The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-03-23
TILLMANITE VIEW.
A Shot From the Other Side-SOme
Vigorous English.

Editor:
election OF Governor Tillman in 1890, but who
disapproves of some OF his Of acls since his
election as Governor OF the State l attend
ed The meeting at this place on the 18th INST,
which was called Tor the purpose or electlnS
delegates TO the Convention TO be held In the
city OF Columbia on the Oath OF this month.
My understanding OF the object for wh1ch
the Columbia Convention was called was,
that 1t was for the purpose OF deviSing, u pos
siule some means Of healing the breach now
ex listing In the ranks Of the Democratic par
ty OF the Stale, and as means 10 that end 10
endeavor to settle upon u State ticket whlcn
would be acceptable 10 both factions OF the
party. ~
Such being the case, was prepared to hear
No uLterance on the part Of any one who
might take part In the action OF the meeting,
calculated to widen the breach or intensity
the bitterness already existing between inein-
bers OF the opposing factions, but TO my great
surprise (tor gave him credit for being too
10 act 30 indiscrestly) the gentleman ho was
called To the chair-the prime mover IN the
call for the meeting-instead or advising
against any thing but the greatest conserva.
LisIn both in speech and action, entertained
his friends III u speech of half hours length
In nothing but 3 TRADE OF abuse or a, per-
haps, over ardent Tillmanite, because for
snDth said Tillmunite had the temerlty to
designate the sisners OF the call for the March
Convention as the thirteen combine, lot Of
Office seekers and eX-ottice holders.
He brought out that old ana moulay cheSi-
nut that this offending and audaclous TIL.
mantle had Eeld office under Radical rule ana
was n candidate for the office OF Circuit Judge
before a Radical observation-disclosures, whrth-
er true or false, the speaker might Weli nave
known from past experience, would utterly
tuil of having the desired effect; as that par
ticular TilImanite has the knack OF turning
every thing which his adverSaries may say OF
him with view TO his injury or to the Injury
of n cause which he may chance TO espouse,
both 10 his own advantage ana the advantage
OF such q cause.
This speech of the chairman gave the key
noe to what was TO follow, SO that from that
on, | was prepared 10 see and hear just what
did, Il perfect TRADE Of abuse aud denuncla-
tion OF TilImar, and by several OF lhe speak
ers, OF the Ignorant anu aeiuaeu mnrinr,tv
were pleased TO designate their polltical op-
ponents. "
Had this meeting been called for the eX;
press purpose OF denouncing Ti!lman anu al
his following, I should be compelled IN all
candOr to write II down IL brilliant success.
but as Il meeting, for the purpose Claimed ior
1t, viz-Of throwing oil on the troubled poiitii-
cal waters, a meeting OF conservative, patri-
otic citizens actuated by Il high anu nouIe ue-
sire 10 avert u calamity to one common coun-
try which they profess to believe is upehulh8
equal candor compels me 10 Wrlie IL uo"n
most dismal failure.
The same old spirit of intolerance, the same !
ludricous airs of superiority assumed ny @ ,he
most ignorant and morally worthless o! tne
best o I the Tllmanites that prevailed IN 1917,
was manifested, If possible, more intensely
than ever. by many OF those present NJ tnat
meeting so that II was no unusilai thlh& Iohtal
men on our streets who a Z only renarkau,e
for their utter impecun ioSity. (lS U. r. n.
would put 10 In the matter OF Drain power,
speak in the most cOntemptcous manner oi
Tie Hon. Jos. II. Earle. because ne hau 'ne IN.
dependence and stnte>nenship 10 proclaim
his honest convictions conrlclions, tne lruth
of which are II great while, III my opinion,
tbe Inst one of them will have 10 admit.
In Keeping with th, and as another evil |
dcmce of the spirit of intolerance with when
the must Of the opposition are aclualed, |
woulI cite the fact That II Is common thing |
to hear the expression on the part OF men OF
men of that stripe that Hon. w. G. Benet Is
dead In AbbevIlIe County. that he
couldn't bc elected to the position OF Coroner,
&C. simply because of the fact that he made
a speccli ia the Court House last Sale Day at
the reorganization Of the Farmers .Associa.
ton, in which he, to some extent, defended
Governor Tillman's administration, taking
almost idenlicaIly the same position as that
taken by Colonel Earle In his letter TO the
News and Courier, to which have before al
luded
Well, all have to say to those who think
that Mr.. Benet has killed himself polit ically
by reason of that speech, is simply this, walt