The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-09-08
MCLAURIN SPEAKS.
HE is SERENADED BY AN ENTHUSI.
ASTlC CROWD.

HE is SERENADED BY AN ENTHUSi-
AsTIc CROWD.
OF no Faction, but of the REUNITED W hits
Democracy ofsouth Carolina.
A large crowd of the admirers of
Senator McLaurin from the town and
county sereraded him st his residence
in Bennettsville Wednesday evening
amid great enthusiasm and rejoicing.
The Senator, on account of his health.
could only express his appreciation of
the support and confidence reposed
in him by his neighbors and the peo-
pie of the State; pledged himself to
try to prove worthy Of the trust and
predicted the dawn of new era in the
State. Marlboro feels honored in hon.
oring her worthy son.
Col. Kuox. Livingston was called
upon and made short speech to the
large crowd present, after which re-
freshments were served by the ladies
OF the house.
The ladies of Clarendon county
have sent Senator McLaurin large
basket OF pretty flowers.
Your correspondent interviewed
Senator McLaurin for the State as fol-
lows.
Senator McLaurin was found at his
home preparing to go to Mount Airy
White Sulphur Springs. The Senator
was asked about his health, and re-
piled that he was nearly well and was
satisfied that a few weeks in the
mountains would restore him to his
accustomed good heolth.
"What about the election2"
"Well, it is not as large vote as
usual, but I attribute much of that to
the supreme confidence of my friends
that was bound to win any way. I
am not surprised at the result, for up
to the time of my illness there was
hardly an audience that we addressed
where it was not clearly apparent that
/ bad majority. My election, so far
as am concerned, is the elimination
of four years of work upon the lines
of peace and unity Ever since I
wrote the 'Appelt letter, and inaugu.
rated what is known as the Forty
movement I have been looked upon
as peculiarly representative upon the
Reform side the same ideas and prin-
ciples that Earle did upon the Conser.
vative side. An attempt was made
this year to draw fac,ional lines, but
it utterly failed. Reformers and Con-
servatives worked side by side for my
elsciion and today l stand as the rep.
resentative of no faction, but OF the
reunited white Democracy of South
Carolina
What have you to say about the
campaign methods OF your oppo'
nents2"
well, I do not care, in the hour of
triumph, while they are drinking the
bitter dregs of defeat, to be so ungen.
erous as to refer to them in unkind
terms. The people have turned their
pictures to the WALL and politicians
of the Irby-Evans strive are done in
South Carolina, let us hope, forever.
From henceforth it will take brains,
character and attainments to win dis.
tinction in this State. No future cam.
paign will ever be conducted upon q
vulgar and low plane. do not think
that the tomato-6g syrup variety of
of craftsmanship will long obtain, but
men of more ability, more informa-
tion and greater usefulness will be Sc
lected for public Office and each tub
will have to stand on its own bottom.
There is one feature of this cam.
paign that was peculiarly exaspera-
ting to me, to wit: the attacks which
were made upon Gov. Ellerbe. I felt
that he was made the victim merely
because of his appointment Of me. I
defended him as best I could, and my
opponents soon found that Ellerbe
needed no defense. I never witnessed
a handsomer thing than the rebuke
given Colonel lrby at Walhalla for
his attack upon Ellerbe. These at
tacks make my triumphant election q
vindication of Ellerbe as much so as
of me, and rejoice in it, because I
believe he has made a conscientious
and true chief executive"
What about your tariff views2"
1.-THE election is vindication OF my
course and l want to say that there
were several splendid editorials in the
News aud Courier on the tariff ques-
tion, which have no doubt contrlbut-
ed largely to my success. The News
and Courier of last Monday was fine
campaign paper, and the editorial in
the State running the Greenville
News into hole,' was the finest
thing of the sort that I ever read.
Il want to say this: that so far as
my ambition is concerned, it is COM
pletely satisfied. My only desire now
is to worthily wear the honors the
people have heaped upon me. lam
very proud of my vote in Charleston.
I love the old city for its brave, gen
erous people, it's historic memories
and the trials which she has borne so
bravely. want to see every discrim-
ination against Charleston wiped out.
She has put herself in touch with the
progressive thought of the balance of
the State and she ought to be fed out
of the same spoon the balance are.
II wish to thank the people all over
the State for their generous confidence
and say to each and every one that
no man shall ever blush because he
cast his ballot fer me. I have re-
ceived hundreds of kilograms and let
ters and just as rapidly as can in
tend to ackno Wedge personally the
receipt of each.
To Col. Neal, Mr.. Blease and
atEars Mhn when I Vas stricken at