New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-30
Is TJIJUlN'S rifle ~ NIGER?

II looks as if the Hon. benjamin "Pitchfork
Tillman woId be obliged TO cancel his braggart
and impairment challenge 10 cxPresdent liar-
rison for Joint political debate. and hurry back
oSt-hasie to South Carolina on business OF an
other and far more imperative nature. Not that
| the ex-PreSi1ent could he expected TO dignity
| even with notice challenge from political
mountebanl. whose scrIrrilou> oratory has long
| nauscatcd public taste. and whose exhibitions
| of blackguardsm IN" floor of the nted
| States Senate have outraged every tradition or
| dgniiicd and courteous debate in that body But
| were the acceptance of Mr.. Tillmans yalnglorl-
Ols invitation even remotely probable Il pressure
| more urgent even than the desire OF posing on
| Northern platforms rs the champion OF Replldla
| ton and Anarchy would operate TO compel the
| South Carolina Senator's temporary retirement
| from the Bryan canvass. His continued an
>encrs from the State in the new role of Ma
| tiona leader have apparently sappcd his local
| power. and he returns now 10 face revolt IN
| the ranks of his "wOOl-hat" following. which
| threatens 10 disturb. if net 10 overthrow the
! unuueStionrd and almost autocratic authority
! which he has exercised in South Carolina politics
| for the last six years.
! For the first time since The very beginning of
| his rise TO power in the Palmetto State Mr.. TIL
mans political plans have gore awry. The seat
| in The United States Senate now held by J. h. NJ
| Irby is 10 be filled by the Legislature elected This
| fall and Mr. Tillman who for year or more
has not been speaking terms with Mr.. lrby,
| has designated n the latters successor John
| Gary Evans the present Governor of the State.
| Mr. Evans who * Il smooth-shaven. long-hared
statesman of the Boy Orator type. has won his
way To prominence by the most cringng sub
servency to the TimaH machine. and his al
ministratiop rs Governor. though highly salts
factory 10 his political master. has somehow
| failed 10 please large element even of the
"woolhat' Democracy on whose shoulders Till
man originally mounted TO power.
The all powerful Senator, before starting on
| his las trip North. announced that Evans was
! 10 be duly nominated 10 succeed lrby at the
| primary elections To be held on August -, and
| by his sycophant lieutenant. as well as by the
public generally. this ipSc dixit was accepted
as equivalent to an actual nomination. Two OPP
| position candidates remained in the field how
| ever and when the returns came in from the
| polling places last Tuesday and Wednesday it
| was found to the surprise and CONSERVATION OF
the State machine. that Governor Evans had
failed TO receive his expected majority. The
| total vote pollcd in the state was 17.1i3. Evans
| n;u .bN."II. MS tNlpI oUpOlNHl 'tu'ldl J'~'P'i
| H. Earle. had 3O.SIi. and the other opposition
candidate. John !. Duncan mad S.36o. Accord
ing 10 party rules in South Carolina. a candidate.
| in order 10 be nominated at primary election.
must receive majority of all the votes east.
| Governor Evans's total. 3S3a1 fell nearly IA
| thousand short of the mark. the combined op-
position polling 39.:h2. 4 new primary election
| will therefore be necessary: and. in the opinion
| of many conservative judges. a second trial OF
strength will only serve to emphasize the weak
ness of Evans's candidacy. and result in his
still more decisive defeat. Tillmans home coun-
| ~. Edgefird. went overwhelmingly against his
candidate for Senator on Tuesday. Evans poll
| ing less than onefourth of the total vote
That this sporadic and partial revolt fore
shadows / general uprising against the rule or
the coar>c-graincd dcmagOgue who for years has
tramprd the good name Of South Carolina in
the mire is. perhaps too violent an assumption
to be entertained with safety. The malady Of
which Tmansm is the outgrowth Is deep
seated in Palmetto State politics. and the hold
of the present formidable State machine is not
10 be- shaken. perhaps N a single effort. II VIII
be- a matter of genuine congratulate ton however.
if the present break in Mr.. Tmans' fences
proves serious enough to ,ngroSs his attention
for the rest Of the present campaign. and thus
remove from the National stage for certain
welcome interval one Of the most pcstiferous and
rcpcllani figures in current American politics.