New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-14
4 BLOW AT TILLMiNISM.

While the Hon. benjamin 'lltchlork I'M
man has been absent -mindedly carrying on n
campaign of profanity and dcmagogy among
the miners of the Scnuylkill Valley. or oN-
plotting his ignorance of rudimcniary geog-
raphy by installing an audience of Camden
Jcrseymcn for citizens of the greater common
wealth across the Delaware, his political OPP
poncnts at home have struck his power blow
which promises tc shake the whole structure
of arbitrary and autocralic rule which for the
last five years he has been building up in
South Carolina. About three weeks ago
Democratic primary election was held in the
Palmetto State TO nominate a candidate for
the seat in the United States Senate now held
by John l.. NJ Irhy which will become vacant
on March 3 next. Mr.. lrby. though chosen
Senator solely 10y Mr.. rillman's favor soon
quarrelled with his too imperious and eXactinG
patron, fell into political disgrace al home ana
long ago gave up all hope of securing re-
election.
Three candidates presented themselves for the
Senatorial nominatiop-John Gary Evans. the
present Governor of the state; Joseph II.
Earle a local Judge. and John I. duncan
Evans, a smooth-Shaven. long haired dcma-
gogic politician OF the Boy Orator type had
made his way TO the GovernOrship by OBJ
scouious subserviency TO Tillman. and in his
two years of administration at Columbia had
shown himself Il plant and INSCRIPTIONS tool
in the hands of his political master. He had
been selected a year more ago for promo
ton TO the Senate, and as Tillmans will had
hitherto been law to his disciplined and infat-
uated "wool-hat' following, victory for
Evans in the primary election was generally
hot = flp State. Il =
a foregone conclusion Judge Earle. who had
made the race in 1894 against Evans for the
Govcrnorshp pressed his canvass. however,
with vigor and confidence, and in Tillman'S
absence on a speaking tour in the North man
aged to make considerable inroads in the so
called Reform" factions ranks. The third
candidate Duncan. made no serious fight.
The result Of the election, held August "a
proved highly damaging to Tillmans prestige
and authority BY Democratic party rules in
South Carolina candidate TO he nominated
for any Office must receive a majority of all
the votes cast at the primary election. When
the complete returns from the polls came in on
August % it was found, to the alarm and
CONSERVATION of the State machine at Column
bia. that Governor Evans had failed 10 obtain
the necessary majority His total vote was
| 3S,3Jl. Earle SOl 'b',N'o WINS anu i'uh'""
$500 50 that Tillmans sycophantic lieutenant
had fallen ST. votes short of a nomination.
| A second trial of strength was required by
party regulations, the lowest candidate being
dropped according to usage from the contest.
September 8 was set as the date for the new
election. and tie absent South Carolina leader
was hastily called back to crush the revolt
against Evans. Tillman threw himself into
the breach with his accustomed impctuosity,
and frankly declared that the defeat of his per-
sonal favorite and trusted follower would
Justly be construed as the forerunner of his own
political decline and fall. Having apparently
restored the fortunes of his impcrillcd candi-
date, the explosive South Carolina Senator
came North again to renew his campaign work
for Bryan and Reputation. But AT home the
opposition TO Evans, instead of dissipating, as
he had expected. seemed on the contrary 10
gather fresh strength every day Last Tues
day the second election was held, and on Il
count of the votes Judge Earle was found to
have beaten Evans by majority Of BIS
The total vote cast had increased about 1000
Evans had gained only 900 votes over his
strength at the August election, while Eare's
total had run up by 12,115. 1illman and Till
manlsm had received direct and pointed re-
buke at the hands of the South Carolina De
mocracy.
1t is not to be understood. of course, that
Judge Earle's victory involves any immediate
or radical transformation in Palmetto State
politics. Judge Earle IS n frce-silvcr coinage
Bryan Democrat, and, in the main, accepts
az authoritative the standards of Democratic
regularity set up since 1890 by Tillman an(
his "wOol-hat" following. Yet his nomination
is an encouraging and wholesome sign of pro
test against the extra"aganccs of Tillman'
grotesQuc rule while by the weight of his per
sonal character and accomplishments. Judge
Earle's election will do much 10 restore thoS'
traditions of dignity and refinement Ion:
characteristic of South Cardinals public life
but now so grossly troddcn under foot by tn
vulgaran politicians who represent the much
| abused Palmetto commonwealth on the Ma
tional political Stage. After five years of puz
cling lethargy. local sentiment seems TO h
awakening TO the humiliatiOnS heaped by Till
mans mountebank leadership on the Statei
good name: and once fairly aroused. II is to b
hoped that public Indignation in South caro-
lima NAV not be satisfied until il has finally
tumbed the whole offensive structure of Till
manism to the ground