The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1892-06-08
Governor Tillman's Position ''-Another
View.

Governor Tillman's Position "-Another
View.
To the Cotton Plant: The writer of
the article in The Cotton Plant of May
y, headed "Governor Tillman's posi-
ton" expresses peculiar Alliance views.
Aud I am constrained to believe that
all true Alliancemen will not agree
with him. His assertion that the con-
ference after organizing wisely invited
all delegates in sympathy with the
Alliance andits demands, to participate
in the deliberations is supported by the
approval of a majority of the Alliance
men present. But whether the action
was wise or not when considered solely
with reference to the success OF the
Alliance demands, as I claim it should
he considered, is at least questionable.
I have never doubted that it was an
error. The call was for conference of
Alliance delegates. It was proper. The
duty and responsibility of protecting
the demands devolved upon Alliance
men. They were under obligation to
the Order and the responsibility of
shaping a policy to protect these de-
mands rested upon them. Not so with
those who were not members. How
ever much they may have been in ac-
cord with the objects Of the organiza-
ton, they owed no allegiance to it.
Their support was voluntary. Every
one of them owed allegiance to the
Democratic party, and upon any ques-
ton that would raise al issue between
political party and the Alliance de-
mands their attitude and their votes
would undoubtedly favor the political
party. This fact was demonstrated in
the conference, for most violent parti-
san motion was made by one of our
sympathizers. A motion that should
not be entertained in an Alliance meet
ing. And it seemed that the meeting
was more in the nature Of a partisan
political conference than an Alliance
conference. While I fully appreciate
the assistance rendered by our sympa-
tbizers in supporting the Alliance de-
mands and would not deny to them any
privileges that should be extended to
good citizens, I cannot agree that it
was wise to admit them to an Alliance
conference with full powers to partici-
pate in shaping its policy.
Again-The writer says: "The order
and the Governor are to be congratu-
lated upon the positive and definite
assurance that henceforth there will be
harmony between himself and the
Order''-'sthat if the Alliance would
not come to him, he would 60 to the
Alliance"-I cannot discover the pro-
cess of reasoning by which the writer
can reasonably conclude that the Order
should be congratulated upon the
utterances of Governor Tillman or upon
his actions. The expression of the Gov
ernor above stated. under quotations
appears to me to be more of a declara-
ton of war than of harmony with the
Alliance. Coupled with the condition
that the defeated party will surrender
Il am not satisfied at present that the
Governor does not consider that the
Alliance has surrendered to him. He
certainly has strong grounds upon
which to base such an opinion. If his
course Of action should be governed by
that supposition then I cannot see any
cause why the Order should be con-
graduated. There is nothing in the
Governors declaration that indicates a
loyal Allianceman, although he is
member of the organization. His re-
cord up to the present time is in opposi-
ton to the Alliance. It is we'll known
that be personally opposes the suo-trea-
scry plan and favors State banks of
issue. 1t was hoped that after the
Spartanburg meeting he would fall into
line and no longer antagonize the Alli-
ance. But what are the facts? In his
address at Newberry be advised the
people not to join hands with the
Northwestern people, but to stand
with the Northeastern democrats. At
Greenville he said that the Alliance
had abandoned the sab-trsasury bill.
In his interview with the correspon-
dent of the Atlanta Constitution dated
May 9Th, he says: "But there is dis
cordant element and apparently insep-
cradle barrier to cordial and lasting
union. The farmers of the Northwest
have hitherto been the blackest of
black Republicans, and so "a" as 1 can
discover there is little or no change to-
wards the South among them on that
question" The Alliance constitution
says in the declaration Of purposes,
"Sec. s, To suppress personal, local,
sectiolal and national prejudices all
unhealthful rivalry and all selfish
ambition.n
No organization except the Alliance
has undertaken the work of restoring
fraternal relations between the sections
of our country divided by the civil war.
I have met men ofthe Northwest and
have had the most positive assurances
not only from them, 1ut from Alliance
lecturers also that sectional feeling in
that part of the country is disappearing
with amazing rapidity. Those people
are honest and they are progressive and