The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-05-20
don't do our way we will walk out"
Voice-"Walk Where2"

VOlce-'Walk WhereT
Senator Irby-"God above knows
We will all be ashamed of this fool
ishness in three years. A bolter never
amounts to anything and its only two
or three years when you see him COM
ing back and sitting down on the
mourner's bench.
1 don't want to impose on your time
and I am feeling very unwell, but /
have to say this, as the head of the
party. If have offended my friend
/ can't help it. This dodge ruins the
party-ruins the Reform party in
South Carolina; and it makes us as
guilty as the followers of Mr.. Pope
and Mr.. Haskell or Mr.. anybody else,
and there is no excuse for it.
It has been said that the Edgefeld
Democrat carried the State in his
breeches pocket, or that he knew where
it was going. The people OF the whole
country are looking at us to see which
way it goes. But, gentlemen, I tell
you (here Senator Irby drew himself
up to his full height and laid his hand
on his breasty, here is a Laurens Dem
ocrat that no man has in his pocket.
Now, Mr.. President, in conclusion,
this is my last official act as chairman
of the Democracy of the State. We
have had much trouble-when South
Carolinians divide both sides have
trouble We ha@esbasn successful be-
cause we clung TO DEMOCRACY. If you
had deserted it, as some OF your-lead-
ers, who don't like me now wanted to
in 1892, and who would have gone if
I, as head of the party, had not held
them back. we would never have &C.
comp]ished what we have. They pick
ed up Mr.. Bowden, who is conscien-
tious and honest, and pitched him in
the stream of Populism but they came
back and behaved themselves when
they saw what rough time he had of
it.
And now, sir, let me say that if I
lose the friendship of every Reformer
and every Democrat in South Carolina
it will be the proudest act of my life
that my last official act as chairman of
the Democratic party of the State, was
to sound a warning to my friends, to
the Reformers of South Carolina not
TO desert the party. If we. do, white
civilization, 10 say nothing of white
supremacy is gone. Whenever we
divide and go in another party the
breach that is only factional will be
widened and made permanent, and
white civilization in South Carolina
will be destroyed. My friends, it is
the greatest blunder that has ever been
made in South Carolina and you will
see it. If we stand together we will
60 to Chicago, or our delegates will 60
there (for I don't think I'll go) (laugh-
ter) and be received as friends. But
if you dodge this you will be hissed as
traitors and enemies in disguise.
AsTIRRING SCENE.
When Irby concluded his speech
there were cries for Tillman. As he
stepped to the position occupied by
Irby while the latter was speaking
there was deafening applause success
full by wild cheering and throwing
hats into the air. The scene was a
most remarkable one. Senator Till
man had said but few words before
D. A. G.. QUITS of campaign fame,
forged his way through the crowd
bearing aloft q handsome pitchfork
decorated with ribbons and appropri-
ately inscribed. He passed up the
aisles holding the fork over Tillman q
few moments, and then placed it on
the presidents desk. Tillman was fire.
quently interrupted by loud applause.
He spoke as follows:
Mr.. President and gentlemen of the
We have had many re.
msrkably interesting exhibitions to-
night, such as our past history has
never seen the like of. 1 suppose that
so ill-assorted and uncongenial COM
bination as the one which has exhibit.
ed its venom here tonight on this floor
has never been equalled. We have
had here a man who has been honor
ed by South Carolina a great deal
more than he has honored himself.
We have had this man. repre-
sentative of the people of South Caro-
lima, undertake to speak to US here as
a master, and tell you to your teeth
that you are not representing the peo-
pie. I pray to God, such assurance!
Why, he could not have been elected
to this convention if he had not made
q combination with the Conservatives.
And what is all this about9 Is there
syllable in the principles that we ad-
vocate that is not Democratic2 Talk
about boiling, know that our people
dispise the idea of a man going out
and pulling in the negroes, but two of
the men who have spoken here to-
Night have done it. And still they
come to US and say, "Don't even hint
at a proposal to 60 to Chicago unpre-
pared to lie down and let the Shyl0cks
and gold bugs trample on YOU"
I have been doing more than any
other Democrat in South Carolina to
bring about revival of the hopes OF
the Democratic party in the nation,
and make it 60 forward as the party of
the people, rather than as the tool of
the moneyed classes. Two years ago.
when I was running for the senate, l
told the people of Lexington county
about the rascality and treachery of
Cleveland, and said to them, IF this
man is Democrat, I am no Democrat,
and so help me, God, you will never
find me in alliance with him." Zap.
plause.)
You are told that the Shell NANTES.
to, (which I wrote, if you want to
know iD was altered at the dictation
of the senator from Laurens. Mr..
President, when the Reform movement
SL..I.l 1000 axI D:alaslea,a