The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-08-31
The ''Tfllman-Daws0n Alliance
Grccnvillc News.

co. you ask the following questiors:
"Havc Captain +. w. Dawson and Mr.
B. X. Tillman had conference Of an,
KIND, by correspondence or otherwise
and have they made an agreement OF
understanding as to their respective
courses IN amy matter eifecting the pub
llc interests or politics Of this State?
"lf there has been an agreement @,
understanding Between them, what is
it ?''
AS know no reason ''whv they
should not be anSwcred,'' | will cheer.
fully give you the light you seek. This
can best be done by short statement
Of facts.
When commenced the agitation Of
the issues which form the core Of the
farmers movement, viz . The establish.
mcnt OF real agricultural college and
the reorganization Of the department Of
agriculture, the -Nc~S 0nd C0uricy was
emphatic in lis approval Of the college
idea, and did not oppose the other.
started ont as an agricultural rcformcr-
without amy design or desire to make
the movement Il political one, except to
the extent Of securing the necessary leg
iSlation. Soon, almost before knew il.
found myself swept of my feet. as it
were. by ii grand uprising for political
reform, reduction Of taxes, purificalion
OF tire government and correction of
abuses being the leading ideas. Ten
years of republican misrulc, followed
oy ten Years Of democratic imbeciIity
and growing disregard Of the rights
and wishes Of the masses. had laid the
mine. struck match for another
purpose and the cxposi III known as the
FARMERS convcntion' followed. It's re-.
vcrberations have not yet died awav and
its effects, past and to come, upon the
future Of this State are plainly to be
seen.
Captain Dawson left for Europe in
January, the Nems dnd Couric, up to
that time having been my friend. Dur
ing his absence the paper somersaulted
and began to attack the movement nv n
series of insiduous editorials aimed at
the "cali' for the convention aud intend
ed to bamboozle the farmers or divide
them. And these changed to strongly
lntagonIstic editorials Immediately after
The convention adjourned. Some days
after the adjournment Capt. Dawson re-
returned home and wrote to ask him
whether he dictated the course of OF the
PAPER while away and to learn whether
could still use his columns. He re-
'lied he had not, and that the paper was
open to me for any legitimate purpose.
lie said he was still al advocate of a
armcrs' college but could not swallow
some things which the convention had
recommended. suggested that if we
Gould have conference an agreement
night be reached. He agreed to this
md We met in Augusta in June, and we
discussed the whole Of the work of the !
convention, or what | deemed |
Is Important work. Not one word was |
ald about any mans candidacy, not one :
vord about any com mbination or alliance.
The conversation related solely to exist
nS abuses, many Of which had not been |
by the farmers convention |
nd the whole Of it might have appeared |
he next dayin print without exciting
ny surprise or comment. We made no |
grecmcnt Of any kind. but parted with
he tacit understanding that the Ncms
md courier would advocate and urge
he establishment Of an agricultural col !
egc, as it had done from the start, while
would cease my attacks on the citadel.
his is the agreement and the whole Of
+. did not undertake to keep others
rom advocating the abolition of the cit
del. and there was no subsequent agree
nent between us as to any mans candi-
acy. 1t can be now seen upon what
mall foundations rests the lie. started
he night before the State convention
act, about the "Dawson-T Tillman. Shep-
ard combination"
The Columbia ring. which had started
nat lie and then packed the galleries of
ne op era house in the interest of tho
Of their choice, are welcome
} their victory. It remains to be seen
'hether Colonel Richardson will prove