Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-09-08
rIRzAH AND THE pIsPENsARY.


TIRZAH AND THE DIsPENsARY.
There was a tremendous crowd at
Tirzah yesterday. 1t was gathered
from all parts Of York county, the
north, the east, the south and the
west and included something like
@ 900 or $500 people.
1t was a thoroughly representative
crowd made up Of all kinds Of folks, men,
women and children-peoplew who think
and who are concerned about the well
fare Of the county and people who
don't think and who don't care.
The occasion of the great assemblage
was the much heralded joint debate be-
tween Senators Tillman and Brice on
the merits of the Brice law as a rem
edy for the dispensary evil and this
was practically the only feature Of
the exercises Of the day.
The debate passed off quietly and
satisfactorily. Senator Tillman made
as good a presentation of his we'll
known position as was possible. and
| Senator Brice sustained himself In a
way that was entirely satisfactory to
his numerous friends and no less
creditable to the cause he represents.
Everybody recognizes the remark
able ability Of Senator Tillman as a
public speaker and his firm hold on
an audience, and but few expected
Senator Brice to stand a reasonable
show. Senator Brice, Of course. has
| his enemies, and these think he was
Iannihilated; but he also has his
friends, who are still more numerous,
and these think he sustained himself
in a manner that was altogether
creditable. They are confident that
he had the strong side Of the question
and they have no unfavorable criti-
cism of the manner In which ne
| handled 1t. On the contrary they are
gratified at the most capital showing
sidered tremendously disadvantageous.
| The speaking took place In
| cramped rostrum, where there were
but poor facilities for writing, and
1.-The reporter was at a serious disad-
| vantage; but has been able to get
fair synopsis of the proceedings.
Mr.. ]. C. Wilborn presided as chair
man and after the exercises had been
opened with prayer by DR.. j. L.
Stokes, followed by music by the Gold
Hill band, explained the conditions of
the debate and introduced Senator j.
s. Brice as the first speaker.
Senator srice.
Senator Brice began with an ex-
lpression Of the pleasure he felt In
Injecting so many Of his fellow citizens
Igathered to hear the discussion Of a
lduestion that Is of vital Importance
mot only to the people Of York coun-
lfy; but Of all South Carolina.
Is He felt but iii qualified by experience
Tor natural talent to meet In debate. an
antagonist Of such recognized ability
Eas his opponent: but
Thrice armed is he that hath his
l. quarrel just.
And he but naked, though lock'd up
| in steel
Whose conscience with injustice Is
corrupted.
I stand here today, he declar-
ed, for honesty, purity and sobri-
ety in official and individual life.
III am here not for the purpose
Of doing you harm. but to help
acquaint you with the corruption
that Is sapping the foundations
lof your government, and In the hope
Of promoting your social and moral
welfare.
III have been instrumental in
arousing the people Of South Caro-
lima to the dangers with which they
are threatened on account OF this In
famous dispensary law, l have done
so with no sinister motives.
| Other people have gotten into office
and power and held the same conttn-
uously through fifteen years because
of agitation against conditions not
nearly so intolerable as those which
now exist; but tell you that am not
a candidate for any office, and L do
not expect to be. .
I have been highly honored by you
lin being twice sent to represent you
as your senator In the general assem-
bly, and while I appreciate the honor
YOU have conferred upon me, ask
that you pardon me when / declare
that / have spent every cent Of my
salary on actual personal expenses
while in Columbia, and In railroad
fare going to and from Yorkville and
visiting my family. I could have
made some money maybe; but when
YOU elected me as your senator L re-
signed the local railroad attorneyship
II held at the time, and gave up the
IITe6 pass llldt bcch ioSeSN ~ $50
on account of that position.
The reference TO the free pass pro-
lvoked hearty cheers from Mr.. Brice's
friends, and the people generally,
seemed to understand the significance
of the remark as having certain
lbearing on Senator Tillman's record
on the pass question.
Continuing, Senator Brice declared
that he had no personal interest IN
trying to arouse the people to defeat
the dispensary law, and he asked no
reward except consciousness OF a
duty well performed.
He referred to the fact that In 1892
he was county chairman Of the whole
democratic party, tried to treat both
factions with absolute fairness. and
had reason to believe that he succeed
ed in emerging from those bitter
times with the confidence Of all OF his
fellow Democrats. In 1895 with the
consent of the people. he called a
peace and harmony convention that
gave both factions satisfactory repre-
sentation in the constitutional con-
yention and he did this not for his
personal advantage: but for the good
of South Carolina.
Next the speaker referred to the
fact that in 1892 he voted for prohibi-
ton along with 10000 other Demo-
Gratis. Out of the $4,000 Democrats
who participated in the primary some
lS 600 failed to vote on the prohibition
question. About 10000 voted for
whisky. The prohibition majority
was 10000. If he had been governor
of the state he would have hesitated
a long time before he would have un-
dertaken to have said that these 4O,-
900 prohibitionists did not have sense
enough to know what they wanted:
senator Brice said he was willing