The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1892-04-27
FACE TO FACE AT EDGEFIELD.
Governor Tillman's Appeal to the Men Of
his Own County Created no Special
Enthusiasln-The ArraiSnInent of
the Administration by Ex-
Governor Sheppard and
Col. James L. Orr
Divided.
LSnecial TO News and Courier.

Especial to News and Courier.
EDGEFIELD, April 2}.--The Edgetield
campaign meeting occurred to-day.
Every condition was favorable for a
large political gathering. Nature smiled
and the people turned out to see and
! hear. The discussion between the in
vifed speakers took place in the Ac;tde-
my Grove, in the suburbs of the town,
where substantial stand and seats for
five hundred people had been provided.
| ARRIVAL OF THE SPEAKERS.
About 9 o'clock Governor Tillman,
accompanied by Col. John Gary Evans,
rode through the streets Of the town.
| but the Governors appearance caused
no furry or especial manifestation. Mr..
Sheppard and Col. Orr came TO the
place of meeting together. An informal
procession formed on the public square
and accompanied by the Edgetield
Brass Band reached the place ofspeak-
ing at II o'clock, and rapidly utilized
| the seats and the vacant space adj jacent
! to the stand.
EDGEFIELD on GOOD BEHAVIOR.
! The gathering numbered from 1000
to $500 persons, including about $50
| ladies. The crowd was much more
| orderly than that at Greenville week
ago, and while excitement ran high the
exhibitions of ill-temper and howling
were not nearly 50 frequent and bolste-
rous The speakers were, in the main,
accorded respectful reception.
THE RECEPTION OF THE ORATORS.
Governor Tillmau opened the pro-
ceedings in a two hours speech and was
given good attention and hearty appla-
use aud was the recipient of several
bouquets. Ex-Governor Sheppard fol-
lowed in an address of fifty minutes,
during which he was repeatedly and
enthusiastically cheered and made a
vigorous argument against Tillman and
his methods. He also received some
extremely beautiful floral offerings and
made decidedly favorable impression.
Attorney General McLaurin followed
in twenty minutes speech of a mild
character. Col. Orr spoke an hour and
handled his points in manner that
elected much applause.
BOTH SIDES PLEASED.
At times both Sheppard and Orr
were compelled to suspend temporarily
by the noise and Interruptions OF the
opposition. Tillman at times spoke
with some feeling, and frequently when
hits were made by his opponents arose
and interrupted them. At one time the
Governor undertook to test the senti-
8 %I>
mary, and about half the crowd signl-
fed the preference for himself. Accord
ing to the best estimates the audience
was very nearly evenly divided, and
the enthusiasm and ability Of the dis
cussion were such as to have been
source of qualification to the Conserva-
tives, and probably to the Tillmanites
likewise Tillman acted on the defen-
sive, and was close pressed with two
hours to make al effectual argument.
Among those on the stand were the
following members Of the two tickets:
Tillman, Sheppard, Orr, Murphy,
Dixon, McLaurin, Tindall, Youmans
and Farley, and Ernest Gary, Senator
Zimmerman, l. Reversible Brooks and
others. Lieutenant Governor Gary was
not present. Capt. Ernest Gary pre-
sided and the meeting was opened
with prayer by the Rev. A. B. Watson.
Governor Tillman began his remarks
by saying, in the language Of Sir Wal
ter Scott, that he was on his native
heath and that hi name was Nc
Gregor. After having been equally
traduced, ,slandered and misrepresented
with Scott's Irish patriot since he took
up the cudgel for the farmers rights,
he was proud to meet the people Of his
home once more He defied anyone to
point to any fslsehood that he bad
uttered, or to any mean or little act
that be had ever performed. He was
rough and uncouth, without the silken
arts of the bamboozler. He was the
most hated man in the State.
The issue in 1890 was whether the
people or the Ring should rule-;he
fight is now between the people and
monopolies and corporations. The
opposition movement was prompted by
those who had appealed to the negro
two years ago and who hated the one
gallused farmers who pretended to
take part in the Government of their
State. All the good government that
has been obtained has been through
the farmers. Lawyers and Haskellites
controlled the Conservative Conven-
tioH, though it tried to obtain favor by
swallowing the farmers demands. He
defended his action in the Coosaw and
railroad cases and favored So poll tax
in order to compel the negroes to help
support the schools. He was opposed
to working convicts on public improve
ments and taxing the people to support
them.
THE MISTAKE OF HIS LIFE.
Governor Tillman proceeded to dis
cuss Col. Orr's speeches at Laurens and
Anderson, and said the Legislature had
betrayed its pledges and refused to
support him. He refused to extend the
time for the payment of taxes because
the January interest on the State bonds
had to be met, and his action in the
Agricultural Hall matter was to save
the people from loss. He said, in an
swer to question, that he had ac-
cepted free pass from Bunch McBee,
that it was the greatest mistake of his
life, that it had hurt him, but never
injured the people, and if he had fol-
lowed his wife's advice he would not
have accepted it.
He accused Col. Orr of voting for
Judge Willard against Judge Nc
Gowan, and of opressing the employees
Of his factory, and accused him of hav-
ing been a Republican office-holder,
attached to the Russian legation. Mr..
Orr arose and announced the last state
ment as untrue. He said Sheppard was
swinging to Orrs coat tails, and if
elected it would be case Of the tail
wagging the dog.
The opposition newspapers were blind
as adders and venomous as rattlesnakeS.
He did say at GreenVille that be would