Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-03-27
TILLMAN STANDS FIRM.
Says It Must Be Free Silver
or a Bolt.
NO DOUBT AS TO his POSITION.
Meant What He Said When He
Said What He Did.
Columbia Register. "wednesday.

Senator Tillman had changed his opin-
ion, but The Register publishes COM
munication from him today, in which
he gives his reason for leaving the par.
ty under certain conditions. The COM
munication is by far the most import
ant political document that has been
written in years in this State, and is
bound to create a decided sensation.
The letter is as follows !.
Editor Register I have just read in
your issue of March Goth, the editorial
'sStick to the Party"; and if I were
disposed could justly complain at its
tenor. Brushing aside any personal
feeling as of no concern to the people
and desiring only to present to them in
as brief space as possible the exact stat
us and the reasons actuating my con-
duct, as their servant, I ask space to re-
view the political situation and to an
swer some of the statements in the ed
itorial in question.
I will premise what / shall say by
the remark that I am not accustomed
and have never felt it necessary to
have my views on public questions
reach the people of the State through
any other mouth than my own and
while Mr.. Latimer and ! are personal
and political friends, I have not at
tempted to make him the medium of
communicating change of opinion,
however "commepdable'' such change
may appear to the editor of The Reg
lister. As a'matter of fact, Mr.. Lati-
mer informs me that the correspondent
of The News and Courier, with his
usual inaccuracy, has done him an
injustice. He did not speak the words
or authorize the statement credited to
him. He bad a conversation with the
reporter in private way, which has
been distorted and grossly misrepre-
sented. As for myself I am only con-
firmed in believing the advice contain
ed in my letter to Mr.. Reid to be wise
and the best course to follow.
In the condition of unrest in South
Carolina and mid the contentious of
ambitious politicians seeking to gain
advantage of one ancther-though
the Reform movement shall be split
in twain and the people of the State
distracted and torn into factions-I
feel that it is my duty to clearly define
what I conceive to be the best policy
for our people to pursue. I am not
striving to put down any one man or
put up another. I have no purpose or
intention of attempting the role of a
political dictator; but as man whom
the people have honored, and in whose
Judgment and leadership they have re-
posed degree of confidence and trust,
imposing heavy responsibility, 1
shall speak and speak plainly. If my
advice is not needed I shall make no
complaint; but it may as well be dis
tinctly understood that in this crisis
those who may eDdeavor to divide the
Reformers or absolutely surrender to
the influence which has destroyed the
National Democratic party, will have
to meet the issue on the stump if it be-
comes necessary. I will not permit the
people to be misled and deceived under
pretence of loyalty to Democracy.
NV duties here are Of character
which leave no leisure for campaign
speaking in South Carolina, and l have
accepted invitations to make addresses
in St. Louis, Denver and New York
city in the near future; but can and
will 20 to South Carolina if it be
necessary. Now I will endeavor to
state, so that nobody can misunder-
stand, or pretend to misunderstood,
my own position, and give the reasons
why, in my judgment, this policy is
the only wise and proper one. Every
white Democrat in South Carolina
should participate in the election of
delegates to the May convention and
see that the men trusted 10 represent
them are true and loyal to the princi-
ples we have been contending for.
we should send trusted delegation
to Chicago with platform of princi-
ples clearly laid down by the State
convention as basis for their action.
And on the one overpowering and
burning question of finance we should
demand of the National Democratic
party q clear and unmistakable utter
ance for free coinage of silver at 16 to 1,
the issue of all paper money by the
government, in sufficient volume, and
a system of banking which will provide
against the concentration and conges-
tion of money in the large cities to the
detriment and ruin of the country.
There are other planks of great impor-
tance, but they are few, and the
platform should be brief and clear cut.
The masses never are capable of
studying more than one great question
at time, and in proportion as they
are distracted by contending ideas
Just so are they divided and defeated.
If we fail to get the National con-
vention to give us platform of the
character outlined and loyal candi-
date on it, We should withdraw. Why?
Because in the present condition of the
Democratic party in the United States
there is absolute antagonism of pur-
pose and feeling existing between the
two wings. The difference is as great
as between Democracy and Republi-
canism. 1t is just as pronounced, as
CONTINUED ON SECOND PAGE.