The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-09-09
TILLMAN TALKS.
HEAR WHAT he SAYS


Evans az Able and as Honest as
Earle.
Senator Tillman passed through Co.
lnmbia Saturday and gave the follow
ing for publication:
TO the public: I leave for Washing.
ton this afternoon unders orders from
the National Democratic Committee to
speak in Philadelphia Monday. 1 de-
sire to briefly notice before leaving the
State few point in the card of Gene
raj Earle, which I have just read. 1
expected storm of censure and criti-
cism to follow my letter of the End,
and was prepared to stand whatever
pelting I received in silence. Reluc-
tantly feel constrained to give atten-
ton to General Earle's letter because
honor the man and have studiously
tried to be fair and just to him. Be-
fore the fight is ended and the result
known I would set myself right before
the people and avoid, If possible, mis-
construction by the. people and a mis-
construction by General Earle himself.
What I write will be too late to affect
the result. 1t may, however, prevent
heart-burning afterwards.
Now, as to my writing the letter
which is called an attempt at "dicta-
tion." Every fair-minded man will
say that I could not help it. These
men who asked me to give an express
sion of opinion are my friends and not
Governor Evans's alone. They were
interested in the welfare of the Reform
party more than in Governor Evans,
and they told me that in addition to
the stories publicly uttered, many otn-
ers were circulated privately and let
ters purporting to come from me had
been used to sustain the claim that 1
favored General Earle's candidacy.
Mr.. Duncan had used my name in the
speeches in O totally unwarranted and
outrageous way to cast suspicion on
Evans and ALLEVIATE my friends.
Read Evans's Letter and Know why
Mixson Hated Evans.
Iknew MiXsou hated Evans because
of the change in the Dispensary man.
agement, and as he did not have the
manliness either to deny or substanti-
ate the charge, and Evans did not deny
it, many people were in doubt.
Why TiIIman is True to Evans.
I remembered that when there was a
bowling mob in the streets of Colum-
bia threatening my life Evans had
come to the Executive Mansion and
stood by me like true friend and
brave man; and when saw him
dogged with charges, many of which
I knew to be lies, and saw that some
shreWd schemers had encompassed
him in q network of suspicion, while
the enemies of the Dispensary and the
champions of Haskellism and Pope
ism were shouting their p9ans of tri-
ump in my ears, I would have been
false to my manhood, an to the many
tried and trusted lieutenants who
signed the letter asking my advice had
I remained silent.
TiIIman Will Stand to His Friend, no
Matter What the Consequence.
T know that I have many enemies
among those who claim to be Reform
ers. and many men who would have
the people believe they are my friends
have had their knives up their sleeves
for NV destruction when opportunity
presented. Had I been politician or
moral coward would have remained
silent, but 1 could not when thus
pressed, and am willing to bear the
consequences, let them be what they
NAV. have not tried to dictate to
ANYBODY, and have only offered advice
to those who asked it, and to those who
choose to follow it. My letter was in
tended to "explain threatened disas'
ter as much as to avert it," and point
out future dangers.
Judge Earle Should scOrn to Reap Il
Harvest From Foul Seed.
Now q word as to General Earle's
structures on my letter.
General Earle says: 1.-The Reformers
of South Carolina believe in fair play
and would ask the Senator II 1t ls fall
that he should now come into the helc
against me after the fight has beer
fought and my opponent virtually van
quished."
I answer: Does General Earle con
slider that he vanquished his opponent
fairly or is he getting the benefit OF MT
Duncan's campaign of slanderous III
situations and abuse? He started IL
by by asking some questions on that line
but stopping at once, and he should
scorn to reap harvest from such fou
seed. His most active supporters
whether Reformers or Conservatives
must acknowledge the truth OF tht
claim put forth by the News ,eTa,s ans
Courier and The State that "Duncar
did the work, while Earle got th'
votes.D Yet we are told by Genera
Earle that the victory is his and hi'
opponent is virtually vanquished:' 81 le d :!
General Earle cannot object to my en-
tering the fight at the request Of Of 81 81
many good Reformers when it is clea
that many thousands of Reformer
have been misled by Duncan's insinu
,t;o,u or6 If ua9 th0upht could DOin