Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-02-19
THEY ARE IN EARNEST.

will be q factor in the coming campaign.
There is no reason to discount this propo-
sition. The ball has already been set in
motion, and is rolling with accelerating
speed. The outlook is that when the peo-
pie of South Carolina wake up some fine
morning before the coming summer is
over, they are going to find the Repub-
lican party armed and equipped for the
fray, and formidable competitor for all
the fat things that are in sight.
Captain L. D. Melton, the Republican
State chairman, was in Yorkville last Fri
day. His business here was to put things
in shape for the organization Of York
county. It was 10 o'clock in the morning
when he arrived, and there had been no
previous announcement of his coming. 5.
P. Foster, the county chairman, put in
his appearance little later, and later In
the afternoon, Rev. C. P. T. White, editor
of the Rock Hill Messenger, and DR.. j..
w. Prather, Negro physician of Rock
Hill, also turned up. In the meantime
word was put out that Captain Melton
would make a speech in the court house
in the evening, and when the appointed
hour rolled around, the Negroes began to
gather in the building.
Up to perhaps o'clock, the audience
numbered scarcely more than 20. Captain
Melton was at first loath to commence
speaking on account Of the small crowd.
He was urged, however, to say something,
and the crowd continued to grow until
one side of the building was well-filled.
The audience was composed principally OF
Negroes, including most of the local pol
iticians; but there was also present about
a dozen whites who assembled purely
from motives of curiosity. The speaker
took the floor without introduction, and
addressed himself directly to the Negroes.
His remarks were good tempered through
out, and were received with an enthusi-
asm which seemed to indicate that his
hearers are right in for any and everything
that he might suggest. A full report of
his speech would fill as much as two
columns; but satisfactory synopsis of it
will be found in the following:
NV Friends and Fellow Citizens: I did
not come to Yorkville on this occasion to
L
morning at 10 o'clock for the purpose OF
having conference with County Chair
man Foster. Of course / could not expect
a larger attendance on so short notice, and
while it gives me pleasure to discuss with
even few friends, the Republican situa-
ton in South Carolina, / am also pleased
to inform you that will be back here in
about q week, and at that time shall say
to you great deal more than it is my in
tention to say tonight.
1 shall speak to you especially of our ef-
forts in reorganizing the Republican party
in South Carolina, and shall endeavor to
explain to you the necessity for such re-
organization. AS you know, ever since
1876, the Republican party has been quies-
cent. It has been down deeply in the
slough Of despond, and nothing has been
done to lift it out. Our friends on the
other side 1.-THE Webster faction might
call it period OF mastery inactivity /;
but defy any man to point to sin
gle act since 1876 that has been Of benefit
to the State Of South Carolina or to the
Republican party. Voice: OATS right.
Dey can't do it.
All, gentlemen, what is the history Of
that party? 1t is written in the death Of
the political life of $4,000 citizens of our
State; Voice: OATS sol and I say to you
that for all this, the mastery inactivity of
our friends, the enemy, is responsible.
And they can't plead ignorance. They
were openly warned of what was coming
from every stump in the land. They were
told that the object of the constitutional
convention was 10 disfranchise the Negro
voters. All that they had to do to pre-
vent such consummation was to give us
organization, register us and bid US 90 to
the ballot box and protect our rights.
[Cheers.] And what did they do? Didn't
do nuttin.] Remained as silent as the
grave ITSELF [Dat's right Is there any
denial of this? Can any man with the
gift of memory say that l do not speak the
truth ? [Dat's the truth
At this point, Captain Melton went in
to an extended explanation as to the ORR
gin of the new movement: The faction
represented by Webster had been in pow
er for 20 years. Its executive committee
had originated in proper authority. Then
shortly afterward came time when it was
found to be easier to remain silent than to
work for the interest of the party. 1t was
only necessary to make little showing
every four years with view to getting
control of the patronage. The committee
finally lost sympathy with the rank and
file of the party and arrogated to itself the
power of electing its own members. Then
It became more careless than ever. Mr..
Webster had been begged and implored
to try to lead the party to victory. He had
refused to stir himself. At last realizing
that desperate case required q desperate
cure, Melton and others called mass
meetings all over the State held conven-
tion in Columbia on the 9Th of February