The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-06-27
TILLMAN'S DECLARATION

He Repudiates the Tillmun-Bnrn
| we'll Contcrence--Think He Il
absolvcd from Its Pledges by tn,
| Action OF Conservatives.
The following Interview with Soma
tor Tlllman was printed in scveru
newspapers on his return from Mem
phis.
"What effect will the reversal O.
Judge Gof's decree have on State poll
| tics ?"
1T simplilies matters very much
said Senator Tillman in reply, land
relieves us to what was daily becom
ing more threatening situation. TC
Illustrate. Those Conservatives who
seemed to have the greatest following,
instead of pleading, rs heretofore, fol
an equal, division of the delegates,
were using u hectoring and threaten,
ing tone, while nearly all of the Con.
servative papers were urging their
factions not to go into the Demo,
cratic primary. General lIamptons
and Butler had advised the same thing,
and while the News and Courier did
not counsel this course, the recent
demonstration in Charleston over
General Hampton left little doubt as
to whose leadership they would follow
unless the Reformers surrendered the
control of the convention to them. All
this is now changed, and in any event.
no amount OF persuasion from any
source can now induce the Reformers
to trust the Conservatives with one
half the delegates.
You will remember that in the in
terview published just after our con-
ference with Mr. Barnwell and others,
| said that it would depend upon the
attitude Of the Conservative papers
and IL general agreement on both
sides to cease their bitterness. whether
the scheme could be successfully
| carried out. When Judge Gotf was
imported here, with his scandalou.
decree already written, had the Con
seryative editors and leaders acted ii.
patriotic CarOlinians, denounced hi.
unwarranted interference, and Offered
to join hands with the Reformcrs in
maintaining white supremacy, it would
have at once obliteratcd all factional
lines and good feeling and confidence
would have been restored. The Re-
formers cannot now forget, nor will
they soon forgive those who SO plainly
showed their purpose to overthrow the
white majority by negro votes: least
OF all can they trust them, nor can
advise our people to trust them
II went into the agreement with
Messrs. Barnwell and the other gentle
men in perfect good faith and had
that agreement been generally ac-
cepted by the Conservatives and en-
dorscd by their newspapers, it would
inevitably have been carried out by
almost every county. A golden OPP
pOrtunity was lost and the Conserva-
tives have "again ito use the words
of the Ncwberry Herald and News
done the wrong thing at the right
time" for the good Of the Reformers.
"Do | understand that you now re-
pudiate the agreement 2" was asked.
by no means, although by every
rule Of morals, | could claim to be
absolvcd from it. | would still like to
see nonpartisan convention composed
Of our best men from both factions,
people, and by that mean those who
have supported me. to be generous and
not treasure up in their hearts with
too much bitterness the recent taunts
and threats made by the "Antis." We
have got to live here together; our in.
terests are identical: the future pros,
perity of the State depends largely on
q bettor state Of feeling: | can see nC
harm and much good that will follow
If the RefOrmers voluntarily select
men OF the best brains and character
among the Conservatives to come tt
the convention. | would only give the
caution that no man be allowed tt
come who during the dark days o
Gotf's tyrannical usurpation. showed
any qualification or made any threats
such mon cannot be trusted and hat
better be left at home.
There Is one other point that fee
should be emphasized and that is this
There must be some hidden or sccrc
purpose in the almost insane desire
which has shown itself among tn
y Antls, TO control the Constitutions
convention. Having voted almost so
idly against it, | have never under
stood why they have been so anxiou
TO nave equal representation i'm i
when by all rules Of fairness and a.
the principles Of Democracy the
Would not De entitled to any represents
tlon ut oil except in tho counties whor
they control.
When the Barnwell conferenc
mot, there appeared to be no prospce
OF an agreement being reached becaus
or this demand for half, and it wa
on! accepted by tho Reformers pre-.
ent alter imposing conditions, whic
are familiar to the public. These COZ
dltlons are still vital, and no Conserve
tive should be voted for ut the pr
mary who does not discuss those oue
tions before tho peopl" and satisf
them as to his attitude on them.
mere ls one other vital fcutur
which our people must not overlook
1t Is the constitutional provisions fc
tho control OF corporations and TIN
questions and the question OF tax;
tlon. Corporation attorneys, thos
known to be in the employ Of corpor,
tlons, had better be left at hom
whether Reformers or Conser vatiyc
unless from their characters and gel
eral course of conduct as men it is b,
lieved they car be trusted.
~ must believe that the strenuo,
efforts to obtain half the delegate
we're inspired 6y the desire to put int
the new constitution something tn;
, WOull have either han,noro2 ~