The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-09-14
WANTON INSULT TO VOTERS.
DRIVEN FROM THE PRESENCE OF
THE CONGRESSMAN ELECT.

II L
THE CONGRESSMAN ELECT.
About a Dozen Citizens Who Go Il
Hear Mr.. Lntimer Speak on fh'
National Issues are. Deprived o
man - Subsequent Honorable Ac
iiOn.
Last Saturday Asbury c. Latmer. our Con
gresSiOnal nominee. made speech in tht
Court House. a number OF our citizens haC
been invited to hear him. and perhaps doz
en- or more of our people were present at tht
beginning Of his speech.
II Is said that Mr.. Latlmer's speech up tC
the time when they were driven from The
house was not Objectionable to those who hat
lately voted for another Congressional candi
date. Among other things which he touched
upon was the duty OF the dominant faction if
reward those who had borne the heat ant
burden OF the day In preference TO giving
honor to the eleventh hour converts who may
have gone over to them for IL purpose.
During this speech VIZ C.Benet appeared and
took his seat in the audience. Soon Charlie
Bowen, son of Joe Bowen OF the Antreville
country, was seen 10 approach Chairman
Morrah with note, which note Charlie Bow
en- afterward said was handed to him by Mr.
Benet. Mr.. Morrah stopped the speaker, and
the Farmers Movement 10 retire from the
Court room. About u dozen men then with.
drew, when 1t is said the door was closed.
Some indignation was felt at the act. II
has for some time been customary for those
having possession of the Court House to order
certain persons-generaIly citizens Of the
town-from the hall, and of late few gentle
men OF the village have been so indiscreet as
TO offer to participate, or look on, In anything
that has taken place there within the last few
years. The dozen gentlemen who were SO
rudely treated last Saturday, placed them.
selves In position to be thus talked to under Il
Misrepresentation Of the manner and custom
that has prevailed.
Mr.. Latimer is the Democratic nominee oi
the party, and every man In town has taken
an oath 10 support him next November, and
since the election our citizens thought the
time for abusing and conspiring against the
town people had passed, and naturally they
looked upon Mr.. Latimer as the nominee OF
the whole party.
The people were recouciled to Mr. Latimer's
nomination, and we had heard OF no dissent.
They regard him as reputable citizen who
possesses neither the wish nor the desire to
do any harm to the State Of South Carolina.
Banner has always had great respect for him.
But like thousand other inexperienced per
sons in this country. he perhaps did not real
iZe The dignity OF the position to which he
has been nominated, which fact no doubt &C.
counts for his having made no protest at the
lndlgnity which was being thrust upon his
constituents who had come in respectful
manner to hear him speak on the political is
sues.
These gentlemen had right to hear their
Congressman elect.
The notes OF the meeting are given as hear
say. We state nothing OF our own knowl-
edge but 1t is very hard for us not to feel Shst
ill-treated last Saturday, and 1t Is due TO them
from Mr.; Iatimer that he explain bis conduct
q
speech on political issues. Whatever secrets
lie may have wished TO conceal from US In the
campaign. surely as Congressman, he Will act
openly and fairly with every constituent: I:
We can't believe that Mr.. Latimer would
knowingly consent TO mistreat the men who
have so lntely accepted him as their Congress
sional standard bearer, and we cannot believe
that he Is still making secret war on those OF
US who have so recently pledged our allie
glance to him. Even Republican negro has
never before been denied the right TO hear a
Congressman discuss National issues. and we
do not believe that Mr.. Latimer would know
ingly trample under foot the usages and Gus
toms OF gentlemen who have filled the honor
able position to which he has just been
elected.
HONORABLE ACTION.
Az an evidence that the act whereby reputa.
BILE Democrats were driven from the hearing
OF their nominee for Congress, did not meet
the approval OF some OF the dominant ele.
ment, who composed the audience, we hear
that Colonel ]. II. Robertson introduced res
olution something like the following:
"Resolved. That thanks be rendered to Mr..
Latimer, the Democratic nominee for Con-
gress from the Third District Of South Caro-
lima, for his admirable address delivered to US
to-day, and that IT, was an error to deprive
any constituent Of the privilege Of hearing
it,"
In support Of this resolution, we learn that
Colonel Robertson spoke substantially as fol-
lows:
mir. President, Mr.. Latlmer comes amongst
us as the nominee of the Democratic party
from the Third District OF South Carolina,
and sir. must protest against the action oi
this body in closing the doors of this house
against any portion Of his constituents. He
doesn't come as the nominee OF Il faction, but
he comes as the nominee Of the whole party.
and every voter has n right 10 know his prin-
ciDles. AS farmers we are not ashamed either
of him or them. We believe Mr.. Latimer is
n true man. who will represent the best inter.
ests Of the whole people. For this reason, l
protest against closing the doors OF this house
have come TO hear him speak. He had moth
ing 10 say Of which we are ashamed, and We
will do nothing which we wish to conceal.
We are freemen, on our native heath, and
we are acting openly and above board-we
are not seeking sec' ct places, nor are we as
sembling in dark CLOSETS. with guarded doors.
AS Democrats we should now meet as one
people. -,
We have had q fierce factional light. we
have been victorious. We should now not
only be just to our neighbors, but we should
be rnagDanlmous to those who have unreserv-
ed accepted the situation, and pledged aEhw
their allegiance 10 the Democratic party.
|, therefore, desire to record my protest at
the action of this body whereby good and
loyal Democrats have been denied the priv
iIege Of hearing their Congressional nominee.
Mr.. Latmer Is as much their nominee as
ours and it is as much their right to hear him
as IL Is our right.
The resolution was then unanimously