The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-05-06
Pitchfork and Rapier.
Tillman and Hill Gross Wea-
pons IN the Senate.

two characteristic speeches. fiery and
impesuous one from Senator Tillmau
Democrat, of South Carolina. and a
temperate aud suggestive one from Sep.
ator Hill, Democrat, of New York
Senator Tiluan, wearing in his "eck :
tie an emblem of bis last speech IN the
Senate, a miniature gold pitahfork
strobe up and down in the rear hof the
back seats on the Democratic side OF
the chamber, gesticulating forclbly and
iuveighing against the President, the
Secretary Of the Treasury aud the
bankers and money lenders of Wall
street aud threatening the withdrawal
of his State from the Democratic col
umn if the Chicago Convention should
not declare iu favor Of free silver-l6
to l..
Senator Hills reply to him was dig
nifed, but sarcastic. He too spoke of
she Chicago Convention, declaring that
he did not believe that Mr.. Cleveland
was candidate for the nonin alton, say
ing that he was not pledged to him or
to any member Of his Cabinet; eulo-
gized Mr.. Carlisle for bis public SER
vices, while criticisiog him for bis inter-
fereuc seat gaiostbe reelection Of Sen
asor Blackburn, and closed long
speech with declaring that the policy of
the Democratic party should be ''in es,
seutials, unity in uon-essentlaIs. lber-
.y: 10 all things, charity "
The bill pending before the Senate
was the naval appropriation bill, and
it was thought that general debate bad
practically ended. Senator TilmaO,
however, concluded be would throw a
..few bricks" into the back yard of the
sound money men on both sides of the
chamber. After brief allusiou to the
naval bill be launched out into one of
his characteristic TRADES against Presi-
sident Cleveland, Secretary Carlisle
and Senator Sherman. He endeavored
70 provoke personal discussion with
Senator Sherman, but the latter de-
declined to be drawn into colloquy
With the reckless and sensation loving
South Carolinian and iguored bis direct
questions. Tillman was looking for
material to toss on his pitcbiork, so be
turned his attention to Senator Hill
and proceeded to arraign him as the de-
fender of Grover Cleveland's financial
policy and the gold bugs of Wall
street.
To the meantime word was passed
shrocgh the Capitol that 1'illman aud
Hill were having scrap in the Sen
ate. Instantly the galleries filled up
and members from the House came
buyrying over to the Senate chamber.
Conspicuous among the visitors on the
back seats were Representatives Stokes,
Elliott, Latiner, Strait and Talbert, OF
South Carolina, and Lester. Tate Bart
lett aud Rcssel. OF Georgia. There
was no poirt to the discussion, but 1t
was Intensely exciting to those who
listened Tillman was coarse and
rough in the choice Of language, and
he regarded 20: the ordinary rules of
Senatorial courtesy either 10 his inter-
ruptions or The language ne employed
to express his one idea, free coiuage
at Is to | OF bast.
Ga the other hard. Hill was at bis
best. aud while be sept Within the
rules, he deft!: turned every statement
Ti,i,aau made either 10 ridicae or usac
Yili.oan's owu words convict hin cf
being almcss auyth;Yg but Jeffer-
scn:ao. So sharp were the passages
between the two Senator's aud SO abrupt
were Ti;lmaa's Interruptions that Seo-
asor FREY. who vas presiding. invoked
the rules of the Senate against the
unparliamer:ary language aud iu'errup-
tions.
Although 20 names we're used. Till
mau felt the rebuke momcntarily and
apolog;zsd for trausgressiug the rules.
4 nomeut later he forgot the reprl-
maud and broke out again, causing
general laughter through the chamber:
AS if he regretted having dsobeyed
the injunction Of the presiding officer,
vith mock uodesty he buried his face
in his hands upon his desk, and like a
shy scbooi girl upwillugly kissed at a
p;cuic, threw his head back, but covered
bis face With bis hands
When it become evident that Hill
wa vctpa;r',ug Tillman at every turn
A;leo, the Popul'st of Nebraska
ru,hed to the assistance Of his friend.
HE turned upon the leader OF the
Po2u|isf party and gave hiu severe
drutbing for daring to Interfere lie
what he called q Democratic fataily
6gh'.
The discussion demonstrated but two
,biu.s, thar Gilman, after disp!ayicg a
,o.a! ignorance Of the money ques;ior
,r1 ba;nc, convic,ed nv his own lang