The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-05-28


ple We demand the calling Of a consti
tutional convention to form an organic
law suitable to the changed condition!
and to tho growth of tho country.
4. We demand more economical
administration Of our national affair!
and that taxes shall be levied 80 as tt
! bear equally on all SECTIONS and al
classes. Labor should be lightly burden
ed by graduated income tax an(
wealthbe made to pay for its protection
We repudiate the construction
placed on the financial plank Of the
last Democratic national convention
by President Cleveland and Secretary
Carlisle as contrary to the plain mean.
ing Of English words and as being an
act OF bad faith, deserving of severest
censure. The issue OF bonds. in time OF
peace with which to buy gold to re-
deem coin obligations, payable in sill
YER or gold, at the option OF the gov
ernment, and the use Of the proceeds
to defray the ordinary expenses Of the
government, are both unlawful and
usurpations Of authority, deserving Q
impeachment.
.. a sound and just system Of finance
is the most potent factor in q nation 8
prosperity and we demand the rcsto-
ration Of the money of the constitution,
by giving silver the same rights and
privileges now given to gold. We
demand the free and unlimited coinage
OF silver at "a ratio OF rs to l. regard
less OF the action of any and all other
nations and that such coinage bo a
legal tender for all debts, public and
private. Congress, alonc has the
power to coin and issue money and
President jackson declared that this
power could not be delegated to a cor
poration, therefore, we demand the
national banking system be abolished.
The absorption Of wealth by fow,
the consolidation OF our leading rail
road system and tho formation Of
trusts and pools, require u stricter
control by the Federal government Of
those arteries Of commerce. We de-
mand the enlargement OF the powors
OF the Interstate commerce commits
sion.
The reading was concluded amid
loud applause. Larry CAN'T moved that
it be adopted unanimously with every
"i" dotted and evcry st" crossed.
Mr.. Reynolds OF Richland said that
he and another member had minority
| report.
Senator Tillman moved to lay the
minority report on the table, but with
! drew it at MIR. Barnwcll's request, who
spoke against the policy OF the Demo
cratic party, declaring it was mex
pcdicnt at this time to press for the
| free coinage Of silver. He was aware
that he was in u minority, not only
here, but among the Conservatives. He
| believed free coinage would ruin the
farmers. ULaughter.)
Mr.. Gadsdcn spoke earnestly in favor
of passing The resolution requiring all
to abide the action Of the national CON
vention. This money question was q
financial and not a party matter. Ho,
Of friendship that the national party
had shown to the people OF this State,
The galleries and all the available
space in the hall were by this time
crowded to their utmost capacity. 1t
was in such presence that Senator
Irby came forward in the centre aisle
and then the fireworks began. Irby
| began with great dcliberation but
warmed up to his work rapidly. His
attack on Tillman was intensely in
teresting. Time and again he was
loudly upplauded by his friends in
tho convention and the occupants of
the galleries. He spoke as follows:
II were to consult my own feelings
| would not utter a word on this qucs-
tion; but Mr.. President, occupying
tho position that do, holding q high
trust as the guardian Of the Dcmocra-
cy of South Carolina, were to fail to
respond for the grand old party when
she has been challenged, land shame
for it) by her greatest beneficiary. l
say, Mr.. President, not in i'll will, but
in truth and candor and honor, to the
pooplo of the State, that when this
Edgoliold Democrat" as he has so
proudly proclaimed himself upon this
floor, challenges the party over which
l have tho honor to preside, that
should be recreant to my duty if | did
not defend it.
When this EIgcfcld Democrat, who
was taken from a lowly position, but
an honorable one, and raised to the
highest in tho gift of the people Of
South Carolina, proclaimed himself as
an Gdgctield Democrat" | must say
that know before what an "Edgo-
Mart Gary was an " EdgeGeld Demo
crat. (Applause,) But, Mr. President,
Mart Gary was not that kind of an
Edgelicld Democrat. Mart Gary was
q South Carolina Democrat. (Chcers. J
And | speak for Laurcns when [ saw
that grand old Laurens has no such
Democrats within her borders. IAN
plauso.)
Now, Mr.. President, whore are We
regret that | have to talk so plainly
as | am talking hero to-night-who
are We? Whore are We? How come
we here in this convention You
have all heard Of the manifesto that
was issued in 1890. 1t is prominent
document. The pcoplo of tho State
have the right to know about it. |
had something to do with tho revision
OF that document before it was issued.
That document was at first so framed
that it addressed all tho people of the
State white, black, Republican and
Democrat alilSo. [ entered my protest
that unless it was changed, |, as a
Democrats and loyal son of the State,
would not go into it. was willing to
make the fight under the machinery OF
the party to capture that machinery
that the people of the State might
control, and therefore at my sugges
tion the words "To the people OF the
State" which included al classes and
complications, were changed to "To
the Democrats Of the State" and the
| ,uil bilp IN, hn ~