The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-03-23
DEMOCRATIC MASS MEETING.
ABBEvILLE ELECTS DELEGATES TO THE
MARCH CONVENTION.

Enthusiastic Assembly Of Our Fellow
Citizens Resolve TO Enter Politics
Conservative Speeches - Appeal
for HARMONY Demand for a Pri.
mary--ReaSOunbIe kequest-.-Del.
e-ateS TO Go Eninstructed.
Last Friday at twelve O'Clock the Abbeville
Cornet Band played TWO or three pieces oi
enlivenng music in front of the Conrt House,
which was rero.nlZeG as the signal 10r ile
assembling of the Democratic meeting which
had been advertised for that day. When the
band ceased to play, the call was made anu
the Court Room was at once we'll filled with
citizens representing different sections, ev-
cry man who was there has made his own eS-
innate it would be useless for the editor him-
self 10 venture to estimate the number, but
IL may bc well enough to state that the estl-
mates that we have heard vary from 2IO down
TO l22. the latter figure being claimed as ac-
tual count.
When the election was being held the meet
ing was suspended in order TO give tnoSe
present an opportunity To prepare their bal
lots which, because of the number OF dele
gates nominated and the number TO be voted
for, required sometime, and 1t seemed that
many persons present II the meeting hau no
particular preference or choice among the
GOOD men who were nominated, and many
lett The meetirg without waiting TO vote. Be-
sides those voting, and those who Sympa-
thised with the meeting, but did not care 10
vote, it Is thought thai abont Twenty-Five per-
sons were present who did not synpathise
with the movement. The actual number OF
votes cast, we haze heard, was Ito.
The attendance the enthusiasm and the
success of the meeting was most gratifying
surprise to It's projectors, and 1t is eri-
ent that the opposition TO the present rule
will henceiorth make most vigorous fight.
The methods OF arraignment which
were ipaugurated by Governor Tillman, and
which have been copied by his organs, have
been carried too far, and have brought forth
unexpected results.
1t seems to the Press and Banner that ii
would have been the part OF wisdom for
Governor Tilman and his followers TO
have ceased the warfare on the oppost tion al
ter they were successful In the election ana
safely installed in office. 1t Is the history
OF politicians that they do not as q rule,
after they are in office, seek wautonly to
drive the steel into the souls of their former
political opponents. When In office the
methods of the politician aresubordinated TO
the higher duties OF the officer.
Governor Tillman, by his unprecedented
methods in 1891, swept the State by an over.
whelming majority. He had perhaps four
hfths OF the people with him. and yet, strange
TO say, he and his organs, have ever since
seemed anxious to go cunning for the small
min nority who were, for the time, overawed
by the mere force OF numbers. But, the
disposition to trample the vanquished
minority under foot, the unceasing ridicule
which has been directed at theT, together
with the never ending misrepresentation tion OF
the motives and principles OF thosc who did
not agree with them, has so eXaSperated nose
who were maligned that they have deter
mined to turn upon their pursuers and Will
now give them battle to the bitter end.
1t matters not as TO the immediate result Of
the impending conflict. Even though TIL
mans opponents are beaten In the fray.
they will no longer quietly submit 10
unccasing irritation.
Even If reason and Justice should
fail TO gain their fight in 1892. the bat
tie is Joined, and The struggle will continue
until the highest officers of the Stale wilhare
a better and q nober ambition than the be-
Smirching OF somebody's good name.
But this editor has no disposition TO fore
stal the action of the meeting. y.
On motion of w. &. Me Sowan, Esq, Hon.
J. G. Maxwell was called TO the chair.
On motion OF Hon. w. Fl. Parker. Capt.
]. Robinson was requested TO act as Secre'
tary.