The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-08-27
STATEMENT OF DR.. ADAMS.
he REFUTEs THE CHARGES WHICH HAVE
BEEN MADE AGAINST HIM.

Full and Satisfactory Statement i'm
Reference to this Political Faith---
Iae is a TiIImanite From Princi-
pie, and u Farmers's Movement
Man from Conscientious COnvic.
tiOn.
Editor Press and Banner:
VIII you allow me space in your paper 10
make q statement In reference to my position
In the campaign which is nearing It's close In
Ahbeville county.
I feel constrained to make this statement to
contradict Il report which understand mas
been studiously and energetically, Il hope
not maliciously) circulated TO my injury Gus Jus1
on the eve of the election Of August 22nd
The report is. that am an anti.TIllmanlte-
that have shifted my position In reference
TO the issues in this campaign. The founda-
tions for this report will state as oriehy rs
possible.
LIST. After n little speech which made at
Greenwood from manuscript remarked 10
some one, do not remember 10 Whom, ~ -.
have made the best Tillman speech had In
me to-day, and have not called Tll'mans
name.'
Now, Mr.. Editor, II farmers movement or
Tillman man has not a sufficient command
of ideas or language to. make himself under
stood without labelling himself and his
speeches all over, "This Is Tillmanlsrn,"
must say that in my Judgment, that man Is
tellIgence, certainty for his want of intelisi-
bieness. And / want to say that while am
and have been Il friend and supporter OF Capt.
Tillman In this campaign, am Tillmanitc
for the sake OF the farmers movement and
not a farmers movement man for the sake OF
Tilnan.
Ind. 1t is stated that in the August Con-
vcntion, voted for seating the anti-Tillman
delegation from Fairfield. This is true and Is
matter of record. did so, because Mr.. |. II
McCnIla, OF the AbbevilIe delegation, In
whose Judgment, honesty. love OF fairness
and loyalty to the cause he had espoSesed,
had confidence, was member of the com.
mittee on credentials, and heard all the evil
dence pro and con adduced before that com.
mlttee, and signed the minority report In Ia
vor OF seating that delegation. And dld Sc
because the prepondcrence OF evidence as
brought out in the discussion before the Con-
venlion seemed TO my mind to sustain Mr
McCalla's position in favor OF said delegation
Capt. John L. Bradley whose loyalty l sup
pose no one will question, also voted as did
| have the unfortunate and perhaps unpopu,
lar habit OF trying TO think Tor myself and ol
acting upon my own Judgment when lett
| free 10 do so. am fearful IL / were To choose
a monitor who Shall supervise and direct all
my thoughts and actions, might need him
some time when he would not be present.
l will say too, though am not aware that
this has been used against me. that thought
IL would have been wise and prudent anu
magnauimous in the majority In that con-
vention To have deferred action upon the re
yised Constitution and the appointment OIL @
Der Convention. because in this way we would
have avoided nffording any pretext Tor bolt
and the harmony and unity OF tne cohVen'
ton would have been preserved, ana because
| have too much confidence in the Justice
rpasonableness and stability of the farmers
movement to believe there was any risk IN
waiting three or four weeks before doing the
work. 1 do not regard the farmers move
mcnt rs so tender and frail bubble that II
will not bear the slightest pressure without
bursting.
are matter of history, and acquieSce In lts
actions as fully and completely & as any aavo .,t
cate of the measures adopted. The Will OF the
majority must be the law OF the party.
3rd. II IL urged against me too That anti
Tillmaniies vote for me. WHAT must l say
Mr. Editor? This reminds me OF what said
to a gentleman in the Court House on last
Saturday who TO that time was stranger to
me, and who said 10 me thut his club, con;
tanning a majority or lIliltnanltes, haa eiecied
him, an antI-Tillmante, president of his
club. 1 said to him, 'lt Is one OF highest
compliments they could have passed upon
YOU" or something to that effect. 10 be man
OF such hrendth Of views, OF such Keen sense
OF Justice of such sternn eSS OF integrity as To
be abe TO see the right thing and 10 do the
right thing between all men ana oil classes
and all parties is an enviable position indeed
TO be man whom even ms enemies are no'
Grated humanity. Would to God were such
n man. have strong personal friends oppos
ed TO me In this campaign, and shall say u
them, 81 prefer not 10 have your vote ano
your influence in this election" Snail l?
trow not. ,
Now, Mr.. Editor, q few words as to my posi-
tlOn. 1 am somewhat Of farmer myself. !
was a Granger, am an Alliance man, as
to be. / am farmers movement man an, ana
necessarily according TO my Judgment I'LL
MAN man. Joined the Grange and Alliance
because hoped and believed that 6y organl,
instruction, the condition OF the farmers
might and would be greatly improved:
am Farmers Movement man, because
my warmest and most hearty sympathles are
with the farmers in their oppressed and de-
pressed condition because / most earnestly
desire that they shall have all the protection
and advantages which Wise ana just ana I'm.
partial legislation can give them because
favor ali reforms which look 10 economy In
the administration Of the Government ana 10
the more prompt and eifectunl execution o.
the laws OF the state and furthermore, be
cause wish to aid my own state IN allgninS
herself with her sisters in this great confeder'
alton of States in the effort 10 rescue Ihe
Government from the domination OF capital
of syndicates, Of trusts, OF corporations, o.
monopoly, OF protection and whatever othel
agencies are imperilng It's safety and exist
encc. , ,,o
leader and the life OF the movement III
South Carolina, and because according 10 my
opinion to have cut Off Tillman's head would
have been to paralyse the Farmers Move
ment.
/ claim to be what am from principle and
not from any desire for personal prefermenl
or advantage. / claim to be component and
essential part OF this great movement, ana
not mere appendase for the sake OF loaVes
This is and has been my position in this
campaign, and If have uttered one WORD OF
given EXPRESSION to q single sentence at Vari
ance with the views herein expressed l am
not conscious of 1t, and Will be grained II
the person to whom any such has been maze
Will call to mind the time and place when II
was done.
Mr.. Editor, 1 cannot close this statement
already so long, without expressing TO my
friends and fellow citizens Of Abbeville my
grateful acknowledgment for the very natter'
ing vote which they rendered me OH last FRI,
day, in the face OF secret, malignant anu re-
ports and especially so circulated against me
| feel grateful that Phoenix, ana GREENWOOD
and Ninety-Six, and other places where am
best known personally, saw llt 10 reheh1oe'
me so kindly and so favorably.
TO merit the confidence and esteem ana ap'
probation Of those amongst whom nave
lived and oy whom l am most intimately
known is the highest aspiration OF my soul,
and the eX preston Of these Is the highest
cncomium that can be pronunced upon any
man.
This, my fellow citizens, is my statement
which make not for the purposes OF secur-
ing your votes but 10 vindicate myself before
the public of Abbeville, and whether the
statement Is accepted or not, STANG acquiG'
ted before my own conscience, ana rest In
the consciousness of not having swerved In
any particular from the line Of duty and con-
SirJa Jaii,cv p III. ADAMS.