The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-10-18
Wednesday, Oct. 1S, 1898.
Iatimer's Pitiful Plea.

Latimer's Pitiful Plea.
Hon. A. c. Latimer publishes a long &C
count OF how he has been defeated In Wash
ington in the distribution Of the Federal pat
ronage for his Congressional District.
The story Of the wrongs which have been
heaped upon him. as told by himself, excites
pity.
II we were correctly informed Mr.. John
stone and Mr.. Latimer were before the ALI
ance ip Abbeville Court House In the Sum
mer of 1892.
But We are under the impression that In
tha. meeting the Alliance brethren pro
pounded questions to both Mr. Johnstone end
Mr.. Latiiner. We believe the facts are about
as follows: AS TO the Federal appointments
CONGRESSMAN Johnstone said that he thought
an equal division Of the Federal offices be.
tween Alliancemen and non-Alliancemen
would be fair and just to ALL and that If ne
were reelected he would recommend thai
course to the President. This answer met
with but little enthusiasm.
Then candidate Latimer was put upon the
anxious bench. He said he would recon-
mend to the President that he give all his ap-
pointments TO Alliancemen and proceeded 10
give good and sufficient reasons why neither
the non-Alliancemen nor the anti-Tillman
men should get anything. The announce
ment OF this sentiment and the arguments
sustaining it fairly brought down the house
and every true Allianceman pledged anew
his faith In the ability and power Of Candi-
date Latimer to do all these things, and the
number Of patriotic and self-denying citizens
who that day hoped to get one Of the offices
within his gift Is unknown to US, but all those
offices OF honor and emolument have gone
glimmering. and, so to speak, the Alliance.
men are now informed that they have been
hunting snipe, or words 10 that effect, and
that the promising Congressman Is unable to
deliver the goods.
Evil disposed persons who have the ear OF
the President and the Postmaster General
have fingered around Washington and he can
get no offices TO bestow upon bis friends and
Mr.. Cleveland's enemies.
The recital. rs told by Mr.. Latimer himself,
ia touching, and the frank and honest man.
ner in which he acknowledges his inability
TO give even one Allianceman small post Of
fice Is perhaps enough to make the disap-
pointed Office seeking Allianceman weep very
bitter tears.
All this cruel treatment which has been
meted out to the Office seeking Allianceman
may be laid primarily to the door Of that
peerless statesman and matchless chieftain
Benjamin r. Tillman who set Cleveland a bad
example, the following OF which works a
hardship on all those patriots who would be
willing TO sacrifice their own privste business
TO assume public duties.
1t seems that Mr.. Cleveland learned a les
son from Mr. Tillman. Mr.. Tillman urged
that none but true and tried Refurmers be
putin offlce, from Coroner TO Governor. MIR.
Cleveland has concluded not to give his enc
mieathe best plums In his official basket and
MHLatimer having boasted Of his opposition
to Mr.. Cleveland, and put himself on record
as his opponent. he can do nothing with
either the Postmaster General or the Presl-
dent.
Mr.. Latimer Is q good and square map-ip
fact. plain blunt man who loves bis friends.
No doubt there were others in the State Nom
mating Convention who had as little use for
Mr.. Cleveland as he did, but they were more
discreet-they merely "kept on saving wood
and said nothing"
The thought Of the possibility OF his elec-
tion TO Congress no doubt had not then enter
ed his midland now when he is in Office he
Is shorn Of his power because OF bis honesty
OF speech.
His constituents should not 60 back on Mr..
Laumer because OF the bad conduct of the
Postmaster General In refusing TO grant his
requests 10 appoint postmasters. MIR. Lati-
mer's chief business since his election, II
seems from his late utterance has been TO full
I'LL the promises which be made while can
didate. II It had not been for the Postmaster
Generals contrariness Mr.. Latimer would
have gotten a post Office, or something else
for great many OF his friends.
The great misfortune that befalls Mr.. Lati-
mer's friends lies In the fact that Mr.. Cleve.
land Is elected for four years, and Mr.. Lati.
mers office seeking friends will have to wait
until his third term before they can get the
promised places OF honor and profit.
Four years Is long time for Congressman
to keep his friends waiting for office, but
these is nothing like holding on. The Offices
may yet come
The Press and Banner looks on at this
scramble with perfect Indifference. We don't
care o nickle one way or the other. The re-
suit will not effect us at all.
Certainly we do not care when political
chickens come home to roost
II all anti!Tillmau men are unworthy to
hold even the humblest Office In the State OF
South Carolina, we certainly do not care a red
cent II Mr.. Cleveland gives his appointment
to his friends and leaves his enemies out IN
the cold.
We don't see why Mr. Latimer complains
when Mr.. Cleveland adopts the very methods
in the distribution OF Federal patronage
which he himself advocated last Summer, as
to the State offices, and which latter policy
Mr.. Tillman himself proclaimed from every
stump.
Senator Butler.