The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-06-03
The ALEXANDER NATTER.
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE
oVERNOR AND PROFESSOR.

syrupsthy With a Search After Truth
rne Dropping Of tie professor not Re
,ous Persecutiou-A Much Talked of
document with no. Mucl. in 1t.
The following is the correspondence
between Governor Tillman and Pro
lessor Alexander, in regard to which so
mucn curiosity has been manifested:
TIE GOVERNORS FIRST LETTER.
(PRIvATE.) April -, ;9l.
DEAR SIR: In to-day'S News and
Courier find mention made Of the sub
iect matter of your talk with the Trus-
tees Yesterday and prominence given to
a question propounGed by me. ! desire
TO uisclaim all knowledge Of this pub
hcl5y, and l regret that your earnest
and frank statement, which strongly
excIred the admiration and Sympathies
of ruany of the Trustees, should have
roue Iorth in such (; way and at such
time.
cannot refrain from giving express
sion co my own feelings IN the matter,
ana 70 say that while ! fear your open
ayowal of such doubts will inevitably
sever your connection with the college
thas do not share IN the slightest IN
the feeling which will cause men to cry
out against you and demand your dlS-
missaI. The seeker after truth, the
man who in this vale OF tears honestly
strives to know and to do What IS right
without pandering to the preJuclceS or
surrendering to the ciamor Of the lgno:-
rant multitude, must, like the meek and
lowry Jesus, expect persecution and
sorrow as his lot. To few is gwen the
aDillIY or Will to swim against the cur
rent OF popular ideas or attack Old Gus
toms. The masses of mankind inherit
their religion and have 10 well defined
opinion on this subject. In proportion
as tney are ignorant are they blgoteG-
but must not treSpasS further on your
time or patience. l only desire to let
YOU know that do not share such feel
in2s-
with assurance of the highest respect
j am seiy truly yours.
3. r: TiLLMAN.
To Ur. W. J. Alexander.
REPPY TO DIR. ALENANDERS REQUEST.
COLUMBIA, S. c., May l9. 1891.
Prot. ". j. Alexander, Columbia, 5. q.
DEAR SIR: Your letter Of yesterday,
asking permission to publish a private
letter wrote you on April q, concern
ing yuur statement before the Trustees,
is at nand. The letter in question was
not written with a view to its being
mace public, and it may place me ID
false position unless it could be elabo-
rated. which I hardly know how to do.
This YOU can readily understand that
as am rot professor of religion OF
any kind I would not like to appear be-
fore the public in the role OF critic,
/ wrote with my usual frankness and
there IS nothing in my letter which l
would not avoW if necessary, but do
not think the circumstances at present
reeu;rs it. Just as you refuse to give
your religious views at first on ne
ground of private property" | don't
think mine Should be brought out in
this way. And therefore cannot con-
sent TO your request for leave to publish
my letter.
IF you are very anxious that should
give an expression OF opinion on your
leaYingthe college, l will give my honest
orinion in a statement to the press or
IN letter to yourself. In this event
will be glad to see you as soon as may
5 be convenient. Yours truly, &C.,
= r V'TTJNAN