Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1897-08-18

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influence to secure free silver, and
if he was more prominent in this
work, it WAS not his fault. From
the first moment be saw that the
only hope was in combination OF
the free silver forces, and he work
ed to that end. And to his record,
it needed no vindication, and he
had been far enough in this
campaign to see that be would be
elected by a big majority. Much
applause. He said he was sick and
tired of having to make explana-
tions, for everybody knew that he
was not protectionist, that he was
not republican, that he had been
elected four times to congress,
that he had been elected attorney
general, and there was no use to
drag him down to get his salary.
The people were not going to elect
somebody else on charges against
him.
He then went on to explain his
tariff views and,his position against
free raw material as heretofore,
and on reading a letter from
Congressman Bailey, in which it
was stated that they both voted
for reduction on wool. Mr.. Nc
Laurin had to pause for minute
or two to gain strength with which
to 60 on. Mr.. McLaurin said
that Evans may sneer about his
licking the feet of the Yankee
nation and voting for Texas wool,
but South Carolina had to remem-
Der that this was not the time to
build walls around this state, but
that mon with big, broad ideas
had to come to the front. He said
be saw no reason to lug in this
populist business.
DR.. Strait jumped up and said:
"Do you deny it?" Some of the
crowd cried to him to sit down
that it was none of his business.
DR.. Strait said that he was afraid
of nobody, and Mr.. McLaurin
invited him to say whatever he
wanted to, and won't on to say that
he had no recollection whatever
of having told Strait with what he
was credited with saying.
Then Mr.. McLaurin asked
Strait to repeat exactly what he
had said at Chester, which DR..
Strait did, which was that Nc
LaurIn had told Strait and Talbert
that the time was ripe to join the
populist party, and so on.
Mr.. McLaurin said that he had |
never thought of organizing a
popul;st party, and again related
how he, Sibley, Tillman, Bryan
and others had worked to get the
free silver populists, republicans
and democrats to unite forces.
Evans and others seemed to forget
that last year they were crying 16
to 1 or bust, and he wondered if
this was true democracy accord
ing to their present notions.
Dr.. Strait wanted to know
whether McLaurin charged him
With saying anything about these
matters, and McLaurin said he
never heard Strait say anything
about anything.
McLaurin went on to say that it
seemed bad enough for him to hare
hree opponents constantly jump
ng Oh him, and now for q congress-
nan to follow him around in his
district was most uncharitable.
lie would promise that when the
,arty arrived in his district they
would he treated with absolute
ordiality. Mr.. McLaurin said
hat he supposed the conversation
eferred to was about the time of
he Willard Hall conference. DR.. {
Strait said that it was not, DR.. 6
strait said that he was not at that {
difference. /
McLa"rin-But I was. Zap |
lause.) McLaurin went on to s
ay that at the Willard Hall
difference Senator Stewart jumped t
n him, and to there told him that l.
here was absolutely no place in 8
outh Carolina for a populist party
nd that he would have none, and
1at the democracy answersd,every
urpose for him. What be thought
le people wanted was a live,
ctive, intelligent and energetic
preventative, and they would put
,e hand of affliction OF a
onentity who acted as a stumbling F..
lock. (Much applause.