The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-09-01

uOUoC VI oCuotO WIZ NI4StCu WIN
me. / acted after careful thought
according to the dictates of my
judgment, and ] give it as my de-
liberate opinion that had all those
who were opposed TO the Dingley
bill fought it out as intelIigenly and
as persistently on the lines indicated,
instead of repeating the hackneyed
old speeches that have been made
biennially for the last so years, the
Dingley bill would have been defeat
ed or full measure Of justice Sc
cured.
Actuased by love for my section,
with full knowledge of the strug
giles and trials since the war of the
noble nen and women, who by hon
est efforts have tried to repair her
broken fortunes and restore the south
to her proper status in the CONNER.
cial world. | simply stood up and de
manded for my section and my peo-
pie full share in all the benefits that
should accrue from national legisla
tion
Had I the power to frame tariff
bill. it should be simply to raise
sufficient money to pay the expenses
of the government, and the burdens
should be placed as equally as pos
sible upon all the people of all the
sections and the Incidental protection
be given to labor where it properly
belongs
For six years by diligent study |
have tried 10 fit myself for the intel
ligent discharge Of my duties as a
representative. l have spared my
self in neither mind nor body. aud
the only reward ask is the "Wel!
done, good and faithful servant
If it pleases merciful God to re-
store me to health, and the people to
continue me in the senate, all that
patriotism and zeal can inspire will
be done for South Carolina
To the people Of the Sixth district
! will say that one of the keenest dis.
appointments of my political life is
that after passing all through the
State where | was personally un-.
known, in sight Of home my strength
failed Your confidence in me has
never wavered during ali the storms
of the past years and your strong
bands and brave hearts have sustain
ed me in every emergency. Four
times | have held your commission in
congress, and / can face my God and
say that my heart las ever beat true
to South Carolina.
I put my trust not in scheming
Office seekers or men who make a
business of politics, but in the great.
honest masses, who know the true
from the false. the counterfeit from
the genuine With them l rest my
case
a few years ago political cyclone
struck our State Is had to come in
the very nature Of things, but its
main purpose has been accomplished,
and there is no need or excuse for
}actional feeling in South Carolina
The time has come when instead Of.
making ourselves noted abroad for
the bitterness Of our; factionsl fights,
the progress and developments of oar
internal resources ehould advertise Us
to the world as the land of "peace
aud plenty"
We should stsnp ont what ie lit
tie, petty and mean. and send repre-
septatives abroad whose intelligence,
patIiotism and independence of char
acter commands respect and conf
dence. aud fittingly present us to the
world as broad minded. cultivated
and progressive people | have
fallen far short Of this ideal but /
have the consciousness Of knowing
that have done the best that ]
could Thanking my friends for the
kind sympathy expressed during my
illness in the hundreds Of letters and
telegrans which I have received,
praising God for again restoring me
to my family and my people, am,
Yours, etc,
JOIN L. McLAuR1N.
Evans Charleston Friends.