General Grant and
the whole country beside. We cannot afford to commit political
suicide, and we are not going.

CHARLESTON, S. C., FRIDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 2, 1874

THE FAIR PLAY MEETING

_A Grand Gathering of Republicans and Conservatives--Harmony
Prevails and Nothing Asked but Fair Play_

The meeting last night was one of the most extraordinary
gatherings ever held in Charleston. Upwards of four thousand of
our citizens irrespective of party, assembled together and raised
their voices in the interests of fair play for one and all.

Men of culture and wealth, stood side by side, with the honest
and industrious workingmen. Republican and Conservative, white
men and colored men, Chamberlain men and Green men stood shoulder
to shoulder bearing in mind the great object of the meeting and
for the time being casting aside all thoughts of party spirit. It
seemed to be well understood by each and every man in the vast
assemblage that this was not the time nor place to urge the claim
of any particular candidates, and the harmony that prevailed
reflected the most unbounded credit on the citizens of
Charleston.

Let it here be distinctly understood that the objection to the
commissioners of election does not imply an objection to either
of them individually but it is claimed that one of them should
at least give place to a representative of the other side. If
Thompson and Smith are candidates for election to any office, and
the three commissioners of election are all Thompson men, it is
natural that the supporters of Smith should be dissatisfied, but
by appointing one Smith man all suspicions of unfair play will be
removed.

Col. E. W. M. Mackey called the meeting to order from the steps
of the City Hall at 8 o'clock and upon his motion it was
organized with the following officers:

President--The Hon. H. D. Lesesne.

Vice-Presidents--Mayor C. I. Cunningham, Ex-Gov. Wm. Aiken,
Coroner Aaron Logan, Mr. E. B. Seabrook, Mr. S. Y. Tupper,
Alderman W. J. McKinlay, Senator S. E. Gaillard, Hon. Henry
Gourdin, Mr. John F. Taylor, Rev. E. J. Adams, Mr. Andrew
Simonds, Mr. H. H. DeLeon, Mr. C. O. Witte, Alderman S. B.
Garrett, Mr. Hugh Ferguson, Mr. J. W. Reed, Alderman John A.
Godfrey, Mr. B. Bollman, Mr. B. O'Neill, Capt. J. C.