The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1895-08-23
SENATOR TILLMAN
AT CONCORD.
FREE SILVER HIS THEME ON
THAT OCCASION.
There Must BE q Free Silver Presi-
dent, and II He Can not Get DEM
ocrat Populist Will Do.

Tiilman and Marion Butler spoke to a
crowd Of about 5000 Populists at Concord,
N. c., on Tuesday. Tillman said he wanted
free silver President, from the Democratic
party il he could get him, but il not, even
from the ranks of Populsm in spite of its
crazy leaders and crazy notions. Butler said
patriotism must be placed above PARTISAN
ship-even above Populsm-in placing IN
honest free silver man in the White House.
After an introduction by Mr.. M. III. Cald.
well Tillman was greeted with loud cheer
ing. The south Caroliuian said he was glad
to come from the North, reeking with
slavery and corruption, to be with his people
in the South. poor but honest. eve down
here are locally Free but nationally slaves
The Democratic party so long held together
ln the South 10y the fear OF negro domina-
ton. was disintegrating, because there was
no longer apprehension from that cause, but
new issues were coming to the front. The
great fight ahead il how TO keep down pow
erty and that oppression which consisted in
making money for some Othc- mau to enjoy.
The financial conditions were such ~ to
favor the Northeastern section Of the coun-
try. The Democratic party stood pledged
to right "the crime of 1873" the demonet-
zation Of silver. and pledged to free silver,
but when we had maj rty in both houses
there was Presidents veto in the way and
80 the crime Of 1873 remains unrighted. The
Republican party was the tool Of the money
power. The Democratic party had always
been committed to bimetalism, but when it
did not fulfil its pledges the Alliance came
along and taught that we would no longer
stand by Democracy unless it did some
thing.
The speaker blamed the free silver .'re-
form element in the other Southern States
Tor not capturing the Democratic machinery
iii tn" state, as was done in South Carolina
The Alliance and Polk had the Democratic
party in North Carolina in their breeches.
pocket, but you went out and lost But the
solid South was broken up in the last eiec-
ton. Jarvis and Ransom went over the
State trying to catch the Senatorship, but
this young man (pointing to Butler) cooned
up tree, got the persimmon and away he
went. (Great applause.) But with the
breaking OF the solid South came the break
ing of the solid North. I'll stand by the
Democracy If it purifes itself, but I'll never
follow thieves and rascals
1t is the duty of the people to consider
carefully the financial issue and to follow
whore their interests lead them. The old
Puritans and their descendants acting on
the principle that the world was created for
the saints, and weare the saints, had gov
erned this country long enough.
Mr.. Iillman then went into a long discus
sion of what money is. Carlisle says that
law cannot affect the value OF a metal. That
statement is absurd. Talk about fiat money
Gold Is as much fiat money as any other,
and because the law makes 1t So and silver
bullion cant be- carried to tho mint and
coined as gold, simply because the law for
bids it.
The old arguments of the silver men we're
gone over, that prices fell because of striking
down silver. that silver was demonetized by
n sneaking legislation in 1878, that the panic
of '73 was the result. The national bank
question was discussed. The speaker asked
il Government bonds were 80 good, why was
not a little fiat paper good too? The bonds
themselves were fiat, he said. nothing but a
promise to pay. Paper is not n desirable in
vestment, say the gold bugs. Ah, that is
whare the shoe pinChes.
Cleveland and Carlisle came in for abuse
for arranging the last bond issue and letting
England dictate the terms of it. There is
not enough money in the country. Metallic
money has been stricken down and until we
get 1t back we will suck the hind teat that
has got ne milk in it. daughter and ap-
plause) Democratic politicians howled for
long time about the tariff iniquty Did
Cleveland call Congress together to repeal
the high tariff or to repeal the Sherman law?
What is TO be done2 Can the Democrats
of the South and the Populsts of the West
get together? Will they let bygones be by
cones and fight together against Wall street?
We have only eighteen months to work, and
II desirable men of all parties don't come
together in that time we will have our hands
fastened in shackles We will have gold
bonds forced on us, and be tod hand aud
foot Tor generation. He would work to
have his State put out an election ticket
which would cast its vote for dyed in the
wool silver man. A man east of the Missis-
sippi would do. Western Republicans hate
the name of Democrats. Southern Demo-
Gratis hate the name of Republican. Wecan't
join the Popuist party because you have too
many cranks ut your head.
We are here to consider how to get to-
gether If we in South Carolina can't get "A
silver man for President in the Democratic
party, We may have to take one from the
Populist party. would rather have Popu-
lism with its cranky leaders than to follow
the false leaders in the old party, who have
proved traitors. North Carolina is over
whelmingly for silver as South Carolina is.
They must stand together. Their interests
are identical.
Tllmap spoke about two hours and was
followed by Senator Butler. Of North Car
olina who made free silver speech Of the
same length.