The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-09-15
TILLMAN NOT VERY DEAD.
THE LATE SENATORIAL PRIMARY
STRENGTHENS HIS HANDS.

THE LATE SENATORIAL PRIMARY
STRENGTHENS HIS HANDS.
RID of Evans and Irby--Two Loads have
be.u Taken from his Shouldars-McLsu-
rim not Tool, but Friend; that's Bet.
Joe Ohl, writing to the Atlanta Con-
stitu:ioD, 10 sneaking of the late prl-
mary, says Tillmap is far from being
politically dead. In reference to the
question, "Where does this Senatorial
race leave Tillman2' he says:
There are indications that the ques-
tison as being asked pretty generally
throughout the country. Able CORES
pondeuts here at the Capital OF the
State have had that question fired at
them from inquiring managing edi-
tors whose sanctums are located in
different cities of the North, and some
of these ir quiries have been so worded
as to indicate a belief on the part OF
the senders that McLaurin's endorse.
menf was black eye to the doughty
chief, whose power in South Carolina
has been so great.
Just what have been the replies OF
these several correspondents am not
in a position to know; but the where
does this leaves Tillman2" phrase OF
the South Carolina situation is inter
esting to the people of the South, as
we'll as to the Northern editors.
The answer is natural and pertin'
cut; the, question is clear to one who
will study the conditions here.
This endorsement OF McLaurln
strengthens Tillman's hands.
A great many people will not agree
with this analysis of the situation.
Tillrnan's enemies talk of it as the
beginning of the end of Tillmanism,
and point to the indignant outbursts
of Evans and Irby as evidences OF this.
They tell you that McLauriu's friends
have been suspicious of Tillman all
the time. and that the latter stayed
here ard fought for some one man in
stead OF going out Of the State to keep
from taking part in the fight. They
talk of opposition from the Evans and
Irby factions IS well as the Conserva'
tives, and point to Senator McLaurin's s
statement in the Constitution as mean,
ing declaration of war from the new
Senator.
This is the analysis which soma peo.
pie will give the South Carolina situa.
ton. and with these the wish is father
to the thought. They are talking
from the purely surface indications
and are arguing from wrong premises.
They are all wrong in the COL ciusions
which they draw with regard to the
McLaurin attitude, for they are all
wrong in their premises. True there
was a disposition on the part of some
| Of McLaurin's friends to wonder if
Tillman was going to keep hands off
as he had promised, particularly in
view OF the strong effort Evans was
making to create the impression that
he was the chosen one; but the returns
very promptly dispelled all doubts on
that score. They show that Tlllman
certainly let Evans paddle his own
canoe and they show that Tillman's
endorsement of McLaurin's tariff posi-
ton helped the junior Senator. True,
rillman did not openly endorse Nc.
Laurin, but he did strongly defend
his own tariff votes, and did say that
McLaurin's position on that question
was identical with his own. Not an
open endorsement, but more valuable
to McLraurin.
Nor was McLaurin's reference to
the 'smen who shouted loudest for
Tillman and reform" in any sense q
criticism of Tillman, as some OF the
latter's enemies have constructed it to
be. He was not criticising Tillnan,
but the little fellows who have attain
ed some sort of prominence by hang
ing to Tillmau's coat tails That was
legitimate criticism of McLaurin's op-
ponents, and the people of South Car
olina have endorsed it.
True--reverting again to the theory
of the Anti. .Tillmanites-Tillman will
lose the support of the Evans and 1rby
"fac,iors For this sad blow + 3 has
good reason to be profoundly thank
full. These are two political sins which
the people of South Carolina have
held against Tillman, and he is well
rid of them. To have had to carry
them in the past has been a burden,
and I SIN sure Tillman feels load has
been taken from his shoulder in their
retirement from public life. Neither
man would have been heard Of but
for Tilllnan; neither can hope to be a
political factor in the future. They
NAV fight Tillman all they choose
their opposition will bane6t, rather
than ipjure, him.
In q broad sense it is far better for
Tillman to have as his colleague in the
Senate a man who is there because CT
his own merits rather than a me too. "
No political tool can ever be of much
real value to his maker. 1t is the rule,
though there may be exceptions, that
the tools are men of little power,
though they may be men of merit
that when they utter wisdom they are
criticised as being mere mouthpieces,
ana whatever they say adds nothing
to the weight Of the same declaration
when it falls from the lips of their
principals; that whatever of folly they
may utter, of whatever mistakes they
may mako are at once charged up
against those principals.
The "me too" is an element OF
weakness, not y. of strength, to the po-
litical boss, however strong he him
self may be. Conkling would have