Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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______e __ anb. 5etab TEL-WEEKLY EDITION.) 'WNNSBORLO. S. C. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER LO, 1-878. {VOL.2.NO9 ruE NAJBOvB AT BEAR ORiC. Good Speeches and an Abundant Feast --A Splendid Success. The political meeting and barbe, cue of the Bear Crook Club took place on Saturday, at Cooper's school house, according to programme. Preparations had been making for some time to ensure complete sui cuss. An abundance of beef, mutton and pork had been secured to satisfy the material appetites of the people, while invitations had been extended to the candidates and to other mem - bers of the party to supply the in tellectual pabulum, and to while away the hours before dinner should be announced. The elements were propitious. Clouds overhung the sky, and a pleasant breeze moderat-. ed the temperature. A magnificent forest of pines, the property of Mr. - John Johnson, towered toward the heavens, while the earth was carpet ed with a thick layer of leaves, af fording a most inviting resting place for those who preferred to take - their feast reclining. By the ap pointed hour several hundred persons had assembled around the stand, which was warranted not to break down after the fashion of the plat form of Edgefield and other places. A large number of the ladies of Bear Creek and the surrounding country, as far as Ridgeway, added the grace of their presence to the occasion, and were attentive listeners. The can didates were out in full force. Even the sheriffs, although their race has been postponed till next summer, could not forego the temptation of shaking their would-be constituents by the hand, and of partaking of a good square meal. The meeting was called to order by President F. M. L. Duke, and Capt. E. H Heins then read letters from Col. J. H. Rion and Maj. T. W. Woodward, who were prevented, the one by a previous business en gagemenut and the other by donos tic affliction, from being' present. Both expressed sincere regret at not being able to attend, and touched in a graphic manner upon the issues of the hour. Mr. H. R. Flannigan was then requested to welcome the visitors, and he performed his task in a very happy manner. He extended a cor dial welcome to the speakers, and congratulated them upon the change that has been wrought in the past two years. For ten years the people of South Carolina had suffered every species of humiliation and tyranny. Two years ago little bands of patri . os met'to redeem the State. Their efforts were successful. The sun went down on oppression and vice; it rose on a people at peace. Cham berlain had gone down, and Hamp ton's white flag floated triumphant. Two years ago the people worked out the problem by themselves. Now they have trusted leaders to direct them. Much of the glory of our redemption was due to the women of the country who had stood firm in the dark hours. The men could but think of a mother's care, a sister's devotion and a sweet heart's fidelity. All great movements owe their success to the influence of woman, No reformer has ever courted death that better morals might at some time exist, without the strengthening influence of woman. No bright eyed boy ever achieved success but he owed his daring to the promptings of woman's ambition. No complete happiness can be secured without woman's love. In conclusion he besought his hearers to keep alive the Ilamei of patriotism, and we should soon see the day day when Carolina should perma nontly take her place in the sister hood of States, with the -palmetto floating proudly over every fireside. [Applause.') The p resident then announced that he had the honor of introduce, ing his distinguished fellow-citizen, the chairman of the party, Gen. John -Bratton. General Bratton congratulated the club upon the splendid turn out. As this was the stronghold of Democracy, on which the other por tions of the county .conldently relied, he had expected a full meet, ing, but his anticipations were more than rbalised. As,' however, there was a full ciomplement of speakers, lhe would ondne his remarks to a few general principles. The time was *h~n thodorM of Bouth Caro-' lina ipere. r0oPed together 4tt elee tions imply ,yethprnraininla dn upon the peaceful condition of affairs consequent upon Democratic rule. He showed that the Demo cratic party had always boon the advocate and conservator of peace, and had maintained the peace of tho country, from whatever source imperiled. In South Carolina, especially, the Demogratic party has maintained the peace of the State against all attacks and against all the evil influences of the Radical party. In conclusion, he showed that the only hope of peace now is in a faithful adhesion to the Demo cratic party against all opponents Radicals, Independents, Green backers, Communists and all. With unity and harmony the success of the party is sure-without them we may lose everything we have gained. Mr. R. Means Davis was the next speaker. He said he had had the honor on a prelious occasion to address his friends at this place on the subject of education. Their cordial reception at that time caused him to accept the prosent invitation with pleasure. He con gratulated his hearers on the recent change of our condition, and warned thom against over confidence. This is not a local contest, but extends over the whole union, and in Novem bor eight millions of freemen will array themselves at the polls on oue or the other side of the great issue, whether the people shall govern, or whether cliques and rings in the guise of a centralized government at Washington shall rule States regardless of the will of the people or the interests of the governed. The Democratic party, from its in ception, has maintained the princi ples of home rule and a strict inter pretation of the constitution, and as long as its supremacy was main~ tained the country was prosperous and the people happy and free. But the advent of centralization to power had been attended with ruin. The Radical party had camped out side of the constitution in order to perpetuate their power, and had maintained insignificant thieves in office in the South by the use of the army, navy and treasury of the United States. After vain conees sions and endeavors to treat with men that had no honesty and no honor, the people of South Carolina had aligned themselves once more with the National Democratic party and entered the contest. The battle is not yet ended, for though South Carolina secured the State government, the Republican party was able to inaugurate a president who had been defeated by a million majority of white votes. We must prepare to fight Grant in 1880 on a bloody shirt platform. Mr. Davis concluded by referring to the blessings of the State administra tion, and predicting the eternal death of all the enemies of the Democratic party. [Applause.] The next speaker introduced was Dr. T. B. McKinstry, who spoke as follows: I do not deem it necessary to discuss general political topics. The main p)oint at issue is perfectly plain. We must maintain our com., plete organization, and thus per petuate the blessings we now enjoy. We find ourselves far better off now than we were two years ago. Whence this happy change ? We owe it to the success of the Demo.. cratic party. You have assembled here in a social way-this could not have boon done two years ago. Then we were crushed and op, pressed. The government was run by foreigners and imported states men. We had spent four years of war to maintain freemen's rights. After a bloody struggle, we sure. rendered, laid down our arms, and came home. Here was found many vacant seats-our property squan dered and destroyed-our fields laid waste-our mills destroyed no corn to grind. Famine seemed to stare us in the face. We went to work like men to build up our waste places, and restor e our fallen fortunes. But the Radicals sent their minions to instruct our former slaves in hostility towards us. They were taught that they would have lands given them and would be the rulers of our State. Taking the bait held out, they did all they could against us. They sent .the most ignorant ngen to the Legisla. ture-and we all know the result. I hear they are preparing to send one again, but I hope their men will never reach Columbia. Under Democratic rule we find everything in peace and good order and loyalty,. We .are. not the samoe people -'we woe two years ago. Wehteye ganeo a w State agov.' orafgient, s. 1&ni n *on his- place throngh the effors of the pnoole. We have now the same standard and the same standard-bearers. We must not entertain the idea of defeat. If we submit, wo deserve our dofeat. There should be no side issues-they detract from the general work of our organization. As to the fenco-law, the people need fear no legislation against them. That question has not been, and should not be, brought into our politics, As to the office for which I have boon brought out, I shall have little to say. While I fool my weakness to discharge its responsible duties, I shall act with an honest purpose for the best interest of the county. I favor low taxes, honest administration, a re duction of salaries and a reduction of officials. Before the war one man assessed and collected all the taxes in the county, and now we have two men to perform this duty. I think there should be a reduction of officers and of their salaries. I favor a liberal system of education by State taxation, and when the people get better off they can add something from their pockets, and thus run the schools nine months in the year. I pledge myself, whether nominated or not, to do my utmost for the success of .Democracy. Mr. Thomas S. Brice was next introduced : He congratulated the people on the increasing interest they were taking in politics. In the dark days when Pandora's box was opened and every species of evil beset the State, the people were in deep despair. But after failing to purify the Republican party they rose in their might and proclaimed the supremacy of the Anglo-Saxon. The first blow was struck at Edge field on the 12th of August, which forever put an end to fusion, and gave an earnest that South Carolina would once more be ruled by people to the manner born. Fair - field county alone has saved thirty five thousand dollars a year in the mere matter of taxation. If the State is not prosperous it must be remembered that the Democratic party cannot in two years undo the work of the Radicals. In so short a time even a Democratic governor cannot place the State erect. The Legislature has been critised. But we must remember that a vast amount of work was to be done, and that many members though intelli gent, zealous and patriotic, were unskilled in the art of logislation. The resultant of their work has been good. The revolution is still in progress, and our situation is pregnant with peril. We will have no walk over. The Radicals have held meetings already and they are organizing for a supreme effort. Lot us nerve ourselves for the campaign. The work is not so arduous as it was, but will still tax our energies. The Radicals boast that they will carry nine or ten of our counties, and the Northern Republicans are anxious ly looking on, hoping in the number of the candidates to find material for Independents and bolters. That hope is vain. An ihdependent would be flayed alive. : We must have an organized party. Some good men still fail to see the necessity of diseipline and can not brook party ties.. Their posi tion is untenable. Discipline is as necessary in politics as in war. Let us then lay aside all prejudice, and with clean hands and clear consciences declare that neither the county nor the State shall suffer detriment at our hands. [Applause.] The next speaker was Col. B. (. Lamar, who said: I am very glad to meet the Bear Creek Club. This Club has always been strong for straightout Democ racy. I am glad to see the ladies out in such unmbers. It is no wonder, for. they are always inter ested in the welfare of their country, and always incite men to deeds of courage and patriotism. On the special matters now before the people, I shall .define my position. In the bonded debt of the State we are pil interested. The debt, when Gov. Orr retired, was about $6,000,000-the Radicals increased it to fifteen or twenty millions. Before the war no State had better credit than South Caroina--her bonds Bold dollar for dollar in all the markets 2~j~ the world. Now this is all changdd;9dhe Radloal thieves taxed us, till they thought we wouldn't pay any more, and thon issued bonds, which sold at. fr6m~ two t.~e to fiftj cents on the dollar. I'eress warned 'ont, sidets gaint tking these bonds. Tue last Legislatut'e put the matter in he courts~ If .It s~hot 14 corige policy they approved. But the desperation of ten years, vwhen the government was torn to pieces by the power of an organization, has fully taught that individual advoca cy of principle is futile and that it is absolutely necessary to meet or - ganization by organization. The germ of this organization was farth, or back than the banding together in 1876. We remember when secret organizations of the opponents of tho people hold midnight meetings and were taught by strangers that they must possess our lands by murder and assassination. With these horrors threatening us we had no government to appeal to for preoer.. vation. We were thrown upon our own pluck and manhood for protec tions, and it was necessary to throw thore units of pluck into organiza-. tion. Then we formed mutual clubs in a quiet way, not for agression, but to repel aggression. At this very time the chief executive of the State (Scott) whose business it was to see the laws executed, boasted openly in the city of Washington that he was the cgnmander of a skirmish line, and had an armed band on every plantation. He him, self was the head contre of lawless ness, and he made his boast under the very shadow of that other gov ernment that itself should have' interposed for our protection. This, then, was the germ from which the clubs rose. Later on, when legislation was taxing us out of our property, came another or. ganization, the Tax Union. At nearly every step we were met by the cry "what's the uso ?" But we persevered, and every step exposed the monster and weakened him, and showed that the only safe course was to stand firmly by the constitution. Radicalism could not stand the force of the con stitution with a firm array behind it, their vaunted military organization was crushed to pieces, and their party fell to ruin. But in the course of ten years poison had boon instilled in the minds of colored men, which is still rankling there, and may not be elini. nated entirely in another ten years. If we persevere, however, and evince our determination, their ranks will be gradually depleted. The Demo. cratic party in South Carolina has wisely refused to raise the race issue, because this will not effect the main purpose of establishing a government founded on constitu tional principles. But a solid array of white freemen is necessary to effect our end, and of impressing the colored people ; and hence the importance of organization. In the bubbling caldron of poli ties all sorts of issues arise, but we cannot have an organization on every issue. The thing is impossi ble. To day some parties are en deavoring to found a party solely on the question of money. This is suicidal. Of what use is money to us if liberty is destroyed 7 You are in the hands still of tyrants who will take your dollars from you whether they be gold, silver or paper. Your future depends on avoiding all minor questions and enrolling yourselves under the con stitution. In this way alone can you be free. The constitution to day affords protection everywhere in South Carolina except in one quarter, and that is where the Federal government, the repre sentative of the Republican party, steps in toprotect its minions who violate South Carolina's laws. Is it not apparent that the fight of 1876 was only the storming of an out post, and that the Republican party gave up the line in South Carolina and Louisiana, only that they might more securely hold the citadeli So long have the provisions of the constitution been violated that it is doubtful whether It can be ever restored as the supreme law of the land. The only means to this end lies in the complete success of the Democratic party. In conclusion, General B3ratton said it was his business to take care of the organization. The party must have a certain ritual, a,consti. tution to protect it. Divine institm. tutions have each its ritual for the discipline of its members, and tem,. poral bodies require them no less. The Democracy .of F'airfield must cheerfully take every step depnanded by the great controlling body. He relied on the people of Fairfield who had shown their devotion to principle on tWe battlefield -and elsewhere, to stand firmly together in this no less important contest. [Applause.J The chairman next introduced Mr. Jno. S. Reynolds, who thanked the elub for thf iiivittion ezteidod to him, and congratuated .te before the Legislature, I go in for repudiation of all the bonds issued by the Radicals. We had no hand in making the debt, and we should have no hand in paying it. The phosphate question is an important ono. The phosphates are very valuable, and will, it is claimed, pay the entire debt of the State. If elect.. ed, I shall watch closely the interest of the State in these phosphates. We have suffered much from heavy taxation. Lands havo' been sold for taxes. This was never so before the war. Now, widows and orphans have boon robbed of their land by the thieving State govern mont. We have too many officers. Before the war we had a tax-colleo-. tor, and we can have one now. The otfice of county auditor can be abolished, and thus be saved many thousands of dollars to the State. I also favor the abolition of the New York Code brought here by Corbin and Chamberlain. We all know they would bring us athing good. I think the Code ought to be abolished. In conclusion, I have. only to say that I will stand by the party, whether nominated or not. The noxt speaker was Maj. James Pagan, who said: I thank you for the kind invita. tion you have extended to me. Most points of interest have been covered by precedig speakers. I believe we are so well organized that we are now just where we left off in 1876-our organisation is really stronger and better. At that time, amidst many difficulties, we per fected our organization till very nearly every man in the county was enrolled. I have always been pleased to see Bear Croek in line. On Hampton Day and all other oc casions the club did its duty finely. The orders were all fully obeyed in silence. Our silence and earnest ness had a great effect upon our enemies and upon ourselves. When ever men act as a unit, the effect is good-almost electrical. At this time we have larger numbers and more enthusiastic meetings. We are glad to see the ladies here. . It is pure patriotism that makes them take interest in politics. Tho ladies of South Carolina have been noted for their patriotism ever since the Revolution. They have always d-me their duty fully and cheerfully. They always inspire men to good and brave deeds. They don't like "Miss Betsios," but admire manlin~ess and courage. It is this that causes them to take interest in our meetings, and their influence adds greatly to the numbers on our roll. Can% didates have no business discussing special matters of legislation. We should unite our efforts to win a victory for our party over all oppo sition-we must adhere to straight. out Democracy. Let us be ready to respond to the call of duty. I know the Bear Creek Club will do its full duty, just as it has done in the past. We should let the colored people know we are ready to have them join us in the effort to koop up peace, prosperity and good government. In conclusion, I can only say that, whether nominated or not, I shall do all in my power for the success of the party. The chairman then introduced Capt. H. A. Gaillard, who was greeted with applause. Captain. Gaillard thanked the Club for their kindness to him, both in the past and the present, and congratulated~ them upon the good service they had done in the past. After a brief review of the chief issues before the people, he said he deemed it proper to explain his position on the fence. law, as he had been misunderstood. He had never had any intention to force the new law on any section. He introduced the general bill, and it passed without debate and with. out opposition in the Houise. When it was about to pass the Senate, he found that the people in Eight'and Six did not'want the change, and he at once made efforts and succeeded in having those townships excepted from the operation of the new law. lie would sqy this much in justice to himself,, as he did not wish to be either misunderstood or misrepre sented in any matter. In conclu-~ siou, Mr. Gaillard urged the impor lance of a vigorous fight against the Radicals, who, though they seemed to be asleep, might make a Aght at any time. Rev. Willard Richardson was next introduced, He said he had ,the interests of the schools at heart. It had been a. lifelong work:wt him. Hie had not sought any-noini nation in 1876. When it Vwas teudeoed t4o Jpin he consulted geutlemen Abot the matter and 'they advinedde bha~ to run, promising to sustain him i o~~~nmnded: On teurfi M?