The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-03-23

ten years ago we had usually tv" committee
clerks. one year under the r sssure Of busi-
ness before committee on IN orporation, we
had three--now they have flve-then we had
two crippled door keepers, now they have
four-fve additional officers and six hundred
dollars additional expenses.
GETTING READY FOR BUSINESS.
Gentlemen, again, thanking you for your
kindness we will now proceed TO the business
for which we have assembled.
w. c. McGowan-Wouid 1t not be well. Mr..
Chairman, to state the object of the meeting ?
Chairman-Thc object OF this meeting IS to-
elect delegates 10 the State Convention which
will meet on the 9th OF March. That Con.
vention will determine It's own action, and
will be governed by the majority OF the del
egates present. Is the meeting ready for
business"
Resolutions.
w. &. McGowan-Mr. Chairman aud fellow
Democrats would offer the following resolu.
tons, for the consideration OF this meeting:
Whereas, there are many good Democrats
in Abbevile County who are dissatisfied with
the present administration Of the State Gov
And whereas. the Democratic party is
threatened with serious dangers by reason ol
dissenson among its members;
And whereas, white supremacy and Dem
ocratic rule can only be perpetuated In our
Stale by harmony and unity among the white
Democrats;
And whereas 1t is necessary, and is the in.
alienanle right of conservative and patriotlc
citizens to meet together aud deliberate as TO
the best methods OF restoring peace and mar
moHy In our party and good government 10
the people. Be it
Resolved lSt. That we, Democratic voters
OF Abbeville County, endorse the call for IL
con ventiOn Of Democrats TO be held in Co,
lumb on The 9th Of this month. for the pur.
pose OF devising means whereby the unity o
The Democrat TIC party may be preserved.
Resolved 2nd. That our delegates To said
Convention be instructed TO advocate and
vote for direct primary for nomination OF
Stale officers.
Resolved 3r,l. That we endorse heartily the
Farmers Movement and their original plat
form, and will advocate any and Ill meas
ureS, within c0nStitut tlUnal limits, tnat looR
10 the advancement of the farmer; and ina
all utterances TO the effect that the hgh
against Gov. Tillman and his administration
Is, Il fight against the farmer, Is the veries
nonsense and demagoglcal "boSh.'
Speech of w. &. McGowan, Esq---Tht
Resolutions which He Introduced.
Mr.. Chairman-Before we go into the elec
ton of delegates l have some resolutions
desire to offer. And fellow DemocrSls, allow
me first 10 congratulate you upon this splen
did meeting which unuer such adverse cir.
cumStances is most crafty Ing. When we
cOnSluer Tile ldleueSS Ol INC GILL anu "HcH
we remember the ceaseless taunts and threats
and rldicuie OF the opposition, 1t means
great deal that so many have laced the Dltlei
colo OF this dismal day and have come as fal
us 23 miles by private convey yance To attend
this meeting. 1t means that there Is man
hood aud Independence In the OLD county
yet, and the "hand-wriling" this day VIII by
you upon the political "wall' Is in letters st
large that even the blinueSt Tlllmalilte may
"read as he runs"
WHAT WE ARE HERE FOR.
. We are not here, fellow citizens, to abuse
anu villIfy. We are here as earnest Dem
ocrats aS conservative Citizens who have the
good OF our state at heart and VINO have Inc
right to meet together To discuss men and
measures.
We are not satisfied with Gov. Tillman and
his administration. and we have The right u
nj Get anu make known our complaints. This
ls a Tree county and this right no man nor Set
OF men can deny US.
The lime Is come for honest men who have
the courage OF their CONVICTIONS 10 speak
them out boldly and bravely. Too many oi
us have been silent too long. No yoke was
ever thrown of except by determined, out
spoken effort aud by hard work. Silence anu
lnaction is to play directly INTO the hands ol
those who oppose us, unu gent tleiEen, there is
such II thing as "enough being plenty
Gov. TilIman has been In power for two
years-quite long enough TO pr,N2 TO all
thinking aud Unbiased men that he Is a. rash
and dangerous leader.
ONE MAN POWER NOT DESIRABLE.
Had his Legislature passed all the laws tina,
Gov. Til llman demanded the government o
hands OF one man. !, for one, am not YET
willing TO place the government OF my coun
try into the hands OF any one man, be he the
wiseSL and best that ever lived, BECAUSE IL l.
in direct opposition 10 The principles or free
republican institutions, viz: IA government
Of The people, Tor the people and by the peo'
pe."
Gov. Tillman who pretends to he the leader
OF the people, who has often declared that he
would never depart from single principle o
republican government, p!teu most cruelty
his party lash TO compel his followers 10 ell
act laws that which would have made him a
Gar. Be IL said to the credit Of the Leglsla
ture that even they declined TO 20 To sucn ex
treInes. Gov. TIlIEian has boldly said that
he intended to be reelected and what Is more
that he will have Legislature this time who
will do his bidding. II he succeeds, then he
will not tie the leader OF the people but q
most imprudent man vested with dangerous
power; he will not be your Governor bn'
your Boss. Are you as freeman, living under
a republican constitution which guarantees
10 you political rights, willing to submit lo
this? so far as ain concerned-"enougE is
a plenty"
a CAREER OF MISTAKES.
do not care to take up too much of your
time, or TO repeat what has been so well said
by Dr. Maxwell; but grant, as has been said
that Gov. TIlmnn being human has only
made 'miStakeS," (and 10 call them iniStake es
Is tender Incl ciful and kind.) Go yet Il step
further grant that he has made only honest
"rniStakeS," are you willing to continue
man IN office whose whole official career is
overfiowlng with the most fatal mistakes?
Our credit crippled, our party split and a
presidential conflict upon us, Is IL wise To con.
tIuue Il man I'm power who boldly plungeS i'll
tn ne lPntSlH-
tion regardless oi cost or consequence? l tell
you fellow Democrats, 1t Is time TO call q halt
and begin to think
AS do not care 10 detain you too long, de.
sire to bring to your attention but two of the
many complaints against Gov. Tillrnan and
his administration.
TIE PUBLIC DEBT.
]. AS to the financial condition OF our State
and the injury done our credit.
In 1893 we will have ing due over SIX
millions OF State debt. II Is an honest debt
1t can be met in but two ways ID refund; 1t OF
.C) pay il.
Gov. TilIman's administration has made
the effort to refund il at / per cent. and has
failed. That is to say, to exchange the pres
ent per cent. bonds for new pei cent bonds.
Under Il normal and healthy state OF Affairs
this could have been easily done, as was done
a few years back when the whole issue Oi
"Green or Deficiency" bonds were refunded
at AZ per cent: If our State government com
mandrd confidence at home and abroad the
whole debt would before this have been re
funded. OF the $G.00O,OO0 but $4,000 has been
taken, although very expensive arrangements
were made for the purpose.
And this il not the worst Of II! II Gov.
TilIman is reelected, In my Judgment, they
will not refund another collar. do not be.
lieve they can accomplish itat much less
per cent: while our sister State OF Georgia
has refunded her entire debt at By per cent.
Gov. Tillman anu his administration are d.
recIly responsible for this injury 10 our pub
lie credit, and You will feel the disastrous eff
frcts of his lash adni istra ton IN the next
few years far more than you feel II now.
DO Won not hplieYe that this one mailer