The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1897-08-11
SENATOR McLAURIN'S SERVICE TO
SOUTH CAROLINA.

The man who IS SumclentIy inter-
ested in his country's welfare rs to
keep posted is in a position to judge
of the great service Senator McLaur-
in rendered the State of South Caro-
lima, the fact that it is not appreciated
by some seems strange indeed. We
allude to bis speech on 'The South
aud its Opportunities" The lamented
Grady made similar speech years
ago and the people of the entire
South gave it their approval. Henry
Grady was hailed as the benefactor
of his section and died mourned and
beloved by every loyal heart 10 the
South. Years after, another young
enthusiast, J. L. McLaurin filed with
the same hope and animated BY the
same desire for good to bis own Sec
ton made a speech in the halls of
Congress on similar lines. It con-
tanned not single world of politics.
but breathed in every line an earnest
and sincere desire to build up and
encourage the development OF the
material interests of bis own people.
It went out as an official statement of
the actual conditions that obtained
in the South, It was the first instance
of the kind in the halls OF Congress
and carried with it the sanction OF
that body. 1t was taken up by the
press of the North almost as IA unit,
and was read by more people than
any other speech ever delivered in
that chamber. This may seem like
an extraragant statement, but it is
none the less true.
This speech has done more for the
material benefit Of the South and its
people than a the legislation of the
past thirty years. No other speech
ever opened up the subject in the
manner selected BY Senator McLaur-
in, since he treated it as matter OF
business and not as question OF
politics. All the leading commercial
papers of the North printed and com
mented on its disclosures and the
South was discussed all over that see-
ton from O. purely business point Of
view to its great advantage. Nc
other member of the Senate or House
ever rendered the South such a ser,
vice. South Carolina has been espe.
cially benefited through his generous
action and is today reaping the re-
ward OF his upselfshness. Other:
might have done as well no doubt
but they did not possess that degree
self denial which would enable them
to forego the opportunity OF making
politicalNcapital out of politica
speech.
Having done this at time whe.
the idea of being chosen Senate
could not have been entertained, thi:
act cannot be charged to anything
but pure love of State and section
Now, what are the people whom h'
so unselfshly served going to do il
the coming primary? Will they vote
for man who has been true to thai
interests, or will they vote agains
him and thereby say to the balanc
of the country "we want none of oa
representatives to assist us in on
struggle for material prosperity?
Every vote cast against Senate
McLaurin is condemnation of hi
attempt to aid the people of thi
section His defeat would be pub
lie calamity and postpone the natura
and rishtful development OF our op
portunities for years to come. H
stands today as the foremost cham
pion of our much needed develop
ment Why not unite and hold VI
his hands? Why not send him bacl
to the Senate by our unanimous vote
and bid him continue the great worl
The has so nobly begun? Our OWL