The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-06-27
Uhe YNerala and Yews
EtBEST Ell 3 Id,;aEiI' Il; AgLL' : Proprletors.
ELBERT H. AULL. EDITOR.
THE CAMPAIGN.

operation one week. Six meetings
were held last week. They started out
again yesterday. Last week we said
nothing about it. This week We give
pretty full accounts from the six meet
ipgs of last week. We are little dis
appointed at the plane upon which the
discussions are pitched. And not much
disappointed either for political discus
sions have been degenerating for some
years into simple menagerie perform
ances in which the performers exhaust
their vocabularies in the use of abuse
and villifcation. If it is the duty Of
the candidates to make such exhibl-
tons of themselves it would have been
infinitely better if the plan of having
them 90 before the people had never
been inaugurated for we could have
been happy under the delusion that we
had high toned and refined Christian
gentlemen in positions Of honor and
trust and ruling over US, and our respect
and admiration for them would not
have been lessened. The Senatorial
contest seems to be the only one that
draws. We ask our readers to ponder
the speeches and see if they can find
anything in them except personal
abuse. There is no discussion of the
great questions and problems that they
will be expected to deal with, and no
remedies suggested for the ills that
affect humanity. We can see no good
but only evil to come of such discus
sious and it would be boon to long
suffering people if these meetings were
called of.
They began at Rock Hill last Mon
day. Gen. Butler and Gov. Tillman
had both said that they intended to
discuss issues and SO conduct the cam
paign as to enlighten and inetruct the
people. But what do we see. 1t seems
that Gen. Butler had the crowd at
Rock Hill, and the next day Gov. Till
man charged that he had corruption
fund and that the railroads were haul
ing around on free passes Butler BOOM
ers whom Tillman charged were Coxey-
ties. The next day at Chester Butler
denounced the charge that be had a
corruption fund as base slauder and
false, and since then the Senatorial
speeches are simply an exchange Of
ugly epithets as far as reported.
Suppose We Gull few favorite ex-
pressions. Gov. Tillman abuses every
body from Cal. Caughman to Grover
Cleveland. He says Cleveland does
not want him in the Senate for, eff I
20 there will use that pitchfork in his
old fat ribs" Speaking of General
Butler he says: II pulled down his
shirt, lifted his hide aud put the salt on
him" Speaking of himself he says:
"They (his enemies( burnt the woods
and Gifted the ashes and have not
caught one louse." Of course his ad-
mirers laugh and applaud. We beg
pardon for using these expressions,
even in quotations, but we only want
to show what sort of a campaign of
education we are now having in Soath
Carolina. Gen. Butler uses such ex-
plessions as "infamous liar" ISLAM
derer," and "scoundrel." And this is
the campaign of education! This is the
sort of stuff that the white people of
South Carolina 60 out to hear and tear
their throats open cheering and ap-
plauding. Is it not pitiable and a
sad and a deplorable state of things
when Intelligent people make such an
exhibition of themselves. It makes
ones heart truly sad to contemplate
such things when he loves to look with
hope to the future of his race. And
= what does it all amount to anyway.
There is one thing about it 10 this cam
paign, however, Gov. Tillman has met
a man who is his match, and who is not
afraid of him, and who is not afraid to
say what he thinks.
To our mind there is only one re-
deeming feature in the campaign meet
ings that have been held so far, and
that is, there are bat few persons who
are attending any of them. The peo-
pie, let US hope, are beginning to realize
that there is no money to them in going
to these meetings and splitting their
throats open. If we could have dis
cussions of questions in an honorable
and manly way by intelligent men
these meetings would se worth some
thing, but there is nothing to be gained
by going out to hear villifcation and
abuse,
Gen. Butler has insisted on separate
box and direct vote for Senator, but
Gov. Tillman does not seem to fancy
that scheme, though direct vote Of
the people is one of the demands of the
alliance and in accord with the primary
plan. The Herald and News had
favored such a plan, because in that
way we could get the Senatorial con-
test somewhat separated from other
elections. fit is not desired to get the
will Of the people on this question there
is still less use in making the canvas.
Better just wait and canvas the legis-
lators after they are elected.
This abusive style Of campaigning
was inaugursted by Gov. Tillman him
self, and was one of the great objections
that The Herald and News urged
against him several years ago. After
his speech at Rock Hill we had hoped
that he meant what he said, and that
henceforth in South Carolina we would
have public discussions on high plane,
but our highest hopes are not to be re-
allied.
Col. Ellison S. Keitt, of Enoree, will
e+ort o,,t oo tho f ret of Tr,1v and ma ka