The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1890-07-30
A SENSATIONAL LETTER.
WILL CAPT. TILLMAN BE GOVERNOR
OF SOUTH CAROLINA?


by the South Carolina Correspondent of
the Augusta Chronicle WHY He VIII
Never Reach the Goal.
COLUMBIA. S. c., July 19.-Will Till
man be governor OF South Carolina?
Every man, woman and child in the
Palmetto State is asking this question,
and echo only answers
VIII he?
There are great many who believe
he will be, and there are Il great many
who will bet that he will not be. South
Carolina politics has never before been
in such a disturbed state. Even the
turbulent days of "76" were not match
to the present situation. Then it was
white man against negro. Now it is
brother against brother, household
against household.
It is a death struggle between two
giant factions. and which ever goes
down will stay down. TO one not ac-
quainted with the situation and judging
from the perspective it would appear
that Tillman is sure to Wln, but there
are more things in heaven and earth,
Horatio, than are dreamt of in thy
philosophy =,
Capt. Iillman has brought himself
into notoriety by posing as a reformist.
He has gained the ear of the people by
declaring that there are abuses and
corruption in the State government,
and he has wen a large faction over to
him by promising to correct the abuses
and expose the corruption. There is a
large faction that declares that his
charges are the cry of demagogue and
mischievous agitator, whose only aim
is to secure Office.
Each faction poses as an exemplar OF
constitutional Democracy. Principles
are settled nowadays by the arbltra-
ment of mastery. If Tillman is allowed
to be governor of South Carolina the
fact substantiates his charges, and 1t
goes abroad that he, the exponent OF
true Democracy and the champion OF
the people, has Wrested the government
from the clutches of an ollgarchy
whose power was used to Cypress and
to plunder. To defeat him would re-
verse the situation. If both factions
are Democratic the performance CT
one over the other must inevitably
cause split of the party.
And this is why Tillman may not be
governor of South Carolina. His oppo-
nents claim that his methods are un-
Democratic. To bind themselves to the
action of q convention controlled by his
allies would be to submit to defeat at
the hands Of faction believed to be
un-Democratic and hostile to good gov
ernment. On these grounds some of
the best and purest Democrats adVo-
cate a direct appeal to the ballot box.
If the negro can be marshalled, into the
ranks against Tillman they believe it
will simply be fighting the devil with
fire.
They hold that the election of Gen.
Earle or Gen. Bratton by such means
would be no more disreputable to them
as Democrats than being beaten by
Tillman. Therefore if there is any ir-
regularity on the part of the Tiilman
faction in the August or September
conventions this will be the inevitable
program. The negro vote can be had
for a reconsideration" and with the
white anti-Tillman contingent would
defeat Capt. Tillman at the polls. There
are thousands of men in South Caro-
! lima who would not vote for Tillman
for any consideration, and this conting-
ent will have voice in the coming
events.
And there is anotner reason why
Tillman may not become governor.
There is possibility that he will not
live to see election day. Some of his
friends openly assert that an effort will
be made to assassinate him. He is
said to have received letters informing
him that plans have been formed for
his assassination. The temper OF South
| Carolinians is such, however, that a
proposition of this kind would appear
absurd. But if a riot should occur at
anv of the approaching meetings, re-
sulting in bloodshed, it is generally
accepted conclusion that he would be
killed. That he is hated with an un-
compromising venom is not to be de-
MED, and there are hundreds of promi-
nent men in Carolina representing the
wealth and intelligence of the State
who would look upon Capt. Tillman's
death as a benefaction.
Capt. Tillman realizes the seriousness
of his attitude and frequently express
ses himself as fearful that he will be
assassinated. He has point blankly re-
fused to participate in the debate at
Charleston on the oath instant, because
the speaking is arranged to take place
in the opera house at night. His pre-
sentiments are supposed by some to
have dictated this action, but it is
doubtless only surmise. Anticipating
trouble the citizens of Orangeburg have
appealed to the State executive COM
mittee to call off the meeting at that
place. 1t, however, will not be done.
There are other meetings where trouble
of a serious nature will likely occur and
the coming week will no doubt afford
some lively reading matter.