The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1894-09-19
Col Knots Reasons.
ton County

My withdrawal from the race in the pri-
mary OF the 2Sth. and the reasons for so
doing may to the voters Of my county need
some explanation.
have stated IN several addresses dl ing
the campaign that this was campaign
without principles or issues; that
the pril pie or main issue IN
this elect Oil was the section of
certain men for Office, and not the
selection of men to carry out principles
and measures. had hoped to the last
that the executive committee would come
to the rescue aud carry out III good faith to
the people of the State their demand for
a general primary for the selection of all
officers and abolish the cowardly make
shift which resulted from the action Of the
executive committees allowing itself to be
made the servile minion of politicians and
office hunters regardless of the means
thereto.
II the action of the leaders of the Reform
party have carried out the intention of the
Reformers in this political revolution, have
very sadly misunderstood the spirit OF this
reformation. | believe the great bulk OF
the Retormsrs are far away from intend
ing 10 make such rash and partisan laws
'N>>%<
extreme positions when properly under
ood. don, believe the business lntere
of our State can long stand this uncalled
for strife among the white people of the
State, and more especially so when there is
no isspe involved except the levation Of
aspirants to Office.
My course in the Legislature was in open
hostility to this extreme tanatical position
4 u,,.I, 1,rra ,,otnNrtv NJ R..fnrmprs
waged continued warfare against the en-
actment of all such laws. 1 can't see that
any better reforma ion can come from
Legislature chosen with view to the cleo
ton of one man to the United States Sen
ate. No other issue Can be raised and the
enly qualification that a gre 1T many want
is to support Governor Tillulan for the
Senate For that all other virtues will be
refused; for that all other faults will be
overlooked in a candidate. From survey
of the field that is the probable outlook
now for the next Legislature. | don't be-
lieve that such a Legislature will have the
capacity to manage the living issues OF the
day. l believe good legislator will be OF
greater benefit to South Carolina than to be
merely used as an elector. l really believe
that many of the Re:ormers look to the
election of Governor Tillman to the Senate
as the day when light will dawn on our
political midnight. I do not believe he
can give this relief and think he will be
as helpless to do it as an infant of three
summers l believe we will find it more q
moral than financial or political revolution
and We will find to expect relief from this
source q constantly dsluding phantom.
Gov. Tillman is rash, imprudent, viAdic-
tive and ambitious. If he should prove to
be great statesman, he will be the first
one having these characteristics the world
has ever seen. His own rtterances show
that he is not at all CERTAIN to which Of the
political parties he belongs at present and
that shows me very clearly that he Can he
less certain tc which he will belong in the
near future.
believe nothing but a trial will satisfy
you of these facts as they present them
selves to me, and when you tIy an officer
you will be better able to judge. But you
expect more of / i'm in the Senate than any
man can do and disappointment is certain
from that standpoint.
told you both through the Lexington
Dispatch and on the stump that l was no
coat tail swinger and when the candidates
came before the Legislature, if elected,
would choose to the best of my ability be-
tween them. was under no obligation to
Gen. Butler nor any other candidate and
did not propose to be. said there are
other men in the State would vote for IN
preference to Gov. Tilln4an. I knew he
favored all the extreme measures before
The Legislature while I was member
and l think has made very
improper use of the great power
he had in the State. If We have
failed to give the relief we promised. Gov.
Tillman and the Legislature are to blame
for we had exclusive control Of both houses,
and while we have added over ~, ,OOO,OOO
dollars to the taxable property of the State,
the State Board of Equalization has had to
raise your tax returns Is per cent. to meet
the amount OF money necessary to run the
government. The Is per cent. in this
county amounts TO over 50. 500, to the loss
from Phosphate royalty and the ravages Of
the storm, portion of the blame is due
and the remainder to the State government.
have never in peached Gov. Tlllman's in
tentions but did the prudence of many OF
the laws and my votes so shows.
did not withdraw because l feared de-
feat, for / considered my chances good
went the rounds in the race. l do not fear
be had. From what l saw believe can
safely place my case in the hands of the
people of Lexington county and await
vindiction of my course.
can't see that can be of any service to
you in the next Legislature elected as It ap-
peared it would be. thought the Reform
party vindicator Of Caucasian supremacy
bat when it persistently insists by It's
herchmen to dlSfranchise over 80, COO vot-
ers, who pay over half the taxes of the
State in order to carry out the wishes OF
few place hunters, it has allowed the aspir-
ants to run away with all the trophies OF
victory and to give fiat contradiction to
all its proteStations of reform.
We have allowed partisan strife to drive
our reason in exile from It's throne but
trust 'er another election shall arrive, We
will once more be in a condition to weigh
and consider every measure OF public IN
terest.
withdrew with great reluctance, and
only alter very mature celebration and be-
lieve it for the best, think after this fury
shall have passed away and my country
men maturely r, fleet over the matter that
many who now oppose my recoad will yet
say that have fought the good fight, that
have kept the faith and like a righteous
Judge, crown will give me i'll that day.
only desire public confidence that I
may faithfully serve that public. do not
believe desire Office for self aggrandise-
ment. only desire to be instrumental in
the hands of my countrymen to elevate and
better their condition, and when l can see.
no hope of doing that at present, really
see 10 use of my wearing official garments.
am sorry that during the campaign had
to miss the meeting at Spring Hill and
Lexington Court House. suffered much
during the time while trying to make the
race, but had to miss two of the meetings
at last from sickness.
If can serve You in the future I shall be
glad TO do So but have not in the past