Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1892-07-21
The Pride of Edgefield,

a characteristic OF our Edgeheld
people that they took a:great deal
of pride in having bold, brave, and
able political leaders, and it is a
fact that no "time server" or apo-
litical trimmer" has ever been
able to takeaa perm 9nent hold on
1.-THE affection, or admiration, of our
people. Look back over the long
list Of distinguished, men who
have presenteds and you can
easily see that this is true; that
their positions and principles were
well defined and we'll known, and
that anything like lodging and
shifting, and swallowing anybody's
politicsfor platform to get Office
has been scorned and resented by
our people. Not only this, but
when en- Edgefeld man was already
in the field, in State, or National
politics, the others had the manli-
ness to uphold and support, in
Estead of trying to defeat him.
Loor at. the situation now, "A
few years ago, B, r SsTiIlman tried
to- make ex-Gov. Sheppard, the
Governor of South Carolina, and
our people gave him "a warm and
cordial support, and if he was not
nominated or elected, it was not
due to any treachery at home. He
sp allowed the farmers platform,
but we found it impossible for us
70 make the rest Of tile State swal-
low him.
In 1890 -Edgefeld overwhelm-
ingly nominated and supported
B. R. Tillman, but ex-Gov. shep-.
pard was not, among those who
were pushing his late friend and
advocate. What was the real cause?
Was it envy and jealousy, or was.
at pure political treachery, that
made him. prefer Joseph II. Earle
to B. R. Tillman his own country
man and friend. Now w'len Gov.
ernor Tillman is. the Governor, and
according TO allsthe fules:or pre-.
cedents in this State, entitled to
his second term, this man allows
himself to, be used as his opponent,
to divide Edgefeld county. Edge
field has always condemned unfair
play, double dealing, and political
treachery, and she will do it again.
Let Us compare the, two men,,
and see which represents the brain,
and Drawn, the pluck, and fair.
play Of. Edgefeld the best, and
which is entitled to our support.
Has not John C. Sheppard always
been known as an "artful dodger"
and political trimmer" and is
not Ben Tillmap exactly the re-
verse. of such a character? Shep-
pard as a "self-seeker," was ready.
to, and virtually did, betray Gen.
Gary in 1880, and endorse tho
domination of Hagood, wbensitss
was prematurely and unfairly if
not fraudulently forced on our
people in the May convention; and
yet some Of the Oldest and best
friends of Gary are allowing them
selves to be used by Sheppard. Is
it not fact that John c. Shep-
pard. has just been dying to be
elected Governor of South Caro-
lima, and failing toget there by the
help of Ben Tillman is now allow
Ling himself to be used by the op-
position and the enemies of Gov.
Tillman in this county, as well as
lin the,state, to try to defeat hinf2
Our people know both of these
men, their habits character, and
capacity, Gov. Tillman, when
Sheppard compared him to Scott
and Moses, challenged him to a
comparison for honesty, integrity,
morality, etc., and said what we
all know to be true, that Sheppard
was "not his equal"
A great dealhas been said about
running" and Gov. Tillman's
courage" Does not all Edgefeld
know that Sheppard cannot bear
comparison in that line any more
than he can in any other.
Look at the conduct of our
meeting the other day, when the
GOODNESS and courage and self
possession of Gov. Tillman saved
us from a riot. We all know that
he is conservative man, and does
not want any blood shed among
his friends and neighbors, but that
in real danger he would be as cool,
and as brave as lion.
1t was fortunate that the notice
Iof 4ba Fdnoho11 ,,,ootinu woo r,ot