The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-09-09

We will not be responsible for the post
tive excellence of che men We vote for,
but of their comparative merits We will
give our testimony at the ballot box.
Tnis manner of campaign. restricted
though the voters be in their choice, ls
not. at jupcture like the present,
without it's compensatious Deprived
of the occasion and excuse for attack
Jog the 'Antis,' the Reform candidates
have had to attack each otber With
out the cohesion. the resulting impulse.
which factional alignment would give.
they have 10 many cases fallen apart
and set about exposing each others de.
linquencies For lack of 'Conserva-
tivel sinners so assail, Reform sinners
have been sccurged We are aware
that Two years, and even four ago,
there were some who regarded this
absteution of anti Tillman candidates
as proper policy, but the time was not
ripe, either in 1892 or in 1894 The
passions Of 1890 were still too hot and
the Reform discipline still too strict:
the system of military promotion had
not been too Extensively developed, and
the power of bossism was still unim-
paired 1t was not uutil this year that
the experiment of non resistance could
have fair trial" /"
This shows the reliance placed by
Gonzales on the campaign of SANDER
inaugurated first by his own and other
Anti papers aud followed on the stump
by Mr.. Duncan.
From the same editorial we give
another extract, showing the estimate
placed upoo the Reformers in general,
who are the present evils -
I'VE must all face the fact that the
regeneration Of our politics iu South
Carolina to that state in which capacity
virtue. integrity, fairness aud manli-
ness shall replace the present evils of
iocapacisy, dishonesty. ostracism and
subserviency. depends upon the spirit
and action of part Of the 'Rsformers'
themselves. State. Aug 25.
Il will be very gratifying, no doubt,
after Evans has been defeated by their
votes, to be laughed at by Gonzales
and others for beiug such dupes.
This is ao editorial from the News
aud Courier of Aug. 80. in which Mr.
Duncan is praised for making charges,
not one of which be ever proved
True, be did not receive large
vote himself 10 the State. but be re-
ceivvd enough votes to defeat his chief
opponent, and he assisted Judge Earle
audoabtedly 10 the campaign which
they made together against Evans and
for the honor OF the State"
La the primary election the county Of
Nawberry, where Duncan was born aad
raised aud where the people know him
best, polled the following vote: Evans,
918; Earle. 779: Duncan, 233 The
estimate placed upon bin by his owu
people must have weight with every
fair man, but they recognized his being
a tool, and rebuked him accordingly.
The grave charge made by MIR. Dun
can that Governor Evans bad accused
Senator Tillman, while governor, of
having ''illed bis pockets With whiskey
rebates was not denied by Governor
Evans in direct terms. This may have
been a mistake. but that does not prove
it's truth, and vas due to the fact that
Governor Evans had been ADVISED by
Senator Tillman and others to ignore
Mr.. Duncan and all his charges. Sen
ator Tillman has been absent from the
State, making speeches in behalf Of
Bryan. Oo his returu be gave out the
following interview
From the State. Aug. 29
"Senator Tillman's Interview-I
don't consider tie people lacking io
common sense and the realization of
their duty to themselves aud those they
have hopored to need aoy advice or
dictatiou from me. have had nolhiog
to do with the fighting up to this time,
and expect to take 90 hand 10 it now.
notwithstanding this, the opposition
press are claiming Evans failure to be
nominated Oh the first vallot as vic.
tory over 'bosslsm' and if he is de-
festcd, | suppose it will be considered a
victory over Tllmanisn
Il shall only make alusion to one
phase Of the fight and that is to ex-
press uuqualiGedly my belief that he
(Evans) has 6eeu grossly slaude:ed in
more particulars than one, but espe-
cially in the charge which DuOcan says
Mixson makes [ don's believe be
ever said anything Of the KIDD, or ever
thought ,ba, got any whiskey rebates.
Aud it any of mV friends have re-
sented this supposed attack On me, they
have done hin an Injustice / say this
because otherwise would be lacking