The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-04-26
GOV. TILLMAN'S REPLY.
lii. Alliance President not a True Rrfor
MFR

lii. Alliance President not Il True Rrfor-
The report having been circulated that
Governor Tillman had asked President
Cleveland to not appoint MIR. NJ. L. Don
aldson to an office, several County Alli-
ances passed resolutions asking Gov
ernor Tillman to give his reasons for the
action if the report we're true. Below we
give the resolutions passed by the Green
Vile County Alliance and Governor Till
mans reply as furnished the Cotton
Plant:
"Whereas it has been stated in the pub
lie press that Gov. B. r. Tillman had
written letter to President Cleveland in
which he requested of the President that
certain citizens of this State be not ap-
pointed to any Federal office 'at home
and abroad:' and whereas the name OF
the Hon. M. L. Donaldson, the President
Of the Farmers State Alliance, is reported
to have been one of those blacklisted by
Governor Tillmsn:
"Be it resolved by the Greenville
County Alliance in regular qusrterly
meeting assembled, That not having seen
any denial Of said alleged blacklist, we
deem it but just to the honored President
of the State Farmers Alliance as we'll as to
the order itself to take cognizance of the
matter and take such steps as are neces-
sary to learn from Governor Tillman
himself whether the public statements as
to the blacklist referred to be founded on
fact or not.
"Resolved, That committee Of three
members of this County Alliance be ap-
pointed to communicate with Governor
Tillman and request that he return an
swer whether the newspaper reports of
said blacklist be true, and If true to fur
nish his reasons as given to President
Cleveland for his action towards NJ. l..
Donaldson, our State President"
Messrs. N. P. Whitmire, j. P. Plyer and
J. II. Latimer committee.
GENTLEMEN have your letter with
the enclosed resolution passed by the
GreenvIlle County Alliance at its last
meeting: "To communicate with Coy
ernor Tillman' and request that he return
answer, whether the newspaper reports
OF said blacklist be true, and If true to
furnish his reasons, as given to President
Cleveland, for his action towards Nd. l..
Donaldson, our State President"
Similar communications have been sent
to me from the County Alliance of Pick
ems and Of Newberry, and shall furnish
this letter to the Cottc", Plant as an an
swer to all:
The effort appears to be made to link
Mr.. Donaldssn as a citizen with Mr..
Donaldson as president of the Alliance,
and I premise my answer by saying that
the Alliance has nothing to do with it,
either directly or indirectly, except in so
far as T felt justified in preventing it's
further betrayal. To answer your ques-
tiong categorically, did ask Mr.. Cleve-
land not to appoint Mr.. Donaldson to
Office.
MY reasons were these-and again they
have no reference to Mr.. Donaldson's
private character, but to his public acts,
and I disclaim any feeling of personal re-
sentiment or desire to injure him:
Last spring when delegates were elect
ed to the May State convention Mr.. Don
aldson was repudiated by the Democracy
of Greenville and he failed to be elected
delegate either to his County convention
or to the State convention. He appealed
to his friends in other parts of the State
to help him retrieve his falling political
fortune, and small caucus Of leading
Alliancemen from other Counties went
to work and had him elected member of
the national committee. It was presum-
ed by the convention at least that he was
in full sympathy with its opposition to
Mr.. Cleveland. and certainly he neither
said anything to undeceive the men who
voted for him. You are familiar with the
instructions given our delegation to
Chicago and our actions under those in
structions. We not only voted against
Mr.. Cleveland but worked against him,
with two exceptions. Judge then our
surprise on reaching Chicago to see MIR.
Donaldson in open affilistion with the
Cleveland leaders, striving with might
and main to defeat the purpose of the con-
vention which had elected him on the
national committee.
Again, when the State Alliance met
shortly afterwards, to my surprise 1 saw
him president of the State Alliance.
When T asked an explanation was told
that it was the only possible way to
defeat the candidacy of an avowed "Third
Party man." and that Mr.. Donaldson had
pledged himself not to seek any office,
but to devote his energies to building up
the Alliance. was not surprised, how
ever, when two weeks later he entered
the field as candidate for State Senator
from Greenville, feeling, I suppose, that
the double endorsement of the State con-
vention in May and the State Alliance in
July, would reinstate him at home. But
the people of Greenville were true to
themselves and be was not elected.
II will thus be seen that Mr.. Donaldson
played false with the May convention by
action at Chicago, and broke his pledge,
to the leading Alliancemen, not to seek
Office.
Now, in addition to that, when I re-
mind you that Mr.. Donaldson, as Sena-
tor, was the means of incorporating In
the railroad bill in 81 the two objectiona-
BILE features which caused me to veto it
you cannot be surprised at my action.
It was upon his motion, at the suggestion
as was told of Bunch McBee, that the
right of appeal to the courts was put In
the bill. He also championed that fea-
ture of the bill which kept the election OF
Railroad Commissioner in the hands OF
fhe General Assembly, contrary to the
March platform" thus showing his will
lingness to stifle the will of the people.
Ali of these things taken together a:e
sufficient, as take it, to warrant my OPP
posing his appointment as representa-
live Of the "Refor n party" or of the AL
lance. Self-interest rather than patriot
ism appears to have governed his actions,
and as the Alliance has been sidetracked
in nearly every other State by self-seek-
ers, and has been seriously injured in this
State from the same cause, l could not
testing against his being rewarded for
treachery to the people and to the Alli-
ance.
Regretting the necessity which has
forced rehearsal of these undisputed
facts, which of themselves ought to have
prevented Mr.. Donaldson's elevation to
the position he holds, will submit to
the verdict of the Reformers and Alli-
ancemen Of the State as to tho wisdom
and proprlety OF my action. Respect
fully.-B. r. 1Fli,ndn, Cotton F2ant.
Another LynchiDg In South Carolina.
DENMARK, s. G.. April 24.-The excite
ment Of the populaoe eliminated at 9
o'clock, in the lynohing of John Peterson
by an infuriated mob of 500 persons, who
filled his body with bullets while it
F.oro troa Tbaro ia ouorU roo-