The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-07-13
DAY AT SENECA.
CELEBRATING THE FOURTH.

The oconee County Alliance Has Grand
Sides.
Special to The Cotton Plant.
SENECA, July 4, 1809.-Tho Alliance
enthusiasm has not died out in Oconco
County. The thousands hore assembled
show that the farmers Of this section
with their families arc yet Interested in
Il gathering intended to produce re-
vival of interest in the great farmers Or
ganization which swept tho land ton years
ago. Not less than two thousand arc lis
tening to speakers in the beautiful grove
near the depot, while hundreds Of others
arc scattered in evory direction. Sena
tor Tillman is n drawing card, Of course,
and all the morning he has been the
centre of admiration at the Oconee Inn,
where tho "wool hats" gravitatcd with
tho certainty and full assurance that
their old-timc leader was still in har-
mony and sympathy with tho mon who
made him Governor Of South Carolina
in 1890.
The stand for the speakers was drapcd
with the national colors, supplemented
by sheafs Of grain and cotton plants
with squares and blooms, thus inter
twining tho patriotic and the practical.
The presiding officer was Hon. J. II.
Earle, former editor Of the Oconec
News, who is chairman Of the committee
of arrangements, and he made an intro
ductory speech explaining the objects
Of the meeting and asking that the best
order shall be preserved. Prayer was
offered by Rev. j. Nj. Mcguire, and then
the chairman stated the order of tho
day.
Mr.. j. II. Blake, the lecturer Of the
State Alliance, WAS The first speaker in
tr0duCcd. His subject was Lend q
Helping Iland," and he developed the
idea that tho Alliance was for the uplift
of humanity, for the improvement of
society, for the better understanding Of
government and the relation of its citi
, zcns. He paid generous tribute to the
fidelity Of the farmers OF Oconcc Coun-
ty, who had been the earliest advocates
Of the Alliance, and who had though all
vicissitudcs proven true to the principles
Of the order. These principles did not
interfere with the rights Of others, mol
had the Alliance sought to raise any
prcjudicCs between themselves ant
t those who are engaged in other occupa
l. tions The social, fratcrnal and financial
features Of the organization would no
r be discussed by him, rs others woult
: doubtless devote time to these, and ht
~ dwclt with emphasis upon the fostering
q of patriotism by an organization that i
h co-cxtcnsivc with tho country. Hi
8 strong exposition Of the evils growing
. out of the rapid formation Of trusts an,
~. monopolics WAS we'll received by tn
ID audience.
N Hon j. g. Wtlborn, president Of tn
III National Farmers Alliance and Of tn
g. State Alliance, was introduced by Hon
ty John l.. Smith. OF this county Nj
T. Wilborn addressed his remarks to til
-. young men, explaining the principles O
w. the Alliance and showing what ha
~ been accomplished since its organiza
IN ton. He urged the young men to oi
- the Alliance, to cspousc its principles, B.
y. advance its interests and to put int
ct practice the motto, Equal rights to al
Mt and special privileges to nonc.'
;" Hon. A. G. Latimcr, whom tho chair
al man introduced as zone of our owl
G. boys" followed in an address upon tn
to topic, "What has the Alliance accom-
-, p!3hcd i'll legislation ~ His remark
lc were directed to the necessity OF organ
T.. iAation, and he asked if there WAS an
Is reason for the Alliance ut the start, VIII
- should it not be kept intact llAa tn
~ y. country become prosperous, and ar
e the common people free from all vcXa
&c tons in life? He denied that the poll
~ " ticians had wrecked the Alliance, an,
" said that the credit system was rcspon
rs siblc for tho decay Of the order. Th
ST pressure from the outside mad bccom,
- ." too great, and the men who belonged tt
tho Alliance were unable to stand thu
10 ridiculc that was hcapcd upon it. a
t. different result would have cnsucd il
y the AllanCcmcn had been true to theil
"a colors.
l. Former attendants upon Alliance
q rallies in OConco County were familiar
i, II with the clarion voice of Hon. w. Jas
Y per Talbcrt for he was heard in every
y nook and corner in the State when the
organization was in its infancy. He was
the State Lecturer in those days, and
, doubtless organized more Alliances than
any other man in the State. When he
was introduced by the chairman, tho
crowd instantly recognized him ant
>. know that some lively anecdotes were il
: order, and Talbcrt never disappoints
: his friends in this respect, at least. III
= began with good story and ended will
;, another, and sandwched still othcr
O between the points Of an admirable
t speech, in which ho showed the advan
j tagcs Of the Alliance and the disadvan