The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-03-31
TiIman Sticks to Ii.
THE PARTY IS BOUND TO SPLIT.
HE COUNSELS A WITHDRAWAL BY
SILVER DEMOCRATS IF THEIR DE-
MANDS ARE NOT GRANTED.

HE COUNSELS A WITHDRAWAL B
SILVER DEMOCRATS IF THEIR DE
MANDS ARE NOT GRANTED.
Columbia Register.
Ever since the publication of Senate
Tillman'shletter to Rev. Mr.. Reid, @
Spartanburg County, in which he ad
vised bolt from the National Deme
cratic party If free silver was not mad
plank in the platform, there has beel
a great deal of discussion and uncer
tainty as to what wonld be done in thi
State. 1t has been said that Senator
Tillman had changed his opinion bu
The Register publishes communica
tion from him today in which he give,
his reason for leaving the party under
certain conditions. The communica
tiOn is by far the most important poll
tical document that has been writer
in years in this State and is bound tc
create decided sensation. The letter
Is as follows:
Editor Register: / have Just read
in your issue OF March goth the editor
| ial Stick to the Party %; and If were
disposed I could justly complain at It's
tenor. Brushing aside any personal
feeling as IL no concern to the people
and desiring only to present to them
In as brief space as possible the exact
status and the reasons actuating my
conduct, as their servant, ask space
to review the political situation and to
answer some of the statements in the
editorial in question.
will premise what shall say by
the remark that am not accustomed
snd 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, | have not at
tempted to make him the medium Of
communicating change of opinion,
however "commendable" such q
change may appear to the Editor of
The Register. AS q matter of fact,
Mr.. Latimer informs me that the COR
respondent 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 had conversa-
tion with the reporter in O private
way, which has been distorted and
grossly misrepresented. AS far myself
am only confirmed in believing the
advice contained 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 anOther-though
twain and the people of the State dis
tractcd and torn into fraction-I feel
that it is my duty to clearly define
what l conceive to be the best policy
for our people to pursue. l am not
striving to put down any one man or
put up another. / have no purpose or
intention of attempting the role of u
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 q heavy responsibility, l
shall speak and speak plainly. II my
advice is not needed l shall make no
complaint, but il may as we'll be dis
those who may endeavor 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
becomes necessary. l will not permit
the people to be misled and deceived
under pretence of loyalty to Democracy.
My duties here are OF @ character
which leave no leisure for 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 i can and
will go to South Carolina If it be neces-
sary. Now | will endeavor to state, so
that nobody can misunderstood or
pretend to misuuderstand, my own
M nd rrty 1a L..
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 principles wo
have been contending for. We should
send trusted delegation to Chicago
with platform of principles clearly
laid down by the State Convention as
basis for their action. And on the
one Overpowering and burning ques-
tion OF finance we should demand of
the National Democratic party clear
and unmistakable utterance for free
coinage OF silver at 16 to |, tho issue
of all paper money by the government,
in sufficient volume, and q system OF
banking which will provide against
the concentration and congestion of
money in the large cities to the detri-
ment and ruin of the country. There
are other planks of great Importance,
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 distract
ed by contending ideas just 80 are they
divided and defeated.
II we fail to get the National Con-
vention to give us platform OF the
character outlined and o loyal candi-
date on it we should withdraw. Why d?
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 Republic
anism. 1t is just as pronounced, as
irreconcilable, as bitter as the feeling
which existed at the Charleston Con
vention in 1860. The struggle then
was for the extension of slavery in the
Territories, and the party split asunder
nominating two sets OF candidates
Now the issue Ia whether money OF
the people shall rule. AS see it, it is
bound to split again when it meets In
convention. " Even though" to quote
the language falsely attributed to Mr.
Latimer, "the goldbugs are disposed
to deal fairly with the silver men and
to put up ticket to represent both