Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-09-16
fensive partisanship," he will do the cause
of Mr.. Bryan more good than if he should
keep his mouth shut.
EVANS TO The VOTERS.

EVANS TO The VOTERS.
Relieves That Truth Struck to the Earth
Will Rise Again.
To the Democracy of South Carolina:
As the primary election is now over and
the result officially declared feel It my
duty to thank my friends and supporters
and to say few words to the pubic at
large. I came to the governorshlp OF tne
state with the policy of the Reform move
ment thoroughly outlined and gwen 70
me by the Reformers who had dominated
me and I have been confronted py many
difficult and important problems ss1 ioL s9au- Ia
ton. These problems were Polltlcai, leg
istative and judicial, and while not alto
gether of my own making. it was my duty
as the leader of my faction to shlrk no
duty imposed upon me by, my party, my
predecessor in office or the general as
sembly. Under such circumstances, there
was but one course open to me, Wnlcn was
to carry out as faithfully and as earnestly
as possible, and with all the means placeo
in my hands, the law CT the state ana tne
expressed will Of the majority,
In the performance Of my duty met
with most serious difficulties and neces-
sarily made many enemies, more pollti,,
cal than personal, for the reason as IS well
known there has been from the begln-
ming Of the Reform movement up 10 tne
present time minority faction which nave
been active, vigilant, bitter and untlring
ready to take any course or aoopt any
measure calculated to make my a9lnlhls-
tration failure and to restore tnem W
power. From this faction could expect
nothing save implacable opposition TO
a ,;otro
surprised at their bitter opposition to my
election to the position of United States
senator, I did expect the support and
hearty cooperation of at least the bene,
ficiaries of the Reform movement. HAD
I known at the beginning what was
to occur during the campaign, 1 might
we'll have said, 'Save me from my friends
and will take care of my enemies" NO
doubt many changes had taken place III
the minds Of individuals on matters con,
nected with the Reform movement and
the state government. The final result
of this election, unfortunate as it to our
faction and to me, is due, in the first in
stance, to the thorough organization OF
the Conservative minority, which fought
me with all their bitterness and vltupera-
ton, not for the reason as Is sought 70 pe
inculcated by their newspapers, OF any
unworthiness on my part but simply be-
cause I represented the Reform move,
ment, and the principles which they had
fought since 1890. This was made to sue,
ceed by the cooperation Of my so,called
friends and members of my offlclal iaml-
ly who, while pretending to support me
and NV administration, were really stab
bling me in the back and finally united
with the opposition, which was powerless
without their help, to accomplish my de-
feat If the Reform party has been in
iured by this campaign or my defeat lis
the beginning of the end," let the blame
rest upon the heads of the traitors and
false friends in our own ranks without
whose help it could not have been accom-,
plished. Who these parties are l need
not state here, for late developments, have
exposed some of them and time Will un-
cover the others to the public.
I can find no words with which to fully
express my deep appreciation OF the ad-
herence and steady devotion and love OF
principle of the 10000 RefOrmers VINO re-
mained so loyal to our cause and to me, re-
pardless of all the slander, misrepresen-
tation and abuse that have been heaped
upon us by open foes and secret enemies.
When we take into consideration the per-
sistency with which SANDER and misrep-
resentation were repeated, though as
often refuted, not only by individuals,
IL
which seemed bent upon making our
people believe the statements of men in
whom they had no confidence and reports
without any foundation, it seems wonder
ful that greater number Of our people
were not made to believe them and to
vote against me. 1t is beautiful exam
ple, however, and will ever serve to make
me appreciate and have confidence in the
honesty of the masses. 1t shall be the
proudest recollections Of my life when L
recall the fact that after the most infam-
ous campaign ever known in the history
of South Carolina, not excepting Radical
days, or probably in any other state, fully
one-half of our people, if not more, for
some 5000 to 10000 in the country could
not be gotten to the polls, persisted in
refusing to believe these ISLANDERS, al
| though seconded by venal press resort
ing to all the devices which the most
ingenious malice could suggest. Besides
this, all sorts of ISLANDERS were secretly
| whispered into the ears of our country
people regarding my personal and private
character, could not be met, denied
or refuted, until after the election, be-
cause not openly avowed or known to me
at the time.
Let it be understood that I am not
complaining or blaming those of our in
nocent or unsuspecting people who were
thus led to vote against me, but now that
the campaign is over and the result de-
clared, am satisfied all fair minded men
will carefully review the wrongs done ME
and will place their righteous indignation
upon the guilty parties and point the fin
ger of scorn at those unworthy of belief.
| am willing to leave the whole matter
with the people, for I am sure that to
many, even Of those who voted against
me, a sober second thought will come,
which will convince them of the great in
justice that has been done, and SO far as
| my enemies are concerned, time will bring
its revenges.
have out little to say in reference to my
opponents. One of them is beneath my
notice after having been so contemptuous-
| ly repudiated and scorned by the people
at the ballot box. I shall say nothing
against my successful opponent. It must
be admitted that he was not elected on his
merits as Conservative, RefOrmer or
Democrat, but has become simply the
beneficiary of the ISLANDERS that were
heaped upon me and elected by the turn
| ing votes of the small minority who pre-
ferred a slanderer to either Of us. hope
that he will prove useful and valuable
member of the senate.
In conclusion, 1 would say to the people
of South Carolina and the Reformers, in
particular, that while I am disappointed
in my aspirations, I shall not be found
sulking in the camp of the Reform party
or in the counsels Of the true Democracy.
I expect to live and die in the state of
South Carolina. My political faith will
ever remain true to the Reform Democ-
racy and 1 shall continue to be factor
in the social, political and industrial af-
fairs of my state in the future as have
been for the past 10 years. 1 have been