The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1893-08-11
FARLEY's REPLY TO IRBY.
n Seorehing Letter TO the PubGc.


TIhman, who announced his intention OF
OF answering Senator Irby's article, the gis,
Wnich vs. that he, Senator Irby, is not the
real author or responsible for the s.atemen,
TN the "Cra ldock' article, but that James
Tillman is, and he supports this assertion by
ahdevite from Maj. w. F. Gary, DR.. Ssmp.
ta-y.
In order that the public may catch the
whole matter clearly I will state that last
Christmas, while snow bound here in Colum-
bis, and afterwards whilst suov-bound in
Lsurens, l prepared rough article on the
political situation in South Carolina, headed
''fhe Reform Movement" and "Some Christ
mas Reflections Of an Old Reformer. It was
written from patriotic standpoint and was
'nteuded for the good Of the Reform move
ncnt and to "pour oil upon the troubled
waters Of the State. 1t endeavored to crit
icise ell factions fairly and there is unavoid-
ABLY IN such an article some honest and fair
criticism OF Governor Tillman as o public
officer.
While contemplating its publication under
nom de plume on it's merits read it to
MT. John q. Capers, Of the Columbia Journal,
whose paper had announced its intention to
pursue non-partisau course in accord with
the general spirit Of the article, and also to
Mr.. James II. Tillman, telling the latter that
i intended to bring the article to Washing
ton and submit It to the criticism OF his
father, whom considered broad guaged
statesman, who was, with Gen. Gary, one of
the founders Of the Reform Movement in
South Caroline. Mr.. Cspers and Capt.
Tfttman were both anxious to publish the
article, but withheld it for further consid-
GRAFTON, and In accordance with the advice
Of some Of my friends, aud in consideration
10 hat
OF Governor Tillman, to whose administra.
tion belonged, had almost, il not alto
gether, abandoned the idea of publishing,
but now sinoe it has been brought in ques.
tion, will let it 81 to the press with the
request that although it is somewhat long
every paper in the State will publish il, aud
do not only ask, but challenge O criticism
OF It from the standpoint of truth, true Dem
ocracy and patriotism.
Governor Tillman Is strong enough and
brave enough, not only to stand bat to accept
the criticism 1t contains in proper spirit, for,
as Senator Irby once said to him, in one of
his flashes Of truth and honesty, ave both
know that Farley never fatters US or tells Us
any lies. Possibly If the article is care
fully read, and its advice needed it may yet
represent the good that is to como out of this
controversy.
had been invited to stay with Capt Till
man in Washington, but the rush Of visitors
was so great that l remained with the staff,
and during my entire stay did not have
more than fve-minute conversation with
him, nor did read or exhibit the article to
any one in Washington: Meeting numbers
Of friends, and seeking no office there, was
constantly engaged socially, aud had but
little to do with politics in any form. The
charge that had conversation with Capt.
Tillman aud offered him an article for pub
lication which he refused, and told him Of a
combination which had been agreed upon,
offering him the position of Adjutant Gene
raj, Is as pure and uuadulterated lie as
was ever put upon paper, no matter who is
the author or insiigator of it. Indeed, on
Saturday after the Inauguration" when
Senator lrby says it took place, had left
Washington, and was speeding my way to
South Carolina. The alluson 10 the article
which bad shown Capt Tillman before he
left the State, at least six weeks before, Is all
the truth there is to it.
have asked the papers TO republish that
wonderful epi-tle to the Georgians, making
"new revelations" of fearful combination
to "overthrow Tillman and Irby," so that
they can study and analyze it carefully, and
they will find but little of James Tilmsn
In it, just enough to satisfy his vanity, a
good deal of my old friend Maj. Gary, and
1t Is bristling all over with Irby, in whose
interest was it written, and for what pur-
poses, who inspired it, who concocted it, or
actually wrote it. Did Matthew, Mark,
Luke or John sll have hand in the epistle
TO the Georgians, and send it under James
T,lman's nom de plume, Craddock? Was
Jim implicated himself or, as they have
taken suoh extraordinary pains to make the
public believe, did he originate and write it
himselff
/. have shown hon the talk about "an ar
ticle" origin ated, aad will show the public
the article, and my explanation of the grand
combine is simple and easy. lrby heard Of
the Farley article. Shell had announced his
derstand flor there is no retiring in Irby).
Farley had called by Senator Buffers office
one day with Col. William H. Perry, aud
knowing Of Senator Irby's bitter hatred, had
ignored him while in Washington, aud Irby
began to ruminate. At last he began 10 be-
liese there was combination, and he con.
cluded TO make the charge and have it pub
lished in Georgia, where 1t would attract
just sufficient attention to be copied aud
reach the people of this State and create dis.
trust among the Reformers in this State
against Shell aud Farley, and Talbert, too,
although In his last article he tries to skill
fully lie the Talbert part out This was the
schcme, and ii young Jim Tilman had any
thing to do with j., he was the victim Of
Senator Irby. and now by "mixing error and
truth lrby Is playing the part of deliberate
scoundrel by trying to throw the whole
blame" on Capt. Tillman, and making him
Ithe soapegoat, thus committing still greater
orime, that Of sacrificing the Governors s
nephew TO ehield himself from exposure.
aRlood is (and ought to be) thicker than
water" spd know that Governor Tilimsn
knows Irby, and has found out long ago that
the charge Of oembiuation on the part Of
Shell snd myself, with Gen. Butler Or any
one else, Is totally untrue. Since 1t has been
alluded 10 he and MIR. George Tillman both
know that have done more towards healing
the breach between them than any one.
Indeed, am totally unlike lrby in this,
that 1 have made none but friends for him,
while Irby has constantly made him enemies
and uied to estraoge old and well tried
friends from him, as am prepared to show.
But who Is trying TO stand up for the truth
Of tho Craddock article or the alleged COM
bipation Z? Not Jim Tillman, on whose au-