The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-04-13

yen,ion whenever it should be called. 1t
also passed resolutions demanding OF the
State Democratic committee, which was con-
| trol!ed by our opponents, 10 appoint a series
Of meetings IN each OF the counties OF the
Stale for a genera! discussion OF the issues
o: the day hy all Of the candidates for State
Offices.
The newspapers Of the State, almost with
| out exception, opened their batteries on the
! movement. Many declared that il was un-
Democratic. and that its purpose was the
division and consequent destruction OF the
Democratic party in the State. All OF the
trained politicians and men Of prominence
with very few exceptions, aligned themselves
IN opposition TIE banks, corporations,
| and railroads were all autagonistic. Out OF
| zee lawyers in the State not more than AZ
Joined in the movement FOR reform,
Senator, then Attorney General Earle anu
Gen. John Bratton, Confederate brlgauler
| Of high character, both announced themselves
as candidates for governor, and the campaign
opened early in June in GTecnvi!le, the
county CT General Earle's birth. One meet
ing was held in every county 10 the State.
| Day By day, week by week, crowds number
ing in the thousands and embracing almost
the entire white male population turned out
| to hear the speakers 1t was during this
period of two moaths tha. learned TO know
Senator Earle thoroughly, TO admire his
| ability as debater, TO respect his manhood,
and to appreciate his gentlemanly, ch!vaI'
Tous bearing.
Ii; there be such thing as
That stern 10y which warriors feel
In foemen worthy Of their steel
| had nv I'll it. But candor compels The
confession that while all of the indications
pointed 10 General Earles defeat, the fight
| ing, II such a term De permissible, was any
| thing but pleasant. The contest was never
in doubt after the first FIVE meetings.
tidal weve had risen in the mountains and
was sweeping seaward with irresistible force
bearing down all opposition, washing away
all landmarks, and entirely spomerglng the
old regime.
| Democracy, like Pallas. neTborn but full
| ~ grown and armed, rejoicei in its strength
snd grew hoarse with cheering those who
had first found courageto give ita voice
and demand its rights. 1t had been sup.
pressed and oppressed for century, and
nothing could now stay It's course. The feel
ing was very intense, the danger Of collision
and riot always imminent Dramatic situa
tons, sharp personal colloQUies, bitter sar'
castle retor;s, would first drive one side then
the other into a frenzy ofapprovai or angry
dissent. General Earle knew that he was
beaten, but he never faiterei or lie: up. &c
faced hostile audiences which sometimes re-
fused at first to let him speak, but with calm
dignity and courage he forced recognition
and hearing. He never relaxed his grasp
upon my throat, but fought till the last he
pressed his arguments home with powerful
logic and subtle reasoning.
| A trained lawyer and debater, he had iali
the advantage But the facts were aga nsi
him, and while he made no impression upon
! the feelings or judgment Of his audiences on
the issues then pending, he yet won the ad.
miraticn of all By his inlrepidity and ability
and always under the most trying circum'
stances maintained his self.respect and com
manded that of his opponents. There were
| 200 votes in the convention, and Of these be
received less than 50, carrying only four
counties out of thirty-fve. The county Of
his birth was against him, the county OF his
| adoption was divided: but while he went
down TO defeat it was with every flag flying
and no thought Of asking quarter, and 1t was
this canvass that won him his seat in the
United States Senate six years later. l have
always thought he entered the race under
misconception, but being in he was too proud
to retire.
His line of fight during the campaign had
been almost entirely personal. In other
words, he did not dispute the justice OF the
| demands which the reformers had set out IN
their platform, but he tried to get on the
platform and shove its exponent OF OF It
He did not 90 far enough along that line tc
ALLEVIATE the adherents OF the oIigarchy who
| supported him with enthusiasm; but he was
not their real choice, and he knew 1t, so ne
was careful TO let the people see he was not
opposing popular government and such re-
forms as were needed. When the result was
| known, after the nomination was over, be
bowed subnissively to the will Of the people
and Loyalty supported the ticket, advising
againstand antagonizing with all his might
an independent ticket which the defeated
] faction had ton foot to retain the govern
| ment by the aid of the negroes.
After the last meeting at Colleton | az
preached General Earle, and extending my
| hand, said:
General, we know each other better than
We did at Greenville in June. II have SAID
anything 10 the hea, ofdebate TO wound your
| feelings, desire to apologize and'o express
the hope that if we can not be friends, We
shall not become enemies.
He shook my hand heartily and dlsclalmed
any feeling Of nalred or sense OF wrong, and
offered similar apology; and so We parted
as true men ought.
Two years latter, when the retorners put
| me forward for reelection, there was another
| bitter contest, not so intense as that OF Ie9O,
but still very exciting, and IN some respects
dangerous. General Elr!e refused 10 have
ANYTHING TO do with this and advised against
| it, He wrote a letter IN which ne gave
credit where credit was due and warned MS
Did supporters tba. they were doomed 10
defeat
This enragei that clement in the State at
the time, bat they learned later the wisdom
Of his advice and 10 appreciate the more
his clear Judgment. While at the same time
Genera! EarIe thus Won the good Will and
| forgiveness OF thousands OF those who voted
against him II his candidacy Tor governor.
Inc result was that the reform legislature
elected him % the position OF circuit Judge
| n 1894 which he held up TO the time OF his
| entry to the Senate Of this last race shall
not speak. Suffice it TO say that did not
support him. But it was not because 1ld
not know his worth and recognize his fitness
for the position and his ability 10 adorn 1t.
After his entry upon his duties here our
relations were friendly and promised TO be-
come cor dial, for he had 100 much sense TO
bear malice and va, TOO liberal minded not
| TO know that my antagonism was poiitlca!
| rather than personal. Had he lived SO as to
have given him an opportunity TO nave
shown of what stuff he was made, am sure
every Senator here woald hsve beer I'm
| pressed with his h,ga character and chlva.-
rous bearing and have recognized MS worth
and ability. He is gone, as al OF US Will
have in few years TO follow, "to that unals-
rbnSp bourne