The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-07-22

Inc Stato
sumter-IIttle or No Enthusiasm Mani
tested by the Crowd-several OF the Can
didates Absent.
SUMTER, July 15.-The State cam.
paign meetings were resumed mere
last Monday. At 1910 County Chalr'
man R. O. Purdv called the meeting
to order. The Rev. N. w. Edmunds
invoked divine blessing. asking that
all things might be done decently and
in order here today. Chairman Pur-
dy announced that Mr.. 7. w. Stan
land had authorized him to state that
he had Withdrawn from the congress
ional race, leaving Mr.. Stokes and
Mr.. Moses to fight it out. Messrs.
Stokes and Moses, candidates for Con-
gress, spoke first. These gentlemen
were followed by Judge Earle. After
being introduced the Judge made an
interesting speech:
II stand here today, "he said, "where
| have stood many times before, lac
ing people have known since child
hood. | see here men who knew
as boys over there in the academy. 1
see here friends of the past; friends
who were with me in rs, in '7S;
friends who stood at my back in 1880.
] can say that l am standing among
friends. Some of you differ with me
today. Here and there some po-
litical friends of the past are perhaps
now my enemies. But this l say:
Friend or foe, you have always known
where to find me; you always knew
where stood. No man can say that
I ever threw rock and hid my hand.
No man need ever say he had to hit
me in the back; he had only to stand
to the front.
Some years ago had the honor to
run for Governor of South Carolina.
knew could not be elected; l knew
was doomed to defeat, but had
been honored by the people who elect
ed me to a responsible Office. There
were whisperings, charges that there
was something wrong in the offices OF
the administration of which l formed
part. l could not meet those charges
except by being a candidate. l had a
right to stand as candidate for gov
ernor and speak to my people. What
I said on the stump won applause
from nay opponents. I conducted the
campaign on a high plain, and my
opponent, who was elected, so stated.
"On his election my position was
that the people had spoken; that the
Democrats had rendered their verdict;
that I would accept it, and would not
oppose MIN. When one of the most
prominent newspapers in South Caro-
lima wrote to me as we'll as others,
asking what was going to do or ad-
wise doing in the face of the result, l
answered: Stop abuse, cease vitupera.
ton, treat all men with fairness and
do what can be done to bring the peo-
pie together. I have no apologies to
make to anyone for anything l said
then. I said what felt, what be-
lieved in my heart. We are one peo.
pile; we are the Democratic party.
The constitutional convention buried
the hatchet, and now, fellow.citizens,
bring message from the Piedmont.
Stop strife; stop discord; be united"
Gen. Earle alluded to an anonymous
card which had appeared in Sumter
paper, asking why he withdrew from
q race for a county Office in 1876.
You all know the author" he said,
"but l am ready to answer it. If any
man in the crowd will stand sponsor
for those questions let him appear and
will answer. Let him stand up."
There was no sponsor. You all
know where I stand on State politics.
am Democrat; I have not joined
in vituperation; I have given credit
for what was done.
There have been rumors and
charges of dishonest transactions in
this State. Now, say here to friends
and opponents that [ do not believe
B. r. Tillman is a dishonest man. l
opposed him and have no apologies to
make for it. I have not agreed with
him in all things. | do not agree with
him in all things; but believe he is
honest and I don't believe Tillman
ever stole a dollar of dispensary mon
ey or bond deal money. If there has
been any stolen, let those who got it
answer for themselves"
1T has been said that a judge should
not 20 upon the stump. That is an
aristocratic idea which does not now
hold good. II going upon the stump
interfer red with his duties he should
not do so, and for that reason l have
been prevented from appearing before
the people of the State as soon as l
wished. But when it does not conflict
with his duty he should have the
privilege of doing so in these days
when United States senators, COVER
nors and other men holding high Of
fees 60 on the stump. No Office IS too
high to allow the man who fills it to
meet the people face to face"
Judge Earle then boldly sailed out
upon glittering financial sea, speaking
in an interesting manner upon sub
iect that is almost too threadbare to
be handled in public by any but mas
ters of it.
The people knew there was some,
thing wrong, and they could expect
little or no relief from any State ad-
ministration. Candidates for congress
who had spoken had declared for 1t
10 |, but had neglected to state why
free coinage at that ratio was right
and would be beneficial. The speaker
proceeded to give a historical sketch of
The use of silver and gold us money or
purchasing medium from the time
Abraham purchased burying place
for Sarah with silver to the present
time. Silver was the money metal
unit both geld and silver were used
by the Romans 400 years before
Christ.