Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, September 21, 1882, Image 1
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m. grist, Proprietor, j Jitkjmtbtal ^amiln $Utospa]jtr: Jor % |)romottoit of % political, Social, ^griraltnral anil Commercial Interests of % jJonfjj. |terms--$2.50 a year, in advance.
VOL. 28. YORKYILLE. S. C.. THTJRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21. 1882. NO. 38.
'
She Jfotg Idler. |
PLAIN AND POOR.
At one of the palatial residences on the Hud-!
son River a party of youthful guests were assembled.
Half a dozen young men were chat-'
ting over their champagne after enjoying an i
excellent supper. The hour grew late, and
they were discussing their departure the next
day, while their host, Harry Brinton was ex- j
presing his regret at losing such boon com- [
panions.
''Well, boys," said he, "let us drink one
more toast to our lady loves, and from a fresh
bottle."
"With all our hearts!" was the merry response.
"And especially to your mother's charming
guests, Mary and Grace Carieton," added i
Frank Tevis, the gayest of the party.
"Whv <ln vnn omit their cousin Blanche ?" i
asked Harry. "In my opinion she is worth
both the beauties put together. For any man
who does not care for a plain setting she would
be a jewel of a wife."
"Would she ?" returned Frank, carelessly.
"Well, I have rather thought so once or twice
myself; but it is a pity she is so confoundedly
plain. She will never get a husband, except
by chance."
"The more fools those who overlook her,"
replied Harry.
"Why don't you appropriate her yourself ?"
asked one of his companions.
"I!" exclaimed Harry. "Oh 11 am in love
with a beauty, and cannot think.of giving her
up; but it only proves that I am a fool like
the rest of you."
"I declare, Harry, you almost persuade me
to take her," cried Frank. "At all events, I
am willing to run the risk of having happiness
thrust upon me. It is a real shame so fine a
girl should not have at least one chance for a
husband. Come, what say you all ? Suppose
we agree that the fellow who is hit by the
cork Harry Is going to pop shall 'pop the
question' to Miss Blanche and he be made
happy in spiie of himself ?"
"Agreed 1" cried some of the party while
others demurred. After a short debate the
proposition was accepted, with the proviso
that a prior attachment should be an exemption
from the requirement.
Harry cut the wire, and the cork, after
bouncing almost to the ceiling, fell plump on
the head of the originator of the scheme.
"Dished, by Jove !" cried the luckless hero,
with a heavy gasp. "However, I will stand
to my bargain. I will offer myself to her as
per agreement, and trust to my lucky star for
a refusal."
The humor and justice of the fiat were acknowledged
with hearty laughter l>y Frank's
companions. They one and all assured him
that there was no cliance for escape in that
direction. 1
"Why not ?" asked he, rather dolefully.
"Because she is plain and poor. You are
handsome and rich."
Frank sighed as he felt the force of the remark.
|
In the meantime the whole of their conversation
had been heard by the person most in.
forested in it. Blanche with her cousins,
Mary and Grace Carleton, had been in the
conservatory which adjoined the dining room, |
* tmirtAO nf flio
ana, in consequence ui b?c laiacu wiwo m mn
young men at their wine, she had recognized
her own name. Though not strictly polite, it
was very natural that she should listen,.verifying
the old adage. It need scarcely be said 1
that her feelings of mortification and annoy- 1
ance were very painful; or that she attempted
to retire as soon as she heard the tenor of their
remarks; but her companions who were great- <
ly amused, held her fast, and fearing that i
resistance would make a noise and betray
their presence, she finally remained quiet, !
while tears of silent agony coursed down her '
cheeks.
But another and keener pang mingled with i
her pain at hearing her name so disrespectful- :
ly mentioned. Like a silly, susceptible girl, as '
she was, she had been foolish enough to look
too often and too kindly on Frank Tevis' open,
handsome countenance, until a warm tender
feeling had almost unconsciously sprung up in i
her heart. Few, perhaps, would sympathize 1
with her on that account, for she was undenia- '
bly plain ; and, in the judgment of society,
plain women have no right to expect attention,
much less affection. Therefore, it was very
weak in our heroine to fall in love, and especially
with such a "catch" as Frank Tevis, ;
and the must take the consequences. But
Blanche Carlton was, as Harry said, a noble 1
hearted girl, and though extremely sensitive, ;
full of womanly pride.
On the following day Frank, who always
liked to get through with a disagreeable duty ]
by performing it at once, sought an interview
with Blanche, shrewdly guessing that by mak- '
ing his proposal suddenly, without any preliminary
advances, his chance for refusal would <
be all the better.
Poor Blanche had passed a sleepless night,
/I * of rflDQ i r? rr /lAuhfo Q?r1 llfir
liailAOOCll UJ VllOHtOOlli^ UVUUVOj imu uvi vim* .
was peculiarly hard. She loved Frank, but
was fully convinced that he had never given :
her a serious thought; yet, by a strange freak,
he was abo.ut to put himself in her power.
She had only to accept his offer, and honor
?*d bind him to her. Afterward, so tempn
whispered, she could win his heart, for j
ould then have the opportunity now de-'
to her, and, if she found that hope vain,
ould release him and be no worse off than 1
ras at present. But her woman's pride
aitt delicacy successfully combatted this spe- 1
cious reasoning,, and forbade her to accept a !
feigned suit or to force herself on any man.
Her mind being made up as to her duty, she !
found relief in considering the affair as a mere
jest which would be carried 110 further. Nev-1
ertheless, she dressed next morning with par- j
ticular caie and taste, for plain women generally
have more care for the accessories of the !
toilet than pretty ones, and despite her better j
judgment she could not help thinking a little j
of possibilities. When Frank asked for her
she went down to the parlor, perfectly aware j
of his errand, and firmly determined on her !
answer, let it cost what heartaches it might, j
Frank Tevis, the elegant and perhaps too
confident man of the world, was evidently not
himself on this occasion. lie was manifestly j
confused and embamissed, speaking hurriedly 1
of a (Jozen things, and passing abruptly from
one topic to another. The composed manner j
of the lady restored his tranquility in a measure;
but his agitation was renewed at the ;
thought of offending her dignity by the unex- i
pected and abrupt proposition which he inedi- j
tated. There was so much sensibility and ten- j
derness in her countenance that he shrank
from the idea of wounding her feelings. The ;
longer he procrastinated, the more impossible j
seemed the task before him. As he conversed
with Blanche he conceived a higher estimate ;
of her character, and was so charmed with the 1
brilliancy of her wit and the grace of her man- j 1
ner that he half-determined to defer his offer
until he knew her better, almost feeling that
it might possibly be made some day in a very
different spirit.
The morning was already far advanced when !
he called up resolution enough to say :
"Miss Blanche, I requested to see you on ,
a most dis?I mean a most agreeable errand, '
though perhaps it may seem singular and j
sudden to you.''
A hot blush rushed to Blanche's cheek, and
she trembled visibly. Frank went 011 with
forced courage:
"Miss Blanche, I came to offer you my
hand." He paused abruptly.
Poor Blanche's heart beat so fast that she !
could not speak for some moments. During {
the silence that ensued Frank recovered from
his own embarrassment sufficiently to wonder ;
at her. Composing herself by a supreme effort, j
she said, in a low, distinct voice:
"Mr. Tevis, I shall not ask what has in- j
duced you to make this strange offer. It is j
enough for me to be sure that you do not love
me, and, poor and plain though I am, I cannot
do without affection in a husband. I feel,
also, that it was not kind in you to?" She
could go no further. The coming flood of
tears threatened to wash away all her dignity,
and she hurried from the room. Frank was
well nigh overcome, himself, as he witnessed
l?or imii!i?innprl snrrOW.
He followed and caught her hand to detain I
her. There was something in the hand he
clasped which she left in his own as she escaped,
managing to say, with a convulsive
smile:
"A keepsake!"
Frank Tevis closed his hands on the trifle,
without thinking to look at it until he had
taken one or two turns up and down the room,
heartily condemning his own folly and unkinduess.
When he opened his hand he found
something carefully wrapped in silver paper.
He unfolded it and beheld?a champagne
cork!
It would be difficult to analyze the young
man's feelings as he made his way to his own
apartment. He had escaped?met with the
refusal he had hoped for?but somehow his
heart was not as light as might have been expected
over the result.
When Harry came to his friend's room
shortly after, he found little difficulty in persuading
him to put off his return to the city
for a day or two longer. The truth was,
Frank felt in. no humor to bear the badinage
of companions who left on the afternoon
train. When they were gone, he frankly
explained the situation to his friend.
"Upon my soul, old fellow, I do not see exactly
how I can help you. It is very awkward
; but it would have been more so for
you to run away; the other girls would have
been sure to suspect something; whereas,
you may safely depend on Blanche's delicacy
and discretion; so that by remaining, and acting
as usual, the whole thing will be forgotten
as a joke."
"You seem to have a very high opinion of
Miss Blanche ?" said Frank, a little earnestly.
"Indeed, I have, my boy ; and if my heart
were not irrevocably nledged in another direc
tion, you should not carry off the prize easily.
But come, let us take a stroll."
Frank Tevis had pretty well recovered his
equanimity by dinner time and was enabled
to meet Blanche with the usual quiet politeness
he had always observed towards her,
while not the slightest demonstration on her
part indicated what had occurred between
them.
The evening was rather a dull one, and all
retired at an early hour to rest preparatory
to an excursion which had been planned for
the morrow.
It was far in the night before Tevis succeeded
in wooing sleep to his embrace, and
even then his slumbers were fitful and disturbed.
In fact, lie had not long lost consciousness
before he was aroused by the startling
cry of "Fire!" followed by commotion and
exclamations of alarm among the inmates of
the mansion, who gathered hastily on the lawn
in front. Frank dressed hurriedly and joined
them. The conflagration had occurred in a
wing in the building, the lower story of which
was occupied by the domestics, though the upper
part reached only through a passage from
the main building, was furnished with guest
rooms. An alarm bell was rung and a groom
dispatched to the village for help. Before proceeding
to fight the flames with such means as
were at hand Harry Brinton looked to ascertain
if the family and servants, all of whom
were in a state of dishabille, were safe, and to
send the female portion to a summer-house a
little distance off.
"AH right, i oeiieve," ne remarxeu?-no : j
my God, where is Blanche V"
"Oh, Heaven ! Harry," exclaimed Grace
Carleton, "she's over there ; she would go off
by herself last night."
Horror and alarm seized on * every one.
Hurrying to the front of the portion on fire,
where the flames were 'rapidly spreading, the
two young men saw the white-robed figure of
the girl at one of the upper windows which
was open. Suddenly aroused she had fled towards
the passage, but driven back by a cloud
of smoke, had naturally turned to the window,
for escape.
Quick ! for your lives ! ladders from the
stable !" exclaimed Ilarry to the servant men
who had followed him.
"2so time for that," shouted Frank, "the
flames are bursting from the lower windows!"
and like a flash he was off, entering the main
building with the arrangements of which he
was acquainted, and fighting his way through
blinding and suffocating smoke, to the chamber
where Blanche was. The window which
she had opened kept the room momentarily
clear, but there was not a moment to be lost ;
the flames were cracking beneath them, and
the planting of ladders on the outside was
well nigh impracticable. With foresight,
Frank caught a towel from the stand, soused
it in the water pitcher, and gently veiling the
young girl's face, snatched a cover from the
bed, and enveloping her with it, took her in
his arms and fled through the passage. Clouds
of sinoke and tongues of flame confronted
him ; but he pressed bravely on. The stairway
had caught fire by this time, but wrapping
his precious charge more closely he trod
the fire path boldly and firmly ; the burning
steps creaKea wiui me weigni anu ne nau
barely time to give bis burden into the arms
of Harry Brinton when they gave way and he
was borne down in the ruin.
Strong, willing hands were ready for the
rescue, and, though not disfigured, Frank Tevis
was badly burned and received some injuries.
Save the shock to her nerves, Blanche
was unharmed.
The Brinton mansion was almost totally destroyed,
but the inmates found shelter at the
hospitable home of a near neighbor until some
necessary arrangements for their comfort and
removal and thither Frank Tevis was carried.
He endured considerable suffering and required
careful attendance. For several days
his eyes had to lie bandaged ; but he was conscious
of a gentle step about his couch, and
that deft willing hands ministered to his wants.
From Ilarry he learned that Blanche suffered
only from the shock, which made it necessary
to keep her apartment ; but that she sent him
her grateful thanks for her heroism in her behalf.
Why did something very like a pang of disappointment
come over Frank at this infor- j
ination ? Had he hoped that the gentle nurse j
and the rescued maiden were the same ? He j
had remarked 1 hat she refrained from holding !
any conversation with him, only urging him i
in a low voice to be quiet. Ilis curiosity was j
arrested and the next time she came he par- j
tially removed the bandage from his eyes?a I
quick retiring figure, robed in black, was all j
lie saw.
"A Sister of Charity," he muttered to himself
with a sigh.
This conclusion by no means satisfied him,
however, and when she ap]>eared some time j
after, having suitably arranged his bandage, !
Frank feigned sleep. She stood at his side J
placing her hand lightly upon his brow, when, j
quick as thought, her wrist was clasjied and
the saucy fellow was looking in her eyes.
' Blanche!"
"Frank?Mr. Tevis !" exclaimed the star
tied girl.
"Let it be Frank, dear Blanche. If my !
poor eyes could sjieak they would tell you how
dear that name sounds from my lips."
"But you should not?"
"Yes ! I should tell you how true a love for j
you has stolen into my heart. Can you for- j
give the past and try to love me a little V"
Ineffable tenderness beamed from her eyes
as she whispered, with a frankness worthy of
her noble nature?
"I have loved you from the first, Frank." " |
And thus Blanche Carleton obtained "abushand
bv chance." whose devotion was there
after all her heart could ask.
A Chinese Compositor.?A Chinese com-:
positor cannot sit at his case as our pi inters do, .
but he must walk from one case to another
constantly, as the characters needed cover j
such a large number that they can not be put,
into anything like the space used in the English
newspaper office. In setting up an ordi- j
nary piece of manuscript the Chinese printer i
will waltz up and down the room for a few ,
moments and then go down stairs for a line j
of lower case. Then be takes the elevator and j
goes up in the third story after some caps, and ;
then out in the woodshed after a handful of
astonishers. The successful Chinese compos- j
itor doesn't need to lie very intelligent, but.
he must be a good pedestrian. He may work '
and walk around over the building all day to
set ui) a stickful, and then half the people in
this country couldn't read it after all.?Ni/e's
Hoomrrmuj.
ibc ftflte femwss. 5
THE YORK DEMOCRACY, i
1J
LARGE AND ENTU US IA STIC MEETING IN g<
YORKVILLE. h
The meeting in Yorkville, on the 13th in- c;
stant, in honor of the canvassers on the State I
Democratic ticket, was one of the largest and a
most imposing political gatherings at'this ^
place since the memorable days of 1876; and ^
but for the absence of the Ked Shirts, which a
then literally and typically bid defiance to d
the robber crew, the scenes of the day viv- o
idly recalled recollections of that struggle, b
Though the present campaign is conduct- ?
ed on the defensive, instead of an aggres- j,
sive plan, as was that in which Hampton ),
led the Democratic hosts to victory in 1876,
and though there is no formidable enemy o
openly ih the field, yet the earnestness of the ^
York Democracy was no less conspicuous 011 Jj
the 18th than when our people stood shoulder ^
to shoulder in the determined effort to redeem },
our State in the dark days preceding the ci
dawn of Home Rule and Honest Govern- I.
ment. The day was lovely, bright and pleasant,
and at an early hour the constant ar- ?
riving of people from every direction gave jj
evidence that the canvassers would be greeted 0i
by a fair representation of the sturdy sons ai
and lovely daughters of old York. The pub- T
lie speakers, consisting of Hon. Hugh S. J'j
Thompson, Col. C. Richardson Miles and Hon. {)(
J.J.Hemphill, arrived from Spartanburg on ^
the 10 o'clock train and were met at the depot ai
by a committee of citizens api>ointed for the t^
purpose, and then escorted by the Jenkins c'
Rifles, Capt. J. R. Lindsay, and the York- 11
villp f'ovnfit Band, to nuarters provided for
them :it the ltawlinson House. At half past
ten the procession of mounted ltorsemen was rr
formed at the old Academy, head of Congress si
street, under command of Col. Wm. IT. McCorkle,
Chief Marshal, with Messrs. W. J. ^
Neely, .T. Dudley Jones, J. R. Logan and J. tj
R. Lindsay, assistants. The procession, near b<
1000 strong, conprising representatives from la
every voting precinct in the county, Jhe re- tc
spective precincts designated by sashes worn ?
by the horsemen, marched to inspiriting iuu- L
sic by the Rock Hill Silver Cornet Band,
through Congress street, the head of the es
column halting at the entrance to Hart's
grove near the depot. The lines then opened js
and the speakers and distinguished citizens 111
in carriages were driven through amid the ^
lusty cheers of the York Democracy, to the g(
stand which had been erected in the grove, ty
on the same spot from which Hampton uttered sc
words of encouragement and cheer in 1876. ^
The stand, from which floated the United 'J.
States flag, was large and commodious, and
by woman's fair bands had been tastefully ni
and beautifully decorated with evergreens and G
flowers. Here the speakers met a large crowd tli
already assembled, and what must have been il5
no less gratifying to these gallant and knight- jij'
ly gentlemen, the occasion was lit up by the t0
radiant smiles of hundreds of York's lovely w
daughters, whose presence lent a charmed in- ki
spiration to the proceedings. Excellent rau- hi
sic was furnished by the Rock Hill Silver Cor
net Band, Mr. R. II. Hope, leader, and the m'
Yorkville Silver Comet Band, led by Mr. R.
J. Herndon, the bands playing alternately on w
music stands erected for their accommodation, a
The speakers were delighted witli the unexpectod
display of enthusiasm, the first earnest
demonstration they had met with on the canvass.
The crowd, though large, was excep- js
tionally orderly, another gratifying indication fii
to the distinguished visitors ; and under the b(
admirable management of our efficient Connty
Chairman, Capt. It. H. Glenn, and the '
committees under bis direction, everyarrange- cc
ment was perfect for ensuring a complete and tli
satisfactory meeting. A striking feature was
the large number of colored citizens who took St
a position near the speakers' stand and were ar
attentive listeners to all that was said. ^
The meeting was called to order by Col. A. ai
Coward, who announced that Capt. R. H. fr
Glenn, County Chairman, had been called m
away on important business and requested
him to act in his stead on the present occasion. ^
He said the proceedings would be opened by
prayer, and called upon Rev.iT. R. English to tli
invoke the divine blessing. After an impres- ti<
sive prayer by the clergyman, Col. Coward w
then said :
SI]
Ladies of York?It is with infinite pleasure a,
that on behalf of the County Chairman and the s,,
eminent shakers who are to address the jieople jn
that I welcome you here to-day. It is, however,
with no surprise that I behold this m
splendid array of beauty and loveliness be- y,
fore me. The noble women of York county jg
have never yet fallen short of showing their $]
interest and devotion to the cause of their
state, and in this respect the women and men aj
of York are in perfect accord, as they are in j?
every other good work. You, worthy sons of
V/?rlr linvu rlrmniPil vnur nvnr>ntimis t.O-fljlV ...
for the call of duty, and well may we feel jj,
proud of. the large number of the voters of ai
the county who are present on this occa- ^li
sion, which is one of great moment. You
are here in your line of duty as citizens of a 0f
State rising from the thraldom from which ar
you rescued it in 1870, the memory of which
glorious struggle must be still deeply rooted (v
in your minds, and will prove an incentive to
the Democracy of South Carolina to perpet- ye
uate the rule of the party of order, economy
and civilization. It is a source of gratifi- ^
cation that we are here to-day in the en- ^
joyment of the fruits of the victory won in ce
187(5 under the lead of Hampton, and it is with
no ordinary degree of pride that 1 can say, ej.
that the promises made in that canvass have m
been verified. It is with pleasure that I introduce
to you one who for the past six years
lias filled an office of honor and trust in your ,
State government and of whom you can say 1
"Well done, thou good and faithful servant
one of whom history will record that he hns j. .
been true and devoted to the educational interests
of the State, and as he has shown his !'
capacity as a public officer, and demotion to j K
the people in that trust, we will honor liirn | ;
with renewed testimony of our appreciation of |
his worth. It is, then, with pleasure that I j w
introduce to you j
111(111 S. THOMPSON, ! jn
the next Governor of South Carolina. I ed
Col. Thompson's appearance before the au-! el
dience was the signal for loud cheers and ap- j I*
plause. He said: This is the first occasion ' ni
that it has been my good fortune to stand | ?f
before the good people of York in the discharge : ^
of my duty as one of the State canvassers. Iii vi
the three preceding canvasses of the Demo-, I)(
cratic party of this State it was not my good ' 1"
fortune to he assigned to York county ; hut I
have invariably heard good reports from this
}>eople by those who have visited you on for- If
mer occasions, and even in the absence of st
these reports 1 should need no further evi- 114
deuce as to your devotion to duty than your G
presence here to-day, and the interest you
.I 41.? ^t <V... fl.o ! w
IllilllllL'M III tilt? ujauuaaiwii iu ijucairiuiin iui #
safety anil welfare of your State. And if I eel
say that I see before lhe tire best looking men sc
that I have met in the State, what shall I ^
say in reference to the women; the most lovely t to
array of beauty I have yet met in the canvass 8(1
In fact, I feel inclined not to attempt to speak !
to the men at all, but to address my remarks ot
entirely to the women. There is one objec-: ti<
tion, however, to making this attempt, and hi
that is that I fear 1 should fail, as being a to
married man, 1 never meet with any success hi
in addressing more than one woman at a time; fit
and ltesides, I am warned by what is to come. tli
My friend Hemphill is to address you, and its 1 ti<
lie is a candidate not only for an important tli
ublic position, but fq?.matrimony also, I will
o nothing to deprive him of that agreeable
ask.
But pleasantry aside, as a business man,
shall address you in tt business way on the
ractical issues before you, and shall discuss
ame subjects not usually introduced in the
listings.
In the present condition of affairs there
an be but two parties In South Carolina?the
>emocratic and the infamous Radical. It is
simple question which of these her chosen
Dns shall decide may hold the reins of their
tate government. I?do not projiose to iname
the people by denouncing Radicalism,
nd bringing before their minds the dark
ays of misrule and corruption with which
ur State was oppressed from 1808 to 1870,
ut I cannot refrain from contrasting the
resent era o? peace and prosperity under honst
home rule with that dark period in our
istory when our government was controlled
y strangers and adventurers.
Wlien (Governor urr, in isuts, turned over
ur government to. the Western adventurer,
1. K. Scott, the State debt was about five milon
dollars. At the end of three years, under
cott's administration, he reported the debt to
e twelve million?aninprease, according to
is report, of seven fnitnon\ This seemed inred
ible, even to the Radical rulers, and the
.egislature ordered an investigation, when
?! and behold, a careful investigation dislosed
an indebtedness, not of twelve million,
ut twenty-nine million?an increase of near'
twenty-four million in three years ! Or, in
ther words, the debt was increased from five
nd a half million to twenty-nine million,
'hese were the figures made by an investigang
committee of their own creation, and if
le showing was not correct, and it lias not
een successfully contradicted, it is a showing
y themselves of their own conduct of public
[fairs. This indebtedness was not less than
venty-nine dollars to each man, woman and
,iild in the State. Even they clearly saw that
o English-speaking j>eople would peaceably
jnsent to be taxed to pay such a burden of
idebtedness, and they repudiated one-half of
, leavihg us fifteen million to pay, and it is
ow reduced to six and a half million, or about
x dollars and a half to each man, woman and
iild in the State. Again, to illustrate the
ctravagance and corruption of that party
bile in power, it can be shown that during
le five years of Democratic rule there has
?en a saving of three hundred and fifty dol,rs
to each voter in the State. Each voter
>-day owes three hundred and fifty dollars less
: the public debt than he would have owed,
Radical rule had continued, and they have
le satisfaction of knowing that now every
filar of the public taxes isfaithfully and lionitly
expended for State purposes.
mi ?. \ 11 l?.1 A. . f\ 1
UOl. Uiouipsim wieiiauiiuueu m uieenu.u;*m,
which in some parts of the State is loomig
up its head, and lias even assumed such proirtions
as to inspire its leaders with the idea of
inning a State ticket in this canvass. lie arled
that in the reality there is no such a parscratch
the back of one 'of them and you
iratch a Radical. When you vote for a Greenicker
you vote for a restoration of Radical
lie. The Greenbackers have the sympathy of
ie National administration in their efforts
i divide the i>eople of South Carolina fully as
uch as has the regular Republican party,
reenbackism and Republicanism both point to
ie same thing; they have the same ends to
scomplish, and we must not permit a repition
of Republican rule, which would certainly
isue, even if under adifferent name, were they
i obtain the State government. We know
hat Radicalism in South Carolina means ; we
iow what it was in this State, and our past
tter experience should admonish us to permit
>ne but honest South Carolinians to rule South
irolina. Let lis bury it as the dying Irishan
desired to be buried. lie requested to
(buried in a JevrtSti Jurying ground, and'
hen asked his reason for making so singular
request, he replied : "Faith, and I wish to be
uied in a Jewish burying ground because
iat'8 the last place the devil would ever ex!ct
to find an Irishman." So let us, in imita011
of the witty Hibernian, bury Green backtil
where even the devil would not expect to
id it. Its pedigree is like that given by the
>y of his dog. "What breed is your'dog ?"
! was asked. "Part cur," was the reply.
And what is the other part V" was the next
lestion, to which he replied "Why dog, of
uirse." So it may be said of Greenbackism ;
lat part of it which is not cur is dog.
When the Democrats secured control of the
;ate the public school system was in disorder
id confusion. Debts had been piled up,
ie teachers w.ere unpaid, the school houses
ere open only three months of the year,
id when the teachers could realize but a
r?f tlmii' PurHftajitpa thpv iv'flrfi foi'tll
ite. The plan adopted by the Republicans
as to require all the school tax collected in
le different counties to be sent to the State
easury. It never was returned to the schools,
lie books of the State treasurer show that
ie unpaid balances of the State appropriates
for the support of the schools in 1877
ere $184,704. The whole debt reported then
as $209,940. Subsequent investigation has
town that this amount is below the truth,
id as to their indebtedness, so far as you are
ecially concerned, ask what they now owe
York. According to their o.wn showing,
ie hopeless indebtedness of the Radical adinistration
in York county, on account of
ie free public school fund, is for the year
172, $4,028.08 ; for 1874, $1,593.50; for 1875,
1,800; making a total of $7,421.58, wrung
om the people of York county for educationpurposes,
and squandered by these harpies
1 JUIUIID 11 V lllg.
In 1877, the school attendance in the State
as 4(5,000 whites and 52,000 colored. In 1881
ie attendance of white children was 61,000
id that of colored 7*2,000. In York, while
ie length of the school session has increased
lder Democratic rule, so has the attendance
pupils, both white and colored, increased,
id as to the efliciency of the system in your
unity during the last five years, you know
ithout my telling you.
The whole expense of State government last
:ar, not including the interest on the public
:bt, was $283,576. The sum set apart for
e support of the schools was $354,000. In
ie light of these facts, it must he conded
that the Democratic party is the only
irty tliat can preserve peace and good govnment
in South Carolina and the pure adinistration
of the laws.
But the public school system is not even
>w a perfect system, though we have been
ying its foundations broad and deep upon
Inch a finished structure may be built. The
scription over the entrance at the Paris Exbition
was Washington's profound utterice
: "Promote as an object of primary imn
tance, institutions for the general diffusion
knowledge." If my nomination for the high
lice of Governor of South Carolina meant anyting,
it meant the endorsement of my theory
populareducation ; and I say with the famous
ontesquieu: "It is in a Bepublican governent
that the whole |>ower of education isneedI."
We want a school system that is good
lough for the rich and cheap enough for the
tor. Nothing less than this will satisfy the deands
of the times and meet the necessities
the State. A liberal education of the massrepresses
crime, prevents pauperism, and eleites
the plane of government. An ignorant
ople cannot long be a free people. In proution
as the structure of a government
ves force to public opinion it is essential
lat public opinion should be enlightened,
a people expect to be ignorant and free in a
ate of civilization, they expect what can
jver be. The learning of a few is despotism ;
ie learning of the many means liberty. An
telligent and principled liberty is fame and
isdom and nower which will come from the
location of the masses. The church and
liool houses must rule this country, and the
uchers of the common schools must be raised
lliat plane where they will be useful to
ciety.
The power of education upon the home life
a people wtis next discussed, and the relaons
which the educated man should bear to
s family, to society and to (rod. He referred
' the iwwer of education in Scotland, which
is converted that bleak land into one of the
lest intellectual countries in the world ; to
ie effect of education upon German civili/.aon
and thought, and as a noteable instance of
ie ]H)\ver of free education, cited a school in
Pennsylvania founded for the purpose of giving
an education to the indigent children of
deceased soldiers. At an expense of seven
million dollars it had educated 98 per cent, of
these children in that State, and of this number
92 per cent, have turned out to be useful
members of society. Twelve thousand children
were educated at an expense of seven
million dollars, but this expense had saved the
State many more millions from the penitenitentiary
and poor houses, and'had given to
these poor children that which was above all
price.
We are blessed by Providence with a fertile
soil and genial clime, and with all our children
educated, there is no telling what our
l>eople in the next generation might accomplish.
The brains of a child reflect an immortal
soul which shall live through ages, and it
is your highest duty to train up your children
in ways of intellectual and moral worth.
The school district trustee is an oflice of
great importance. A distinguished man, who
had been Governor of his State, and filled
many other high and important positions,
was elected district school trustee after serving
his term as Governor, and 011 shaking to me
about it, while he was then acting in that seeming
humble position, said he then held an oflice
in which he felt he could render some service?
Mvif liu tl,on (illurl a rtnai+inn ill \cllipfl nnillfl
do some good.
Recurring to the Greenbacker question, he
said that the papers inform us- that when McLane
received the nomination of that party
for Govern'or, he exclaimed, "By the Eternal,
elect me Governor, and if I am not seated we
will have a military Governor !" I hurl the
imputation back in his teeth. I answer not
in a boastful spirit, but if Providence spares
my life, I'll be Governor of South Carolina.
He next touched upon ex-Judge Mackey,
though only slightly, as he had just learned
that Mackey had withdrawn from the Congressional
canvass in this district ; but as
there was no telling what he would do next he
should only adopt the words of the Rev. Mr.
White and say, "Watch Tom !"
The i>eople of South Carolina have announced,
and through the ballot-box they will
conQrin that announcement, that we shall gain
this victory with honor to the Democratic
party. He then concluded by alluding to the
call of the State Democratic Convention which
had inqwsed upon him great responsibilities,
and assured the people that wheq elected he
would administer tiie otlice of Governor without
regard to race, color or party, but for the
good of the whole people and the prosperity of
the State in all her interests.
Col. Thompson's speech elicited rounds of
applause. After music by the Yorkvilleband,
the chairman introduced
COL. C. KlCIIAKDSON' MILKS,
candidate for Attorney-General. Col. Miles
spoke as follows:
Fellow Citizens and L'adies and Gentlemen :
It affords me great pleasure to meet with the
l>eople of York on this occasion, and to meet
i? -V I ? 4
me spienuiu garnering ui me vuicia ui mc
county, their wives and daughters, to hear
discussed the questions of tiie day. It is
pleasant to meet so many brave men and
fair women. But I may also say that I feel
grateful on this occasion, because I feel that
I am addressing those whom I may well call
my friends. By the disaster of war, at a time
when my home was overrun, I sought shelter
with my family in your midst, and for
the kindness which was then shown me by
this people I shall ever entertain the warmest
recollections.
In the presence of such an assemblage,
adorned by the grace of woman, as is now before
me, it may seem strange that we talk to
you of your duties, and if it were only to speak,
the task would be useless. But we say to you,
that we present what demands your confidence
and earnest consideration. We speak of men
and principles, and propose to show you both
men and principles. We say to you, (pointing
to Col. Thompson) look at the next Governor
of South Carolina. He is the embodiment of
the man and principles, and was placed before
you because he has done his whole duty in the
past, and because it was known that he would
be faithful in the future.
I shall address you in sober serious words,
and will turn to the past in our political history
only when necessary, and then not for
the purpose of engendering strife and arousing
feelings which happily under the benign
government of the last live years are becoming
allayed. But when you have elected a
Democratic candidate in this canvass, have
you done yourwholeduty? No ; there is more
to be done. There is more before you during
the next two years than there has been in the
TMiuf <jiy Wfiv v vnn m;iv ask. Because the
root of the political troubles from which we
have suffered in South Carolina has been the
debasement of the suffrage. This was forced
upon the people of the State through the Constitutional
amendments which were officially
and authoritatively declared to have been
adopted and ratified by the Southern States.
The problem which the people of South Carolina
have had to solve since these amendments
is, how can good government lie secured in a
State in which universal suffrage is fixed by
the fundamental law, and where the majority
of those entitled to suffrage have not sufficient
virtue, intelligence or independence for its
proj>er exercise. The paramount obligation
of every political community is to maintain a
government which will give adequate protection
to life and property, preserve order, and
maintain the supremacy of law. This is the
end and means provided, for the attainment
of the end should not be confounded with or
made paramount to the end itself. The franchise
of the citizen is only one of the means
through which it is sought to obtain good government
; and so the ballot is not the franchise,
but one of the methods in which the
franchise may be exercised. And yet there is
much clamor and declamation about lia free
ballot and fair count" which has been unceasingly
indulged in to the drowning of
the voice of sober reason. It would seem
that the ballot itself was the ultimate end
and aim of our government, instead of a
mere mode or method through which it is
sniicrht to obtain the franchise of the citizens ;
ami tlie franchising of the citizens is only one
of the modes through which it is sought to establish
good government. The legitimate and
natural product of the forces thus put into
operation was the government which rided
South Carolina from 18(58 to 1870. Through
the degradation of the franchise all power
passed into the hands of the ignorant and irresponsible
numerical majority, and, controlled
by depraved political adventurers, was used to
establish a government, which, for unblushing
corruption and utter disregard for right or decency,
is without a parallel in history.
It is now dillicult to describe, and almost
impossible to recall the condition of things
which prevailed in South Carolina from 18GS
to 187(1. It is like striving to recall the horrid
phantoms which oppressed us during the delirium
of fever. The utter prostration of all
our previous history, the recklessness and corruption
which pervaded every department of
the government?executive, legislative and judicial?produced
results at which it is no exaggeration
to say the civilized world was
aghast. It wasnot a travesty of a government
so much as it was a subversion of all the conditions
under which stable government is possible.
The carnival of corruption was without
check, and all this was seemingly so hedged
around and maintained by the influence of
the then national administration that deliverance
seemed well nigh hopeless, lint life under
such conditions became unsupportable;
our people took courage from despair and freed
themselves by what was virtually political revolution.
I need not dwell upon the events of the political
campaign of 187G. They are too vividi
lv imnressed niton the minds of us all. I can
not, however, allude to that period without I
reminding you that in that struggle, we owed !
our deliverance, under Providence, not only j
to the patriotism, wisdom and courage, but J
to the moderation of our great leader who led |
us triumphantly to the attainment of an lion- j
est and well ordered government.
South Carolinians! so long as we continue I
deserving of the blessing of liberty and good
government which we now enjoy, we will keep
gratefully enshrined in our memories the
name of Wade Hampton.
Under such leadership, with the courage
of desperation, we assailed the strongholds in
which our oppressors had entrenched them-1
selves, drove out the unclean creatures that'
had polluted our high places, and having j
cleansed and purified them, turned them over
to those who were worthy to fill them. The
campaign of 1870 was thoroughly aggressive.
Since then we have held possesion of the State,
and have had to stand upon the defensive.
We have been called upon not to wrest the
government from the hands of enemies, but to
maintain and vindicate the government which
we established through the political revolution
of 1870. Such a defensive canvass, though
quite important, is far less exciting and interesting
than the aggressive campaign of 1870.
We have now to appeal, not to feeling, but to
reason and judgment. The political problem
forced upon us in 1808 remains still to be solved.
How shall we maintain honest and good
government based upon universal suffrage
where the majority of the voters are not fitted
for the honest and intelligent exercise of the
franchise V Now while it is true?and we cannot
shrink from asserting it?that in South
Carolina the majority of those who have been
invested with the franchise are not qualified
for its proper exercise, it is not less true that
the minority of our citizens possess the character,
virtue, intelligence and property, which
not only fit them to exercise tfie franchise,
but entitle them to control and govern the
State. We have this claim of the right, under
the condition in which we are, of the
minority 10 govern, upon i"e principle unit
virtue, intelligence and property have, in some
way or other, always governed, will always
govern and should always govern. If the
government of South Carolina is based upon
the assertion of white supremacy, it is because,
as a class, the whites possess the qualifications
which # alone Are entitled to supremacy, and
the possession of which will, unless kept down .
by extraneous contending physical force, always
maintain supremacy.
I recognize, then, our paramount obligation
to maintain in South Carolina a government
in which those who possess virtue, intelligence
and property shall control, and yet the government
be so administered as that all shall receive
the protection afforded by the honest
and impartial administration of just laws, and
avowing our determination to fulfill this obligation
by maintaining such a government, it
is incumbent upon us so to do it as to secure the
confidence and good will of all within the
State and the 'respect of those outside whose
good opinion we value. Hut this problem, in
the speedy solution of which we have the most
pressing interest, we must solve for ourselves.
Let it be remembered that our difficulties
are due to the debasement of the franchise,
which was placed upon us by external force,
and that the franchise given to the negroes
was intended not so much as a benefit to them
as a punishment to the whites, and to maintain
the rule of the Republican party. The
real spirit which actuated the abettors was not
love for the negroes, but hatred of the white
masters. A solution of these difficulties,
which shall l)e permanent, we must, for our
nu-n u-pll-ludnrr find Rut I reneut. we must
work it out for ourselves. Attempts to control
us from without will, in the future, as in
the past, be productive only of mischief. Unjust
judgments and hostile criticisms will only
irritate, and will retard a peaceful solution,
which we, if let alone, must and will find.
Perhaps I have dwelt too long upon what
may be regarded by many as abstraot political ,
theories; but I have thought it right, as a candidate
for election by the people, to state frankly
what I believe to be the true issues which
we have to meet. ,
The voters of South Carolina have now to
elect those who are to administer the execu-. ;
tive and legislative departments of the government
for the next two years. The first object
to be secured is a government which will
not only deserve but secure the confidence of
the people. The first and most obvious means
to secure this object is to propose to the voters
candidates whom they know and in whom they
can confide; men whose careers, private and
public, are familiar, and whose conduct in the
past is the best guarantee of what it will be in
the future. "Principles?not men" is an old
party cry. Principles without men are dead.
The Democratic party asks the votes of the
citizens of South Carolina for Governor for
one who is known throughout the State, by
what he has done for the whole people of the
State. Having been found faithful in such
things as have been committed to him, we
propose that he shall "be made ruler over many
things." To the Superintendent of Education
of South Carolina the people say, "Friend,
go up higher." It is said that a good face is
a letter of recommendation. You know what
our friend has done for you, in the last six
years, in the office of Superintendent of Education.
Look at him and say whether you will
trust him to do for you what he promises to do,
if you elect him to theofiice for which he has been
nominated by the Convention of the State.
When the election is over, we will say to all,
within and without the State, the administration
of which HuglbS. Thompson, Sujierintendent
of EducatioiPof South Carolina, from
IfWO 10 IS llie IlfitU, UfSJicujia )UIII niiLiic
confidence, and by its acts will justify that
confidence.
What the candidates nominated by the
Democratic party have to say to the the voters
of South Carolina is embodied in the platform
and declaration of principles put forth by the ;
Convention, and the Address of the Execu- <
tive Committee. The speaker then discussed
the merits of the platform, which he contend- '
ed was comprehensive, and broad enough for 1
every good citizen of the State. lie then con- <
tinned: To secure a peaceable, well ordered and
prosperous society, as well as a good and stable ;
government, it is necessary that the relations 1
between tne two races, wnuse nwumcn ?uc
identically bound together within our State, i
shall he those of general good will. AVe also i
claim the right, by reason of suj>erior virtue, :
intelligence and property, to control the gov- <
eminent of the State; but we must satisfy j
our colored fellow citizens not only of our I
ability to control the goverment which we <
have redeemed, and our determination to do 1
so, but we must also convince them that they j
too are to be benefitted by our control. To ]
do this, we must win their confidence, which .<
we can do not by mere words and empty prom- <
ises, but by deeds?not by professions, but ?
by acts. i
AVe should make them realize that while we 1
will not stoop to Hatter them by false preten- {
sions of equality, we will not degrade our- 1
selves by deluding and deceiving them. AVe i
must satisfy them from experience that from i
the government for which we are responsible, <
they will always be sure of justice ; that the i
law, as administered in the courts of South 1
Carolina, is no respecter of persons. They ?'
must experience the advantage of living under 1
a government which raises by taxation no t
more than is necessary for the honest dis- 1
charge of all obligations, and the economic t
and efficient administration of its several de- 1
partments ; where taxes are levied equally up- 1
on all, and collected impartially from all. 1
Above all, not only must the colored people '
not only be provided with the means of educa- 1
tion for their children, but they must receive <
the education which is derived from the prop- j
er performance of the duties of citizenship. i
And then let the white people of South Caro- ]
lina, by their laws and their votes, give assur- 1
ance to the colored people of the State, that as ! i
they show evidence of possessing qualities j i
which alone give the right to participation in s
the control of the government?virtue, intelli- i
gence and property?they will have given and <
secured to them representation proportioned 1
to the support which they bring to the govern- t
rnent that has protected them.
wi.jlo +lio /iiimtlnn linw to rmmihiin food (
government in South Carolina can only be i
determined by ourselves, without interference f
from without, we must not overlook the fact t
that South Carolina is also a part and parcel s
of the United States?a State having equal I (
rights with all the others and with duties and ! i
resi)onsibilities commensurate with her rights. 1
Therefore, we cannot, if we would, circum- i
stunced as we are, hold ourselves aloof from 1
Federal questions and Federal inditics. South 11
Carolina is us deeply interested as any other ]
State in the Union, in the great questions j f
upon which national parties are divided, and 11
we must take our stand upon all of them. I [ t
cannot, upon this occasion, dwell upon the |1
considerations which make it an imitative 11
duty for the people of South Carolina to indentify
themselves with the Democratic party of
the United States. I can only say that the
position of the Democratic party upon the
question of the tariff and other economic
measures are such as not only commend themselves
to our judgment, but are essential to
our welfare and prosperity as a State.
And what is of even greater importance to
us, the Democratic party upholds the right of
home rule in the States and opposes the centralizing
and despotic tendencies of the Republican
party, which would destroy all individuality
or freedom of action in the States.
The greatest obstacle which we have encountered
in South Carolina, in establishing satisfactory
political relations between the two
races, has arisen from the fact that the white
neonle of the State have not been of the same
political party which controlled the government
of the U nited States and the colored people have
been induced to believe that the government
of the United States was on their side against
those who control the State government. So
soon as this condition of things is changed,
and the government of the United States shall
be controlled by the same political party as
controls the government of South Carolina,
we will be able to establish relations between the
races that will be equally just and satisfactory
to both. In as much as our connection with
the Republican party, as it has manifested
itself in South Carolina, is impossible, with
our sense of principle and self resjiect, to
bring about this much desired result, we
must give all the aid we can to the National
Democratic party to obtain control of the
United States government.
Col. Miles closed with an eloquent appeal to
the Democracy of York county to be true at
the next election, as in the past, to the interests
of the country, remindinghis hearers that
every Democratic vote cast in the upper
counties contributed that much for the
protection of the black-ridden people of the
low country.
After music by the Rock Hill band, the
Chairman introduced
HON. J. J. HEMPHILL,
of Chester, a son of an honored neighbor, and
according to the intimation thrown out by
Col. Thompson, a candidate for two important
positions. lie was happy to know the candidate
was fortunately situated on this occasion,
as he had the opportunity of lieing heard in
behalf of either position.
Mr. Hemphill's appearancewas greeted with
applause, and being a ready ami pleasing
speaker, for an hour he entertained his hearers
with a melange of humor and good hard sense,
lie paid an eloquent tribute to female worth,
and highly complimented the audience on the
loveliness and beauty before him. lie naively
intimated that on account of his dual candidacy,
as alleged by Col. Thompson, he felt embarrassed
in thus publicly complimenting the
beautiful women of York, but that gentleman
had taken advantage of him by forcing
the issue upon him. He said he would be
glad if he could be permitted to speak only to
the ladies, but however agreeable the tiisk
would be, it is important that we address ourselves
to questions of the day?questions demanding
our earnest attention.
Wliile the Democratic party is now in {lower,
he reminded his.hearers that this power
was obtained only by the most persistent and
heroic efforts, yet this power coukl not be retained
if we suffer supineness in the Democratic
ranks. After the honest efforts of the
people to throw off the yoke of oppression, he
hoped the last five years of prosperity would
not cause the Democracy to forget that "vigilance
is the price of liberty," and that only by
our own conduct would we willingly or unwillingly
go back under the hand of the oppressor.
One cause of supineness may be that up
to this time we seem to have no enemy to
fight?at least, 110 open enemy, and his chief
regret was that the opposition was not in the
shape of an open enemy. Greenbackism!
What is it? As expressing the aims of the
so-called party in South Carolina, the word is
a happy combination of syllables?implying
verdancy and retrograde movement, when our
motto should be forward! But what can this
myth of a party do in South Carolina, unaided
by the assistance of any other party ? What
can they hope to effect without the aid and
support of Republicans ? They are coming
forward and being held up by the Republicans
for the purpose, as they think, of gaining power,
not seeming to realize that while the Radicals
are thus holding them up, we are going to
hold on to our government. Unfortunately,
the Greenbackers afford but little to admit of
talking about them. They prate about a "free
ballot and a fair Count," when in reality, they
evidently mean "a free steal and an unfair
divide." Under any guise they could not
change from their old habits. They do not
mean to change. They talk about our stuffing
the ballot-boxes and cheating in the count, but
they don't remember that in ,187(i many converts
were made from their ranks by the Democratic
Red Shirts, and voting since in good
company made them feel so good that they
could not resist voting two or three times a
day before they knew it. The Greenbackers
have no other speeial principles worth talking
about. They say a great deal about money,
and propose to regulate the currency of this
country; but can any efforts of theirs circu
late a dollar more than is already in circulation
? I am not hereto abuse money. I want
good money, and I want all I can obtain honestly,
but there are only two ways by which
we can expect to obtain it, and these are either
by working for it or by stealing it. It may be
that their idea is to obtain control of the government
and steal our money after we have
worked for it. To be serious, I doubt if there
ire twenty-five men in my presence now who
know, or even care to know, the difference between
a United States legal tender note and a
national bank bill. Either answers the ordinary
wants of the people sufficiently well, and
50 long as they possess a purchasing value?
?ach dollar worth one hundred cents?I suppose
the majority of our people will be satisled.
lint say these people we want fiat monjy
; we want every bill to bear the stamp of
:he government to be redeemable in coin at a
given date. This is all very well. But suppose
a man acquires a sum of this money, so
itamped and redeemable, say at the expiration
nf ten years from date of issue. lie lays it
iway for the support of his family, but in the
meantime the government takes a notion not
if 9 T /1a o.nr ITniforl
At 1 1/ I L UU iiUb lltv v uivvva i/vkvwm
government would do such ;i thing ; but the
listory of our Confederate currency?without
neaning a reproach?is an illustration of what
night be the result. Governments long founded
and not vainly struggling for an existence,
is did the Confederate government, have been
known to. repudiate their money obligations,
md they might do so again. There is but one
rind of dollar that will do to rely upon, and
;hat is the good old "dollar of our* daddies."
Hut what more can be said of the Greenback's
? They are so void of sound principles .
;hat they will utterly fail in drawing recruits
:rom the Democratic ranks, while others who
iave heedlessly joined them will not remain.
The party is like the old farmer's scare-crow,
lie constructed a scare-crow to keep these mischievous
birds from depredating upon his corn.
Sot wishing to frighten his neighbors, he first
mule one that was not very formidable in ap>tarance,
and it produced no effect upon the
iirds. He then made a second attempt and
succeeded in constructing one so frightful that
t not only prevented the crows from stealing
my more corn, but they actually returned
,vhat they had previously stolen ! So with
Greenback ism ; it is so ugly that it will drive
Tom its ranks those who have already joined
;hem.
Their platform adopted the other day at
Columbia, prefers quite an array of charges
igainst the Democratic party, but it is much
asier to prefer charges than it is to sustain
;liem. While it can be shown that these charges
ire all false, what about the professions of the,
Jreenbackers themselves? They profess to
vant to take an honest government out of
ion est nanus, auer n ii.is uueu mcsiru nom
i party of corruption and misrule. Where
.vere these men?McJ.ane, Judge Alaekev and
It. D. White, of Charleston?from 1808 to
L87G, during a period when their efforts to reitore
honest rule in South Carolina would
lave been needed V Did they lift a finger then
owards securing to us honest government i
When we were being stolen out of house and
mine they did nothing to relieve us; but now