The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-04-21
GOVERNOR TILLMAN's SPEECH.
IL A. La A.. La azrna rod

here, two years ago, he was man put
forward by the people to fight for leaer-
sonian Democracy. BE thanked his fol-
lowers for their support, both in the con-
vention and at the general election. He
had been governor eighteen months, and
came here to-day to ask them to re-elect
him governor loud cries of:'we'll do it"]
and to meet his traducers face to face.
The issue in 1890 was whether the peo-
pie or ring should rule. He had form
ed new ring-a hands-all-around ring,
but the old ring had, like jointed snake,
wriggled itself together again and want
ed another fight. Should the people or
corporations rule the State was the issue
this year. Two parties were necessary
to pure government; hitherto only one
decent party existed, and a free discussion
of issues had not been allowed. He and
his methods had been. denounced as un-
Democratic, but this year the opposition
had come around and said, "You were
pretty smart two years ago in holding
your March Convention, and this yearwe
will initiate you." They confessed he was
two years in advance Of them in states
manship. He believed the recent Con-
vention has assured unity In the party.
[Cries of mol He claimed that the news
papers had abused him all through his
administration, and he proceeded to even
up things by abusing them extensively;
He said the platform of the peace and
unity convention was Tillmanism diluted.
They had swallowed it all except the best
thing in it-himseJf The Governors re-
marks were permeated with slang and
jokes, but his followers applauded vlgo-
rously his most commonplace utterances,
and as he closed they gave him an ova-
ton.
EX-GOVERNOR SHEPPARD.
The chairman introduced as the next
speaker Ex-Governor John G. Sheppard.
It was long time before quiet could be
restored, and some of the Tillmanites
seemed determined to howl him down.
Finally Governor Tillman came forward
and begged that the speaker be given q
patient and respectful hearing. Governor
Sheppard was allowed to proceed, but
was interrupted in every sentence by
persistent questions, which would create
laughter and cheers. The speakers allot-
ted time of one hour. was probably cut
short one-half by these extremely unfair
and annoying Interruptions. The speak
or declared himself true friend Of the
farmers movement and said even Cover
nor Tillman acknowledged it. He was
born and reared on arm and had
ploughed for money to go to school. He
asked the crowd to give him chance to
convince them and he would do 1t. He
began to arraign Governor Tillman for
his fail ire to carry out his promises, but
the I'illmanites would not hear him, and
for fifteen minutes tho crowd was un
manageable, and Governor Sheppard had
to stand waiting and losing his time.
When quiet was partially restored, he
brought several arguments to prove that
there had been no retrenchment and re-
form whatever under Governor Tillman's
administration, but that it was far more
extravsgant than any of its predecessors
since 1876. He showed that in Governor
Richardson's administration $43,S75 had
been appropriated for the executive de-
partment and Governor Tillman's had re-
quired $52, 1856 for the same purpose. He
produced many other figures to prove his
assertions, but each time he was not per-
mitted to show the facts.
He was questioned about being presi-
dent of a bank and answered that he was,
and that during the past winter there had
been thousands of farmers in Edgefeld
County who thanked God that be- was.
He said there were S26, ,4O5 more taxes
collected during the first year of Tillman's
than in the previous year.
He spoke Of the famous Coosaw case, and
accused Governor Tillman of mismanage.
ment. He had lost the State over $100, 600
in this alone. It was folly. Two years
ago Governor Tillman had said that the
State should not employ lawyers to pros
ecute its lawsuits, when there were plenty
of attorney-generalsa and solicitors in the
employ of the State, but during Governor
Tillman's administration there had been
more money paid out by the State to law
yers than in the whole time from 1876 10
to 1890. Governor Tillman had COM
planned of being abused, but no one had
hurt as many hearts and abused az many
people as Governor Tillman had himself.
Governor Sheppard was loudly cheered
as he took his seat. He made an excel
lent and convincing speech, notwith-
standing the shameful and disgusting g
treatment he had received.
Lieut.. Gov. Gary spoke next. He re-
viewed minutely tue acts Of the present
administration and defended it strongly.
He gave the newspapers rap for mis-
representation of political affairs, and &C.
cused them Of being entirely responsible
for the depreciation of the States credit,
He said that whatever the present ad-
had failed to do was caused
by the opposition persistently throwing
obstacles in its path.
During Governor Gary's speech tho
antI-Tillman crowd developed some row.
dyism, and called for Orr, and interrupt
ed the speaker for several minutes. Col.
Orr came forward and pleaded for re-
spectful hearing for the speaker say Ing
"God knows he needs It,"
Gov. Gary took exception to this re-