The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-04-01
The FirnneSs of TiIlman.
It is Well Maintained, up to
the Present Time

the Present Time
The Columbia Register yesterday
published the following letter from
Senator TilIman
Editor Register I have just read
in your issue of March goth the edito-
rial ..Stick to the Party" and if I
were disposed I could justly com
plain at it's 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 status ard the
reasons actaating my conduct, as
their servant, AJAX space to review
the political situation and to snswer
some of the statements in the edito-
rial in question.
I shall premise what shall say by
the remark that | am not accustomed
and have never felt it necessary to
have my views on public q3estions
reach the people of the State
through say other mouth than my
own and while Mr. Latimer and I
are personal and political friends, l
have not attempted to make him the
medium of communicating a change
of opinicn, however "commefdable"
such a change may appear to the
Editor Of the Register. As matter
of fact, Ma. Latimer informs me that
the correspondent of the News and
Courier, with his usual inaccuracy,
has done him an injustice Re did
not speak the words or suthorize the
statement credited to him. He had
conversation with the reporter in a
private way. which has been distort-
ed and grossly misrepresented. AS
for myself am only coa6rmed in
believing the advice contained in my
letter to Mr.. Reid to be wise and the
best course to follow.
MONEY THE MAIN STAKE.
In the condition of unrest sn South
Carolina and mid the contentions of
ambitious politicians seeking to gain
advantage of one another-though
the Reform aaovement shall be split
in twain and the people of the State
distracted and torn into factions-l
feel that it is my duty to clearly de-
fine what conceivesa be the best
policy for our people to pursue. /
am not striving to put down any one
man or put up another. | have no
purpose or intention of attempting
the role of political director; but
as man whom the people have hon
ored, and in whose judgment and
leadership they kave reposed a de-
gree of confidence and trust, impos-
ing heavy responsibility, l shall
speak and speak plainly If my ad-
vice is not needed { shall make no
complaint, but it saay as we'll Se
distinctly understood that in this
crisis those who may endeayor to
divide the Reformers or absolutely
surrender to the influence which bas
destroyed she national Democratic
party will have to meet the issue on
the stump if it becomes necessary.
I will noe permit the people to be
mislead and deceived under pretence
Of loyalty 20 Democracy. My duties
here are Of character which leave
no leisure fos campaign speaking in
South Carolina and [ have accepted
Invitations to make addresses in St.
Louis, Denver and New York city in
the near future, but can and will!
go to South Carolina if it be neces.
say Now viii. endeavor to state,
so that nobody can misunderstood Or
pretend to misunderstood, my owa
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 to represent
them are true and loyal to the prin-
ciples we have been contending for.
We should send trusted delegation
to Chicago with the platform of prin-
ciples 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 Dem
ocratic party clear and upmistaka-
bic utterance for free coinage Of
siver at l6 to /, the issue OF all
paper money by the government, in
sufficient volum, and a system of
banking which will provide against
the concentration and congestion Of