Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1892-10-06


Tindal, G.. W. Shell, w. D. Evans,
D. X. Norris, M. L. Donaldson,
John E. Bradley, TT. Kirkland,
E. T. T.sStackhouse, VI: Pope, Hugh
Farley, w. 7. G. Bates, J. A. Sligh,
Sampson Pope, Eugene B. Gary,
John Gary Evans, w. ]. Talbert,
w. A. Courtenay, DR. Zimmerman
and myself. Those men enlisted
in the cause OF reform i'll the State
Government and for a redress of
the evils expressing the farming
classes. Those who know any
thing at all about the social his
tory of South Carolina would never
contend that all or any of the lead
ers I have named would have en-
tered into a conspiracy to destroy
their own class as a class, or
to pander to communistic pre-
judice and passion as means of
selfdestruction. The leaders in
most instances belonged to what
is called the higher or highest
social class in South Carolina, and
they represented the State from
border to border, among them be-
ing included some Of the colonial
.saristocracy' of Beaufort, Geor-
.getown and Charleston.
"The Tillman family ranks
among the best in the State. In
1885 Tillman made a speech be-
fore the South Carolina Argicul-
tural Society at Bennettsville, in
which he advocated the building
of an agricultural college, in which
the farmer boya could learn the
science of agriculture. He advised
also the divorce of the literary and
agricultural departments of the
South Carolina University, in
which was an annex for agricul-
tural studies. The idea of the
agricultural college and the aboli-
tion of the annex were endorsed
by every county in the State. In
1885 the farmers met, formed an
association, and presented their
claims in memorial to the Legis-
lature, which were almost indign-
antly refused.
"This meeting was the largest
ever held in this State, and was
composed of representative far.
mers and the friends of the associ'
alton, lawyers, doctors, mechanics,
and all other professions and
vocations. In that year, after the
rejection of their respectful claim
they tried to solidify their forces
and elect a Governor in sympathy
with them, but they failed for
reason not necessary to explain il
this connection. In 1888 they
tried again, but failed again. They
tried in this year, to nominatr Ger
Joseph H. Earle, a Bourbon of th'
Bourbons, a fact which is it's Owl
commentary on that social revolt
in South Carolina and the true
inwardness of Tillmanism,' ant
especially when it is stated tina
Tillman himself worked sincerely
and hard for the nomination o
Earle. Gen Earle was one of tn
! opponents of Tillman on the stum]
in 1890.
"The farmers of the State ant
those who favored the establish
n1ent of an Agricultural Colleg
had, in my judgment, the best o.
reasons for their rebellion agains
the then existing political powers
Their demands were reasonable
and they had become exasperate'
by the failures to perform and b,
the broken promises and holloy
assurances Of the party leaders
Governor Richardson, who pre-
ceded Governor Tillman, Will
pretending sympathy with th
Agricultural College idea, made n
reference to it in his inaugural ad
dress, SO that near the close of hi
last term the storm burst, the revc
luton was on. The revolutionist
mot Socialists or Anarchists
were determined to obtain redress
In the spring of 1890. G. W. Shell
now Congressman from the At
district, and then chairman of tn
Farmers's Association, issued a
address calling upon the farmer
of the State to meet in conventio
IT, nominate candidate for Stat
Offices to canvass the State all
stand for nomination at the regr
lar Democratic G Convention in SeI
tember.
@Tillman was nominated by thi
Convention in the spring, or We
suggested as the phrase went j
that campaign. Gen Joseph {
, Earle and Gel, John Bratton mad
, the canvass az ainst him, but Til
} man swept The field and WE
. nominated and elected, admini
, tering crushing defeat to the II
, dependsnt-sorehe head-negro-Radic'
> ticket led by Alexander G. Has
8 kell as candidate for Governor
: During the campaign several ne
t issues were raised by the new
| papers, but the fundamental issue
, of Tillmanlsm remained the san
and were incorporated in the part
! platform of 1890. The cause Fl
/ the perennial stream of abuse
tho Farroera' Movonnent and !