The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1893-05-30

Biso thcSe ihtereStinS IactS as StateC
to me by an eye witness.
During that year Mark A. Cooper, g
Wing, resigned from Congress to be 6
candidate for Governor, and, the Legis
lature being in session, number OF
prominent Wings assembled in Mill
edgeville to select candidate. The
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 con-
fer the honor upon the others. Many
were the compliments generously paid
to the great ability, the burning
eloquence, the rushing oratory, the
commanding influence OF each leader
when the golden prize was ten
dered him, but no man reached out his
hand they knew the gift, like Circe's
kiss, was fatal.
Atlast 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 substance /:
Every man here Is praying to have
the cat belled, but it is very evident
that not one of us is bravo enough to
undertake the Job. We are like a
| good many people 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
man can. He can outlive defeat, but
we can't. propose that in order to
make show Of fight we nominate a
little fellow in my district named
Stephens. He's boy, looks to be Ia
years old, but he'll fight anything. If
he gets killed he's out of everybodys
way. II 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 1 have from friend of Mr..
Stephens who accompanied him
through that memorable campaign.
The Democrats treated tho 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 slow
ly. but the Democracy of the State
soon heard unwelcome rumors of dis
aster at the front. They came at first
as the gentle breeze comes that fore
runs the gathering storm. Then came
q louder, swelling sound like the sough-
ing OF the pines as the stronger
couriers of the air broke from the
storm center, like fleet-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 Demo-
cracy heard wall for help. Speedy
meetings were held, and a gentleman
from Savannah-a trained and able
debater-was dispatched by relays to
the scene of conflict. He appeared sud-
denly and without notice at one of Mr..
Stephens appointments and challeng-
ed the boy to meet him in Joint debate.
The challenge was gladly accepted,
and when the pale-faced, beardless
boy, who had the conclusion in the de-
bate, had delivered 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
Il. Colquitt, to drive the youngster
out of the district. The Democrats
were afraid that the gosling Whig
would not dare meet their champion in
joint debate, and they arranged a sur
piioO py CoiCcdiiuS ullll dO u ldFIlcr 3
house the night before and near the
point of Mr.. Stephens appointment.
AT the hour for the speaking Judge
Colquitt was rushed on the ground and
his friends demanded a Joint debate.
The little David of the Wings readily
consented, he having the opening and
conclusion. Mr.. Stephens opened with
q rambling talk of an hour, studiouslS
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 MIR. Ste
phens rose to reply he was transform
ed. His eyes flashed, his form dilated,
his stature seemed to stretch to tho cell
ing, and his triumph in the debate was
SO complete that the Democrats 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 campaign and retired from
the district without another debate
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 yourselves in honoring
him. The Roman maxim, ga man is
known by his associates" applies to q
people and their representatives. No
higher encOmium could be paid to you
than you conferred on yourselves by
continuing this great statesman in your
service.
But his fame is not your exclusive in
heritance. 1t belongs to his native
State and to his country. He came q
surprise and remained wonder. He
rose like meteor, but soon took his
rightful position among the fixed stars.
In erecting this monument of marble
standing on base of granite we add
nothing to his name and fame we seek
only to perpetuate both and to give in
spiration to the youth Of coming gem
erations and an incentive to high and
noble deeds. The marble but typifies the
character of the man. while the granite
symbolizes the enduring foundation on
which his glory stands.
AROUND LIBERTY HALL.
Liberty Hall, the home place of Mr..