Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-02-11
LEGISLATURE IN ARMS.
Interesting Incident In South Caro-
lima Political History Recalled.

Interesting Incident In South Caro-
lima Political History Recalled.
We do not deny that there Is a de-
plorable lack Of law and order and the
requirements of civilization in some
parts Of the south, but there are others.
We read in the newspapers Of men,
bers Of the Colorado legislature sit
ting at their places with huge revol-
vers decorating their desks and sur
rounded by guards prepared to resist
by. violence and bloodshed the at
tempts of a certain faction Of Republi-
cans claiming to be members Of the
same body to enter the halls. The sit
uation is curiously like that in South
Carolina in 1876. Democrats and Re-
publicans each claimed to have ma
jority of the house, and each. organized
under its own speaker. On certain
day the Democratic members marched
to the state house, headed by Col. J..
L. Orr, now the respected and staid
president Of one Of the largest cotton
mills in the state, who knocked aside
the door-keeper and led his cohorts in.
The rival bodies occupied the same
hall, the speakers sitting side by side,
two nights and three days, as we re-
collect. The United States troops
were at the front door, and while they
would not eject the Democratic claim
ants, they refused to give permission
for any Of them to go out and return.
Consequently, these legislators were
kept locked in the chamber for the
time indicated, along with their Re-
publican opponents, everybody armed
to the teeth, and expecting trouble to
break loose each minute. A member
from each house addressing and rec
ognized by his own speaker, and
speaking at the top Of his voice was q
common incident Of this nerve-racking
period. Reporters and others who
had the right to go in and out Of the
chamber freely smuggled in Win
chester riaes, the barrels thrust down
their trousers legs and the butts un-
der their waistcoats, for the Demo-
Gratis, each Of whom had an average Of
three revolvers, besides the gun wrap
ed in his blanket or overcoat, and
probably the Republicans were equally
we'll provided.
What a dramatic moment 1t was for
the seventy-odd weary and red-eyed
white men who had been expecting
during all the hours Of a long night to
engage at any moment in fight In
locked hall with their Republican and
Negro opponents reinforced by hun
dreds Of deputy sergeants at arms,
when the murky and chilly dawn Of
the December morning was suddenly
cut by the sharp, familiar rebel yell.
Both factions adjourned to the win
dows and looked out on line Of red
shirts, many Of them Confederate vet
Grams, double quicking In swift ca
dence up the steep hill from the spec
ial train that had brought them in.
These were the advance guard Of 5000
noon-clatteripg in on horseback at
full. speed, singly and by squads,
tumbling hurriedly from regular and
special trains, eager to fight anything
or anybody for Wade Hampton and
white rule.
But that was twenty-six years ago,
and the fight was for principle, and
involved the very life Of the state.
This affair in Colorado is mere
squabble over a United States sena-
torship, probably with a good deal OF
Doodle involved in it. So far as the
morality and responsibility and civili-
zation Of the transactions are concern
ed, South Carolina appears to have
been very much the better Of it-A.
B. Williams in Richmond News.