The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-07-16
Are we Doing Anything to Defeat
Mr.. TilIman

The Press and Banner is In entire accord
and perfect sympathy with the object OF the
"Straightout' meeting in Columbia last week.
but we fail to see that any practical method
has been proposed whereby the deleaI Vi MI
Tillman is to be accomplished.
At present it seems to US that there can be
no possible doubt that majority Oh our Peo'
pie favor the election OF Mr.. Tillman. Enlhu'
siastic resolutions and indiscreet utterances
by orators and irritating expressions by news
papers will do nothing to overcome the ma
jority against US.
The only way to defeat Mr.. Tillman Is 10
convert his followers 10 our way or tnlhkihs'
Men are elected Governor by votes' anu any
thing which looks to the securing Oh Votes is
step in the right direction.
Mr.. Earle and Mr.. Bratton have been on the
stump for month. They have refuted aii
charges, but they have done little or nothing
to appeal to the voters. Merely to assert, that
the Government Is honest Is not enough.
Mr., Tillman's charges OF bossism has not
been effectively met. His assertion OF BOSS
ism and his appeal to the popular prejudice
against the officers has been effective, and we
confess that we do not know how the effect Is
10 be counteracted. But we do know that MT
Earle.s and Mr.. Bratton's speeches have done
little or nothing in changing the pubic mlna:
When Mr.. Tillman urges that the defeat OF
the census and the re-apportionmento OF the
Representatives was wrong against the up
country. he appeals to the public mind, ou1
when Mr. Earle In reply argues that tile gen.
tlemen who lent themselves to that measure
did not falsify their oath OF ONCE, falls snor'
of regaining the lost ground. What 90 the
people care whether or not their representa-
tives were constructtvely guilty of perjury
They positively care nothing at all about the
perjury question. The fact, however, that the
country people have been cheated by Charles
ton has not been denied and remains In full
force. The voter is not switched off on th'
perjury question, and no effort has been mad'
to prove to him that he has not been cheateo
and that Charleston has not gotten the bene
lit OF that cheating.
What avails it for Mr.. Earle and Mr. Brat
ton to vociferate now for the primaries
Didn't the Democratic Executive COMMITTEE
refuse it at the beginning Of the campaign?
We don't know how to answer MIR. Tillmal
effectively, but we do know that that is th'
only way to gain votes, whereby he may III
defeated. Our people should do something o.
urge something that will catch the popnln
ear and lead them to think as we do.
Speaking for the Press and Banner VI
would not support any man for public ofnc'
who assails the fair fame of the State whicf
we all love so we'll, and to uphold whose hon
or so many OF our men recently went II
bloody fields. Mr.. Tillman's charges OF cor
ruption against the State has, we believe. af
fected the credit OF the State. If so, there IL
no telling how much the tax payer will suffer
In the refunding Of the public debt. If the
market price should be reduced fifteen cents
on the dollar, the cost 10 the tax payer viii
not be less than million dollars. But for al
this, if Mr.. Tillman is nominated, we fee
that IT Is our duty to support him at the polls