The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1893-02-08
M'LAURIN'S MAIDEN EFFORT.
A Euloey OF Stackhouse as Boom FOR Lit
tie Curly Headed Johnny''-
men Remained in Force 70 Hear
Many Surprised Some
Applaud and Others
Disapproye-
Especial to News and Courier

WASHINGTCN, -. w., Sau uudIy oo.-
Representative McLaurin made his
maiden speech in the house to-day on
the occasion of the delivery of eulogies
on the death of the late Captain Stack
house. He not only attracted general
interest, because be was new men,
Der, but because he created something
of q sensation by introducing local poll
tics into his eulogy upon his predeces-
sor.
In accordance with an order of the
house, to-day, after O'Clock was to be
devoted to eulogizing Captain Stack
house. Mr.. McLaurin was selected to
deliver the opening address. in addi-
ton to all the members of the
South Carolina delegation, Senators
Butler and Irby were present. More
than two hundred of the members re-
mained to hear McLaurin, it being un-
derstood that he was quite gifted as an
orator. Besides it is customary to give
a new member a good audience when
be makes his maiden speech, in order
''to size him up" for future reference.
Mr.. McLaurin, before beginning his
speech, moved over to the middle of the
hall and stood in the aisle. between the
desks of Bourke Cochran, of New York,
and Thomas B. Reed, of Maine, the
leaders of the two great parties in the
house. Near by sat Captain Shell and
the other members of his delegation.
In his opening sentence he appeared
trifie nervous, out encouraged by the
attention of his associates, he became
more confident and soon had everyone
present listening to him.
He has a good voice, his delivery is
finished and he spoke without notes.
After presenting the usual resolutions
he opened with a forid discourse on
the subject of death, which had an
oyer-studied favor. He then reviewed
the civil, military and political record
of Captain Stackhouse in crisp, en-
tertaining style, with good oratorical
effect.
It was during his tribute to the polit-
ical achievements of the deceased that
Mr.. MeLaurin departed from the beat
en- track of eulogistic ceremonies in
congress and launched out into a par
tizan discussion of the political situa-
ton in Sonth Carolina. The members
of the house were at first astonished at
the boldness ofthe young member from
South Carolina, but he was so earnest
that they nomentarily overlooked his
unprecedented departure from the
usual practice. He went on to say:
''Colonel Stackhouse was self-made
man, the architect of his own fortunes.
He was from the great middle class,
the farmer class, and could boast of no
iliustrious ancestry, but depended upon
his own intrinsic merit, his own inhe-
rent manhood, energy and unconquer-
able will. Born and bred in old South
Carolina, yet be was true representa-
tive of new South Carolina, typical
Caroiinian of the new faith and new
school, born of the civil revolution of
'61-65, which wrought wonderful
changes in the social, political and in
dustrial condition of the State.
Had that revolution Eever occurred
I hazard little in saying that the de-
ceased would never have represented
South Carolina in this body. The con-
dition of affairs in the State before that
revolution was peculiar, resulting from
the idea Of the old world transplanted
in the new, and the attempt to engraft
them in the society and polity of the
colony. In the course of time an aris-
tocracy based on slavery dominated old
South Carolina, and completely con-
trolled her social, political and indus
trial destinies. This necessarily created
two classes as distinct as the Patrician
and Plebeian orders of Rome. The
large slave owners became the rulers
and ofiee-holders, ard the masses of
people were regarded as unfit to gov
ern.
at was an intolerant, defiant and
uncompromising tyranny, suppressing
free speech, free thought and indepen-
dence of action. There was no irrepres-
sible conflict there, because flom force
of habit, education and disinclina-
ton to assert their sovereignty, the
middle class succumbed. Modification
and secession were the legitimate fruits
, of this condition of things. This is
true picture of ol6 South Carolina, of
which Hayne, Calhoun and Rhett were
true representatives. The abolition of
slavery was the destruction Of the sys-
tenn.
''The rich and powerful of the old be-
came the poor and weak Of the new.
The workingman of the old regime be-
came the enterprising and successful
citizen of the new. The shackles of
caste were removed and the artificial
distinction of class abrogated. The
farmer and workingman claimed their
God-given rights, and boldly and de-
family entered the political arena.
This changed condition did bring about
an irrepressible conflict between the
reconstructed orders of society.
During the federal reconstruction
there was truce between the political
leaders and those developed by the new
order of things. In 1876, by the united
and patriotic efforts of both, harmon
lied for a time by the common instincts
of self-preservation, the Infamous car
pet-bag government, pinned to our
backs by federal bayonets, was over
thrown and the State was rescued from