The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1895-03-01
A BASIS OF RECONCILIATION
THE OBJECT OF THE RECENT
COSFEH ENCE IN COLUMBIA.

Equal Representation in the CGnven'
ton aud Equal Division of the
Election Ofiiccrs-A Const utiOn As
suring White Supremacy and which
Will Not be deferred Back To
Popular Vote.
Columbia Register.
Senator Tillman gave an interesting
Interview on "Wednesday evening be-
fore leaving the city for Washing ton
ON the pUliticai situation as it pertains
TO the Constitutional Convention. Be-
ing the ackuow edged leader of the
Reform tarty his views will be read
with the greatest interest by Reform
ers as we'll as Conservatives. Senator
Tillman was la the conference here
Monday night last with Editor Hemp
hill aud his views, therefore, possess
additional interest from that Tact.
The Senator talks plain and to the
point.
When asked the direct question as
to the truth OF the various reports
which were in circulation yesterday
Senator Titlman said: II do not
know why my presence here should
put SO many tongues To wagging. Or
dinarily my ruic has been to pay no
heed to sucu chatter, but to leave poo
pic to iipu out Tor themselves about
such things
When asked about the conference
with Conservative leaders he said: Il
have no objection to letting IL be
known why | agreed to meet these
gentlemen. ! dld SO simply for the
purpose of showing that /, us an indi-
vidual citizen and rs Il mau occupying
IL responsible public position, am ready
ana anxious 10 do anything within reit-
son that | can to bring about better
state OF feeling. There il "a hackncycd
phrase continually appearing IN the
bitter anti papcrS-' Inc Iliiinan-
lrby- Evans ring, and the stock IN
trade al the rcUaiCltrants VINO have
fought me personally and the kclOrin
party from the very beg innlns Is TO
charge ali the luminosity which exists
to the mac Iinations and influence OF
this ring Some of tie lou lest
u.ouiheu and most blatant talk along
this line has come frOa men who
would ccrtni.Iy never have been heard
o. in the politics OF the state bat Tor
the Reform movement. Nov. lortun-
ately, uccupy Il position which IN tine
minds OF All IalI persons should iliL
me abJyc any Charge OF sinister or
self sh motives IN what | AIN trying to
do. | r,aliZe with painful ccrtaluty
the seriousness ui the crisis which is
anon IL / 4 State affairs. The Cons IT,
tuUiOn | Cun> enti ION has been called in
5rite vi the intense opposition OF al
most the cnL.rc anti faction. There
nave been charges of fraud in regard
to the vote on this question, but that
Is neither here nor there. Fraud or
no fraud. and TO one has produced any
proofs OF fraud. tho convention Is 10 be
elected ANA Will meet next September;
and the question now agitating the
mind uf every thinking man III the
State is as TO how it v i'll be constituted
and what viii it. 10 when 1T Assem- Dics.
The dietrust aud suspicion which has
been inGustriuu,iy fomcnted in the
minds OF the factions towards each
other have brought us to this dcpiOra-
be condition. We must either shortly
enter upon Il struggle for the mastery
OF the convention, which Will leave
wOInds to ranklG for II lifetime. on we
must come together. The present un.
natural and strained relations must
cease, or we will commence hght
which will leave one faction or the
Other complete uisstc"S, with an IN
tcnsilied desire Iur revenge burning In
the hearts OF the v.CtOrs. | wish to
avert such struggle if possible ana
when | consent. d To meet those who
have prosecuted and Opposed me with
all the vigor ana maiIe nifty Of which
they were capable, in an effort to de-
wise wavs and means for restoring har-
n.uny. gave AN raincst of nay honesty
of purpose tnaJ ought to save me
from tnr charge OF suliishnCss or fear,
though, ann suii,ticd it will not do 80.
Those breeders. Of strife VINO live by
f;,nn.vg the flames aud those aspiring
Sclf-ssckcrs. who under gulsC Of patrl-
OLic motive would hctray the Reform
movement, viii Try TO make the con
tIary appear. IT. does not matter. |
can bear ,hut with tine same Cquanini-
ty and Indifference tnat | have borne
their attacks i'm tnc past.
" >, nator, VIII you tell us what you
did III the conference
" ! was jus6 coming To that for TO
my friends ! need make no cXplana-
ton on cOnc,a.UIVnt ana for my enc
mics ! do not care. In the first place,
it will be well to say that Governor
Evans nor myself cialln any right TO
speak or TO act OtiICr than as lndlVld-
uals. The people are the masters III
South Carolina and VIC can only ad-
wise or give our opinions. The poop q
who have hOIOrrd ua both so hlghly
are naturally looking to us Tor guldT
ancc, but they Wi!I Judge lor them
selves and attach only Such import
anCc and yield such adhesion TO our