The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-08-25
ed as Populist and Republican. As a

man in 1892 was elected on the Ocala
platform, which was adopted as the
State platform, and that was in SUB.
stance the Populist platform, and why
| he should now DO singled out
10 he branded as Populist
he did not know. He was
pledged and did work for six long
years tc combine every influence to
secure free silver, and if he was more
prominent in this work it was not his
fault. From ths first moment he saw
that the only hope was in combina
ton of the free silver forces, and he
worked to that end. AS to his record
! it needed no vindication, and he had
been far enough id this campaign to
see that he would be elected by big
majority. Much applause.) He SAID
he was sick and tired Of having
to make explanations, for every body
knew that be was not proteclionist,
that he was not Republican, that he
had been elected four times 10 con.
gress, that he had been elected attor
ney general, and there was no use to
drag him down to get his salary. The
people were not going to elect some
| body else on charges against hiai.
He then went on to explain Ills tar
if view and his position against free
raw material as heretofore, and on
reading a letter from Congressman
Bailey, in which it was stated that
they botn voted for a reduction on
wool, Mr. McLaurin had to pause for
moment 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 remember that this was
not the time to build walls around this
State, but that men with big, broad
ideas had to come to the front. He
said he saw no reason to lug in this
Populist business. DR.. Strait jumped
up and said: "Do you deny iL2" Some
of the crowd cried to him 10 sit down ;
that it was none of his business. DR..
Strait said that he was afraid of no.
body and Mr.. McLaurin invited him 10
say whatever he wanted to, and went
on to say that he had no recollection
whatever of having told Strait with
what he was credited with saying, and
then Mr.. McLaurin asked Strait TO le.
peat exactly what he had said at Ches
ter, which DR.. Strait did, which Was
that McLaurin had told Strait and
Falbert that the time was ripe to j Din
the Populist party and so on. Mr..
| McI,aurin said That he had never
thought of organizing a Populist par
ty and again related how he, Siblsy,
| rillman, Bryan and others had work
ed to get the free silver POpu!ists, Re-
| publicans and Democrats to unite
forces. Evans and others seemed to
forget that last year they were crying
IL to l or bust, and he wondered If
this was true Democracy according to
their present notions.
DR.. Strait wanted to know Vhether
McLaurin charged him with saying
anything about these matters and Nc
Laurin said he never heard Strait say
anything about anything.
McLaurin went on to say that it
seemed bad enough for him to have
three opponents constantly jumping
on him, and now for a congressman
to follow him around in his district
was most uncharitable. He would
promise that when the party arrived
in his district they would be treated
with absolute cordially, Mr.. McLau-
rim said that he supposed the conver.
sation referred to was abou! the time
Of the Willard Hall conference. DR..
Strait said that it was not. DR.. Strait
said that he was not at thai conference.
McLaurin-But 1 was. (Applsuse.)
McLaurin went on to say that at the
Willard Hall conference Senator Stew.
art jumped on him and he there told
him that there was absolutely no place
| in South Carolina for a Populist par
ty and that he would have none; and
that the Democracy answered every
purpose for him. What he thought
the people wanted was a live, active,
Intelligent and energetic representa-.
tive, and they would put the hand OF
atfliction on a nonemity who acted as
a stumbling block. (Much applause. }
MIR. Mayield had today done noble
and chivalrous act (much applause)
and he had set an example Of honor,
truth and fairness which he hoped
others would initiate when they be-
came convinced of the error of their
way. He then related at length what
be had said about the Populist plat
form, his personal relationship to
Bowden, and how he refused, al
though permitted to do so, to say any
thing about this matter until he was
goaded so at Chester that he could no
longer restrain himself. He said that
he had been hurt, and that it seemed
to him that some of the other candi-
dates looked upon him as wild beast
whom they could goad and bully and
nag with one question after another,
and though they might show that he
had the blackest heart Of any man, he
did not see how that would make them
fit to fill his place. AS to the Popu.
lists, be never belonged to that party,
but he had respect for them for they
made a fight for conviction, although
they knew they would lcse. He said
Mr.. Mayfeld came to his room last
night and told him that he saw truth
shining in his face when he made his
statement, and that he must tell him
so, and that he would always have re-
spect for such an honorable man. lie
said that whenever he felt any i'll feel
ing toward any one he tried to pluck
| it out OF his heart. and that he bore NO
i'll or personal feeling to Evans when
| he wrote that letter.
Gov. Evaus.-And l never $40 we'd