The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-07-14
M'LAURIN'S SPEECH.
IN WHICH HE GIVES HIS VIEWS ON
THE TARIFF.
Pays a Deserved Tribute to the La e Sena-
tor Esrle-Ssys He Is Under NO Pledge
or Promise OF Any Kind.

tor Esrle-says He Is Under No Pledge
or Promise OF Any Kind.
We present below Senator McLau'
rims speech at Sumter in order thai
our readers may see exactly how ne
stands on the tariff:
Mr.. McLlurin said he most heartily re-
echoed the sentiments that had just been
expressed by Chairman Purdy and most
heartily hoped for n high, decent and digni-
fled campaign. If the campaign should not
he Of that character it would not be his fault,
and he for one would not be responsible for
the lowering of the tone of the campaign,
That was not his style. No one, he said
regretted more than he did the sad death OF
the late Senator Earle. The death of this
distinguished son was indeed sad. He knew
that every one present felt keenly the death
of Senator Earle, the chivalrous and noble
son Of South Carolina, whose life was cut
short when that life was so full of promise
and usefulness for his State. He said that
so long az he occupied the seat of Senator
Earle he would do his utmost to reflect cred
it upon his State.
Before entering upon his tariff discussion
proper, he said, he desired to make one side
remark, and said he believed one of the
greatest works of the Reform movement was
the primary it started. Under the primary,
he said, there could be no trades and deals.
Every Democrat voted as he pleased and he
could not possibly see how there could be
any deals or trades.
He desired to say in reply to certain
charges that he for one was under no
pledges or promises of any kind. lie was
under no promise and he utterly ~repudiated
any deal or trade with anyone. lie was
pledged to nothing except what he pledged
to the people from the stump. lie made no
pledges except those he made to the people
of his State. And he assured the audience
that he would redeem his every pledge to
the people. (%Applause.) lie added that he
at all times endeavored to and did maintain
the honor and integrity of his State and his
party, and it would be found that his every
speech, his every act and his every vote has
been guided by the platform Of the party
adopted at Chicago.
When he said he hurled defiance at any
one who was not pleased with his record
there was considerable applause. Later on,
when talking about his record in the six
years ne has been in Congress, to which he
wished to refer, he said some people sat in
the Senate for six years without getting over
''the Senatorial courtesy"
He said that since he has been in the city
he has received two letters and kilograms
from mill men asking him to stand by the
he had fixed and to get back to Wash
as soon as possible and have the rate
maintained, as there was an attack being
made on the rate, as agreed upon. lie said
some people attacked his Democracy, but he
noticed that all they gave for their salvation
for the Democracy was that they be elected
to office. These people, he said, had about
as much Democracy as there was sawdust in
a three-year-old doll baby. He said that he
speak for 4 week on the tariff question
and he had all the facts, and added that he
was loaded for bear, guttersnipes or every
else. (Applause.) lie elaborated con-
siderably on the duty on bagging and said
that he and his friends have accomplished
very much for the South.
Mr.. McLaurin's views of the tariff were
fully expressed in his speech. He said on
this line:
My friends, in coming before you at this
asking for O continuance of your conf
dence, it is your privilege to demand and
my duty to explain each and every act per-
while holding the commission which
the people Of the 9th district, and you
through the'Chief Executive 50 generously
entrusted to my clre. l would add in all
that it affords me yery great pleas
ure to meet my fellow citizens face to face
and discuss these matters, Permit me at the
outset to say, that to the best of my ability l
have sought to maintain the honor and in
of my party, and build up the mate
rial interest o. the people ofSouth Carolina.
| wish to emphatically declare that in every
vote, in every speech and in every act |
have been guided by the Democratic plat
form adopted in Chicago, and to the truth
Of this assertion l challenge contradiction.
To those who have criticised my course in
and honesty [ extend the hand of
fellowship and say, let US reason over these
differences and ascertain who is correct. To
who through jealousy or malice have
attacked my record, l hurl defiance and dare
them to make good their charges before The
people Of this State, or sulk
to their dens of infamy, where plotting
and schemes against honest men are con-
cocted.
1 have tried to do my duty honestly, fear
lessly and conscieutiously and believe the
people of South Carolina have recognized
that fact. Should the people of this State
retain me in the Senate l will continue my
efforts with more zeal and with that increas-
ed force which experience and extended
powers provide.
Mr.. Chairman, Notwithstanding the tariff
has been o live question during the past
years of our national existence, it is with US
today and is likely to remain with US for an
indefinite period. With each recurring de-
bate new conditions appear, which demand
more extensive examination aud more care
full consideration. These new comic con
ditions force new political issues, and
of themselves many times bring about honest
differences of opinion.
Such differences should always be met
with a spirit of fairness and to Iteration. This
alone can guide us to candid and correct
conclusions. For example, when the Wilson
bill of 1893 WAS enacted it contained an in
come tax, which all true Democrats hoped to
see applied with increasing force and effect
to the end that our national revenues might
be largely secured through that channel.
Under its operation it was expected that
customs duties would be lessened and as a
natura i result there would be less restriction
on trade and commerce.. 1t was q long
step in the direction of q revenue tariff and
Il more liberal exchange within foreign
nations.
The Supreme Court decided it unconstltu,
tional, and this strong prop was taken from
under Democratic expectations. This decis,