Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1892-08-25
END OF THB CAMPAIGN.
GRAND RALLY OF THE
LAURENS YEOMANRY.
The Battle for Reform Closes
Where il Originated.

Where il Originated.
IELLERsE's DEFENSE OF THE STATE.
IThe Meeting Perfect Ovation
to Gov. Tillman--He Makes a
Ringing Speech and Courts an
Investigation of His Steward
ship-Humbert, Orr and Shep-
pard Speak for the Antis.
LAuRENs, S. c., Aug. 20.-The
campaign has closed. Tillman
has won and peace to their ashes.
The Sheep have been led to the
slaughter and in ten days their
graves will be decorated with tens
of thousands of Reform votes. Their
woe-begone visages attest defeat.
To-day's meeting was a perfect
Tillman love feast.
| Between 3,UOQ and 4,OOO people
were present, four-ffths of whom
were Tillmanites. About 100
ladies were present, and they were
all for Tillman.
The last campaign meeting was
held > to-day four miles from
Laurens. No minister was present,
and the Laurens brass band opened
the proceedings with music. The
speakers stand was elaborately
decorated with flags, flowers and
farm and garden products, with
watermelons thre Sn in.
.At11 o'clock County Chairman
E. M. Smith introduced the first
speaker, Comptroller General
Ellerbe.
One of the distinct features of
the meeting was the appearance in
debate of Comptroller General
Ellerbe. He was greeted with
much applause, both for his hand
some, youthful appearance and for
the admirable record he has made
in his conduct of his Office, and
the triumphant manner in which
he has withstood the siege of
criticism and abuse since he took
charge of it's affairs.
He began by modestly asserting
that he could not make speech,
and concluded by proving to the
satisfaction of the vast assemblage
that he was not only natural
born speaker, but clear and
skillful gladiator in debate. He
condensed more in less space and
time than any speaker in the cam
paign. He boldly asserted that if
he did not disprove the charges
against him and the conduct of
his Office, he would not expect the
votes of the men who made the
Farmers movement a success.
The first part of his speech was
devoted to showing the condition
of the Office when he took charge.
He then went on to show that one
of the principal objects in placing
the property of the State at its
approximately true value was to
proclaim to the financial world
that South Carolina was by no
means a povertyIstrisehken, e9mm4e9. ON 2 !;
conditions should rank with the
best in the Union.
He handled without gloves the
assertion that his Office discrimina-
ted against corporate property. He
denied such assertion and proved
that even after the increase of the
assessment of railroads they were
not assessed ats higher valuation
than that of other property.
He instanced the Columbia and
Greenville Railroad, it's assessment
being $10,50O, and stated that
this valuation was about at par,
considering the real value of the
road, with other property assess
ments. He also submitted the case
of the South Corolina Railway
with $500,000 in first mortgage
bonds and second mortgage bonds
quoted at 98,worth about $500, 900.
Yet it was assessed at less than so
per cent. of it's actual value, and
yet, he said, tis persistently stated
that we are discriminating against
the railroads.
He said that the way railroads
were managed in Georgia had no
bearing on the way they should be
managed in South Carolina. We
have our own laws to enforce, and
not those of Georgia.
Governor Sheppard had stated at
Greenville that the Charleston and
Savannah Railroad was assessed
at $1,000 mile in Georgia, and at
$4,000 a mile in South Carolina.
Turning to Sheppard, he said
Did you say that, Governor Shep-
pard?
Sheppard: Yes, sir, that was my
information, but I also stated the
source of my information.
Ellerbe: Well let US gee what
the facts are. I hold in my hand a
letter with an extract from the
report of the Comptroller General
of Georgia, in which it is stated
that the Charleston and Savannah
Railway is assessed at $201,698 in
Georgia, and there are eleven and
three-tenths miles of road in that
State, which will make the assess