The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-02-05

and his patriotic and sympathetic
utterances during his first admins
tration. in behalf of the agricultural
classes gave him great strength; out
there was no doubt that money was
used lavishly aud that there were
pledges made in regard to the distri-
button of patronage as means of
controlling delegates and securing
votes.
There was plain evidence to show
that the President himself had
weakened on the question of tariff
reform and the financial plank was
cunningly drafted SO as to satisfy
both gold and silver men with the
Intention that it should be inter
preted, if Cleveland was elected, as
meaning the cessation of silver
coinage and the forcing of the gold
standard upon the people. In-
terpreted according to the plain
use and meaning Of English words,
the platform meant bimetallism. but
there were conditions and ambigu-
Gus phrases which had afforded an
excuse to the elastic conscience of
the bul!headed and self idolatrous
man, who holds the reins of power
tc pursue the policy he has.
Whether the scheme was agreed to
by the President in person or not
and whether he bound himself in
plain terms or not would perhaps
aever be known. His course had
been answering in the absolute con-
tradiction of his public professions
and letter of acceptance. The ex-
pectations and interests Of the peo-
pie had been forgotten and ignored.
The party which elected him had
been betrayed and it's banners which
foated so triumphantIy in the bleezes
of 1892, now trailed in the dust of
defeat. The practical destruction of
the party had been accomplished.
Mr.. Tillman quoted from Mr..
Cleveland's letter of acceptance and
commented upon it in these words:
There is nothing here which
would warrant one to expect that
the leader of the Democratic party,
its head and guide. would ignore
the platform and treat with contempt
the trusted lieutenants whom the
people had seut to the national capt
tai to assist in appointing the party's
policy. The language would lead US
to expect the very reverse How
many Of these reasonable expecta.
tions have been met? How many
of you, men grown old and gray in
the service of the party and the
nation, men who were. it's trusted
leaders before Cleveland was ever
heard of, how many, say have been
called into his councils !? If any,
speak. shall be glad to hear them.
Where has this man sunk his per-
sonality? Whom has be consulted ?
Whose advice has he recognized !
None but that of the bootlicks, who
have crswled on their knees for the
crumbs of patronage and betrayed
their own constituents for the Offices
in his gift.
"In the entire history of this
country the high Office of President
has never been so prostituted, and
never has the appointing power been
so abused. Claiming to be the apos-
tie of civil service reform, he has de-
bauched the civil service BY making
appointments only of those whose
sponsors would surrender their man
hood, and. with bated breath walk
with submissive head in his pres
ence. With relentless purpose he
has ignored his oath of Office to up.
hold and obey the law and has paid
out gold instead of coin and issued
bonds to buy more gold, by both
actions overriding the law and giving
no heed to the interests of any but
his moneyed friends-I might say his
owners or partners.
"While to this besotted tyraut,
coin has come to mean gold alone, he
cannot by his mere 'ipse dixi.'
change the law of this land and per-
vert the plain meaning of the Eng
lish language. His Republican
partners in crime who set the un.
rigteous and unlawful example which
he has so persistently followed and
encouraged him in it to the utmost
extent. cannot escape the condemna-
tion of the honest, working, business
men Of the country as equal partners
in his guilt.
The repeal of the Sherman law. it
was asserted, which was the first
point of attack Of this "unholy al
lance" !" was only accomplished
through the aid and in conjunction
with a majority of the Republican