Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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VOL. XI. MANNING, S. C.. WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 1896. NO. 44. THE STATE DEMOCRACY. FULL REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF WEDNESDAY'S CONVENTION. Irby Made a Great Fight to Have the Del egates Pledged Not to Bolt-Tillman Re plies to Irby In a Long Speech Which Is Loudly Cheered. COLUMBIA, May 21 -At about twelve o'clock yesterday Senator Irby called the Democratic state Convention to order. After rapping he waited for a moment and then called for nomina tions for temporary chairman. Mr. McSweeney nominated Mr. I. H. Mc Calla of Abbeville and he was elected unanimously. Messrs. McSweeney, Martin and Timmerman escorted him to the chair. - Mr. McCalla thanked the conven tion forthehonor conferred upon him. He said it was time for action and not for speech-making, however, and pro ceeded to call for nominations for tem porary secretary. Messrs. M. S. Scruggs, S. W. Vance, C. J. Allan and Dr. E. S. Bernhem were elected. ROLL OF DELEGATES. The roll of delegates was then made up as follows, the appointment of a committee of credentials being dis pensed with as there were no contest ing delegations: Aiken-John Gary Evans, 0 C Jordan, G W Thorpe, J W Dunbar, J W Marchant, J R Eidson, W B Woodward, R L Gunter and R H Timmerman. Abbeville-J C Klugb, I H McCalla, II J Power, J T McMillan, .J 1H Morrah, W L Miller, W H Whitrock, E L W aldrop, T A Graham, H J Kinard, J H Thomas and J C Thomas. . Anderson-W A Neal, J P Green, D K Norris, J B Watson, 3 B Brezeale, C H Bai ley, H H Gray, S N Pearman, J W Ashley, W T Dean, A N Richardson and D H Russell. Beaufort-Thomas Martin, J S Reed, W H Lockwood, Thomas Talbird, W C Vincent. C L Paul, J L Lopez, W O Prentiss, W F Sanders and E T Lafitte. Berkeley-T W Stanland, J B Morrison, T W Williams, J B Wiggins, W P Russell, T L Connor, R H Sweeney, R G Causey, Wm Henderson and A H DeHay. Barnwell-W H Duncan, A H Patterson, S G Mayfield, W A All, Sr., H H Crum, 11 P Dyches, W S Bamberg, Robert Aldrich, M W Phillips, C B Free, Henry Folk and W C Matthews. Charleston-C M Trott, L D Marshall, W G Whaley, C E Burnham. I M Mierhead, G W Williams, Jr., Robert Graham, W J Mott, B M Lebby, T S Terry, J W Barnwell, W K Steedman, E W Wynee, P II Gadsden, T W Bacot, A J Riley, C S Vennig, J P Roach, J L Oliver and P. Carter. Cheater-J K Henry, H C Brawley, P T Hollis, C T Miners, W S Brown, W C Brown, T J Cunningham and A Wise. Chesterfield - W F Stevenson, J M Hough, F M Welsh, W P Pollock, R E Rivers and W C Mcreight. Clarendon-Louis Appelt, J S Cantey, D J Bradham, P W Webster, A 3 Richbourg, W C Davis, J W Kennedy and J J Mitchum. Colleton-M R Cooper, C W Garris, T J Appleby, A E Williams, C J Allen. J D Biv ens, L E Parler, W C'Brant and E J Lime house. Darlington-I P Kirven, T E Early, J B Floyd, J N Parrott, H A Josey, G W Smith, C L Beynolds and W J W Skinner. Edgefield-B R Tillman, W }(Timmerman, WRParks, J W Hardy, J M Gaines, N G Evans, W H Yeldell and S M Smith, Sr. Fairfield-J W Lyles, R. Y Lemmon, J B Stevenson, W D Hall, W L Rosborough, W H Mobley, J G Welling and WV 3 Johnson. Florence-J W McCown, J S McColl, J S Richardson, D H Traxler, J B Hubbards, B B McWhite, T J Jones and Dr William Ilder ton. Georgetown-J B Steele, S M Ward, Jo siah Doar, L 0 Walker, M W Pyatt and 0 H Shaw. Greenville-J T Austin, B N Shuman, H M Barton, J T Bramlett, A W McDavid, R Y Hellams, Dr W H Austin, M S Scruggs, J S Latimer, WY H Whitmire, J R Harrison and A Blythe. Hampton-W J Gooding, A L Youman's, W S Smith, M B McSweeney, W H Tutu-l and B J Riners. Horry-I R. Sessions, E Grahm, J P Der ham, R B Scarborough, J A Mcbermott and J A Lewis. Kershaw-R B Williams, Joel Hough. C L Winkler, 0 M Moseley, John (i Richards and J N Jones. Lancaster-J C Elliott, W P' Caskey, WV G A Porter, J N Estridge, T Y Williams and L M Clyburn. Laurens-J L M Irby, J W Ferguson, F D Bolt, J S Machen, M B Crisp, G 1? Smith, A C Workman and R TDunlap. Lexington-C M Efird, D) J Griffith, A F Lever, H 3 Seibels, Dr D H Crosson and J W Dreher. Marion-W HI Ellerbe, WV A Brown, J D Haselten, J D Montgomery, D W McLaurin, J W Smith. C T Bast and W A Oliver. Marlboro-W D E'vans, H M Stackhouse. 3 F McLauren, R M Pegues, J T Donaldson, J N Drake, L J Breeden and J F Breeden. Newberry-J A Sligh, 3 L Keitt, J T Dun can, C L Blease, WV C Sligh, P H1 Koon,,Tho mas SSease and B TPaysenger. Mi~nee-E B Craighead, A P Crisp, J R. .1 ones, E P Earle, Wiltiam Brown and T F LUibb. Orangeburg-O R Lowman, J W Stokes,.] HI Dukes, L S Connor, J H Price, I) A Por ter, 0 C Salley and G B Kittrell. Pickens-W T O'Dell, WV T Field, T C Rob inson, WV A Hamilton, Daban Mauldin and J H Miller. Richland-W W Ray, F S Earle. W McB Sloan, J Frost Walker, R. S Des Portes. T J Lipscomb, T T Talley, WV R Muller, WV Lykes and J S Reynolds. Spartanburg-J T Hunt, HI C L Murphy. J A Lancaster, C C Hill, Dr W F Leonard, iG ll Dean, J M Rudasail, T J Johnson, Rt M Jolly, L F Pearson, B 0 Bennett, R. N Lan aster, T L Gantt and B BI Bishop. Sumter-T B Fraser, C L Williamson, Rt eM Cooper, R. T McCleod, R J Browntield, WV J1 Rhodes, Shepherd Nash, H T Abbott, IH R Thomas, D E Keels, W A James and J E Du Pre. Union-J M Greer, Dr J T Jeter, S Wil horn, J T Douglass, J M Bennett, J U Tate, J W Cunningham and H C Little. 1Williamsburg-Dr A H Williams, Capt W *1Kennedy, J 11 Blackwell, A A Brown, J J M Graham, A H Reese, T M Allen, J C Wil born, W H Carroll, L K Armstrong, W J u-avis, J E Leech and C T Cook. Mr. Louis Apelt was appointed Ser geant-at Arms with Mr. B. B. Evans as assistant Mr. J. Belton Watson nominated M .-. A. H. Patterson of Barnwell for permanent president,.referring to Mr. lPatterson in complimentary terms He was elected. Trhe following vice presidents were elected, there being a little stir over the election over the representative of the Third district: First District-Geo. W. Williams, Je , Charleston. Second District-Maj. W. J. Good ing, Hampton. Third District-J. A. Sligh, New ber Fourth District-J. J. Gentry, Spartanburg. Fifth District-J. K. Henry, Ches Sixth District-J. N. Parrott, Darl iflgioUh. Seventh istrit-H. T. Abbott, Sumter. After a speech of thanks from Mr. Patterson, Senator Tillman otfere I the following resolution, which was adopted: Resolved, That a committee of one from each county, selected by the delegation thereof, be appointed to re port a platform. and that all resolu tions be referred to the committee without debate. After the appoiutment of the com mittee provide d for in the above resolu tion Mr. Elird moved that a commit tee of one from each county be ap pointed by each delegation to examine and pass on amendments to the consti tution of the party, if any appear to them necessary. The resolution was adopted and the committee appointed. Senator Irby then introduced the following resolution, which he asked be referred without debate: Whereas, neither white supremacy in South Carolina nor constitutional government in the United States can be maintained without the preserva ton of the supremacy of the Democra tic party and Whereas the supremacy of the De mocratic party cannot be maintained without holdingthe will of the majori ty as absolutely inviolable: therefore, be it Resolved by the Democratic party of South Carolina, in convention assem bied,That it is theduty of the party,na tional as well as State and county, to acquiesce in the will of the majority when expressed by its constitutional methods and to abide by and support its action. The following resolutions were all presented and referred to the several committees, after being read. There was some objection.to the reading of the resolutions but the convention would not do away with the reading. There was considerable applause fol lowing the reading of the resolution naming Tillman for President and the Cuban resolution: By Mr. James: Resolved, That in the high interest of harmony and good will between and among the white men of South Carolina we do not nom inate national electors at this session of this convention. By Mr. Whaley: Resolved, That the executive committee be and they are hereby authorized to nominate whenever it thinks proper. presidential electors to be voted for by the Demo crats of this State in the general elec tion of 1S96. By Mr. Blease-Be it resolved that we favor immediately restoration with a free and unlimited coinage of gold and silver at present legal ratio of 15 98-100 to 1 without waiting for the consent of any other nation and that such gold or silver shall be full legal tender for all debts. Resolved, 2.-That we demand that the secretary of the treasury recognize silver as the money of redemption and that he exercise the right to redeem all coin obligations in silver. Resolved, 3-That our delegates to the national convention are hereby in structed to demand that the platform of the national Democratic party be adopfed as customary before the selec tion of the standord bearers of said party, and that they are futher in structed to vote for no candidate for President or Vice President of the United States in said convention ex cept men loyal and true to said de mands, and who will hold honor and principle above the desire for money and self-promotion, and they are fur ther instructed to use their own discre tion in acting so as to promote the peace and welfare of their country and to secure them the relief that they bhave so long begged for at the hands of unscu pulous money grabbers and :ffice holders. By Mr. Fred Williams-Resolved, By the Democratic party of South Carolina in convention assembled. First. That we favor the free con age of both gola and silver at a ratio of 16 to 1. Second. That we are in favor of the change in the banking system of the United States so as to give the people a currency sufficient to do the busi ness of the country. Third.- That we will not send dele gates to the national convention but will leave each voter free to vote on national questions. By Mr. Gantt-Resolved, That our delegates to the Chicago convention oe instructed to impale all Wall street candidates upon a pitchfork, and hold them over the fire of genuine Jeffer sonian Democracy. By Mr. McSeveeney-Resolved. That we affirm our approval of the ac tion of the late Constitutional conven tion in making permanent and liberal provision for the support of the com mon schools of the State and in provid ing also the means of higher education for all classes and conditions of our people. We point to the recent changes in our Constitution whereby, in the Democratic primary, every Democrat may vote directly for the man of his choice for all o1fics, from the highest to the lowest, in the gift of the people and declare that such pro visions evidence the purpose of the party to procure the free and untram meled choice of the D~emocratic voters themselves. By Mr. Joel IHoagh: Resolved, by the Democrats of South Carolina, That we favor the unlimited coinage of silver and gold at the ratio of 16 to 1, without waiting for the action or cooperation of any other nation and we hereby instruct our delegates to the national convention to be held in Chi cago in~ July next to vote for a plat form emboding those principles. And we further instruct our delegates to vote for no man for President or Vice President who is not fully and unequivocally in favor of the princi ples above expressed. Resolved, That the delegates to the national convention from this State be instructed to vote as a unit on all questions. TILI3IAN FOR PRESIDENT. By Mr. John WV. Lyles: The peo ple have the numbers to right their wrongs if but they had a battle cry and a leader to gather them in solid array. At every turn the masses are confused, their minds divided and re solution paralyzed by the counsel of pretended friends-oficeholders and bribe-takers manipulate the party pri maries. The policy of the money power controls the masses in conven tion.- Platforms and candidates of so called opposing parties are made such that each presidential campaign is but a sham battle. What the country needs is an aspi rant for the presidency who is a man of the people, himself suffering from their hardships and aroused to indig nation by the general wrongs; with the brains anel the nere, anr the elo quence to enlighten the minds of the masses as to their interests and their duty as to kindle throughout the land smouldering fires of patriotism. They need a man who owes no favors to the powers that be and takes the field with nto commission froru millionaire poli ticiaus. We put forward as that leader, a farmer pure and simple, yet an orator who can lay down the champions of the enemy, a man of courage and will whose honest heart is aflame for the masses; the man of destiny-B. R. Tillman. We call upon him to go forth to bat tle and to reach with his voice the peo ple of America, slumbering under op pression and misrule in the past, and we put at his command, in the service of the people of a nation, the organized Democracy of the sovereign State of South Carolina. By Mr. Russell: That we have wit nessed with deeep sympathy the strug gle of the Cuban patriots for freedom and we endorse the action of congress in recognizaing them as belligerents and we call upon the President of the United States to give immediate effect to the clearly expressed will of the peo ple. By Mr. J. D. Montgomery: We endorse the present State administra tion for the vigilance exercised in the enforcement of the laws; for protection of the rights and liberties of the citi zens: for the economical administra tion of affairs and for the competency and honesty displayed in the exercise of their duty by the various State offi cials. By Mr. T. S. Terry: The Democra tic party of South Carolina do hereby affirm the Constitutional enactment as passed in the recent Constitutional convention of the State of South Car olina, "That no public moneys shall be used for sectarian puoposes," ac cords with the sentiment of the peo ple of this State and we further cou denn the action of the United States senate in reinstating sectarian appro priations in the general apropriation bill passed by that body. The convention then adjourned to S o'clock in the evening in order to give the committee time to consider the matter referred to them. During the morning the several del egations from the congressional dis tricts met and selected their delegates to Caicago to be present to theconven tion at the proper time. THE EVENING SESSION. At S o'clock Mr. Patterson again called the convention to order. The committee reports were called for. Mr. Cooper of the committee on gon stitution made its report, being a new constitution constructed upon the old constitution. The only material change from the old constitution's provisions is that presidential electors shall not be voted for in the primary. Another section requires the election of the county chairman by the county convention instead of by the execu tive committee. The other changes are merely verbal and unimportant. Those who have cdpies of the old con stitution are in possession of the new one by making the changes indicated. Mr. Efird asked that the chairman of the committee explain all the changes. While this was being done a brand new pitchfork elaborately decorated with ribbons could be seen in the crowd near the door of the hall. The committee on constitution to whom was referred the resolution in structing the delegations to vote and act as a unit on all questions before the national convention reported the resolution with out recommendation. The convention declined to strike out the words "Before the national con vention" and adopted the resolution. The committee sent back the resolu tion in regard to the registration of voters with the suggestion that the matter be sent to the State executive committee. This suggestion was adopt ed. THE PLATFORM PRESENTED. Senator Tiliman then presented the report of the committee on platform and resolutions. At the request of Mr. Efird, the platform was presented first. Senator Tillman read it as follows, taking peculiar pleasure in doing so, judging from his manner: 1. The Democratic party of South Carolina reaffirm its alleinceto the principles enunciated by Jefferson, Monroe and Jackson and followed by their successors in office and pledges itself to stand by those principlas as the creed of our political faith. 2. We denounce the administration of President Cleveland asundemocrat ic and tyrannical and as a departure from those principles which are cher ished by all liberty-loving Americans. The veto power has been used to thwart the will of the people as ex pressed by their representatives in congress. The appointive power has been used to subsidize the press, to de bauch congress and to overawe and control citizens in the free exercise of their constitutional rights as voters. A plutocratic despotism is thus sought to be established on the ruins of the republic. 3. We believe the power and usur pations of the Federal courts as now organized to be dangerous to the repub lic. The American people have lost con fidence in life tenure of officers in any department of government and we repeat here the warning of Jeffer son against the tendency and effect of the constitution of tha Federal judici ary, which he styles an "irresponsible body working like gravity by night and day, gaining a little today and a little tomorrow and advancing its noiseless steps like a thief over the field of jurisdiction until all shall be usurped from the State and the gov ernment of all be consolidated into one." The sudden reversal of the de cision in the income tax cases has nev er been satisfactorily explained to the American people and the court has lost the respect and confidence of the people as a natural result. To restore contidence in the judiciary and make the courts the bulwarks of liberty rather than the apparent tools of the "sordid despotism of wealth." To protect the people against the brood of vampires in the shape of monono lies, trusts and combines which have grown up under vicious laws badly ad ministered. To provide for the elec tion of senators and of all high gov ernment officials by the people so as to reduce the dangers of Fecieral pat ronage in the hands of an unscrupu lous President. To restore govern ment of the people, by the people and for the people we demand the calling of a constitutional convention to form an organic law suitable to the changed conditions and to the growth of the country. 4. We demand a more economical administration of our national affairs and that taxes shall be levied so as to bear equally on all sections and all classes. Labor should be lightly bur dened and by a graduated income tax wealth be made to pay for its protec tion. We repudiate the construction plac ed on the financial plank of the last Democratic national convention by President Cleveland and Secretary Carlisle as contrary to the plain maan ing of English words and as being an act of bad faith, deserving of severest censure. The issue of bonds in time of peace with which to buy gold to re deem coin obligations, payable in sil ver or gold, at the option of the gov ernment, and the use of the proceeds to defray the ordinary expenses of the government, are both unlawful and usurpations of authority deserving impeachment 5. A sound and just system of finance is the most potent factor in a nation's prosperity and we demand the restora tion of the money of the Constitution, by giving silver the same rights and privileges now given to gold. We de inand the free and unlimited coinage of silver at a ratio of 16 to 1, regard less of the action of any and all other nations and that such coinage be a le gal tender for all debts, public and private. Congress, alone ha, the power to coin and issue money and President Jackson declared that this power could not be delegated to a cor poration, therefore, we demand the national banking system be abolish ed. The absorption of wealth by a few, the consolidation of our leading rail road systems and the formnation of trusts and pools, require a stricter control by the Federal government of those arteries of commerce. We de mand the enlargement of the po wers of the interstate commerce commis sion. The reading was concleded amid loud applause. Lary Gantt moved that it be adopted unanimously with every "i" dotted and every "t" cross ed. A MINORITY REPORT It was about to be done when Mr. John S. Reynolds of Richland an nounced that he had a minority re port. Senator Tillman rose and stated that since coming into the hall the gentle man from Richland had come to him and told him of the minority report. He requested the convention to hear the report and consider it. Mr. Rey nolds read it as follows: The undersigned, unable to concur in all the declarations submitted by the majority of the committee on plat form, recommend the following changes in the report of such majori ty: 1. That there be added to section 1 of the "Platform and declaration of principles" the following words: "And we declare our purpose to abide by the action and support the nomi nees of the national Democratic con vention to assemble in Chicugo on the 7th of July, next." 2. That Section 3 be stricken out. 3. That section 4 be amended by ad ling thereto the following words: "And we demand the re peal of the 10 per cent. tax on the circulation of State banks." 4. That there be added to said plat form and declaration the following words: "We reaffirm the principles of the national Democratic platform of 1892. respecting the reform of the tariff." ' JOHN S. REYNOLDS. J. W. FERGUSON. I cannot concur in section 2 or in section 3. Aside from the considera tion that it is denunciatory to an ex tent not justified by the facts of his tory, it has no place in the platform of the Democratic party of South Caro lina. I further object to the declaration in section 6 because I think it unne essary. John S. Reynolds. Mr. Reynolds did not speak to the report and Senator Tillmnan gave no tice that he would move to lay it on the table. LEA DING A FORLORN HOPE. Mr. J os. W. Barnwell then took up the matter of the policy of the Demo ratic party in declaring for free silver. He was aware he was in a minority. Free silver, he believed would ruin all the farmers in the State. (Laughter.) Mr. Barnwell continued to argue that free silver would put the Democratic party in a position where it could not make a winning fight against the Re publican party. It seemed impossible to accomplish anything by declaring for free silver. He was opposed to antagonizing States which had stood by us in greater crises. Was it well to throw this bombshell in tbe centre of the ranks of the Democratic party. It was exchanging old, tried friends for new friends who might not be so kind. Mr. Bamnwell was applauded. Mr. Reynolds then took the floor. He said that he felt that he was beaten at the start, and there was enough to show that it was useless to offer argu ment. But there was one proposition in the minority report which was worthy of tne closest consideration. It was the provision that called for ac quiescence in the action of the nation al convention, and the support of that body's work. For 20 years past there has never been any such talk of aban doning the national party. He point ed ut the danger of abandoning the friends of the south of 30 years stand ing. He was in favor of the free coin age of silver at 16 to 1. (A pplause.) He had advocated it for years. He had criticised Cleveland in 1886. But should they sacrifice all else that the national Democracy could do for them to get this one thing? Vital as it was they should not go so far. Has anybody indicated the place to which we will go when we desert the national Democ racyi Do you mean into the Repub lican party? Let the Edgefield sena tor remember his speech made in this hail picturing negro rule in South Corolina. Larry Gantt asked him if he did not know that the majority report said nothing about bolting. Mr. Reynolds asked him if he did not know that it was the open purpose of the leaders to bolt the convention. He pressed Gantt for an answer. Gantt said there, was some talk of it, but there would be no bolting when they got to Onicago. He said something about the inten tion of the gold bugs to bolt if the free silverites won. Mr. Renold said it was merely a question of the integrity of the Democrats here. Mr. Gadsden spoke earnestly in fa vor of passing the resolution requiring all to abide the result of the national convention. This money question was a financial and not a party matter. He, like Mr. Barnwell, recounted the acts of friendship that the national party bad shown to the people of this state IRBY ATTACKS TILLMAN. The galleries and all the available space in the hall were by this time was in such a presence that Senator Irby came forward in the centre aisle and then the fireworks began. Irby began with great deliberation but warmed up to his work rapidly. His attack on Tillman was intensely inter esting. Time and again he was loud ly applauded by his friends in the con vention and the occupants of the gal leries. He spoke as follows: If I were toconsultmy own feelings I should not utter a word on this ques tion; but, Mr. President, occupying the position that I do, holding a high trust as the guardiat. of the Democra cy of South Caroline., were I to fail to respond for the grard old party when she has been challenged, (and shame. for it) by her greatest beneficiary. I say. Mr. President, not an ill will, but in truth and candor and honor, to the people of the State, that when this "Edgelield Democrat," as he has so proudly proclaimed himself upon this floor, challenges the party over which I have the honor to preside, that I should be recreant to my duty if I did not defend it. When this Edgefie.d Democrat, who was taken from a a lowly position, but an honorable one, and raised to the highest in the gift of the people of South Carolina, proclaimed himself as an "Edgefield Democrat." I must say tba I knew be'ore what an "Edgefield Democrat" was. (A.p plause) Mart Gary was an Edgefield remocrat. (Applause.) But, Mr. President, Mart Gary was not that kind of an Edgefield Democrat. Mart Gary was a South Carolina Democrat. (Cheers) And I speak for Laurens when I say that grand old Laurens has no such Democrats within her bor ders. (Applause.) Now, Mr. Presiden t, where are we I regret that I have to talk so plainly as I am talking here tonight-who are we? Where are we? How come we here in this conven-ion? You have all heard of the manifesto that: was is sued in 1890. It is a prominent docu ment. The people of the State have the right to known about it. I had something to do with the revis ion of that document before it was is sued. That document was at first so framed that it addressed all the people of the State-white, black, Republican and Democrat alike. I entered my protest that unless it was changed. I, as a Democrat and a loyal son of the State, would not go into it. I was willing to make the fight under the machinery of the party: to capturs that machinery that the people of the State might control, and therefore at my suggestion the words "To the neo ple of the State," which included all classes and complexioas, were changed to "To the Democrats of the State," and the words "We will abide by the result of the September conuention," inserted at the end. I insisted upon that because I was a Democrat and un willing to destroy the Democratic par ty of the State. Under that flag the people of this State put the govern ment of the State into the hands of the Reform faction. But for that pledge in that manifesto the March conven tion would have failed.. We came in claiming to be Demo crats. We are enongh Democrats to elect our governor twice, and that. dear. old, rotten party, as some call it now, was good enough to elect some people to the United States Senate, but it ain't good enough to elect some peo ple to the Presidency of the United States. Now, that's w hat's the matter with Hannah! (Applause and laugh ter ) Are we, Reformers of South Caro lina, to be mere tools in the hands of any man? Are we t~o acknowledge the fact that we are carried in his breeches pocket to be delivered at any minute? I will tell you, sir, that I for one am not to be carried in the pocket of any man, I was opposed to bolting in 1890). when I think my friend, the Edgefield Democrat, thought a bolter worse than a Radical. Am I, the legal head of the Demo cratic party, to sit as tamely as a sheep and allow Lhe party to be delivered into the hands of the enemyi Oh, my dear, Reform friends, I am talking plainly and honestly to you, and if you fall out with me, I am sorry for it. Four years ago y ou were such Democrats that you required' the elec tors nominated by this convention to sign a pledge to vote for the nomi nee of the Democratic convention. Are you going to hold the party re sponsible for Mr. Cleveland's policyi The party cannot be held responsible for Cleveland's policy. You had as well hold the M< thodis: church respon sible for the action of a minister in it, and say "That minister has gone wrong and I am going to leave the church and go to the Baptists." There is no one more sincerely and honestly for free silver at 16; to 1 than I am; but I am not prepared to dodge this issue. And you men who are going to run for the legislature, you sign a pledge reading, "1 am willing to abide by the result of the primary," and still you are dodging and unwilling to abide by the result of the national primary." The idea of 18 men cut of 914 going into a convention and saying to the balance, "We have got to fix this plat form; we have got to name the man, and we have got to be above suspicion, or we are going to bolt." Why, that's simply ridiculous. If that's the way von are going, you had as well stay at home. Wby not propose to turn the whole matter over to South Caro lina and let her run it. The convention ought to instruct its delegates to abide by thbe nomination. The free silver men need not be afraid. They will control the convention by at least a hundred majority. And yet you say we must go there and run the thing or bolt. Here is a possibl-: candidate for the Presidential nomination within the hearing of my voice. I have no objec tion. If they nominate him in (Chi cago I will do as much for him as I have done for him in South Carolina in the past, and I think every one will agree that I have done as much as any one else. He is willing to go into that convention and take pot luck witna the others, and yet here is th, convention dodging the issue. Why, you dele gates here don't represent 5,000 votes in South Catrolina, you didn't made a test of the thing in any county in the State. There is no use in talking about it. There are 102,000 white Democrats in South Carolina, and you may go from county to county, and I will guarantee that we don't represent 1;000 men any way. And yet you are going to break the record~ of the Democratic party with a possible Pres idential candidate in our midst, by dodging this issue. Let us for decency sake abide by the result, whatever it may be-for Democracy's sake and for poor old South Carolina's sake. Here you are endorsing a man for the Pres i~enrcy on a platfrm, sayin, "I you don't do our way we will walk out." Voice-"Walk where?" Senator Irby-"God above knows! We will all be ashamed of this fool ishness in three years. A bolter never amounts to anything and its only two or three years when yod see him com ing back and sitting down on the mourner's bench. 1 I don't want to impose on your time and I am feeling very unwell, but I have to say this, as the head of the party. If I have offended my friend I can't help it. This dodge ruins the party-ruins the Reform party in l South Carolina; and it makes us as 1 guilty as the followers of Mr. Pope and Mr. Haskell or Mr. anybody else, c and there is no excuse for it. It has been said .bat the Edgefield r Democrat carried the State in his breeches pocket,or that he knew where it was going. The people of the whole < country are looking at us to see which I way it goes. But, gentlemen, I tell < you (here Senator Irby drew himself t up to his full height and laid his hand < on his breast), here is a Laurens Dem ocrat that no man has in his pocket. a Now, Mr. President, in conclusion, this is my last official act as chairman C of the Democracy of the State. We e have had much ti uble-when South t Carolinians divide both sides have V trouble. We have been successful be cause we clung to Democracy. If you t had deserted it, as some of your lead- e ers, who don't like me now wanted to a in 1892, and who would have gone if t I, as head of the party, had not held I them bacir. we would never have ac- n complished whit we have. They pick- s ed up Mr. Bowden, who is conscien- a tious and honest, and pitched him in d the stream of Popu:ism;but they came v back and behaved themselves when n they saw what a rough time he had of 1 it. s And now, sir, let me say that if 1 I lose the friendship of every Reformer 0 and every Democrat in South Carolina n it will be the proudest act of my life e that my last official act as chairman of e the Democratic party of the State, was 1 to sound a warning to my friends, to h the Reformers of South Carolina not n to desert the party. If we do, white a ivilization, to say nothing of white n mupremacy is gone. Whenever we P livide and go in another pariy the b breach that is oniy factiona' will be t widened and made permanent, and I white civilization in South Carolina t will be destroyed. My friends, it is r he greatest blunder that has ever been R nade in South Carolina and you will R see it. If we stand together we will b o to Chicago, or our delegates will go 0 here (for I don't think I'll go) (laugh- n er); and be received as friends. But f you dodge this you will be hissed as a .raitors and enemies in disguise. i A STIRRING SCENE. s When Irby concluded his speech 0 here were cries for Tillman. As he stepped to the position occupied by [rby while the latter was speaking ;here was deafening applause success ul by wild cheering and throwing t) tats into the air. The seene was a nost remarkable one. Senator Till nan had said but a few words before d D. A. G. Outzs of campaign fame, orged his way through the crowd earing aloft a handsome pitchfork e lecorated -vith ribbons and appropri ately inscribed. He passed up the aisles holding the fork over Tillman a tl ew moments, and then placed it on he presidents desk. Tillman was fre uently interrupted by loud applause. dte spoke as follows: Mr. President and gentlemen of the ~onvention. We have had many re narkably interesting exhibitions to aight, such as our past history has iever seen the like o f. I. suppose that io ill-assorted and uncongenial a corn iination as the one which has exhibit ad its venom here tonaight on this fior 2as never been equalled. We haven 2ad here a man who has been honor ad by South Carolina a great deal s, more than he has honored himself,. We have had this man, a repre entative of the people of South Caro ina, undertake to speak to us here as i master, and tell you to your teeth :hat you are not representing the peo- b ple. I pray to God, such assurance! Why, he could not have been elected o this convention if he had not madec t cembination with the Conservatives.b A~nd what is all this about? Is there a 1 ;yllabla in the principles that we ad rocate that is not Democratic ? Talk ~ tbout bolting, I know that our people t lispise the idea of a man going out md pulling in the negroos, but t wo of he men who have spoken here to-t sight have done it. And still they t] ~ome to us and say, "Don't even hint it a proposal to go to Chicago unpre- y aared to lie down and let the Shylocks ~ md gold bugs trample on you." I have been doing more than any ti >ther Democrat in South Carolina to, rin g about a revival of the hopes of he Democratic party in the nation, , mnd make it go flor ward as the party of' he people, rather than as the tool of he moneyed classes. Two years ago, w'hen I was running' for the senate, 1 , old the people of Lexington county mbout the rascality and treachery of 31eveland, and said to them. "If this naa is a Democrat, I am no Democrat,~ mnd so help me, God, you will never h ind me in alliance with him." (Ap- I' alause.) You are told that the Shell manifes ;o, (which I wrote, if you want to a mnow it) was altered at the dictation fa >f the senator from Laurens. Mr. P~resident, when the Reform movement b itarted in 1886, and Richardson was t] 2ominated in the opera house,I moved u o make his nomination unanimous. A.nd again ,in 1888, when the machine a wvas too strong for us, I moved to make 2 t unanimous. But when I was put a orward by the common people, as the ~xponent of the new Democracy-the >nly real Democracy we ever had in a South Carolina, as the other was only g in oligarchy-these men got up and a went out. Went where? They went h to the negro and begged the Repubhi- I ian party to sustain the old oligarchy snd retain them in office. And now n they tindertake to come to us and say, d "You must obey the national Democ- e racy and crawl in t be mire for it." b Jefferson taught no such, and Jack- i1 on taught no such doctrine as this, a What are parties? They are organiza :ions to accomplish what they believe ti ;o be the best policy for the govern- b aient. The Democratic party has fol- C iowed its leader, Jefferson, for more n :han a hundred years and clung to his principles until four years ago-and s aow they say we must not bolt. There s~ s no obligation to a treeman to stand v by a party that has deserted its princi- n pies just because it is labeled D~emo :ratic. We have been hampered by a t] negro majority in South Carolina,and v Democracy meant white supremacy ta and nothing more. But now, no man :an claim that I did not, in the Con- t< stitutional convention, rise above per- 1< onal cnsieatinsn e ne aorm tn nj give the people of the State an organ .c law that would last for all time, Lad insure them good govern nent. And now I can turn to these nen and say to them that we are ready ,o meet them today with their uegro rote. If they want to draw the issue vith the Democracy, however, let nem do it under the name of Democ -acy. If we stand together like freemen, ve may not accomplish what we hope n national affairs, but we will at least xhibit that manhood of manner that ias characterized South Carolina since he days of the Revolution. This man exhibits a lack of histori al knowledge when he says that outh Carolina always voted the De nocratic ticket. In 1832, Andrew ackson ran on the Democratic ticket, .nd South Carolina was mad at him n account of nullification and voted or his opponent; and on another oc asion, South Carolina cast her elec oral vote for a man who got the vote f no other State. And so if we go to lhicag o, we will not be bound by the etion of a convention controlled by aen el. eted from States that cannot ast a sin le Democratic vote in the lectoral college, and whose represen 3tives in congress are cheek by jowl rith John Sherman. He (pointing to Senator Irby) says dat the Democratic party was good nough to elect me governor twice, nd good enough to elect me as sena >r, and that the trouble now is simo 7 that I want to be President. I think, 1y friends, that the gentleman has imply misunderstood the situation, nd that all of this outcry is simply ue to the fact that the gentleman rants to be Senator again. So far as iy desiring to be President of the inited States is concerned, I view it mplyin this way: In the first place come from a State that is hated all ver the north because secession origi ated here-I am no fool. Whatever Ise may be said of me, no one has ver accused me of being a fool. 'herefore, when they accuse me of aving a presidential bee in my bon et they simply maginify the purposes nd hopes of my heart. I have done iy best to elevate and liberate the eople of South Carolina, and my am ition is to do in the national field in iose other down trodden States, what have done here. If I ehould receive ze presidential nomination I should ceive it with the same missgivings rhich many of you heard me express rhen I was nominated here in 1890; ecause I would realize the greatness f the task that I would have before ie. Though we may split on the Feder [ticket and have two electoral tickets i the fall, there is no reason why we iould have a split in State politics. re can go on and nominate and elect ur State and county officers as here >fore, unless some of these men (here enator Tillan's voice and manner ex ressed great animus) whom the devil as taken upon the mountain, go to ie negro and try to bring the black fan into South Carolina politics asan rbieter of our affairs. But if they o, we can go right on and take care f the State, anyway. What principles have we abandon I? Voice-"None."' There is nothing in the platform fat even hints at the abandonment f principles. We are simply saying the northern friends who have stood y us as long as they could keep their ands in our pockets, that they can o longer dictate to us. I sat on this floor when a gentle ian from Newberry uttered these very ~me things, and told him that he 'ould be making ourselves the laug'h ig stock of the country if wedi 'hat he proposed. Now, I hope we ill control the convention and will anke the other fellows do the bolting. But if we don't; if they prove too rong for us; if by the use of money, Sthey have used it lavishly in Michi an, Florida. Illinois, Indiana and [innesota, they buy enough of those inorant and corrupt people to force own our throats the doctrine of gold ugismn, then I say it will be Cleve Ldism; and we . will say to them, Gentlemen, good -evening." You in do nothing else. If you wish to e terrorized by the sheet-lightning iat you have seen tonight into incor orating into the platform the resolu on to support the gold bugs, I tell ou, the common people of South arolina will never support him. kpplause.) We must simply say to rese people, "You comne from States rat have no electoral strength, and ou cannot force us to support your latform." When the gentleman from Charles mn says that we cannot carry the elec on on a .silver platform, I appeal to im in the name of the common sense rat he appears to have lost, where is re hope, then? It has been asked where we will go. favor a resolution to have the chair an of the convention to call it to ether again in case we have to come ack, to give us furaher instructions. The people are moving. I saw them tKansas and Colorado, and Florida ad Kentucky, and - when I called a and primary on uniting with us in :ansas, it might have oeen Anderson >unty to judge from the response. The men who are raising this fuss re those who feel the teat slipping om their mouths. I am not debating this question ere: I am simply talking to amase e Columnbians who came out to boost p these other fellows. South of the Potomac and the Ohio ad west of the Mississippi there are ) electoral votes-7 votes more than majority, of the electorai college. EVANS AND IRBY. Governor Evans came to the front SMr. Barnwell was endeavoring to et the floor. Governor Evans wore pitchfork badge in his coat lapel and e was not long in stirrinag up Senator by. He said in substance: Governor Evans said that he could ot understand the reason for intro ucing this resoulution here by a man -ho had announced his willingness to olt if the convention did not adopt .He it was, he said, who set the ex mple of bolting. Senator Irby asked for an explana on, and governor Evans said that he ad seen an interview in the Augusta ;hronicle in which Senator Irby had ade such an announcement. Senator Irby said that he had no ich interview, and raising his hand, id: "B~efore God, that interview as as false as was ever printed by iortal man! Gov. E vans accepted the denial with ie remak that he thought the inter iew looked like the gentleman's dic tion. He then went onm to eulogize Sena > Tillman as the terror of the shy. >cs, and to announce that there was t a Democrt north of Masnnd Dickson's line. Senator Barnwell took the floor to reply to Tillman's taunt that he had bolted in 1890 and was here now de nouncing a bolt. Mr. Barnwell said he had bolted too often, and he had said nothing about bolting in his speech. In 1890 he had said he would never vote for Tillman unless a Republican was in the field. I had the right to bolt, and bolt I did. It was the proudest act of my life. He told Tillman why he did not vote for him. It was because he thought Tillman said things about people in South Carolina that were not true. The senator had often been here in the majority. Now he wasin the minority. If you can find what appeal I have ever made to the negro I wouldlike to see it. Go and fight the thing out at Chicago if you want to. I did not speak to the minority report at all. Senator Tillman utterly disclaimed any intention of wounding Mr. Barn well's feeling and apologized for it. On motion of Governor Evans the minority report was tabled. As the majority report -was about to be adopted Senator Irby gave notice that he would call for the roll on his resolution, which had been unfavora bly reported so he understood. Mr. Bacot demanded an aye and nay vote on the adoption of the majority report. The vote was then taken and resulted in the adoption of the report by a vote of 270 to 29. Those voting in the negative, save one, whose name could not be heard, were as follows: Messrs. Ward, Dozier, Scarborough, Sessions, Ray, Earle, Sloan, Lips comb, Talley, Lyke Reynolds, Des Portes, Brownfield, Williamson, Pren tiss, Vincent, Levin, Barnwell, Steed man, Gadsden, Olliver, Wynne, Cor tes, Riley, Bacot, Cosgrove and Si mons. AS TO THE RESOLUTIONS. The committee on resolutions then presented the following report, which was taken up in sections: "The following resolutions were presented unfavorably: "The longer Cuban resolution pre sented to the committee. "Mr. Hough's Mississippi instruc tions resolution. "Mr. Fred Williams' resolution on tree silver, and that no delegates be elected, but that each voter be allowed ,o cast his ballot on national affairs as he chooses. "Mr. Terry's A. P. A. re.:olations. "Mr. Irby's resolution pledging ad herence of the party to the action of the national convention. "Mr. Blease's free silver, etc., reso lutions. "The following were reported favor ably: "Mr. Russell's resolution favorable to Cuba, calling on the President to act. "Mr. J. D. Montgomery's resolution endorsing the State administration. "Mr. McSweeney's resolution in ref erence to action of constitutional con vention in reference to public schools and primaries. "Mr. Lyles' resolution endorsing Senator Tillman for the Presidency was referred to a special committee consisting of Col. Aldrich, Col. Mc Sweeney and Mr. Efird. Mr. Blease defended his resolution. Senator Tilman pointed out that its co atents were covered in the platform. The resolution died a sudden death. The report of the committee was adopted viva voce, as a whole, except the portion as to the Irby resolution. When the Cuban resolution came up Mr. McSweeney moved that the convention adopt the resolution by a rsng vote. Mr. Stanland rose to protest against the passage of the resolutions without notifying Captain General Weyler so he could issue a proclamation. The resolution was unanimously adopted after it had been read by Senator Till man. Then the convention, on motion of Mr. W. D. Evans, decided to have a certified copy of the resolution sent to President Cleveland. LIr. Mcbweeney's resciution was tak en up and adopted without trouble. TILLXAN FOR PRESIDENT. The special committee on the Tiill man Presidency resolution reported, through Col. Aldrich, the following resolution: "We, the Democratic party of South Carolina, in convention assembled, view with satisfaction the patriotic course of our distinguished fellow-cit !2et, Sever~ Benjamin R. Tillman, ari m'ivye with p ride the manifesta tio'ns of approval of his public work by the people of the country at large. "That we present his. name to the national Democracy as one worthy to be the standard bearer of the party in the coming Presidential election, and poinotto his public career as a guaran tee that his future labors in any and every position in which he may be placed will be marked by conservatism andl designed to uplift the toiling masses of the people without doing violence to the just rights of any class of citizens." Cheers followed the reading of the resolution. Mr. Thomnason of Spartanburg mov ed the adontion of the resolution by a rising vote. This was agreed to, and there were precious few to rise in op position. Senator Irby: "What has become oI my resolution i" The chiairman announced that it had been laid on the table along with all unafavorably reported resolutions long Senator Tillman wanted the matter considered, and wished to let Senator Irby have his roll call. There was quite a squabbie. Irby vwas determined to get a vote on his resolution. He did not think they were intentionally trying to treat him discourteously, but he 'had watched his resolution, and had previously re cuested this vote. ~Larry Gantt then gave the next sur prise. ~Ie deserted Senator Irby in tiis need. He said his delegation had come here as friends of Senator Irby. But they camne here as Jefferson Dem ocrats and not as Grover Clevelana Democrats. They did not propose to go to Chicago and be tied to Grover Cleveland's coat tail. IRBY'S DEFEAT IN FIGURES. Finally the vote was taken in a m'sed up kind of way, the following being the result, the vote being ad opted on the unfavorable report of the committee: Aye. No. Abbeville................12 - Aihen................... 7 1 Anderson................12 - Barnwell................12 - Beaufort.................... Berkeley.................6 4 Charleston...............- 19 Chester-................. 8 - Chesterfield.............. 5 1 CONToNUED ON PAGE FoUR. J