The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1893-06-07

Democratic majority in that district
was about three thousand. 1t was con-
sidered hopelessly lost to the Wings.
Their leaders naturally did not long for
the nomination. Each tried to confer
the honor upon the others. Many
were the comp!imets generously paid
to the "great ability, the burning elo-
quence, the rushing oratory, the ccn-
manding influence" of each leader
when the golden prize was rendered
him, but no man reached out his hand;
they knew the gift, like Circe's kiss,
was fatal.
At last in desperation Nestor
among them rose and made speech
full of policy, not to say politicians
wisdom-a speech that has often been
made, and will always be made, under
like circumstances. He said, in SUBJ
stance: "Every man here is praying
to have the cat belled, but it is very
evident that no one. of US is brave
enough to undertake the job. We are
like good many people I know who,
when a subscription is to be taken up,
prefer to do the praying while the hat
is passed round. Now, we here'are all
too old to fool with this business. We
can't afford to be beat, but young
man can. He can outlive defeat, but
we can't. I propose that in order to
make a show of fight we nominate a
little fellow in my district named Ste
pkans. He's boy, looks to be II
years old, but he'll fight anything. If
he gets killed he's out Of eryoody's
way. If he whips the fight we can
choke him off the next race" Mr..
Stephens was nominated, accepted,
and entered at once on his work.
What followed I have from friend
of Mr.. Stephens who accompanied
him through that memorable cam
paign.
The Democrats treated the nomina-
tion as joke and turned their back on
that district as one rock-ribbed and
impregnable. The boy candidate en-
tered at once on triumphal march.
There being no railroad or telegraph in
that section the news Travelled slowly,
but the Democracy of the State soon
heard unwelcome rumors of disaster at
the front. They came at first as the
gentle breeze comes that foreruns the
gathering storm. Then came louder,
swelling sound like the soughing ofthe
pines as the stronger couriers Of the
air broke from the storm center, like
f1eeI-footed couriers bearing messages
of disaster to forces held in reserve.
Finally the storm had gathered in
strength and the forest swayed and
groaned and the Democracy heard a
wall for help. Speedy meetings were
held, and gentleman from Savannah
"a trained and able debater-was dis
patched by relays to the scene of con-
fict. He appeared suddenly and with
out notice at one of Mr.. Stephens ap-
pointments and challenged the boy to
meet him in joint debate. The chal-
lenge was gladly accepted, and when
the pale-faced, beardless boy; who had
the conclusion in the debate, had de-
ivered his last blow on the veteran
Democrat his remains were borne away
by his sympathizing and mortified
friends and were never heard of again
during that campaign.
That defeat aroused the Democracy
to greater energy. They decided to
crush the boy at one blow, and to that
end they dispatched the strongest
stump speaker of their party, Hon.
Walter T. Colquitt, to drive the young
ster out of the district. The Democrats
were afraid that the gosling Whig
would not dare meet their champion in
joint debate, and they arranged sur
prise by concealing him at afarmer's
house the night before and near the
point of Mr.. Stephens appointment.
At the hour for the speaking Judge
Colquitt was rushed OF the ground and
bis friends demanded a joint debate.
The little David of the Wings readily
consented, he having the opening and
conclusion. Mr.. Stephens opened with
a rambling talk of an hour, studiously
avoiding all salient points of advantage
to his adversary. Judge Colquitt re-
piled with all the great power of which
he was master.
The eyewitness says when Mr.. Ste
phens rose to reply he was trans
formed. His eyes flashed, his form
dilated, his stature seemed to stretch
to the ceiling, and his triumph in the
debate was so complete that the Demo
Gratis grew angry and attempted to
break up the meeting, until lank
mountaineer in coonskin coat and
cap stepped to the side of the speakers
stand with his rifle and proclaimed that
he would kill any man who interfered
with the speaking. The Democratic
champion had enough of that cam
paign and retired from the district
without another dobate with the haste
that had signalized his coming.
Goliath was slain; the large Demo
cratic majority was overcome, the boy
was elected, and from that day, for
fifty years, he reigned without rival
in the hearts Of his people. For forty
years you honored yourselvesin honor
ing him. The Roman maxim, "a man
is known by his associates" applies to
a people and their representatives. No
higher encomium could be paid to you
than you conferred on yourselves by
continuing this great statesman in