The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-07-25

Gen. Butler took paper from his pock-
ct, and holding it towards the Cover
Cor remarked that he could have the
affidavit.
..No; you read it. replied the Gov
ernor, as be drew out his. counter affi-
davit.
"Well, I'll read them both or let the
chairman read them - There was deaf
ening applause when Butler walked to
the front. Il am grati6ed.' be began,
'that 80 little occurred to mar the good
feeling and harmony among our peo-
pie to-day. 1t has been said that when
we got to Edge6eld We would find the
devil among the people. But | believe
we will express our preferences like en-
ligbtened people and stop wrangling.
Governor Tillman says I have been rid
ing two horses. say he has been
riding four horses He first said be was
Je6ersonian Democrat, then that he
rode with one foot on the third party,
the other on the Democratic party until
he almost split 10 two, then he called
himself a greeobacker, and fourthly he
didn't know exactly where he stood"
Tillman-.'Always 10 the middle Of
the road. general" (Applause.)
Gen Butler-''Yes. you are always
in the middle, with big margin on the
right aud left SO that you can jump to
either side. (Great applause and cries
Of "yes, that's it.'')
Voice-"He's good dodger.'
Butler-"Wby don't be stick to the
middle Of the road and say he is good
Democrat all the time? He wants to
curry favor with both sides and take a
little sugar wherever be can getit. How
much sugar has be put in your gourd.
he was charged at Darlington with per-
hitting reform paper to 60 down be-
cause he. with others, had not paid his
subscription.
Tillmau-"That was charged by a
reformer that you bought
Il have ridden but one horse. con-
tinued Butler ''since / rode under that
tree yonder when Chamberlain and his
myrmidons came to Edgefeld, and the
good Democrats of the county assembled
here by thousands. [ then mounted
the horse that I have been riding ever
since. which was to relieve the State of
the incubus Of radicalism, and which
l rode when you sent me to relieve you
of carpet bag rule. I shall ride but
one, and that is the horse that leads to
the deliverance aud welfare of the peo-
pie. (Great applause.
The exciting event narrated above oc.
Cured at this juncture. "Tillman
ought to take warning" continued Gen.
Butler, ''from the boasts that he accuses
Earle and Orr of having made in the
last two campaigns. He now claims
everything, but I tell him that if he
takes his rings and cliques out of the
politics of this State will beat him
three to one before the honest voters
of this State (Great applause. and
cries Of tell it to him. y As long as he
has everything arranged in the dark
chambers of the caucus, what free man
can have his rights?
''Irby said there was a ring in the
State houses and gentlemen on this
stand today charged tha: ring con-
trolled the elections aud Governor Till
man has never denied it aud cannot
deny it, for it is true. (Applause.
challenge and dare him to give me a
separate box in Meriwether township.
his own home. and I will beat him by a
handsome majority, and I will double
and treble him 10 my home here.'
Turning to the Governor, General
Butler thundered: 81 dare you, sir, give
me primary. You are not going to
do it because you have slated and ring
ed everything and man can't have a
free chance in this county" Cloud
applause.)
General Butler then read the follow
ing affidavit, everybody listening with
bated breath in expectation of another
explosion:
This is to certify that at Hamburg.
July 1876, We the undersigned. we're
present and that Mr. B. R. Tillman
vas not seen by any of US when the
firing began. That we were in the
thickest of it from start to finish and if
he had been there We would have seen
him, and certainly did not after the
firing began.
W. H. Hammond. T. P: Hammond.
L. F. Strom. H. D. Strom, Jno. N
Hightower, G. W. Walker, Jas. B.
McKie, Jno. A. Butler y
"These gentlemen can settle the mat
ter between themselves" +" said General
Butler. t'The Governor says he rode
down with me. I don't remember that,
1 went there alone in my buggy. and |
ouly state what these gentlemen say.
Ir N.....o. T;f}.,nc hca r,ot o,L,J NJ.