The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-03-21

Turning to National issues, be show
ed how much Congress had done TO
the bankers and how little it was will
ing to do for the farmers. He adverte(
briefly to the sub-treasury plan ant
showed its justice and how much relic
it would bring to the farmers. HI
advocated repeal of the National bank
ing law, and showed low much money
the National bankers had made BY
buying bonds with greenbacks.
At this point General Ellerbe said b.
would have to stop speaking, much t.
his regret, as he was feeling very un
well. The crowd regretted that ht
could not finish his speech.
w. D. Evans was next introduced
with tasteful reference to his presi
dency of the Farmers Alliance.
Senator Evans said be had thrown
away the modesty, the chairman hat
spoken of as one of his attributes anc
would henceforth be brassy; he woulc
not allow his young friend from Aiker
to have all the brass, even if he was &
lawyer.
| J. G. Evans: AS we are kin, I'll di
vide with you.
w. D. Evans: Yes, but you'll keer
the lions share.
He referred to a speech be had made
in Methodist conference, which Rev
J. g. Kilgo had praised. He asked Mr.
Kilgo what part of the speech he liked
best and he replied: "It's brevity.'
And he proposed to make bis present
speech have that same virtue
If Cleveland had heard that speech
of the Aiken Senator
Voice: He would have gone out and
hanged himself.
w. D. Evans: Oh! no; you all know
how these lawyers cuss each other out
in the court room and then 90 out and
take a drink together. Laughter, !
Cleveland will not hang himself, but
he has hung the Democratic party up on
hook in pawn shop on Wall street.
where it will stay until the honest
common people take it down. He pro.
claimed that he was Democrat and
would always be Democrat in princi.
pie, no matter what party name might
be given him. he was reformer and
had been from the beginning; he was
| not one of those who had been against
| the Farmers Movement until they saw
it sweeping the State and had then
gotten on the band wagon. That was
not his style. -.
He was but farmer, and felt in his
own person and pocket the evil effect
of the laws which the Farmers Alliance
is fighting. He would discuss as calmly
and dispassionately as be could, though
his wrath was stirred by feelings of the
wrongs do2e him and other farmers.
State and National issues. Most of the
State issues made by the Reformers
have been enacted into law.
He then reviewed the history of the
Reform Movement from the first speech
of Ben Tillman-in his (Evans) native
town. He was one ofthe men who had
gone into the Reform Movement in the
beginning, and be would be there at
the ending. He was one who wanted
all the good people of the State to join
in the Reform Movement, which now
has entire control Of every department.
Of the State government. The great
common people have charge of the
State government and feel competent
to run it.
He reviewed the Coosaw litigation,
and showed how much the State had
gained by the fight made under Ben.
Tillman to put the State in control of
its own phosphate territory.
The constitutional convention was
next talked about. It was the duty of
the people to make candidates discuss
that issue before them 80 that they
could vote intelligently. The General
Assembly has disposed of this question,
80 vote for candidates who favor the
calling Of constitutional convention.
He then showed under what corrupt
Influence the present Constitution was
framed. If We are living under con-
stitution framed by such a venal and
corrupt crew, as did frame it, why
should we fear to entrust the framing
of new Constitution to the honest,
intelligent people of the State?
He next spoke of the good brought
about by the Reform Movement in
bringing candidates before the people.
He touched upon the tax question
and the good work of General Ellerbe
in that connection. He showed how
unjust were tax assessments under ring
rule, and what uphill work the Reform
administration had had in bringing
about just and equal assessments. He
denounced the conspiracy under the
leadership of Dan Chamberlain to de-
fraud the State of its taxes, and showed
how even Simonton had been forced to
cast an anchor to the windward and
make the railroads pay their taxes,
which amount to S201, 900. Voice: And
costs. w. D. Evans: Yes, that's the
sweet part of it.
The future destiny of the Union de-
pends upon the enactment into law
of the demands of the Farmers Alli-
ance, when peace and prosr erity will
spread over the land. DR.. Pope is to
follow me, but I can't quit just yet.
Voice: Go ahead; we've got more
time than money; that's known.
w. D. Evans: Yes, but we'll have
more money. The banks are now too
far away from the people. We will
bring them to the people. It is not be-
coming in nne to cast abusive epithets
at those who are politically dead and
have no influence in South Carolina.
Whether the ants are aware of the
fact or not, they are dead. There is no
use in doing like Pat, who beat the
tail of the snake after be had mashed
its head, because, as the tail kept wig
Cling, Pat did not think the snake was
aware of the fact that it was dead. Let
US look to the future.
Voice: And let the tail wiggle.
[Laughter.l
w. D. Evans: Yes, let the tail wig
gle. Let no man come before you and
simply say he is in favor of.the Alliance
platform. Make him 60 into details
and tell you what he knows about that
platform.
He then analyzed the Alliance plat
form, and showed the justice Of its de-
dwelling with particular force
upon the demand for governmental
control of railroads. The railroads have
great privileges and the object of the
Alliance is to make them use these
privileges for the benefit of the people