The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-07-18

The Governor tried to bold some
hand primaries, but the crowd would
not let him He called them set of
political slaves and said all their public
men were afraid of the whlskey
influence. They were going to vote for
Butler, not that they loved Butler more,
but that they hated TiIlmau more.
(Voice: '.It is because we like to hear
a gentleman"
The Governor ambasted the Fourth
Brigade for not going to Darlington.
A lot of Kissing ensued, aud be said ne
wished some one would start drum
and "run these fools away" ;" Voice !:
"You are safe'') Yes, | am safe for
the Senate have got it iu my pocket
already. (Jeers and howls.) When |
get to the Senate you will be around
begging for postofices and will swear
you were not here tonight daughter
aud howls) I know seveuty.fve or
one hundred men have been brought
here to turn this meeting into howl
ing mob. (Voice: "You are the man
who did it.'') I give you this parting
shot: Your dealers better get rid of
your whiskey, because am going to
open the dispeusary again y
Only those who were near the Gov
ernor heard this, so deafening were the
combined jeers and bowls aud Kisses
that ensued.
Gen. Butler was next introduced
81 would say" said be, ''if | didn't
know the Governor so we'll that be has
had some of his dispensary whiskey."
At this juncture the first stampede
ensued. 1t was caused by police
mans collaring man 10 the crowd.
In an instant all was confusion. The
crowd swarmed everywhere and yelled
like madmen.
Gen. Butler said be bad stood where
the shots fell thick and fast, and there
were not enough men in Charleston to
frighten him. He was going to talk to
the people if he had to remain till mid
night.
Il have never been able to under
stand Governor Tillman's intense hatred
of the people of Charleston or the bitter
ness of his resentment against the city.
So long as it is personal, no great harm
can come of it, but when he uses the
great powers Of his Office, which be
should exercise impartially and justly
to oppress, barry and iDjure Charleston,
be commits an objectionable aud gre
vous wrong.
.Abous the only ofense Of which
Charleston appears to have been guilty
is determination to protect her rights
of local self-government and her own
rights and interests She may also
have been guilty of the unforgiveable
sin Of denying to Governor Tillmao the
quality of moral. social and political
infallibility. and taking him down from
the sublimated heights where bis dis
interested followers had placed him and
requiring him to live and have his
being on the same plane with ordinary
mortals. If Charleston has done more
than this | am not aware of it. In
view of his vili6catioD of the city and
some Of her most distinguis he'd and best
citizens. I think Charleston deserves
much commentator and praise for her
forbearance with such traducer.
Few people would have shown SO much,
but I suppose you have acted upon the
theory that vituperations of this order
recoil upon their author, and be alone
becomes the sufferer in the end. For
myself, I have known nothing of the
past of Charleston and her present
attitude but what commends my respect
aud admiration. She is the metro
politan city of the State, and while she
properly looks out for her owo interest
she has never failed to respond to the
demands made upon her Tor whatever
has affected all the people of the State
and country. Realizing her great
importance as the principal seaport city
of the State, one of my first official acts
was to secure an appropriation to
improve her harbor aud secure deep
water over her bar to the sea-"
Gen. Butler bantered Tillman for not
making his attack on Judge Simonton
where bis friends and neighors were.
II am ready to do it, now" shouted
the Governor from his seat.
Gen. Butler replied that the old sol.
diers in the crowd knew what that
meant. When Tillman had chance
to fire his guu he didn't shoot. He had
spoken and then be had gone under
cover.
Demagogues, blatant and unpatFiot-
ic, have created prejudice in the in
terror against Charleston. I predict
that Governor Tillman will 60 into the