The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-02-27
YTLLMaN'S PLAN PRESENTED.

VlQeQ OY law, 9uQ D0 euLltloO W SOto az
said election for delegates to said Conven-
ton.
YTLLMaN'S PLAN PRESENTED.
The Senator on the Convention Question
and Unity.
Senator Tillman has been interviewed
on the Constitutional Convention Ques-
ton. When asked about the conference
with Conservative leaders, which took
place in Columbia one day last week, he
said
"I have no objections to letting it be
known why I agreed to meet these gem
tlemen. Ibid 80 simply for the purpose
that I, as an individual citizen,
and, as q man occupying responsible
public position, am ready and anxious to
do anything within reason that can to
bring about better state OF feeling.
There is q hackreyed phrase continually
appearing In the bitter anti-papers. The
Tillman- ring and the stock
in trade of the recalcitrants who have
fought me personally and the Reform
party from the very beginning is to
charge all the animosity which exists to
the Vaccinations and influence OF this
sring.' Some Of the loudest-mouthed
and most blatant talk along this line has
come from men who would certainly
never have been heard Of in the politics
OF the State but for the Reform Move
ment. Now, fortunately, occupy 8
position which in the minds OF all fair
persons should lift me above any charge
uf sinister or selfish motives in what am
trying to do. I realize with painful GER
taintv the seriousness Of the crisis which
is upon us in State affairs. The Consti-
tutional Convention hss been called in
spite of the intense opposition OF almost
the entire anti faction. There have been
charges of fraud in regard to the vote on
this question, but that is neither here nor
there. Fraud or no fraud-and no one
has produced any proofs of fraud-the
Convention is to be elected and will meet
next September, and the question now
agitatiug the mind Of every thinking man
in the State is as to how 1t will be con-
stitcted, and what will it do when it as
sembles. The distrust and suspicion
which have been industriously fomented
in the minds of the factions towards each
other have brought>us to this deplorable
ondition-that we must either shortly
enter upon q struggle for the mastery OF
the Convention, which will leave wounds
to rankle for q lifetime, or we must como
together. The present unnatural and
strained relations must cease or we will
commence Q fight which will leave one
faction or the other complete masters,
with an intensified desire for revenge
burning in the hearts of the victors. /
wish to avert such struggle II possible,
and when I consented to meet those who
have persecuted and opposed me with all
the vigor and malignity of which they
were capable, in an effort to devise ways
and means for restoring harmony, gave
an earnest Of my honesty of purpose that
ought to save me from the charge of sell
fshness or fear, though am satisfied 1t
will not do 40. Those breeders Of strife,
who live by tanning the flames, and those
aspiring self-seekers, who under guise OF
patriotic motives, would betray the Re
form Movement will try to make the
appear. 1t does not matter.
can bear that with the same equanimity
and indifference that nave borne their
attacks in the past"
did In the conference I? If you can want
toknow."
:, .sI was Just coming to that, for to my
friends I need make no explanation or
and for my enemies do
not care. In the first place, it will be
well to say that neither Governor Evans
nor myself claims any right to speak or
to act other that as an Individual. The
people are the masters in South Carolina,
and We can only advise or give our opin-
ions. The people who have honored US
both SO highly are naturally looking to
US for guidance, but they will judge for
and attach only such impor-
tance and yield sucfl adhesion to our
advice as they deem best. THE Talman-
Irby- Evans ring siof the people, and
very large one, and, while we may tie
the ends which bring the ring together,
we understand our position too well to
imagine for an instant that we can do
more than advise. We must convince
our friends that what we advise is best
before we can expect them to follow.
SIN word, then, in that meeting we
tried to arrive at an understanding which
will unite the people Of the State once
more, without any surrender of princi-
pie on the part of anybody, and prevent
any struggle over the Convention, and
we realize very fully the delicacy and
difficulty of the task. The more radical
and unreasonable elements of both fac.
tions will necessarily be disgruntled and
endeavor to antogonize the scheme. But
we cannot give any serious consideration
to the opposition Of such men as these.
We must appeal to the patriotism and
good sense ofthe large conservative mass
Of both factions to make the concessions
which are requisite to bring them to-
gether.a AS the victors and the ruling
majority, the concessions must necessa-
rily come from the Reform side, the con-
aitiens must be subscribed to by the 9TH
or side"
'.Well. Senator, what concessions do
you allude to?"
"To begin with I would say that the one
and eBsential idea which
made the Convention necessity was the
Of white supremacy by such
publication of the suffrage as will save US
from negro domination in future under
any and all conditions. If this essential
and fundamental requirement shall be
to by all those seeking admis-
sion to the Convention, along with very
sew other necessary changes in the pres
ont Constitution, the other questions
likely to arise in the discussions before
,he Convention will inevitably be deci
led on their merits as general propositions
IN government, and cannot by any pos.
,ibility excite any factional debate. It
follows then that if tha factions can unite
n formulating these basic principles to
be incorporated in the Constitution by
common consent, the question as to
whether the Convention shall be COM
posed of mejority of Reformers or Con-
,ervatives is one Of minor consideration.
But for the suspicion and distrust which
exists as to the good faith and honesty of
zach side toward the other, I have no
earthly doubt that the Reformers would
.eadily grant to their opponents equal
representation. It will depend entirely
IN the attitude and utterances Of the Lead
,rs of the Conservative faction and the
newspapers which represent them
whether such an arrangement can be
If the charges Of fraud
Ind ring rule and the bitter sneers, which
lave become to be the daily theme of the
newspaper reader and scheming Office
Ieekers, are continued it is utterly hope
ess to ask the majority to trust those who
show so much distrust themselves and
Who, while claiming to be honest them
selves, accuse all who oppose them Of
,eing dishonest. Confidence is the first
'equisite to compromises"
''Senator, do I understand you to say
hat you are willing for the Conservatives
i. Lovo hale of fba Io1o, ,otou fo fha Con.