The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-12-18

that alone can nurtue patriotism.
That is what concerns us; that is what
we of the South have to meet and we
must meet it like patriots. We will
meet it like patriots. We are told to
divide while the industrial enterprises
of the North. consolidate; while the
Shylocks consolidate and continue to
take their pound of flesh, if possible,
nearer the heart; while some South
erners are tempted to bow down and
worship the golden idols. We are told
that you are fanatics; you do not
understand the principles Of govern
ment." and unless you allow this
syphon to be introduced into your
heart and allow them to suck from you
your life blood, they say, THAT pros
perity and true government can never
be obtained" Sir, it can be obtained.
The principles upon which this gov
ernment was founded can be perpet-
uated, but it will never be perpetuated
by the Shylock, it will never be per-
petuated by the banker, it will never
be perpetuated by the manufacturer,
but it will be perpetuated by the men
who own the soil and the men who till
the soil who live under their own vine
and fig tree, who love the trees as
Grady said, who love the forest; who
love the hills that stand in their path
way and glories in the home he in
habits. (Applause.) These are the
men who give birth to patriotism, these
are the men who can save this counT
try against corporate wealth that has
been amassed and is being amassed in
the North there is no hope for you in
the Northeast. Its solid. Their only
desire is to fleece you, and to get the
last penny from you they can. The
only hopefor you ls in the West. Why
do I say so? The South is an agri-
cultural country. South Carolina
leads in the manufacture OF cotton, it
lis true; but she Is an agricultural
State; she realizes that the foundation
of all wealth is agriculture. Where do
YOU find them3 She must get her
friends from those who are the friends
of agriculture. Where do you find
.thema Only in the West and South
west. and there is your alliance, and
let me give warning here today; let
me tell the young Southerner who goes
to Congress that he should 60 there
and let his voice be heard; let him
raise his protest against this accumu-
lation of wealth against the destroyers
of this republic, and as his father did
in the past, for the principles OF good
government. Let the principles OF
good government fall from his lips as
IL did from the lips of his forefathers.
Let It never be said that we can do
nothing. We can do anything. Don't
say we can do nothing God never
helped such people. God helps him
who helps himself. And unless you go
there and make this fight and make
this protest you can never hope town.
You will be criticised If you do, as
YOU see now the criticisms Of South
Carolina and Ben Tillman. applause
and cheers.) Throw it aside, cast it
away, because it is simply the true
principles of Democracy the true prin-
ciples which alone can perpetuate and
preserve any republic. No republic
can live with Capitalization and con-
traction of wealth in the hands OF
the few. No country can live which
staryes the great mass OF its people.
No country can live and prosper on
the amount of money which is seen
fit to be doled out to it in q few hand
fuIls by capitalists. Why, twelve men
today can bankrupt this nation /;
twelve men can paralyze this govern
ment; twelve men can today stop the
wheels Of progress and commerce in
this great republic. Shall these things
continues What an object lesson have
we here9 - (,
What does this exposition teach9 It
has opened the eyes of the world to
the wealth of the South. It has shown
to the North that the South can make
her own future. It has shown to them,
indeed, that she is independent. It
has shown to them the resources that
exist here; that live here and are
buried here, only to be dug out by
the faithful worker who loves his own
Southland. (Applause.) When the
South takes again the lead which she
relinquished only by force OF arms,
then and not TIL then will prosperity
and progress be assured and her foun-
dations strengthened and this country
be safe, and the flag Of our united
country be raised on our National
Capito1. (Applause and cheers.)
1thank you, sir, again for this hearty
welcome to Georgia; I thank you for
the good words said of us and of
South Carolina, and as l said before,
we are but one people; we have but
one home; we have but one destiny,
and that destiny must be worked out
hand in hand and heart in heart by
those who love their country, its pros
perity and its progress. (Great ap-
plause and cheers.) ~
TILLMAN's SPEECH. ~
The full text of the address of Sena-
ator Ben Tillman is as follows: Your
Excellency, Mr.. President, Ladies and
Gentlemen-The good book tells us
that there is time for all things, but
I do not think that this is time for
long speaking. (Applause.)
A voice: ''Hurrah for Tillmanr'
''Tillman: .They say that hungry
people have no ears, (laughter) and I
am sure that I can see q good many
of you here who would like to have a
sandwich about now. I shall, there
fore, not trespass on your patience ex-
cept for brief period. This is not an
occasion for lengthy speaking. I have
no set speech prepared. 7 don't know
how to make set speeches. I have
heen in constant attendance upon our