Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1892-04-21
(1oRREsPoNDENCE/

I (1ORRESP0NDENCE>o
Mr.. EDITOR: The great shep-
pard boom that was expected by
his supporters to sweep the county
like a political cyclone has failed
to materialize, and his shattered
forces have recoiled, badly demor-
allied, from the first conflict with
the opposing faction of Gov. Till
man.
The people of Edge6eld under
stand very wen that Mr.. shep.
pard's, nomination . was made more
for the purpose of making an or
ganized fight against Gov Tillman
for the benefit hereafter of wary
and shrewder politicians, than the le
ectation Of his election.
The politicians indicated were
ready to nominate any man they
were willing to sacrifice. The
peace and unity convention, tax
ing advantage Of Mr.. sheppard's
impatient ambition, simply ac-
corded him the honor of leading
q forlorn hope while prudently
keeping out of harm's way them
selves. Had peace and unity been
desired, or the hope of success en-
tertained, Sheppard would not
have secured the nomination, and
the singular and unprecedented:
spectacle of two gubernatorial can
didates from the same county
would have been averted.
Nothing could be conceived bet
ter calculated to divide and dis
tract the people of this county,
than the course pursued by this
so-called peace and unity conyen-
ton, and their actions belle their
profession.
The nomination is no compli-
ment to Mr.. Sheppard, but is an
evidence that the wire-pullers Of
the convention were perfectly will
ing to see him dig his political
grave in an intellectual effort to
defeat Gov. Tillman in ms OWL
county.
Gov. Sheppard is badly deceived
and places a low estimation At; n, ol
1.-THE 6rmness and character of thtt
/ adherents Of the present adminig
tration, If ne believes very many
are ) SO weakened as to sacrifice
! their principles for their persona,
preferences. On the, contrary hi
will soon learn that a majority O
the voters of this county are ready
to vote against him, because hi
represents nothing but himself
notwithstanding his loud profes
sions of loyalty to the farmers
! platform and demands.
Had Gov. Sheppard been {
sagacious leader, with fixed princi
pies he would have hesitated Ions
before turning his back on brave
Ben Tillman, who in the conven
tion Of 1885 offered him the lead
ership. Of the fight then beinl
made. He owed his defeat thel
to those who are pitting him nov
against his old friend. a..1 :
Gov. Sheppard went b back :, q p
Ben Tillman and the instruction
Of his constituents in the Ma.
convention of 1888, and it is re
ported he did so because he desire'
the denomination Of Gov. Rich
, ardson upon the promise of bein
, himself nominated in 1890. In th
!. meantime Ben Tillman had swep
.. the State and smashed the slate
! of the politicians. Where the
j was Gov. Sheppard? In Columbi
. in conference with the ringsterl
!. devising schemes to defeat Be
! Tillman and thwart the will of th
! people. Some Of sheeppard's cor
! ferees went so far as to swear tbs
"Tillman should should never b
! Governor" Did Gov. Sheppar
/ endorse those sentiments? III
! subsequent course will show. W
!. find his, ] name signed to a. call fe
; a convention early in 1892. Ths
;, convention was composed largel
Of Haskellites and those who ha
: done everything to make the az
!, mrinistration Of Ben Tillman
). failure, and of those who wei
:, willing to injure their own State
: thereby the peoples administr'
: : ton could be made odious. "
: : can't see how any man can be
: : deluded as to place the least Col
- L. =.4i- a. 90, -