New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-13
DOWNFALL OF TILLMANISM
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RECENT ELEC-
TION IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
THE DAYS OF THE BLATHERSKITE SENATOR'S
AscENDANCY IN HIS STATE NUMBERED
sTINGING REBI'KE TO Ills VIC
LENCE AND INDECENcY.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE


Washington Sept FL am glad" said South
Caroinian yesterday. "the election In South caro-
lima turned on. as it did First. the State gets
Senator whom it will be proud of In place OF lrby
Evans as Governor. has brought disgrace upon the
Commonwealth IN that matter of the Soo ana other
acts connected with the dispensary. Judge Joseph
H. Earle is a gentleman and an able and expert
enced man. The whole State. reformers as well as
conservatives Republicans well as Democrats.
can truthfully after lie takes his seat In Con-
gress: We have Senator worthy or the state
Second the power OF the Tillman autocracy IL badly
fractured. if not finally smashed. Certainly 1t Is
significant that the popular response to Tillmans
pronunciamento virtually directing the reformers
10 cast their ballots for Governor Evans In order 10
save the reform movement should be the triumphant
election Of Evans's opponent 1t Is rebuke to Till
mans boss methods. Ear,es supporters were made
Up OF reformers and conservatives.
THE significance OF the election is In the denial
of these reformers that Evans's promotion was
necessary to the reform movement Or. stating the
proposition another way 1t was the afirmance of
belief that the defeat of Evans was either neces-
sary 10 the life of the reform movement or that the
movement would better he killed than promoted by
such things as Tillman proposed. The recent ex-
posures OF the corruption and acknowledgement OF
the liquor dspensary taken In connection with Till
mans loss OF prestige since he went 10 Washing
ton affected the result undoubtedly. The people Of
South Carolina will not condonc official dishonesty
They will not brook the dictaton OF n leader who
offers them a choice between dLshonor and defeat.
In fact they have accepted defeat for them
selves but have inflicted one upon the little gang.
headed by Tillman who have destroyed the influence
OF the State -
IL IS the opinion here that Tman's proclamation
and Evanss recent statements have tended 10
weaken the latter more than the exposures them
selves Many OF the old followers Of Tilman and
Evans became exasperated and resolved to elect
Earle at all hazards. The general judgment Is that
Tilman has been well served for his violence and in
decency also that the present rebuke is not likely
10 be the last and that the days OF his ascendancy
at home are numbered. Sound Money Democrats
rejoice because Tillman has been the most blatant
Of all the silver champions In the United states.
Silver Democrats, with the exception OF extremists.
are delighted because his course has brought dis
credit upOn the silver movement. Republicans are
congratula ting themselves the prospect OF
better state Of politics. which may prepare the way
for an Intelligent and highly respectable Repub-
lican party in the Palmetto State
Judge Earle the successful man. is silver man.
but not an extremist. He is able jurist. who has
had experience In public life. having been Tiilmans
competitor when the latter first ran for Governor.
II is predicted by those who know him we'll that the
State will be admirably represented by him In the
senate Under the Tilman regime the representa-
ton has been disgrace TO the State and the coun-
try Irby is a fgurehead. and not much even of
that. Tman Is the great American blaherskite