The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1898-04-10


n and declared that ian .ciepende,
l. was worse than radical :" and wit
l. the memory OF their expressions ranl
G hug In their minds, the people re.echoe
d the sentiment and acted upon it. Tn,
II were the conditions produced and tn
mine laid for the explosion which cam
0 | in 1890.
u The antebellum conditions were Ell
, tlrely changed, The large fortunes {
4 the old slave owners had been dc
t troyed by the results OF the war an
+, with them had been destroyed, in
large measure, class distinctions. TIL
Confederate soldiers while fghtiu
y had also been going to school. Thor
was quickened Intelligence and
more thorough understanding OF tn,
correct principles of government, ant
the demand for popular governmen
: and equality of privilege made rapi,
growth. 1t was seen that certain
coterie OF politicians were running
things in the interest Of themselves
their kindred, and friends, and the
people were growing tired of the in
evltable answer to any of their com.
plants, Hush, or you will split the
Democratic party"
The agitation which led to the re-
volutlon or explosion had begun in
1856, and it had taken four years of
discussion aud Of agitation after six
years Of dissatisfaction ever on the in
crease to prepare the minds of the
people and to organize them to over
throw the oligarchy which had fallen
heir to the power OF the old antebellum
aristOcracy. The State was ruled
| during these ten years absolutely by
the two cities Of Columbia and Charles
| ten; and rs they did this through
their allies living in the other towns
OIL the State. the agitation for reform
had assumed the complexion of an
agricultural movement, in which the
farmers or country people were EN-.
oattled against the cities and towns
lt was not an agrarlan movement in
any sense nf the term, and it antedat-
cd the alliance movement by two years.
large majority Of the white people
i've In the country, aud many OF these
farmers of them-are as
Intelligent and well educated men as
there are in the State, and they own q
large share of its wealth.
Senator Earle had entered politics
shortly after the overthrow of the
carpet-bag regime as Senator FROM
Sumter County, and while he belonged
to one of the best families of the S Statc,
one noted for its prominent men and
wealth, he himself, rs a result Of war,
had had to struggle in his young man.
hood with poverty, anC be was not in
touch or sy mpathy with the thCn ruling
powers. Indeed, he was more or less
antagonistic to them. He had been
promoted, not through the iustru ncn
tally OF the oltgarchy, but rather in
spite Of it, to the attorneygencral-
ship in 1856, aud although he was
offered the gOvernorship by the re-
formers or farmers III 1888, aud could
have been nominated, his affiliations
with the then State administration
were such that he was forced TO de-
cline.
This fact, in 1890, led the Reform
Democrats 60 resolve to have nothing
to do with any of the old leaders or
prominent politicians Of the State.
The experience in two State campaigns
those of 1886 and I8SS-in which
they had been defeated taught them to
know the value Of early and thorough
organization, so that the political
forces of the State began to marshal
themselves and politics to assume
shape almost with the new year. A
convention or voluntary caucus of
those in sympathy with reform ideas
was called to meet in March.
One OF the principal demands in the
call was for a primary election in
which each individual citizen should
have a right to vote direct for the
nominees Of the Democratic party
Another was the establishment of
q technical and industrial school
an agricultural college for the
education of farmers and mechanics
separate from the State univer-
sity. There were other important
issues, but it is unnecessary to men
tion them This convention assem- blcd
and, denouncing the administration Of
affairs, passed resolutions announcing
its platform and put me forward as
candidate for governor In the party
convention whenever it should be
called. 1t also passed resolutions de-
manding of the State Democratic COM
mittee, which was controlled by our
opponents, to appoint series of meet
ing5 in each Of the counties Of the
State for q general discussion of the
issues of the day by all OF the candi-
dates for State Offices.
The newspapers of the State, almost
without exception, opened their bat.
tories on the movement. Many de-
clared that it was un. Democratic, and
that its purpose was tho division and
consequent destruction of the Demo
cratic party in the State. All of the
trained politicians and men of prom-
nence, with very few exceptions,
aligned themselves in opposition. The
banks, corporations, and railroads were
all antagonistic. Out of 700 lawyers
in the State not more than 40 Joined in
the movement for reform.
Senator, then Attorney General,
Earle and Gen. John Bratton, con-
federate brigadier of high character,
| both announced themselves as candi
dates for governor, and the campaign
opened early in June in Greenville,
the county OF General Earle's birth
One meeting was held in every
county In the State. Day by
day, week by week, crowds mum.
bering in the thousands and embrace
ing almost the entire white male
population turned out to hear the
spes kers. 1t was during this period
of two months that learned to know
Senator Earle thoroughly, to admire
his ability as debater, to respect his
manhood, and to appreciate his gentle
manly, chivalrOus bearing.
LII there be such thing as
That stern JOY which warriors feel
| liz foemen worthy of their steel
| had my fill Of it. But candor compels
the confession that while all OF the in.
dications pointed to General Earle's de.
feat, the fighting, If such d term be
permissible, was anything but pleasant
The contest was never in doubt after
the frat va mpatinpa tidal wave