The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-09-08
Senator M'Laurin
Speaks TO the People Through
the State.

Rennettsville, Sept. Ia large
crowd Of the admirers of Senator
McLaursn from the town and county
serenaded him at his residence this
evening amid great enthusiasm and
The senator on account
Of his health. could only express his
appreciation of the support and con-
6dence reposed in him by his neigh
bors and the people Of the State !,
pledged himself to try to prove
worthy Of the trust and predicted the
dawn of a new era in the State
Marlboro feels honored in honoring
her worthy son
Col Knox. Livingston was called
upon and made short speech to the
large crowd present. after which re-
freshments were served by the ladies
of the house.
The ladies' of Clarendon county
have sens Senator McLaurin a large
basket Of pretty flowers
Your correspondent interviewed
Senator McLaurin for The State as
follows
Senator McLaurin was found at his
home preparing to go to Mount Airy
White Sulphur Springs. The sena.
tor was asked about his health. and
replied that he was nearly well and
was satisfied that few weeks in the
mountains would restore him to his
accustomed good health
s.What about the election ?"
ssWell, it is not, as large vote as
usual, bus / attribute much OF that
to the supreme confidence of my
friends that / was bound to win any.
way. I am not surprised at the re-
suit, for up to the time of my illness
there was hardly an audience that
We addressed where it was not clear
II apparent that I had a majority.
My election, so far as I am concern
ed, is the elimination of four years
of work upon the lines of peace and
unity Ever since I wrote the
sAppelt letter. and inaugurated what
is known as the Forty movement I
have been looked upon as peculiarly
representative upon the Reform Side
Of the same ideas aud principles that
Earle did upon the Conservative side.
An attempt was made this year to
draw factional lines, but it utterly
failed Reformers aud Conservatives
worked side by side for my election,
and to day I stand as the representa-
tive of no faction. but of the reunited
white Democracy of South Carolina :"
What have you to say about the
campaign methods of your oppo-
nents ?"
well. do not care, in the hour
of triumph, while they arc drinking
the bitter dregs Of defeat, to be SO
angenerous as to refer to them in un-
kind terms. The people have turned
their pictures to the waIl' aud politi-
clans of ghe Irby Evans stripe are
done 10 South Caroline, let as hope,
forever. From henceforth It will
take brains, character and attain
ments to win distinction in this
State. No future campaigu will ever
be conducted upon vulgar and low
plane Go not think that the toma-
to fig syrup variety of craftsmanship
will long obtain, but men of more
ability, more information and greater
usefulness will be selected for public
Office and each tub will have to stand
on its own bottom
"There is one feature of this cam
paign that was peculiarly exasperat-
ing to me, to wit : the attacks which
were made upon Gov. Eilerbe. felt
that he was made the victim merely
because Of his appointment of me.
| defended him as best / could, and
my opponents soon found that Ellerbe
needed no defense | never witness-
ed handsomer thing than the re-
buke given Colonel lrby at Walballa
for his attack upon Ellerbe. These
attacks make my triumphant election
a yindica.ion Of EiIe.be as much 50
as of me. and | rejoice in it, because
| believe he has made conscientious
and true chief executive
"Whas about your tariff views ?'
3The election is a vindication of
my course and | want to say that
there were several splendid editorials
in The News and Courier on the tariff
question, which l have no doubt Goa
tribnted largely to my success The
News and Courier Of last Monday
was fine campaign paper, and the
editorial in The State running the