The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-08-06
THE YORK ALLIANCE ENCAMpMENT.

n lllC lUnN HlllhNUL [NUhlIlT lICWl,
A LARGE GATHERING OF FARM
The alliance Doctrines and Achieve
ments are Upheld and Exalted.
Columbia Register.
TIRzAH, YORK COUNTY, July 30
1t has been said for o year or two that
the Alliance was decreasing in NOM
Dership and that it was rapidly falling
Into decay. That may or may not be
so as 10 numbers, but the fact appears
10 oc that as great interest is taken in
! organization now as ever before, iudSs
ing from the outpouring Of the faithful
az tne third annual encampment of the
YORK Alliance at this place today. The
most conservative estimate places the
number OF people in attendance ut 2, 600
and some even put the number larger.
| There were about 800 ladies among
them and in an equal number so many
handsome ones cannot be found else
| whore in the State. Tho woods this
time were literally full Of them. OF
course with such " number of the fair
sex present the asscmblage was u most
quiet, attentive aud orderly one, for it
could not be otherwise under such cir
cumstances. These annual cncamp-
mcnts were begun three years ago by
the York Alliance for the purpose of
Keeping up tho interest Of the members
in the order and for the further and
greater purpose Of educating the peo.
pic on the great economic questions
| that have arisen for solution in the past
few years. With this idea in view, at
each cncamplucnt prominent speakers
Of national reputation Lave been invi-
ted to address the people.
Scnator Tillman began his political
career by his celebrated speech at Ben
ncttsvillc, but the next one he made G on
his tour which finally landed him
where he is, was maze at this place DC
fore an immense COrcour5e Of farmers.
| Iirzah is IL railway station on the Ohio
| River X Charleston Railroad, and is
worry near the geographical centrU Of
| York county.
Men from York, Lancaster, Union
ami bordering counties annually make
Il pilgrimage to this place and bring
with them their wifes, their sons and
daughters. and swccthcarts no doubt.
Many come just for the day, being
| those who live in convenient distance
Of the town, while others further OF
bring their covered wagons, their tents,
bedding and cooking utensels.and camp
out during the cncampmCnt in the
splendid grove just near where tho
orators speak. The cncampmcnt usual
ly lasts two days. The morning und
afternoon sessions are devoted to speech
making and picnic dinner, while tho
evenings arc spent in amuSemonts OF
| various kinds, such as dancing, card
parties, etc. The people Of TirZah and
| vicinity are the most kind hearted and
| hos nj a hlp ip tho a ~ and NJ 4 u. ~
who comes among thcm need lack for
anything. Hc.is harlly allowed TO ask
FOR anything for the people anticipate
even his smallest wants.
The encampmcnts then arc not only
occasions of great social enjoyment,
but they bring people of various sec
tiOns together to become better ac-
quainted and are in addition POLITICAL
economic and agricultural instructors
The third encampment which was
held to-day was fully up to former ones
displayed by the people.
a most elaborate programme of
| speeches had been arranged for, bnt
for various reason it could not be car
ried out.
| All candidates for State office. were
| invited, but the Gacit undcrsta' ding
was that they would let up blowing
their own horns and "cussing" ont
their opponents for one day at least
and give the people solid Alliance doc
trinc from first to last.
Only Governor Evans, cxpcctant
Governor Whitman, Attorney General
Barber and McssrS. Mayicld ana Rob
inson accepted the invitations. MIR.
Whitman got sick anu hadto take to h is
bed, and consequently did not speak.
Governor Evans was the orator OF the
day, and while Mcssrs. Mayticd and
Robinson did not expect to speak when
they went to Tirzah, still they were
called on and responded because the
cncampmcnt was running short on ora
tory owing to so many speakers being
absent. Each was introduced as q
candidate for Il particular Office, but
| the speakers only in the most Incl
dental way referred to that fact and
made straight l6 to | or bust speeches,
and gloriiicd OVER the prospect OF the
principles for which tho Alliance had
SO long and faithfully fought being
adopted as the. law Of this nation
through the success OF the Democratic
party.
The stand for tho speakers was
erected in q shady grove just outside
the town limits. On either side were
seats for two cornGt bands, both of
which are as good as any in The State.
They are handsomely uniformed and
have good instruments. They alter
mated in furnishing music between the
speakers.
Between the two band stands was
the speakers rostrum. The posts were
decorated with cvergrecns, sunilowcrs
and other flowers. Across the centre
was a banner. on either side of which
was incribed "Ncbraska and Bryan "
and Maine and Sewall." In the cch-
tire was South Carolina aud Gilman" "
and underneath it all was "Sixtcen to
One"
At tho entrance to tho park gate
was inscribed Tho Town Of Tirzah
Welcome AL"
The meeting was called to order by
President w. n. Elder, and prayer was
offered by Rev. }. NJ. McClain, after
which Capt. w. IL. Edwards welcomed
the audience and speakers to Tirzah.
Secretary j. W. Reid made an appro-
pirate rcply.
Governor Evans made the first
speech, speaking on the Alliance de-
\ l.,