Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1892-03-03
As Strong as Ever.
GENERAL EARLE's OPINION OF TILL
MAN-BELIEvES He WILL BE
REFLECTED.
GREENv1L1E, February 20, 1892.
To the Editor Of the Neaos and
Go9nr1er

GREESv1L1E, February 20, 1892.
To the Editor Of the Neaos and
Courier:
Your circular letter has been re-
ceived. You ask that I express my
views as to the political situation,
and as to the course that the con-
servative people Of the State should
pursue.
Never before perhaps in the zhis-
tory of South Carolina has it been
so important as now for the people
to be conservative in all that they
may say or do in political matters.
For never before have the white peo-
pie been so divided in sentiment and
separated into factions by internal
dissensions. The continuation of
this condition will necessarily tend
to drive them further apart, and will
prevent their cooperation for the
good Of the State.
I have no axe to grind, nor have l
any personal wrongs to avenge. l
opposed tle election of Governor
Tillman in the last campaign with
all the earuestness of my nature
because / believed that he should be
defeated. The people, however,
decided otherwise and he was trium-
phantly elected. Those who opposed
his election were naturally sore over
their disappointment, and large
number Of them are still dissatisfied.
But under our system of Govern
ment the majority must rule and the
u, ,rity must submit. The more
quietly and gracefully that they yield
to the will Of the majority the bet
ter It is for all concerned.
Governor Tillman has been many
times condemned for his unjust criti-
cism of others, and unjust criticism
of him by his opponents will not
iniure him, but will tend to his
advantage. If it was wrong in him
to SANDER others when he w.s a
candidate, it is simply wrong in
others to SANDER him while he is
Governor.
Let his former opponents deal
justly with him and give him due
credit for al that he may do or try
to do for the good of the State.
That he has done many things that
] are to be commended none can deny /;
that he has done some things that
might be condemned all will admit,
but any man in his position and with
his surroundings would be liable to
make some mistakes.
] Then I would suggest to the anti
Tillmanites that it would be well to
deal fairly with him and avoid COM
hitting the same sin of which he has
been so often accused. Don't follow
his example by making unjust accu-
sations against him and by magnify
ing little faults into grievous sins.
This course will not bring the two
!: factions together, but can result only
in keeping them apart.
Ny deliberate judgment is that
Governor Tillman is at present as
strong with the farmers as he ever
was, and l believe that he will be
reelected over any one who will
probably take the field against him
This being true, it would be folly for
any of the ti-Tillmanites to oppose
him. Such opposition would inten-
sify the bitter feeling which now
unfortunately exists among the white
people, and could succeed only by
invoking the aid Of the negro vote.
Victory at such cost could be too
dearly bought. Give me Tillman a
thousand times before Scott OF
a Moses!
When the convention meets, let
him be nominated if majority Of
the delerates are in his favor; and
if nor ated, let him be nominated
}, without opposition, SO far as any
Democrat is concerned. Our best,
wisest and most conservative men
should be elected to the General
Assembly. This is far more import
ant than the election of any man as
Governor. With good Legislature.
a bad Governor can do little harm
) with a bad Legislature, good Gov
ernor can do little good.
Respectfully,