The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-05-20

was in such presence that Senator
Irby came forward in the centre aisle
and then the fireworks began. Irby
began with great deliberation but
warmed up to his work rapidly. His
attack on TilIman was intensely inter
esting. Time and again he was loud
ly applauded by his friends in the con-
vention and the occupants of the gal
leries. He spoke as follows:
i'll were to consult my own feelings
I should not utter a word on this ques-
ton; but, Mr.. President, occupying
the position that I do, holding high
trust as the guardian of the Democra'
cy of South Carolina, were to fail to
respond for the grand old party when
she has been challenged, (and shame
for iD by her greatest beneficiary. l
say. Mr.. President, not an i'll will. but
in truth and candor and honor, to the
people of the State, that when this
"Edge6eld Democrat" as he has so
proudly proclaimed himself upon this
floor, challenges the party over which
have the honor to preside. that l
should be recreant to my duty if
did not defend it.
When this Edgefeld Democrat, who
was taken from a lowl y position, but
an honorable one, and raised to the
highest in the gift of the people OF
South Caroline, proclaimed himself
as an "Edgefeld Democrat. I must
say that l knew before what an
"Edge6eld Democrat" was. ZAP
plause } Mart Gary was an Edgefield
Democrat. (Applause.) But, Mr..
President, Mart Gary was not that
kind of an Edgefield Democrat. Mart
Gary was South Carolina Democrat.
(Cheers) And I speak for Laurens
when I say that grand old Laurens
has no such Democrats within her bor-
ders. (Applause)
Now, Mr.. President, where are We
I regret that I have to talk so plainly
as am talking here tonight who are
we2 Where are we2 How come we
here in this convention9 You have
all heard of the manifesto that was is.
sued in 1890. It is a prominent docu
ment. The people of the State have
the right to known about it. I
had something to do with the revis-
ion of that document before it was is
sued. That document was at first so
framed that it addressed all the people
of the State-white, black, Republican
and Democrat alike. I entered my
protest that unless it was changed, I,
as a Democrat and loyal son OF the
State, would not 60 into it. I was
| willing to make the fight under the
machinery of the party: to capturs
that machinery that the people of the
State might control, and therefore at
my suggestion the words ITO the peo-
| pie of the State" which included all
classes and complexions, were changed
to ITO the Democrats OF the State"
and the words 1--WE will abide by the
result of the September conuention,"
inserted at the end. I insisted upon
that because l was Democrat and un-
willing to destroy the Democratic par
ty of the State. Under that flag the
people of this State put the govern
ment of the State into the hands of the
Reform faction. But for that pledge
in that manifesto the March conven-
ton would have failed.
We came in claiming to be Demo
Gratis. We are enough Democrats to
elect our governor twice, and that
dear, old, rotten party, as some call it
now, was good enough to elect some
people to the United States Senate, but
it amt good enough to elect some peo-
pie to the Presidency Of the United
States. Now, that's what's the matter
with Hannah! (Applause and laugh
ter.)
Are we, Reformers of South Caro-
lima, to be mere tools in the hands OF
any MANI Are we to acknowledge
the fact that we are carried IN his
breeches pocket to be delivered at any
minute9 will tell you, sir, that I
for one am not to be carried in the
pocket of any man, I was opposed to
boiling in 1890, when I think my
friend, the Edgeield Democrat,
thought bolter worse than a aRadical.
Am I, the legal head of the Demo
cratic party, to sit as tamely as a sheep
and allow the party to be delivered
into the hands of the enemy2 Oh, my
dear, Reform friends, am talking
plainly and honestly to you, and if
you fall out with me, I am sorry for
it. Four years ago you were such
Democrats that you required the elec-
tors nominated by this convention
to sign pledge to vote for the nomi-
nee Of the Democratic convention.
Are you going to hold the party re-
sponsible for Mr.. Cleveland's policy9
The party cannot be held responsible
for Cleveland's policy. You had as
we'll hold the Nj thodist church respon-
sible for the action of minister in it,
and say THAT minister has gone
wrong and I am going to leave the
church and 60 to the Baptists. " There
is no one more sincerely and honestly
for free silver at 16 to than am !;
but I am not prepared to dodge this
issue. And you men who are going
to run for the legislature, you sign
pledge reading, II am willing to abide
by the result Of the primary" and still
you are lodging and unwilling to
abide by the result of the national
primary"
The idea of 18 men out of GA going
into convention and saying to the
balance, 1--WE have got to fix this plat
form; we have got to name the man,
and we have got to be above suspicion,
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