People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1897-09-17
MCLAURINS VICTORY.
New Senator Will Be a Political
Power.
THE SOUTH CAROLINA SITUATION
A Man of Convictions, Ability and Force
How He Came to the Front and
What He viii do in the
Future.

There is a new power in the politics
of the Palmetto State and he is the
curly-haired child of destiny from VI
near the border. From congressman
serene in the possession of the conf
dence of his constituents, and caring
for little outside of that, he suddenly
found himself cast into the whirl Of
state politics with a title to preserve
and an ambition to crafty; and now,
after one of those bitter and exciting
contests which characterize politics in
this state, he has the qualification Of
the Endorsement of his people and is
tasting the sweets which come to him
who finds ambition gratiied.
Another thing he fnds-or will find
when occasion presents That IS pow
er is no longer confined II his sixth
district, which gave him four commits
sions to serve as its representative in
congress, but that from now on he will
be potent factor in the affairs of the
state at large.
1t is true of every man elevated to
the United States senate; it is doubly
true of John L. McLaurin because OF
the conditions and circumstances out
of which this power comes to him.
For some months McLaurin has held
a seat in the senate through appoint
ment at the hands of his friend, the
governor, but it was the Endorsement
by the people in Tuesdays primary
which lifted him from uncertainty to
the plane of certain political power. 1t
was the Endorsement which gave him
something to stand on. With the ap-
proval of the people he rests on even
firmer ground than he would with only
the backing of the legislature, for pop
ular approval means more for the fu-
ture.
THE OCCASION AND THE MAN.
Then this particular approval at this
particular time counts for much. The
vote he received demonstrated very
clearly that he is strong not only with
the reformers, with whom his fortunes
had been cast in the past, but also
with the conservatives, who have not
heretofore cut much figure in politics
at least not for several years; it de-
monstrated, in other words, that the
man for breaking down the factional
lines ..ld Gbe occasion fol this breaAing
down had met. and that McLaurin was
the man.
And why should not the factional
lines be broken? Why should there
be factional lines among Democrats
No reason why they should not be
broken down after they have ceased to
be useful; no good reason why there
should be such lines when the man, in
himself and the principles he stands
for. is all right.
That's the whole thing. When DEM
ocrats can meet on the common ground
of supporting a man who has proved
true to democratic principles there
should be no divisions. If, to illustrate,
the gold democrats of Georgia care to
unite with the silver democrats in sup
port of man who is truly democrat
and whose fealty to the great demo
cratic doctrine of free silver coinage
has never been questioned, would the
silver men be wise or sensible or any
thing else but most injudicious in re-
fusng the votes of their gold" breth'
rem? Of course there's the record OF
the man to be considered-it's all in
that. And here in South Carolina
would there have been any wisdom
here in keeping up sectional lines
when the conservatives wanted to vote
for McLaurin, pioneer silver man, 6
man who has stood true to every demo
cratic principles
So the lines have been eliminated be
cause, above all things, he was the
right sort of a man. He benefits by it
the party benefits by it, the state ben
efits by it.
A DIVISION ON LOCAL LINES.
1t must be borne in mind that tn
division which has existed in Soutl
Carolina has been one of factions anC
on purely local issues. That is, speak
ing broadly. Back of the reform move
ment in it's inception there were rea
issues because there were real wrong
to be righted. The great mass of tn
people took the side of reform becaus
they believed that corruption ha
crept into high places and the time TO
a change had come. They turne
down men whom they believed to b
unworthy. For a time the distinC
tions between the two factions wer
rigidly maintained-partly becaus
from a reform standpoint there wa
need for it and partly because shrew
politicians worked the dominant fax
ton to their own ends. In the contes
Just ended the Evans Irby com binatio
endeavored, with all the desperation c
politicians In the death struggles,
fan the fires of fractional prejudice an
induce reformers to vote against M
Laurin because he was being supporte
by conservatives. Time was when tn
appeal would not have been in vai1
but that time has passed. Just as th
masses of the reform faction turne
down the old regime when the
thought it unworthy, so they hastene
to turn down others whom they deen
ed unworthy. even though these Other
had been prominent in the early figh
for reform and had then enjoyed tt
full confidence of the men who no
combined in their Reputation.
1t all goes to demonstrate that me
count for something in South Carolin'
And the particular man whose cand
dacy has wrought the change-l
counts for good deal.
SOMETHING OF THE MAN.
McLaurin Is an earnest, brainy your
man. Blue eyes that are unmlstak
bly, honest; curly hair that is worn
little too long perhaps fraction b
low medium height, stochy fran