The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-01-06
The IntrenchinsB Business.

Governor Tillman is accredited with q re-
markable speech at Laurens last week. He
claimed that he was so securely intrenched
in the hearts of the people that he was sure
of reelection. While we do not deny that
he may be reelected, yet if he is reelected 1t
will be because of the custom Of giving the
Governor n second term, and not because of
any "intrenchment in the hearts of the peo-
ple." The fact is, as far as we are able to
learn, Governor Tillman has lost ground in a
very notable degree.
We all know how he in the campaign be-
rated former administrations for accepting
free railroad passes, and yet he had been in
office not more than three months before he
was caught riding on these same free passes.
BY this act thousands of people in this State
lost confidence in his sincerity, and some OF
his former adherents are now out-spoken
against him because Of this act. The anti
free pass bill, and the large vote by which 1t
was passed, may be considered as some index
to the public opinion as to the free pass scan
dial which attaches to the administration.
The Governors indiscretion in proposing
so many measures, and his failure to control
| he Legislature in so many instances, is ev-
idence of his lack Of ability to command
men.
While his followers. or personal representa-
tives, stuck to him with notable and wonder
full unanimity, yet it must be admitted That
he had next to no influence over the Legisla-
ture.
At Laurens he is reported to have said that
In the storm which swept over this country
much "rotten driftwood came TO the sur
face, and f1oated into the State House," or
words to that effect, and he is further report
ed to nave said that "this Legislature did not
suit him. - or something Of his kind.
Up to the last Legislature the people have
thought that they were suiting themselves IN
the selection of members Of the General AS
sembly. While it is true that a large number
of delegates to the Last Legislature voted per-
haps every time as Governor Tillman wanted
them to vote, yet when 1t comes TO the elec-
ton of new members the people may want
men who will exercise at least some opinion
of their own, and not blindly follow the Gov
ernor, and who will have intelligence enough
not to be misled by Mr.. Haskell, or anybody
else.
The Governor made q most fatal mistake
in not telling his followers how to vote on the
anti-free pass bill. If he had appealed to his
| friends to ave him from the stigma which
that law fastens upon him and his party, we
know that neither the eloquence of Haskell
IN the House nor the force of Woodwork In
the Senate could LAY pushed the matter
through. The Tillmanites who voted for the
anti-free pass bill we presume had no inten'
ton of doing the Governor any personal
wrong, and he should account them none the
less faithful on that account. He should &C.
quit them OF anv intention OF aiding Haskell
and Woodwork in their fight against the
Governor. In reality, he has only himself 10
blame, for not telling them his wishes in the
matter, and explaining the full meaning OF
perpetrating such an outrage against the
Governor in taking free passes
AS he had explained his wishes in every.
thing else, he should not have allowed his
followers to 60 wrong on that matter, and for
his dereliction in this case he must take the
consequence of the errors Of we'll meaning
friends.