The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1893-04-12

| dempation. He maintained that he
was always a Democrat, and held tc
the position he had always taken H.
his interviews and speeches. He in.
timated very plainly to the Postmaster
General that if his brethren were moi
Democrats elected on the Cleveland
platform that he CraIbert) was not q
Democrat.
Captain Shell also made a few re.
marks, which however, did not cover
the points at issue, he not being in
cluded in the charges.
The closing argument was made by
Senator Irby. He spoke as the chair
man of the Central Democratic Com
mittee of South Carolina. His speech
was an able. exhaustive and yet con-
else review of the conditions existing
in South Carolina after the nomina-
ton of Cleveland and out of which the
present personal charges against some
of the States congressman had arisen.
He attracted the eager attention of the
Postmaster General at the outset and
held it by his intense earnestness and
array of irrefutable facts until the close
of his speech.
He spoke boldly, defantly and ag-
gressively. He did not seek to touch
the opposition with any phrases CAL
culated to intimate any compromise
after their arraignment of Latimerr,
Strait and McLaurin. He maintained
that the elections in South Carolina,
whether primary or final, were con-
Quoted by him according to the rules
Of the Democratic party, and that if
there were any bad, faith or broken
pledges that they could not be charged
to the successful candidates. He called
attention to the fact that the Democra-
cy of the Reformers was not challenged
until Mr.. Cleveland's election offered
the hope of few crumbs of patron
age to the anti-reform element.
He laid special stress and emphasis
on the inconsistent position assumed
by the Democrats who followed the in
dependent movement headed by A. G.
Haskell against the regular Democra-
cy in 1890, and the position they now
assume of charging regularly nomi-
mated and elected Democrats with be-
ing Third partyites.
He also called special attention to the
fact that the Haskell movement and
its adherents called to their support
the Republican negroes of the State to
overthrow the regular Democracy.
This, of course, is only very brief
synopsis of Senator Irby's remarkably
clear, logical and impressive defense of
the Democracy as it is now organized
in South Carolina. He challenged con-
tradiction of any statement he had
made, and said he was personally re-
sponsible for any allusion or facts,
brought out in the course of his re-
marks. He spoke distinctly, but i'm
petuously. Those who heard him say
that his speech was sufficient to estab-
lish his reputation as an eloquent and
logical reasoner and speaker. He han
died the subject and the accusers with
gloves of:
There was, of course, a good deal of
heat in all Of the discussions, but the
personalities will probably be soon for
gotten.
Senator Butler, who was invited by
Senator Irby, in Difference to his SEN
iority, to speak before him, declined,
and closed the debate. He expressed
his regret that the difference should
have arisen, that heretofore be had not
interfered with local patronage, but he
charged that he had been treated dis
criminately by Strait and Latimer, in
their failure 20 give his communica-
tions consideration.
DR.. Strait asked him if be considered
him straight Democrat.
Senator Butler replied that Strait
must vindicate his own Democracy.
Strait said he did not care whether
Butler endorsed it or not.
Messrs. Hemphill and Johnstone in
reply said that they advocated Till
man in their speeches after his NOM
ination, to which Senator Irby re-
joined that it was the first that he had
heard of it.
The official record will be given to
Postmaster Bissel tomorrow evening.
1t is generally believed here from ut
terances of the Postmaster that he can
not fail to see the correctness Of the
position set forth by the State Chair
man of South Carolina and to remove
Messrs. Strait and Latimer from the
blacklist,