The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-09-15
"THE PASSING or TlLLMANISM."

It is quite likely that no two States
of this Union would off-hand give the
same definition of what is called I'LL
manism." 1t would seem that the closer
one is TO cit" the more accurate ought
his knowledge to be of cit Therefore,
the News should, in this view, be taken
as good authority-apd yet, no. For as
the News, perhaps justly, says, he IS
not an attractive man." Accordingly,
if one would judge Tillman by results,
unhampered by personal prejudice, he
would better be far away out OF reach
and sight of the man himself. No doubt
with all the unpleasant incidents in full
view. the News finds reason to rejoice
over the passing of what it calls Till
manism." But is it not for the alleged
passing of Tillman and not of Till
manism'' that the News is really sing
ing it's hosannahs! -
We are among those that believe that
Tillmanism as it takes shape III our
mind has been a good thing for South
Carolina. He comes to us, Of course,
mostly through the mediums OF his
career in the Senate, and he has come,
we think, exalting the individual He
has come crudely, with many offensive
ways, with force, bringing to the front
with him those who have been doing the
voting. heretofore, while the blue-bloods'
and colonies have fattened on official
salaries. If one thing has suggested
itself more than another during this,
South Carolina revolution, of which
Tillman has been the Robespierre-if
YOU WILT is that the bitterness IN
that State between factions has had
distinctly social origin, if it be acuteiy
analysed. A few tiers of counties
to quote in substance an interview
of two years ago with Tillman, with
Charleston as a centre have housed the
"aristocracy" Of South Carolina. The
common man has been unheard in the
presence of this class, and has been I'M
needed, no doubt, except at the polls.
He represents the private who fought
the battles of the war while the rank
went to the ''best families He has
been called the poor white There are
those among the upper ten who would
quite willingly see him stay in the field
and pow and vote for the quality
when the election day comes around.
Yet this is not American government.
1t was not contemplated in the plan of
this republic. There should be no class
distinction between whites in political
or civil life. Yet one will hardly deny
that such class distinction has been
fact in South Carolina. If "Illlman-
ISM" as it comes to many on the out
side. has meant in South Carolina the
uplifting of the common people against
the lethargic arrogance of men VINO
were simply sons of their daddies, or big
shareholders it has, we believe, been
blessing, in spite of any personal unat-
Effectiveness in the man who was instru-
mental in bringing the revolution about.
"Honors thrive when rather from our
selves we them derive than our fore
goers" This sentiment is strong in the
American mind and the man who makes
reality of it will surely attract atten-
ton, and admira ton, too, and the pub
lie will overlook mere personal qualities
even though it be Tillman who posses
ses them.
1t may be, from this viewpoint, that
it is not we'll that Tillmanism should
pass.
Indeed, we do not believe that Till
manism has passed. We believe that 1t
is on the increase not only in South
Carolina, but in other States as well,
and TO the eventual profit Of the great
middle class.
Tillman has avoided, too, the quick
sands into which other men who fought
for changed conditions in the South have
been allured. Without exception, all
the others have made alliances with the
negro vote. Tillman left that for his
ornaments to do, and when Haskell APP
pealed to the negro to down Tillman,
he gave increased power to the South
Carolina new leader. The wisdom OF
Tillman's reyolution-for it was a revo-
luton Of ballots-was that he made his
appeal to the white vote. No man can
live long in the South in public life who
tries to ride in power except by the white
vote.
If Hon. Tom Platt has the least spark
of gratitude in his make up, he Will
lose no time in becoming member OF
Rev. Tom Dixon's congregation. Far