The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1896-08-12
COUNTY CAMPAIGN OPENED.

4uo So0hsy S>]N S~~6A
Lewiedale last Saturday. There
were about 800 persons present,
many of whom were women and
children, to hear what the candidates
had to say in advocacy Of their pc
culiar fitness to discharge the duties
of the Office to which they aspire,
and to enjoy good barbecued din
ner prepared for the occasion by
Messrs. Hartley & Hartley, two we'll
known caterers to the wants OF the
inner man.
To digress little, we had the
pleasure of meeting some OF our old
war comrades and feel the pressure
as hand met hand in the clasp OF
friendship, and for awhile we were
carried back in memory to other days
and other scenes, in which the thunder
of artillery, the rattle Of musketry,
the fash of swords, and the smoke
of battle were among some OF the
pictures in those scenes.
All the candidates were present
except four. It was simply astonish-
ing, startling and marvellous to see
these agile and active gentlemen get
around among the dear people, shak-
ing the hands Of this person, saying
a kind word to that one and kiss
ing the baby of that proud and de-
voted mother.
The platform was erected in the
pretty and shady grove in front OF
the residence of the late Captain j.
81. Lewie where, interspersed with
the sweet strains of enhancing mu-
sic discoursed by the Palmetto State
Brass Band, the candidates were to
discuss the issues and enlighten the
people on the questions of finance
and political economy, as well as on
moral and educational matters.
It was good meeting In every re-
spect. ably conducted and carried to
a successful ending. 1t is useless
waste Of words and space to say that
no incident happened to mar the
pleasure of the occasion or to cast
the faintest shadow of reproach on
the fair name of Lewiedale. The
good people of that thriving and
prosperous little town are peaceful,
law abiding and liberty loving peo-
pie; happy and contented ia their
worldly affairs, prompt and progress
i've in business matters, social in
habits, moral and religious in charac-
ter and cultured and refined in taste.
Mr.. r. L. Keisler, President of the
Lewiedale Democratic club, ably and
impartially presided over the meet
ing, and welded the gavel as becomes
one who is in the habit of controlling
men.
The Rev. A. R. Phillips, of the
Methodist Episcopal Church South,
earnestly invoked the blessings of
God on the proceedings of the meet
ing and prayed for the direction and
guidance of the Holy Spirit in order
that all things might work together
for good to those who loved the Lord;
that those in authority might be i'm
bued with wisdom from on high to
rightly discharge the trust placed
in their keeping; that they might be
God loving and God serving men SO
that all honor and power and glory
mightbe ascribed to his holy name,
and the peace at prosperity and happi-
ness OF the people advanced.
The first speaker was the Hon. J.
A. Muller, candidate for Solicitor of
the Fifth Judicial Circuit. Heopened
by saying that he was'glad to meet
with the people of his native county,
after having been away in the other
counties of the Circuit in the inter-
est of his candidacy. He felt proud
of the honor of coming before the
people of the grand old county of
Lexington and asking them to sup
port him in his claims for the Office.
The office to which he aspired was a
non political one; it should be taken
out of politics as far as possible.
He then discussed the political issues
at some length. He said that the
people were in need of and demanded
financial relief; that the depression
under which the whole country is
suffering is felt mere particularly by
the farmers and workingmen because
the products of their labor has de,
preciated in value to almost the cost
of production; that under the pres
ent financial system there is not
enough money to do the business oi
the country, and as a consequence
there was universal stagnation il
all industries; that while he was ir