New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-26
TILLMANISM.

Sou,h Carolina is n State worth studying. II
is giving n practical Illustration Of government
In accordance with the prcjudccs OF class
Tho Populists have there worked ont their no
tons even more fully and more naturally than
In most of the Western States where they nave
hold SWAY The old conservatism Of the state
has becn helpless In the hands OF a new ruling
element under the leadership OF shrcwd ana
fanatical demagogue All the machinery when
RourbonIsm perfected to keep itself In the
ascendant and deprive the negroes and poorer
whites OF any voice in the government have
under Tillman's leadership been turned against
the old aristocracy. They are the sufferers from
their own inventions. Unfortunately 'h's P'o'"'
isc not 10 be the only sufferers
As the staff correspondent Of The Tribune III
his letter this morning and in that published on
Monday points out, Tillmanism has rcNo'u'o"
ized the whole State. and. moreover, Is pre-
pairing II possible Ia get permanent hoin "'
tho administration and incorporate its doctrines
in the fundamental law With all lis TAX ABOUT
froodo,n and the rights Of the individual and Of
every dvdUal. Populism as ILLUSTRATE" !"
South Carolina Is tyranny. 1t Is not even TIE
rule Of "A new set Of leaders vindicnv" III HS
opprcssion OF the followers ~ the "lu IL II
the power OF one mastcr-sprit holding dcspou'
sway over his own pariisans 10y keeping thrih
cv.r IN unrest He has arraycd country against
citv n,verty against wealth interest against IN
,,rcs, and made the consequent bitterness the
servant Of his ambition. He converted the Sta''
into a Hduordcalcr. and when the courts d'-
cdcd that his act was Unconstitutional H.
packed the court 10 got different decision
That secured he is enforcing it by methods
which a considerable element "f the P'Pui'u'h
regard as arbitrary invasion ~ personal rShtS
This course he defends on the plea 81 necessity
the customary apology ~ tyranis. He has
now undertaken 10 revise the Constitution TOT
that II is necessary that he control The members
OF the Constitutional Convention. who are not
vet elected. His enemies charge mat ne VIII
fry 10 keep the negroes from voting ana 'h'
conservatives only hope IL In IN" ala of thoS'
people whom they 80 long desplsch' bu' WI"
find in Tlllman a worse enemy than IN" Bpur
hons ever were II the radicals control the
convention. an agrarian socialism may be looked
for IN the new Constitution The dsprnS'ry
system will surely be engrnftcl into H. and u ~
ouitc posslblc that inequality Of taxation ana
, discrimination against the interests Of IN" con
snrvative classes ~ the community may be IN
,roduccd Certainly their leader will manipu
late the suffrage articles so AS 10 pcrpctuate MS
rule.
Tllman is a man ~ force and daring. Ills
mower for evil Is great lie Is An aggressive
leader who knows how 10 take advantage OF
the mistakes OF his opponents as he dld wh'h
no turned their registry laws against them
They. ON the other hand. are lacking In strong
and intelligent leadership. The old arstocrhcy
of itself dcgcncratcI until 1t succumbcd I" the
rurol revolt. II docs not yet show mat IL mas
within itself clements Of strength TO regain It's
lost position. The good Of the whole people 81
South Carolina calls for the overthrow "f I'LL
manIsm. New generals are needed free from
thc traditions Of Bourbonism and ut the same
time the answering opponents OF denagogy
and class warfare.