Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-09-29
RED SHIRT REUNION.
Big and Enthusiastic Crowd Gathered
In Columbia.

Says a Columbia special Of Wednes-
day to the Greenville News:
No more demonstrative gathering
of men and women has been In re-
cent years in Columbia than the as
sembly which crowded the lower
.loor and the two galleries Of the CO.
lumbia theatre tonight at the formal
welcome of the Red Shirt veterans,
who today began their reunion here.
BY far the large majority Of the men
present wore the red shirt and aside
from picturesqueness Of the view OF
blazing red mingled with the fashion,
able gowns Of the fair sex, the spirit
of good humor was present in all Its
vigor and time after time bubbled
over in cheers and applause upon the
slightest provocation.
Col. John G. Mobley, commander in
chief, presided. After the prayer and
the singing Of the doxology by the en-
tire assembly, Col. Mobley introduced
in brief words Senator f. H. Weston,
who in turn introduced Miss Grace
Lumpkin, who welcomed the men of
| rs to Columbia
While Col. Mobley was speaking
and was welcoming some of the lead
ers of the days Of rs life-size por-
trait of Gen. Wade Hampton, which
had been yelled until now was sud
denly thrown into the full view Of the
house upon the mention Of the name
of that great political leader. Instant
| ly there arose from every throat
deafening applause and 1t required
several minutes for the ovation to
moderate. Governor Blease welcomed
the Red Shirt veterans on behalf Of
| the state He as greeted with ap-
plause, and was several times inter-
rupted. Among other things, Gov
ernor Blease urged the Red Shirts to
petition the legislature for a statue
on the capitol grounds Of General
Mart Gary, the Bald Eagle of Edge
urged the veterans to have a good
time and enjoy life." He advised
them to be good, but said that IL they
should stray from the path, they
would certainly get back home. AL
though l may have been little free
in the use Of paper" he said, there
Is still left on my desk full, free
and unlimited pardon for every Red
Shirt veteran in South Carolina"
The musical feature Of the pro-
gramme was excellently executed and
added considerably to the pleasure of
the evening.
1t was a matter Of general regret
to all that 1t was impossible for Sena-
tor John Sharp Williams, Of Missis-
sippi, to be present Col. John G..
Mobley, commander in chief. an
nounced tonight that he had just re-
ceived a letter from Mr.. Williams
stating his inability to be present. The
letter Is dated Sept. 23, and says: Il
am as sorry as 1 can be, but it will
be impossible for me to leave home
on Sept 27 and %. am one Of those
who believe that the Red Shirt move
ment, beginning in Mississippi and
South Carolina, and constituting the
most nearly bloodless revolution in Its
magnitude that ever occurred in the
world, saved the white mans civ
ilization and his racial integrity in
our southern states. l don't believe
that the heroism of the Confederate
soldier during the war had a parallel
except in his patience, in his organi-
zation, in his decision and action, In
bearing with and finally overthrow
ing Reconstruction regime. The white
people of the south, during that long
period of wicked and oppressive sat
urnalia, exhibited solidarity unpar-
alleled in its results. They were
unarmed by power and unbought by
patronage"
The bronze figure of Wade Hamp-
ton, leader of the Democracy of South
Carolina. who led the men Of this
state to victory over the Radicals in
1876, was saluted yesterday by nearly
1000 men of the Red Shirt organiza-
ton Of South Carolina, as the annual
parade passed slowly around the statue
which stands to the east Of the Capt.
tol. The men who followed Hampton
saluted and a mighty cheer went up.
1t was not a faltering line that
formed on the south front of the state
Capitol Practically every county in
South Carolina was represented in the
gathering Of stalwart, fearless men.
Following the parade, which was
one of the most spectacular in the his /
tory Of the organization, business
meeting was held in the Columbia
theatre. John G. Mobley OF Wlnns-
boro was reelected commander-ln-
chief. He was given an ovation Tor
his excellent work as head OF the or
ganiZation. Mr.. Mobley Will name
committee, one member to be selected
from each county, to arrange Tor the
next meeting place of the organization.