The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-09-16
After The Primary.
Columbia Register, -iuguSt II.

ColumJia Register, IAugust IL.
The political smoke has cleared away
from Tuesdays battle Of the ballots and
now satisfactory observation ofits result
| may be made. at the same time, an
analysis of the causes may prove interest
ing. Judge Joseph II. Earle has been
! Carolina to succeed Hon. John l.. M. IT.
by as United States Senator. 1T was re-
ported that Senator Irby said at one time
be usually wore his shoes two seasons,
but if he could not retain his Senatorial
| brogans' for another term, he'd be blank
ed if any other Reformer should wear
them. He did not even attempt to re-
tain possession of his Senatorial bro
gans," but retired from the race before
the first bell was rung. He saw that he
would be distanced if he persisted in run
ming. One reason why Irby saw defeat
staring him in the face was that he had
tried to elevate himself by showing other
men Gown. Whenever he imagined he
tive rival, his jealousy led him 20 attempt
to undermine that mama position and in
fuence. In this work he had some
ready, plant and uuscru pulous tools.
Nor was this effort confined to men
Newspapers which would not become his
organs felt the weight of his displeasure.
The Register, because it would not sink
from the high level of an independent
Democratic newspaper. was schemed
against and worked against, but the Reg
lister is stronger than ever, and SO are
most of the prospective rivals whom Sen
ator Irby wished politically buried It
was rumored that the reason of Irby's
support of Evans for Governor was that
he, had been promised that Evans would
not oppose his re- election, but would use
elected, to aid Irby to retain his "Senator-
ial brogans." Be that as it may, the re-
turns from the up-country indicate that
Irby's friends were not inactive-they
believed Evans had been guilty oftreach-
cry to Irby, and they punished him by
voting for Earle. Another factor in the
polling of such big vote for Earle in the
Piedmont section was the defeat Of Hon.
John e. Breazeale, of Anderson, when
candidate for election as Clrcuit Judge.
Mr.. Breazeale was an original Reformer,
vet Gen. Jos. II. Earle defeated him for
Judge. It was reported in the up coun-
try that the same Influences which were
promoting Evans Senatorial candidacy
were largely responsible for Breazsale's
defeat Many Piedmont Reformers rea-
soned thus: If Earle is q good enough
Reformer with whom to defeat an origi-
nal Reformer like Breazeale, he is good
enough Reformer with whom to defeat
Evans, who claims to ab initio mem ber-
ship in the movement have been chal-
lenged. Then in the Pee Dee country,
Evans vote was much smaller than it
extent initiated Irby's policy of attempt
ing to advance him self by showing others
down. General McLaurin was looked
upon by both Irby and Evans as possi-
bic rival and both sought to crush him.
The consequences are instructive to the
student of political history, especially to
him who entertaina the idea of actively
entering the political arena. McLaurin
has Just been trium phartly renominated
for Congressman without opposition,
| while both Evans and Irby are booked
for the political "retired list' at the expi-
ration Of their present terms of office
While McLaurin has been out OF the State
nearly all the summer and has taken no
hand in the Senatorial fight his friends
saw and resented the antipathy to him
and voted against Eyans. One of the
chief causes contributing to the defeat Of
Evans was the fact of his having been the
beneficiary of the ColleSon plan primary
by the operation of which large element
of the Democracy Of the State was debsr-
red from any practical participation in
the choice of the party's gubernatorial
nominee. The Conservatives would not
vote in the primary which really named
Evans for Governor, and thousands of
Reformers would not vote in it because
they considered it undemocratic and re-
garded it with suspicion as trap. 1t
may be safely asserted that nine tenths
OF the opponents of the Colleton plan pri-
mary cast their ballots against Evans in
the two primaries. Tillman's appeal in
behalf of Evans could have no effect with
the opponents of The Colleton plan pri-
mary, because they. regard him as parti-
ceps criminis That appeal was unfortu::
nate in many respects it determined
many " no were wagering to cast their
ballots for Earle, and afforded an oppor
tunity for Tillman's opponents to charge
him with attempted bossism and popping
the lash. It did not help Evans and it
hurt Tillman, for in writing that letter he
was inconsistent, having criticised Cen
eral Hampton for taking part in fight
among Democrats. Many Of the Reform
leaders were out Of harmony with Evans
and either held aloof or worked for
Earle. In 1894 Evans made q charge
against the Register and evaded making
square, manly apology when called to
time. Therefore, though the Register
treated him with absolute and scrupulous
fairness, it could not champ his cause
without loss Of self-respect.
To such causes AL the above, more than
to any belief in the charges and insinua-
tions against Governor Evans, the Regis
ter attributes his defeat. OF course some
people believed those charges, but not
enough to have affected the result, If
Evans had not been unpopular on other
scores with MANY Retormers. Earle's
election is not Conservative triumph.
II he had posed as Conservative candi-
date the factional lines would have been
drawn and he would have been defeated.
In every way it has been demonstrated in
the recent primary that the Reform fac
ton is stronger thar ever, mainly because
of its increasing Gberality. In but few
counties could q nan have been elected
who assailed Reform principles. Even
Sumter, a Conservative County, gave ma
jority against one ofits own sons, @ Conser-
vative, who opposed DR.. Stokes for elec-
tion to Congress. Reformers voted tor
Earle and Conservatives voted for Evans,
it being regarded as a contest between
two Democrats standing upon identlcally
the same platform. Earle sympathized
WILL LuG llSlOl LII luONouOub llOl1 tlO DO-
ginning, 30 much so that in 1883 the Re-
formers wanted to nominate him for Gov
ernor, an honor which unfortunately he
could not accept as he had already promis-
ed his support to Gov. Richardson, whose
personal friend he was. In 1890 he opposed
Tillman because his office was attacked
in the general indictment brought by the
Reformers in the Shell manifesto and he
had to defend himself, being conscious of
entire rectitude. When Tillman got
nominated, he gave him his support and
urged all Democrats to bow to the will of
the majority. lie frequently deprecated
the strife in the Democratic household
subsequent to 1890 and appealed for peace
and unity. The Reformers recognized
his sympathy with them and elected him
Judge over an original Reformer. His
refusal to advocate keeping up strife and
bitterness earned bim the enmity of the
hotheads among tne Conservatives who
professed to despisp him as traitor and
turncoat because he was man and
Democrat. When lie announced his SEN
atorial candidacy, he wrote the people of
South Carolina letter in which he plant
ed himself squarelv upon those princi-
pies in national politics endorsed by the
Reformers and pledged himself to second
Tillman's efforts to carry them out. No
factional line could be drawn against such
a man, none was drawn and if his election
l., fa actIonaI triumoh IL ia q RefOrm fri