The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1898-02-15
THE PIrCHFoRK INCIDENT.
"A Liberal Estimate OF Senator Till.
mans Abilities and Accomplish
mcnts-His Influence Among the
Other Senator's.

- ENStiItldtS Oh senator I'LL
mans Abilities and Accomplish
mcnts-His Influence Among the
Other Senators.
"A Washington correspondent thus
describes Senator Tillman, of South
Carolina, aud gives an estimate of his
position in the public service:
Senator Tillman a few years q
stood on an ~improvised platform in the
rotunda OF q great Denver hotel. The
slX-storied galleries hat rose from the
marble iloor were literally jammed
with an enthusiastic audience, as was
the floor below. The incident then &C.
curing was as unique as the public
man those thousands had swarmed to
see and hear. A handsome girl, clad
In a trock OF red, white and blue
Stook oy the stalwart man in black,
over whose presence all we're shouting.
Inc girl held a farm implement In her
hand. 1t was Il curious article for that
scene. and its material was as notable.
The tynes were OF solid silver, Colo.
radios production. A rim of gold con.
nected 1T with a polished oaken handle.
sixteen to one" was thus embodied.
AS the Senator received this signif-
cant gitt-"Tillman's pitchfork," as
the crowd called 1.-THE shouted so that
all heard his words above the war mi
cheers, II will use it there, [ promise
YOU" There" meant in the United
States Senate, and he has kept his
word.
Senator Tillman is as effective ana
unique a man as that chamber has
ever seen, and since the civil war closed
it has had Parson Brownlow, Gen.
BILLY" Malone, ben" Hill, Riddle
berger and genial Joe" Blackburn
among its members. The South Caro-
llnian comes of the Palmetto stock that
produced Marion and SumDter, as well
as John @. Calhoun. He is a thorough
and olthy representatives of that in.
dlVldualized, brainy, courageous state
hood clan that smacks OF the soil, from
which he and they have sprung. The
Ex-Governor belongs to the small
planter class that titled Blue Ridge
Piedmont sands, and helped to make a
white mans country thereof. He has
their characteristics to the full, and
intensified too. What he represents in
politics is the square and honest De-
mocracy Of the land tillers-provincia. 9
perhaps at times, but sturdy and patri.
otto always, dOiling hats to no mar as a
superior, and honestly idolizing Thos.
Jefferson and Andrew jackson, while
never forgetting the sons OF the Pal
metto. 1t may seem a curious evolu.
ton to many, that brood nationalism
ana sound Democracy cometh out Of
SOUTH Carolina, but it is nevertheless
true, and S nator Tillman is unques-
tionably its leader, because he is him.
self possessed by it.
Inc South Carolina Senator Is a man
OF the People-irst and foremost of
MS W People. He represents them,
and not the smooth Ephrahimsn nj
the city marts and the corporation
board. His pitchfork Is at work also
on h political muck heap just as the
farm tynes, when well handled, find
employment on the barn yard. sugar
trust, bono deals, tariff swindles. fads.
falsehoods, and shams, down to the
mockery mis-called civil service, and
the hoary Executive Sessions-he has
thrust his weapon into them all and
set their hideous contents crawling in
the open day. When the South Caro-.
llnlan came to the Senate, flushed with
MS genial task OF worrying and defeat
ing the Bourbons Of his State, whis-
Key vendors as well as courtly lawyers
and commercial planters, he was looked
at askance and talked Of rs q curiosity.
mat day has gone by. Senator . Ben"
Ililman is a power In the land, and
holds such a place in the United States
senate that, peculiar, perhaps, but dis
tinct and asSertive, as to give to the
senator and the State he represents a
wholesome sense OF power that some
men may shrivel under, but which
Its possessor a parsonage OF
growing public importar ce, whose
D Is equal to his capacity, while
ooth are measured best by the occa-
sions for their use.