The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-05-17
THEY CAUCUSSED ON HIM.
But He Came ont on TOp-Danaldson
Makes Some Home Thrusss At Til.
MANA Readable Piece OF Liter.


tempt OF all rightthinking men.
When first saw the reports In the news.
papers that the Governor OF the State had In.
clnded my name In blacklist 10 Mr.. Cleye-
gave but little credit to 1t; but receiving no
statement from the Governor denying It,. l
wrote him q letter Of inquiry, which letter be
saw nt to ignore. shall take up his public
statements, however, and answer them SER
latin.
he disclaims any Preference" TO my private
Yet he
ceeds to charge me with betrayal OF the Al.
lance, and "treachery TO the people and to
the Alliance" thus making deadly thrust at
Joab OF olden time who while maddened and
blinded by political jealousy pursued faith
ful servant Of the king, one who was on mis-.
sion to unite and harnonize the people, and
strokiug the beard OF bis victim In great show
Of friendship. thrust the cold steel under bis
hfth rib. Perhaps Gov Tillman has yet to
openly, as Joab did Amasa's person, or under
cover or supposed secrecy In blacklist to
President, means death 10 the victim.
The first reason given by the Governor to
that was repudiated by the Democracy OF
Greenville County, etc. SO far as my falling
to be elected delegate 70 the May Conven-
for they are in the hands Of three as honor
able men as live In Greenyill County-that
In q caucus OF reformers, held just before the
meeting OF the County Convention, g ballot
tion 10 be voted for 10 the open convention;
about ons-half the ballots cast for me were not
reported, and still the number OF ballots cast
for memade me an alternate, which accord
Ing 10 rule OF the caucus required that my
name be printed on the tickets used In the
open convention; having failed therefore by
the contingent process TO Keep OF the tick-
et, 1t was discovered In the convention. after
large number OF them were distributed 10 the
unsuapecttng members, that my name was
lett OF the tickets. This arousing suspicion
Of o
and published by the investigating commit
tee. 1t was but natural therefore (and cer-
tainly nothing could have been more crafty.
80 long associated In the work OF reform, see
ing the persecution that WAS attempted 10.
wards me, should rally almost to man to my
support In the State Convention. Is 1t not "a q
the members Of that convention In when he
states that Through the influence Of few
Alliance men," they unanimously conferred
the most honorable and responsible position
II there was any presumption" In that con.
ventton as 10 my being opposed 10 the nom.
IL then nor since TIL the Governor makes the
bald statement that such was the case. To
be entirely frank, he makes that statement In
the face OF indubitaole'Proof 70 the contrary
for my position towards Mr.. Cleveland was
given to the press as early as February. 1891.
and was printed In the newspapers all over
this State, and in other States as well; and
know he read my views as then expressed:
The Alliance gave no evidence OF look Ing
upon my preference for Mr. Cleveland an be-
trayal or them, either at thst time or since
Moreover the convention voted down res-
ss the records show. As 10 the resolutions
afterwards adopted condemning Mr.. Cleve-
lands former administration, II will be re-
membered by delegates, who talked with me
expressive OF the sense OF the convention must
have It's bearing upon theil action. went TO
Chicago, not as q delegate TO vote In the con.
xention, but TO meet tne Dem9cratie Nat1onal n1sa
with that committee for tho work OF the cam.
paign. associated with them "opeply"
confess most OF the COMMITTEES believe were
Of e1P The Convention M Indicated that there were
quite a number OF voting delegates also. who
were in favor Of his nomination. l felt then,
as do now, that 1 as free white south Car
olina Democrat had as much right TO my
choice Of Mr.. Cleveland for the presidency as
Governor Tillman bad for bis choice.
AS already stated. my position for Mr. Cleve-
land was we'll understood before the May Con
vention met. No demand was made upon
me by that convention, and deny the charge
that consciously deceived any one, either by
silence or by speech.
The next count 10 this Wonderiui ,n9lct S
ident Of the State Alliance, not TO seek any
ofioe, ETC., and this report ~ am told" Is being
very indus,riously circulated In Alliance cir
cles though IT were IN ae %n,eh see esev new
injury, have the effect OF breaking the unity
Of the Alliance In supporting my enorts as its
Official head to build up and maintain the
true principles Of the Order.
The exaci truth Is. did not seek the nom
ination OF the presidency OF the State Al
lance, but on the contrary expressed 10 many
OF those who approached me on the subject
that preferred 70 1esns ahS ansa Sn ,sSo roed
for me Will bear me out In the statement that
/ did not In the slightest degree express or i'm
ply any such pledge nor ~ was asa any S suSh hon re-
soever. did say after my election, that !
would do all In my power 70 build up and ad-
vance the interest OF the Order, which 1 have
done and VIII continue TO DO: ,,,,.
of the Governor, whence comes this new born
zeal for the welfare and safety OF the Alliance
on his part? / believe that at one time he
was made OF the Eageneia S Gopns my
published far and wide-to show his dislnter-
ested patriotism that he wanted no ONCE
save that OF q trustee OF an agricultural col
iege, yet he did not hesitate 70 embrace the
first Opportunity to hold office OF another kind.
When Alliancemen all over the State revert
to his defiance OF the Order and Its principles.
as he demonstrated IL at the meeting OF the
state Alliance at Spartanburg. they VIII no
doubt look upon his great and sudden Alliance
virtue In this case as somewhat ndicrous and
In The last count he charges me with
"treachery TO the people and to the Alliance.
| in that Injected into the railroad bill OF vi
two Objectionable features" viz: the right OF
appeal on the part Of the railroads to the
COURTS and the feature OF the bill which allow
ed the election Of railroad commissioners oy
the General Assembly. To any one With the
Information and Intelligence Of the schoolboy
reply 10 these charges would seem superfu.
Gus. Mr.. Tillman, when inaugurated Cover
nor. took a solemn oath to sustain the consti-
tuition Of this State and OF the United states;
| I. with every other member Of the Senate and
oath. The constitution inquest tionably guar
antees to the citizen the right OF appeal to the
courts, which right is one OF the bed rocks oi
civil liberty; and yet the Governor OF great
ton thereof feels Justified in proceeding seri,
oualy and deliberately 10 Washington, ana
apparently under cover OF secrecy asked the
cbief executive OF the nation TO decapitate O
| man who, as State Senator, refused 10 oetray
his trust denying to the citizen MS fignts uh
der the oonstitulion-for In Its last analysis
that Is what this reason, as given 10 Mr'
So far as relates to Bunch McBee having
suggested 10 me that the right OF appeal De IN
Rec never once mentioned the matter TO me
nor TO the best OF my recollection did he ever
discuss the bill In my presence. II have been
told" by the best authority. that the railroad
men, after failing In their efforts 70 deieat tne
bill in the House and Senate. concurred very
fully With the Governor In his desire to deny
the right of appeal to the railroads, as tibet
would have rendered the whole act unconsti
tutional and consequently nugatory.
i Again I incurred the displeasure or the
I<,- htyt.l Ia tn0 I,pQiAlaft1rA