The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-04-01
TILLMAN STICKS TO IT.
MUST LEAVE THE PARTY IF FREE
SILVER is NOT GIVEN.

The Party Bound to SpIit--The Senator
Claims That IN View of Past Events No
Fair Dealings May be Expected From
Gold Bugs.
CoLuEB1A, S. c., March 25.-Ever
since the publication of Senator Till,
mans letter to Rev. Mr.. Reid of Spar,
tanburg County. in which he advised
a bolt from the National Democratic
party if free silver was not made q
plank in the platform, there has been a
great deal of discussion and uncer'
tainty as to what would be done in this
State. 1t has been said that Senator
Tillman had changed his opinion, but
The Register .pub ublishes communica-
ton from him to-day in which he give;
his reason for leaving the party under
certain conditions. The communica-
ton is by far the most important poll
tical document that has been written
in years in this State and is bound to
create decided sensation The letter
is as follows:
Editor Register: I have just read in
your issue of March 2Oth the editorial
''Slick to the Party; and ii were dis
posed I could justly complain at its
tenor. Brushing aside any personal
feeling as of ND 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, l 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 I am not accustomed
and 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 I are personal
and political friends, I have not at.
tempted to make him the medium of
communicating a change Of opinion,
however ''commendable" such a
change may appear to the Editor of
The Register. AS a 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 a converse
ton with the reporter in a private
way, which has been distorted and
grossly misrepresented. As for my
self 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 the
Reform movement shall be split in
twain and the people of the State dis.
tracted and torn into factions-I feel
that it is my duty to clearly define
what I conceive to be the best
policy for our people to pursue. am
not striving to put down any one man
or put up another. I have no pur-
pose or intention OF attempting the
role of a political dictator; but as a
man whom the people have honored,
and in whose judgment and leader
ship theyhave reposed degree of con-
fdence and trust, imposing heavy
responsibility, I shall speak and speak
plainly. If my advice is not needed l
shall make no complaint, but it may
as we'll be distinctly understood that
in this crisis those .who may endeavor
to divide the Rsformers or absolutely
surrender to the influence which has
destroyed the national Democratic par
ty will have to meet the issue on the
stump if it becomes necessary. I will
not permit the people to be misled and
deceived under pretence Of loyalty to
Democracy. My duties here are of
a character which leave no leisure for
campaign speaking in South Carolina
and I have accepted invitations to
make addresses in st. Louis Denver and
New York city in the near future, but
I can and will 60 to South Carolina if
it be necessary. Now I will endeavor
to state, so that nobody can misunder-
stand of pretend to misunderstood,
my own 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 Conventiog and
see that the men trusted to represent
them are true and loyal to the princi.
Piles we have been contending for.
We should send trusted delegation
to Chicago with a platform of princi-
Piles clearly laid down by the State
Convention as a basis for their action.
And on the one overpowering and
burning question of finance we should
demand of the National Democratic
party a clear and unmistakable utter
ance for free coinage of silver at 16 to
1, the issue of all paper money by the
government, in sufficient volume,
and a system of banking which will
provide against the concentration and
congestion of money in the large cities
to the detriment and ruin of the coun-
try. 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 distracted by contending ideas just
so are they divided and defeated.
If we fail to get the National Con-
vention to give US platform of the
character outlined and loyal candi-
date on it we should withdraw. Why2
Because in the present condition of the
Democratic party in the United States
there is absolute antagonism