The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1893-08-03
A SPICY LETTER.
Ge NERAL HUGH L. FARLEY REPLIES
SENATOR j. |. M. IRBY.

nounoe". HIS Mental Abu"y Questioned
and His Pluck Danisd.
COLUMBIA, :. g., July 2G.-Adjutant
General Farley, who originally intend
ed to hold his reply to Senator lrhy tn
Capt Tillman could have his say last
night recOnSidered the matter and deci-
ded not TO wait for the return Of Can't
Tillman from Washington and the issu-
ing OF his article, and gave it out for
publication. General Farley exhibited
the several letters that he refers to in
the article. The reply is as follows:
L believe the public are generally
aware that | have been waiting on Cap
TAIN James Tlllman, who announced
his intention of answering Senator Ir-
by's article, the giSt Of which is, that he
(Senator lrbv) is not the real au, hor or
responsible for the statement in the
'Craddock article, but that James Till
man Is, and be supports this assertion
by aflldavits from Major w. +. Gary,
DR. Sampson Pope and one Matthew
Tlghe, his Secretary.
Mr.. Tillman's reply was to the effect
that Senator lrby had "actcd the dellb.
crate scoundrel in mixing Il certain
amount Of truth with error in order to
give his defense an air of plauslbiity,
n
tain Tillman."
lie asserts that Senator Irby Cannot
use him to cammit political assass
nation" a Singnlariy appropriate ex.
preston! | will let Captain Tilman
speak for himself. however. and Will
proceed to the consideration Of Senator
lrbyS card. In the first place, would
congratulate the Senator himself and
the public at large upon the wonderful
change that my somewhat vigorous ex-
pnsure Of the Senator has had upon his
manners, and | am sorry | cannot add
upon his morals for am satisfied that
by the time | am through the public
Will be convinced that he has made
very ingenious defense, but has used
his facts and the English language for
the purpose of cOncealing the truth i'll
stead Of telling it. Possibly may know
that part of the public Who do not owe
Senator lrby well. something of an ex.
planation or an apology for the unus-
ually vigorous but appropriatelanguag
with which l drew such an accurate
and life-like picture of the great Sena-
tor. They are not aware of the long
continued prOvocation, Of which Grad
dock is only Il sample. and would
remind them that it would he impoSsi-
bic to DO Justice to such ~ InStrOSity
in anything like ordinary language, and
"whatever is worth doing is worth DO
ing well"
In order that the public may catch
the whole matter clearly, | will state
that last Christmas, while snow. bound
here in Columbia. and afterwards
whilst still snow.hound in Laurens, l
prepared rough article on the politj-
cal situation in South Carolina, headed
"The Reform Movement" and "SOme
Christmas reflections CT an Old Re.
former" This article which was in
tended as IA sort of philosophical criti-
cism or diEquiSition on the Reform
movement in particular and politics in
general in South Carolina was shown.
and suggested to the criticism Of prom
inent gentlemen in the State, in whose
Judgment | had confidence, and whom
| cOnSidertd comparatively free from
partisan feeling and prejunicp. 1t was
written from a patriotic standpoint
and WAS Intended for he good OF the
reform movement and to "pOur oil up
on the troubled waters of the State
1T endeavOrcd to CritlclSe all Lotions
fairly and there is unaNOlCahly III such
an article some honest and fair criti.
cism Of Governor Tillman as public
officer, but there is 10 abuse nf any one
and he great political accident" Sen
atOr lrby, Is not even mentioned, un-
less he can be recognized under the
general DaTe Of "demagugue." So far
As Governor Tiilman ls concerned
there is hardly a s'ngl" sentiment in
lhe article thar he iIAs uui Lizard me
express and It's general purpose. tone
and advice is III s'r" accOrdancr w: y
my well known views - given 10 ia,
and Others on many CccaSit rs.
While contemplating is publication
under a nam 'ir pIHn' on j $ merit
read tito Mr. John G.. Cnp,ls uf the
Columbia Journal, wr0.o pu.cr IL d
announced its intention t. pursue a
n0n-partiSan course i'm accord with the
general spirit of the article, and also
10 Mr.. James III. Tlllman. telling the
latter that | intended to bring the ar
tlcle to Washington and submit it to
the criticism Of his father, whom con-
Sldered broad guaged statesman, who
was, with General Gary, one Of the
10nL ders Of the Reform movement III
South Carolina. Mr.. Captrs and Cap.
IAN 11llman were both anxious to
publish the article, but | Wi'hheld it.
1Or 1uflhtr consideration, and in ac.
cOIcancc with the advice OF some of
my friends, and in c0hsldt Ia'ion OF the
fact that 1t containeO some criticism of
Governor I1llman, TO whose admins
tratiOn 1 b, longrd, | had almost, If not
altogether. abandoned the idea OF pub
fishing, hut now since il hiss b, en-
hrt ught.in question | will ht it 20 to
the press win the tqut st that altt Ouph
it is somewhat long everv paper in the
State will publish it, and not onlv ask
but challenge criticism of It IRON
the standpoint of truth, true Democra
cy and patrlOtsm.
Governor TlIlman is strong enough
and brave enough, not only TO stand,
but to accept the criticism 1t contains
in proper spirit, for, rs Senator Irby
once SAID to him in one Of his flashes
Of truth and honesty; 1--WE both know
that Farley never lldtters us nor tells
any lies" Possibly if the article is
carefully read and It's advice htedt q it
may yet represent the good that is to
come out OF this controversy.
l had been invite d to stay with Cap.
tain Tilman in Washington, but the
rush of visitors was SO great That re
NAMED with the staff, and during
my entire stay 1 diI not have more
lhan IA live minute conversation
with him nOr did | read or
n I,i.