Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-09-05

lantic to the Savannah, and civil
ization was saved. 1t was during this
campaign that the bloody shirt had its
origin: but just who originated 1t the
speaker did not know, except that he
thought 1t may have come into being
as an expression of contempt for the
northern politicians who were always
waving the bloody shirt" to arouse
the passions Of the northern populace
against the people Of the south.
In conclusion, Col. Coward said thai
the material condition of the people of
the south Is now perhaps better than
1t was previous to the war. The pros
perty which the country has enjoyed
during the past few years and which 1t
is now enjoying, is something marvel
Gus. Except for the brave fight
that was made by patriotic white men
in the years following the war culmi-
mating in the victory of 1876, the con-
ditions we now enjoy would not exist.
The population of today would not even
be capabable of sustaining such a civ
iliZation as we have.
Then going back to the book Of
Genesis in the Bible, the speaker point
ed to the Jewish Passover, commented
on the manner in which this feast Is
kept to this day in commemoration
Of the event on account Of which 1t was
instituted, and declared that in his
opinion no other one thing has so
served to hold the Jewish people to-
gether and make them the great nation
they have ever been and still are. In a
like manner, he said that the great
convention of June %, 1875 should be
commemorated as the elimination Of
the long struggle for maintenance Of
Anglo Saxon civilization, and Il am
mistaken In the men Of York and the
men Of South Carolina, II they ever
let such a precious heritage pass into
innocuous desuetude.'" Col. Coward
concluded amid loud applause.
Senator w. H. Stewart was the
next speaker. He was greeted with
applause, and began by referring to
Dixie" as played by the band, a piece
on to say that he had been thrilled by
Col. Coward's review Of the old days
following the war. When the war
closed, the speaker said, he was but
10 years Of age, and the Arst thing to
which he devoted attention was the
struggle to obtain q common school
education. He said that the story Of
what South Carolina had passed
through in the years following the
war had never been written, and that
he himself could tell stories In con-
nection with that mysterious khan Of
which Col. Coward had spoken, that
would make those present feel like
taking up arms again. He described
a situation under which brutal gov
ernment had Its heel on the neck OF
a down trodden people, and referred to
the men who had to leave the country
to escape arrest at the hands Of Mer-
rill. He described Chamberlain as a
shrewd, smart man, who understood
the real situation and came near get
ting the support Of the decent white
people Of the state on plea Of trying
to save Anglo Saxon civilization. He
said that when Chamberlain spoke at
Rock Hill in 1875, some Of the best
citizens there took him to the hotel
and wined and dined him. He said
that when the Democratic convention
met in Yorkville in May, 1875, only four
delegates voted for a resolution looking
to a straight out fight, and two Of
them were Capts. s. E. White and B..
H. Massey. Capt. Massey, however,
was state executive committeeman, and
in the executive committee he voted
Of the attitude of the convention. Af-
lcl I1dluplOi was iiolihinSSu, ho"SNSAb
York was so straightout that many
said they would never vote for man
who had received negro votes. The
speaker said he did not know person.
ally where the Red Shirt idea origi-
mated, but from what he had heard,
was pretty well satisfied that the
credit of 1t belonged to Gen. Mart
Gary, the Bald Eagle" Of Edgefeld.
In conclusion, the speaker hoped that
the Red Shirt organization would be
perpetuated, and he hoped also that
York county would never again see the
day when there should be another
semblance Of a threat Of negro DOM
ination. Senator Stewart sat down
amid applause.
Chairman Saye announced the con-
clusion Of the reunion exercises and
called to order the business meeting
which was organized by the election Of
Capt. j. Wilson Marshall as permanent
chairman, and DIR. j. II. Saye as per-
manent secretary.
A resolution was adopted authorizing
and instructing the chairman and
secretary to proceed to the reorgani-
zation. Of the county by townships, by
appointment in each township OF a
sufficient number of competent men to
do the work.
There being no further business, af-
ter urging that as many as could go
to the state reunion do so, Senator
Stewart moved for adjournment, which
motion was carried.