The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-09-15

active participation went, whatever of
incidental influence he exer.ed was
for McLaurin; he gets rid OF Evans
and lrby, which is gain worth count
ing as such.
OF the three things which his enc
mics hold most ag ainst him. be is well
rid of two. The taird-snd the chief
sin in the eyes of those who fight him
most bitterly-is the dispensary. That
is a very live issue in South Carolina,
but in no way did it enter into this
campaign. Some Conservatives who
are not at all conservative in their dis
likes or their actions refused to vote
for MtLaurin because he voted with
Tillman for what is known as the Lat
inner bill, and in doing that they SIM
ply showed their ignorance Of the pro-
visions of that amendment to the al
ready existing Wilson law; but with
that exception the dispensary question
did not in any way enter into the
campaign. What figure it may cut in
Tlllman's future campaigns it is Tor
the future 10 say.
Old Prof. Galphin, who was the
most famous educator OF South Caro-.
lima before and following the war, and
whose fame extended throughout the
South was wont to brae greatly OF the
famous public men who had received
their education at his hands. 1t was a
long list of Senators and Governors
and leaders of the old regime, and he
had good right to be proud of the
names. But" he would always add,
1.-The smartest boy ever had IS living
on farm in Edgefield county. His
name is Ben Tillman."
McLaurin's splendid victory is a
handsome endorsement for Gov. Ell
lerbe, who appointed McLaurin to fill
the place made vacant by the death OF
Senator Earle. He was able to make
high class appointment and at the
same time confer an honor on friend,
and was naturally deeply interested In
McLaurin's success.
The Senator's physical breakdown
undoubtedly made him many votes.
The character of the fight that was b..
ing made on him was understood by
the people, and that desire to see fair
play which is so strongly imbedded in
the heart OF every Southerner created
feeling in his behalf with many peo-
pie who had been Indifferent as to the
result. When he fell, and it was sean
that his life had been endangered by
this prize fight, campaigning, his op
ponents came in for much criticism.
Just now there is much discussion OF
knock-down-and drag out campaign
ing which has been so long in vogue
in South Carolina, and if there is any
substance to what is being said now,
that styls of campaigning is doomed.
Certain it is that the man who resort.
ed not only to Misrepresentation. but
to the lowest of mud.slinging and VII
lifcation. were turned down; he who
conducted clean campaign, using the
weapons of the others only when alb
solutely necessary in self-6efence, was
honored.
South Carolina has seen much OF
this campaigning in the past. The
fashion is to charge it all up to Till
manism, bit these methods far ante
date TillmaD, and,a knowledge OF that
fact makes the prediction that the end
is in sight a rather hazardous one.
Just now the people ara talking that
way. The joint debates were slimly
attended and there was no such inter.
est in mud. Singing and hurting OF
epithets that there has been in other
campaigns. Still this tendency to-
ward peace is probably temporary.
There are men here willing to proph-
esy that the end OF such campaigning
is in sight, but the millennium has
not been reached, and these prophets
will probably forget all about it by
next year.
However, one thing is certain. 1t
would be well if these prophets were
honored-and folio wed-in their coun'
try.