The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-07-06
The Meeting on Sale Day.

We present elsewhere brief notes Of the
meeting on Sale Day, which can give no ade-
Quate idea of the full texts of the speeches de-
livered We have, without notes, gwen prlei
reports Of some Of them, not claiming 10 use
the verbage of any orator-only trying 10
convey their ideas, imperfect though they oe'
Mr. Benets speech was perhaps the most IN
fiammatory that he has ever delivered, anu
seemed to us TO have for its purpose the in-
element OF bad feeling between our fellow
citizens, and which speech, as far as we are
able To learn, won for him but few laurcls and
received but little endorsement, from the side
whose battles he has so recently assumed to
tight-against those with whom he was so
lately affiliated.
1t was in striking contrast with his able,
courteuu and impartial conduct OF the mcei-
ing on Sale Day in May.
That meeting was overwhelmingly for Till
man.
The meeting last Monday was much more
evenly divided, and the respectful attention
which was accorded the speakers on the anti
side was Il subject OF remark.
Whether or not the respectful attention
given TO the antis was an evidence oil disap
proval of Mr.. Benet's course we are unable TO
say, but we do believe that from some cause
no political meeting has been more decorous
than was the meeting last Sale Day. Every
auditor present seemed to deport himself in
the most gentlemanly way, and no effort was
made ut any time TO howl down anybody.
The meeting was simply a good one, and
better behaved one never met in the Court
House. Except in some of the speeches, 1t
f,,t tro,, cl,t fI,nro m 4
which we have seen. and furnished the best
evidence that the Tillmanites of this county
do not approve OF the manner, the tone and
the temper of Mr.. Beuet's speech.
The people OF this county are neighbors
klnsmcn, and friends, acknowledging that
each and every man has a right to his own
political views, without supervision or criti.
cism from anybody. The people, whether
Tillman or anti-Tillman, want to live in peace
and harmony with each other, and we do not
believe that any orator in this county can
add TO his popularity by trying to cast fire.
brand among them. They know that the of.
fees is all that there is in politics. They rec
OgniZe the fact that II makes very little dill.
ference to this people whether Tillman or
Sheppard is elected Governor. and they also
recognize The fact that Tilman's crossroads
orators regard the distribution of the offices as
a very important personal matter TO the office
seeking class.
For this reason the people take with some
grains of salt, the efforts to magnify OF. eXag-
gerate the faults Of any side. The eXtraordi-
nary efforts to excuse the errors and mistakes
Of their own leaders is taken with some de-
gree Of allowance for selfintcrest
The great mass Of the people who keep
their heads. and form their own opiniocs.
Will hear facts and arguments on both sides,
and, remembering that truth lies between
the two extremes, will likely strike middle
course. Instead Of bhndly following the lead
OF some town man who wants office. and pro-
fesses intense interest in the farmer, the voter
will do both his own thinking and his own
voting.