The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1892-04-20

c-isper April day than yesterday. 1t
was an ideal day for joint discussion
clear and warm with breeze bearing
Just suggestion Of frost to prevent
discussion from the heat and to keep
the blood in circulation.
Doubts as TO whether there would be
large attendance at the joint discus
sion appointed for yesterday were soon
settled. The trains brought in people by
scores and hundreds from all directions
and on every road the people came in
on horseback and muleback and in vehi-
ces Of many kinds, sizes and styles. or
the 5000 democratic voters of Green
willie county probably $500 We're present
and there were 600 men from other
counties of the Piedmont belr. Ander-
son, Abbeville, Pickens, Spartanbarg
and even York and Newberry were rep
resented in the gathering of the clans,
and there were scattering delegations
from Oconee and Laurens.
$500 PEOPLE PRESENT.
The stand, in the palk, was reached
a little before II o'clock. Most of the
people had gone there early to secure
places. There was no attempt at dec
oration. The stand was in all the
nakedness of unplaned plank and
darkened bv the weather of some years.
1t is the same on which the joint dis
cussion of the famous csmpaignof 1890
was conducted.
About $500 people were present. An
enthusiastic supporter of Governor Till
man declared that 5000 men were there,
but he was talking through his hat and
! ignorant Of the fact that 5000 people
make an enormous assemblage. A fair
and full estimate makes the number
$500, including one or two hundred
ladies who apparently did not share the
fear felt by many men of unseemly
words or scenes Or a general disturb
ance.
Itwould have been difficult for even
| the strongest voice to have reached the
outskirts Of the meeting, arranged as 1t
was, if there had been absolute silence.
It is doubtful if one-third Of those pres
ent heard any of the speeches in a con-
nected way or carried away definite
impressions OF what was said on the
stand by the speakers.
At II o'clock Gen. J. Walter Gray,
chairman Of the committee of arrange
lnents, advanced to the front of the
stand and raped with a gold headed
cane upon the plank placed across the
| opening of the structure as rest for
the speakers. He looked out upon sea
of faces rising upon the hill side with
the large group of brightly dressed
ladies on his left and toward the rear.
Just in front of the stand was banner
composed Of page of the Evening
Democrat bearing upon it bright hued
game cock, surmounted by a goat and
having the inscription. 'Iigerville
club $50 for Tilman" and the letters
"F. A" supposed to represent the Far
mers' Alliance.
Prayer was offered by Rev. DR.. Pate,
and Gen. J. Walter Gray, chairman of
the meeting, introduced Gov. Tillman
as the first speaker:
Governor Tillman promptly came to
the front dressed in u new, well-ftting
suit of dark clothes with Prince AL
bert coat buttoned about him, and look
ed we'll kept, well groomed and prosper
Gus. AS be rose to pull off his overcoat
the cheering was prolonged. Mingled
with the cheers were cries Of Down
in 'front.' and a variety of other de-
mands and calls. This continued for
several seconds Just as silence was
restored boy near the front called out
shrilly, "Hurrah for Sheppard and
Orrr The sudden interruption and the
treble voice evoked a roar of laughter,
followed by cheering, hooting and a
confused variety of opposing cries.
GOV. TILLMAN's SPEECH.
"Mr. Chairman, ladies and fellow
democrats" began Governor Tillman.
For few minntes the cheering and
cries were renewed. When the noise
had partially subsided Gov. Tillman
said it afforded him great pleasure after
an absence of nearly two years to stand
face to face with the men Of Greenville
and the Piedmont escarpment. "When
I last addressed you on this spot he
said, II appeared as a nan put forward
by the people to lead the fight for JEFF
fersonian democracy" \ voice-"you
done it."l I thank you for the gallant
uanuGr in which you supported me,
both at the convention and in the gen.
eral election in November. For eighteen
months l have been governor by your
sufrages. appear here for the first
time as candidate and ask you to re-
elect me. [Cries of we'll do it."i I
am here to give an account of my
stewardship and meet my traducers
face to face. [Applause.l The issue of
1890 was whether the people Of South
Carolina should rule or the ring.
(Cheers.) We broke the old ring to
atoms Icheersl and have formed new
ring, hands all round ring. Loud ap-
plause.I The old ring, like a jointed
snake, has wriggled and wriggled un-
Ill it has got together again. Laugh
ter. The issue now, in few words, is
whether the people Of South Carolina
shall govern CT the monopolies and cor
poratious. In all free governments two
parties are necessary. We have but one
decent party i'll South Carolina-the
Democratic Party. Heretofore we have
had TO submit without discrimination.
We had not the benefit Of 4 free and
full discussion.
WHO INVENTED THE MARCH CONyEN-
TION?
"SOme Of Us invented the March
coavention,n continued the governor,
''by which a portion Of the Democratic
party met and laid out its grievances,
put out candidates and invited oppo-
sition. On, no. Tillmau and his meth
ois were ridiculed and denounced by
the newspapers and by every ling
stump orator in the State. Our friends,
the enemy, now come forward and say,
boys, you were pretty sharp and we
are going to initiate YOU Loud cheers
and laughter We didn't patent the
March convention and therefore can't
claim 4 royalty on 'em. do say that
the fact that they acknowledge there
WIS virtue in that convention and that
it was legitimate. is confession that
and those with me were two years in
advance OF them III craftsmanship. I
congratulate you that we can come here
Uniramnelied, free and open to discuss
everything and that the danger which
confronted Us is over, if the gentlemen