The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1893-08-30
/ ZIG ALLIANCE RALLY.
The Meeting at Slighs Largely Attended
Speeches by CASTOR, BowdeD, Dun
can aud Wyche-A Quiet and
Pleasant Day.

The meeting at Slighs on Friday was
the big rally, so far as the crowd was con-
! cerncd. The crowd was larger, possibly,
than it would otherwise have been from
| the fact that Col. Thos. E. Watson, the
Third party agitator of Georgia, was ex-
pected. He is good stump speaker and
so much has been heard OF him that
many people were anxious to see and
hear him. but he did no; turn up. Then
this section Of the county has thick
white population and they came in large
numbers from all point of the compass.
/ ion OF five Observation-Disclosures,
st. Pauls, Mt. Pilgrim, Mt Tabor and
Fairview.
2,00O PEOPLE PRESENT.
The reporter went down on the early
. freight train, and while sitting IN the
piazza of the residence of Mr.. Geo. A.
Mills had good opportunity to get an
estimate OF the number OF people who
were present from one side. They came
in wagons, busgies, carts. on horseback
! and on foot, and for more than one hour
and half we saw ore continuous stream
Of humanity pouring towards the place
of the meeting. A conservative estimate
OF the number that went in by this road
would be 1000 Then from the other
! side as many more must have come. In
| fact tho woods we're just literally filled.
It was good humored, good natured
crowd, and everything was very pleasant
throughout the entire day.
THE PLACE
| Seemed to be fixed by nature for holding
public meeting. It is half mile north
of the railroad from S'ighs, on the lands
of Hon. J. A. Sigh. 1t was on the side
of bill and could be easily fixed by
few seats to make grand ampitheatre
where 1000 or 5,VU0 ople could be
easily accommodated so as to SEQ and
hear any public speaker with Ordinary
lung power. There is a good spring near
by, and Mr.. Sigh had the roads worked,
the spring cleaned out, and walks graded
to it on the hillside so as to make the
ascent and descent easy. In fact every
everything had been done to make the
day enjoyable.
We should have said too that large
proportion Of the crowd was made up OF
the good housewives and the pretty
maidens of this community, and they
were attentive listeners.
THE DINNER.
It was a picnic, and pi mic dinner
was spread Oh long table, and one
standing at one end, viewing the burden
Of chicken, beef and hams and all things
good to eat borne by that table, would
cause to perish the thought that these
people knew any thing of hard times.
Then Mr.. J. B. kempson had prepared
an excellent barbecue dinner for those
who preferred that sort of dinner. This
writer was not surprised to see the lavish
picnic dinner prepared by the good
women OF this section, for he knows
something of the good things these
Dutch people know how to fix up. But
the object of the meeting was to hear
some speeches. but how much more
pleasant It would have beer to get to
| gathering like this and mingle with the
without being forced to listen to speeches.
THE SPEECHES
By 10 two principal speakers, in our
Judgment. were noticeably free from bit
| terness OK abuse.
| The Hon. J. 4. Sigh was master OF
ceremonies and introduced the speakers.
Mr.. Sigh in opening the meeting said he
was glad to see so many present, and ex-
tended to them genuine Dutch Fork
welcome. He had travelled somewhat
over the State and had attended some
meetings similar to this one. He had
seen as many as 1870 or 1000 people
present, and he was glad that no meeting
in this county had had an attendance
less than 500. It showed that the people
are thinking. The Alliance has been ed
ucating the people to read-to think.
| The objects of these meetings are to get
the people together and to talk to them
on the Alliance principles, and to discuss
and present the remedies offered by the
Alliance for the evils. The speakers at
these meetings often travel at their own
expense, besides giving their time. Those
who are to address you to-day will not
simply lay down propositions, but they
will prove every assertion they make.
They will not do as some do, make state
ments they cannot prove or do not prove.
Years ago when the Alliance was first
organized, and when the leaders told the
people and the lawmakers that there was
not money enough in circulation to do
the business of the country, we were told
that we did not know what we were talk
ing about-that it was the blind leading
the blind. When we told the people
that these calamities were coming, we
were called calamity howlers." The
idea was that man must be Congress-
] or &@ 1y,ooY ,I-fh
about finances. But behold how our
prophecy has been fulfilled. If it were
not for prejudice you would hear men
who live in the towns acknowledge that
We were right. They would be coming
to US. There were some who were COM
| ing around, and he hoped the time would
soon come when prejudice would be put
aside and all the people would join hands
| with the Alliance for the relief of the
people.
Here where the "blackjacks" stand
thick, and where all the people have
l'stood shoulder to shoulder for the prln-
| ciples of our order, and for the cause of
Reform-where they have fought togeth-
er-I am glad to see many ladies and
gentlemen present. You must possess
| information in order to vote intelllgently,
| and beg you, as know you will, give
attention to the speakers who are to ad-
dress you to-day.
Mr.. Sigh then announced committee
of gentlemen who would assist the ladies
in spreading one big table when dinner
was announced, and introduced
COL. JOHN T. GAsToS,
OF Aiken, S. c., charter member of the
Alliance, as the first speaker.
Col CASTOR said 1t gave him great
pleasure to meet the good people of
Newberry County. He was almost a
total stranger, but he represented one OF
the srandest orders in existence, an order
which made all mankind akin. He had
come to represent the Alliance and tell
the people something Of the order and
how the people over in his country think
and feel. He was glad to see so many
ladies present. They gave dignity to the
meeting. He was surprised that his
bachelor friend Bowden could travel
around over country as he did that
contained so many handsome and pretty
maidens and still remain bachelor.
1'bo E'orl of rbo+6o,,, hoe co,1. iSCbo,r