The herald., 1896-05-08
TILLMANISM

There 10 one man in the United States
senate who has been roasted until by
this time he should be good and brown,
| and that is the Individual who is desc
Grating the seat once filled by John c.
Calhoun. People of all parties and OF
no party have united in unsparing de-
nunciation of Tillman Of South Caro-
lima If ever a man disgraced his citi-
zenship and misused the opportunities
of his position, Tillman has. He has
not, since entering public life, been a
leader of thought, an elucidator of pub
lie questions, but a senseless agitator
and reckless slanderer. He has in his
discussions in and out of the senate
substituted bald misstatements for
argument and vituperation for logic.
There may be differences of opinion as
to whether he is a fool or a vulgar
knave, but there should be no differ
enoes about the proposition that he is
out of his natural sphere when he is
seated in the American congress. Such
a man discredits not only the govern
ment of which he is member but any
cause that he may represent. In the
minds OF decent, fair-ninded people he
prejudices any side that he may es-
pouse.
OF the many neat and timely thrash
ings Tillmanism and Tillman have re-
ceived, the following from the Kansas
City Star is one of the keenest The
Star says:
Tillmanism is an evil for which there is
no accounting and apparently no prevent
i've. Like the locusts and the yellow fever
1t comes ct intervals, does all the harm
a hfihf narinT ~
pears. Its ruling characteristic is black
g9ardism: It prides itself in the scurrility
the mistaken idea that brutality is cour-
age. 1t Is an aggravated and offensive
form of demagogy. which appeals to the
passions of the ignorant and the super
stitions of the uniearned. 1t is malignant
in that it's aim is to destroy by insidious
processes. 1t Is pestilential in that it capti-
thoughtless. 1t is cruel in that it poisons
indiscriminately and destroys its devotees
as well as its enemies.
Senator Tillman gave an exhibition of
this form of ruftianism In the Senate yes
terday. His foul mouth emitted invective
as sewer discharges filth. He denounced
the secretary of the treasury and some of
she sspsofs IN and un
derelict drifts on the surface of the sea.
lie was incoherent, incongruous and with
out the direction of sense OF, reason. Ac-
cording to natural history. there is a ser
pent which in its blind passion will bite
its own body. Tillman yesterday ap-
preached this point In his mad frenzy,
and, though he refrained from attacking
himself, he assailed the party the princi-
pies of which he advocates and the follies
of which he eXemplifies. 1t was a shame
full exhibition of blackguardism and a hu-
initiating spectacle for the contemplation
of the world. But. as no one ought to
plunge into a cesspool, no one ought to
have answered the insane vaporings of
Tillman. Senator Hill made a grave mis-
take in dignifying his diatribe by replying
to it.
Happily Tillmanism is a transient evil
in this country. The healthful atmos-
phere of political and religious freedom is
a potent remedy against the permanency
of this noxfouS element. Supported by the
agency of party spoils, It will prosper for
a time. but, encouraged by temporary sue
cess. it will soon o'erleap itself and in its
blind passion for power plunge into bot
tomless pit of dishonor and obscurity. The
sober second thought of the American
people, North. South, East and West. is
unalterably against blackguardism and
mediocrity. Tillman may flourish for
time. and Tillmanism prevail temporarily.
But it will fall inevitably, in"Xorably and
irretrievably. This is as IT. Of Tillman
as it is of those who initiate T. M in speech
and action. It is the logic of good citizen
ship that demagogy cannot endure, and
the perpetuity OF the republic is the proof.