The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-12-04
The Buffoorl Of the Senate.


Senator Tillman, of South Carolina,
promises to become the buffoon of the
Senate if he carries out his threats of
"pitchforkipg" the President and slash
ing around generally, and If he acts In
his usual manner when on the stump he
will fulfil the above promise completely.
Tillman's idea of his own prowess as q
debater and as champion of Populism,
cheap money and the South, are most
exalted. II anything he is apparently
little prouder Of his exploits in the pitch
forking line-bY which he means his
ability to blackguard an opponent, with.
out much regard for the facts or apprecia-
tion of tho merits of the question under
discussion. His strong hold has been
the ad hominem style of argument
although he dois not lack the ability as q
logical reasoner-and his stock OF epithets,
derogatory adjectives and uncomplimen-
tary phrases is as large as any in the
country. With all this he has vivid
and active imagination and considerable
capacity of invention in the above line
with courage, audacity and effrontery to
high degree, 80 that he has never yet
been found lacking in ammunition for
vigorous personal assault on his oppon-
ent. Since the war there has been no
such example OF the swash- bucking
Southerner in Congress as Tillman Is
advertising himself to be, although the
type was familiar enough in ante beilum
days.
But Senator Tillman is doing himself
injustice in all this parading as presi-
dent annibilator and boastlng of tho wide
swath he will cut in the Senate, for he is
a good deal more of man than this sort
of talk indicates. He is not statesman
by any means, and his outlook Is limited
by the boundaries OF South Carolina, or
education, almost no familiarity with the
recognized principles of government,
knows practically nothing of political
economy and international law, only q
little Of history excepting local and
Southern, has only remote conception
of the principles Of finance, and is COM
mitted to wild vagaries In relation to the
currency. He has yet to learn what this
country is, its extent, its diversity OF
interests and peoples, its greatness in all
directions and its unity aud be Is full OF
the mischievous notion Of sectional an
tagonism.
His limitations are precisely those
which his heritage, his home and his
training have made inevitable. He was
born on South Carolina plantation, has
been farmer all his life IN one Of the
most bourbonish counties Of that State.
He is largely elf-educated and has read
more or less widely, but issalufated with
b the narrow provihclallsm, the traditions
and the prejudices of his class, and en-
tered politics as its representative, to de.
mand for it larger share Of political
power in the State than had been granted
1t, and it is to bis ability In this position
Of leadership that he owes his present
place as political dictator OF South Caro-
lima. Withal, Tiliman is more or less OF
a demagogue, and dues not hesitate to
trade on the prejudicss of his hearers to
advance his ends.
+: This is by no means the whole story,
nor the most important part Of the por-
trait. IfTillman were only a Dragging,
blackguarding 6emagog-only narrow
sectionalist and cheap pretender and ex-
FOUNDER OF financial and political foolish
ness, he would not now be one of the
most important public men in the South,
the most influential citizen OF South Car
olina, who has practically determined the
character Of the new Constitution OF that
State, and Is its Senator. He would not
have his mastery over the political for
tunes of that State, for six years, repeat
sdly defeating the old guard, which had
held the power for generation, ano
dominating and holding in line his un-
shrewdness, and knowledge of human
nature to do this, and all these qualities
Senator TillInan possesses In high degree.
Moreover to devise and put in execution
the dispensary plan Of State liquor SELL
ing, keep constant oversight of the
Legislature, debating in large measure
It's work, and to play the part he has in
the Constitutional Convention required
study, foresight, intelligence, vigilance
and tireless Industry. There Is plenty of
room for difference of opinion as to the
merit of the work in these directions by
the machine OF which Iillman is the
inspiring head, but none as to the ability
with which the work has been planned
and done. Whether wisely or not, South
Carolina has been honestly and economi-
cally governed since Tillman came into
power, barring the customary election
rascalities.
Add to the record of what he has ac-
complished in South Carolina, the fact
that Tillman has grown and broadened
ago, that he Is something of student,
aud apONO OIL ALL D1ItOuo Va q hotAOddl
utation and standing. end it is safe to
predict future for him-if he Is wise
enough not to spoil it by carrying out his
advertised programme in the Senate.
Pitchforking the President may be great
fun and call forth loud applause from the
wool hat crowd in South Carolina, but
this country as whole only laughs at
b:ackguards and mountebanKs dnd soon
tires Of them and turns them one side.
Things will look very different to Till
man from his seat in the Senate from
their appearance from South Carolina
stump, or even from platform at the
Atlanta Exposition, and he is probably
TOO shrewd man to throw away his
future by short-sighted demagogism, OF
insisting on half baked financial and
economical notions. We predict an In
terestir2 study to those who study the
evolution of Tlllman in the Senate,
whether the outcome be more complete
demagogIsm or statesmanship.-Sp1fng.
field Republican.