand dollars. This
IS the retrenchnent you get from the prom
ses of retormers.
Let us refer to the expenses of the Senate