New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-03

Nstic leaders who have made their way the front
in National politics first sight rather puz
cling 70 account for. Among the other Populist ana
Democratic critics Of the Administration VINO nave
essayed tho role of demagogue In Congress-Allen
Pener Irby KYLE Jerry Simpson Bailey, OF
Texas and the rest-are men Of far better training
wider experience and more prepossessing ADDRESS
thar Tllman: yet of them has in his whole
public career the popular success or aroused
The public interest which the South Carolina Sen
a,or has already evoked by single experiment in
Ararchstic ordtory.
PERHAPS the real secret Of Mr.. Tilman's success
lies In his intense aggressiveness and in the supreme
self-conhdence with which mis- surprising political
,riumphs in South Carolina have inspired HIM
Entering the Senate the culnipating step In his
remarkable revolutionary agitator IN
State politics. he has apparently brought TO the
pursuit of demagogy here the same rude and
savage methods. the same personal audacity and
violence of manner which home have carried him
roughshod into power over the ruins Of South
Cardinals traditional aristocracy. Boorish. I'M
couth and repell&nt in bearing. the new Populist
leader from the Palmetto State has at bottom an
intensity of purpose. energy and genuine poiti-
cal skill which striknCly diferentate him from the
impractical and Utopian theorists who In other
States have drifted the front in the Populistic
movement This strength Of WILL coupled with an
experience Of many years as an autocratic admin
.straor State and party affairs in South Carolina
has made Tillman a new and much-needed force In
Populist politics. and It may account IN meas
ure for the holiness and vehemence Of his speech
Of Wednesday. as well as for the readiness with
which he has pushed his way ndisputably TO the
front as the real leader Of the group OF demagogc
agtators who strive 10 make decent politics bur-
den in both branches OF the present Congress
A glance at the causes of Mr. Tillmans rise TO
prominence in South Cardinals politics Will develop
many facts Of interest. and throw some light on his
nersonal history and characteristics Although
figure in modern demagogy apparently quite out OF
keeping with South Cardinals political life ana
traditions he is nevertheless legitimate product
of social conditions in that conglomerate little Com
monweath The Palmetto State is racialy part
English and part Huguenot in Its origin. and largely
Irish and Scotch-Irsh In It's later growth. Its most
elegant historian the poet-novest Simms. says
that II was full hundred years before the dissimi
lar elements mixed and became harmonious Some
others have thought that they coalesced per-
fectly but that the picturesque history OF the
colony and the State is due 10 the original dversi
ties Of the peoples who settled within It's borders
However that may be. the conservative brother OF
the South Carolina Senator. ex-Representative
George Tfllman. who bears such wonderful facial
resemblance TO the late Roscoe Conklng. once told
the writer that he did what the historians
said the fact evident 10 any observant man
who knew the people Of South Carolina that they
were now mostly of Irish. not Scotch-Irish. blood
and had all the physical. moral and mental charac-
terstics of the Irish race. Certainly their Donny-
brook Fair methods of conducting political cam
paigns and worrying "dispensary" police would
seem 10 warrant the elder Till,nan's statement.
But the social as well racial antecedents OF the
present governing people In South Carolina maze
their present idol-a poor clay one without comen-
ness or grace but very like It's rnakersthe inevitable
product OF Just such time this. After two CEN
turtles OF slavery with the educated and wealthy Iew
dominating the unkempt and ignorant many. tnere
must have come rude awakening Of the many to
the consciousness of power. perhaps without inc
ability TO exert IT wisely at first. Years passed
after the war OF secession. IN which South Carolina
led the way before there was any political change'
The people had nearly always been represented by
able and refined at this capital. ana the Gov
ernors and Judges OF the State ranked high among
those OF the Southern Commonwealths FROM 'he
Rutledses the Pinckneys, Calhoun Lowndes.
Cheves and Hayne down to Wade Hampton ana
Matthew c. Butler the oigarchy. as II was caileo.
produced capable and kept them at the heao Oh
affairs.
These leaders all were gentlemen. But the aboli-
ton OF the old social order bound TO produce the
very result which came between 1886 and 1890 the
political revolutions which then took place while not
obscure. cannot be appreciated by outsiders niue
familiar with the history Of the State and the social
conditions which obtained there. Suffice 1t 10 say
that Benjamin r. Tillman. plain farmer. who had
received only "A common school education, began IN
the former year to agtate for industrial and teen
meal education. AT first nothing else was de-
andcd The old leaders in the State refused TO help
the movement 1t eliminated. however. In the estao-
lishment by the Legislature OF the Clemson Agri-
cultural and Mechanical College at Fort E. Cal
houn's old home. But the farmers did not stop
there They demanded Of the Legislature and the
party leaders changes in the management Of AFFAIRS
and they finally secured them electng Mr. Tillman
Governor In 1890 and re-eectng him in 1892 by
large majority. The Dispensary law for the regu-
ation by the State OF liquor sales. the State owning
the dispensaries. was the browning feature. as he
views IT. of his administration. Then. not content
with the honors already conferred. he captured
the Senatorshp OF the United States from General
N. c. Butler
Some OF the pecuarites OF this leader OF tho
rural classes in South Carolina became conspicuous
during his candidacy for the Senate Day after day
he would meet Butler on the stump. and 1t was
rafting fire Of personalities from start to finish.
Butler had been a bra'se officer in the Confederate
: Army He had been shot almost to pieces and no
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