The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-09-07

Mr.. Editor: Please allow me, through the
co!rnns of your paper, TO .haok my friends
throughout the couoty, for their very lioersl
support in the recent primary. assure
them tha, cbeerfully bow to the Will Of The
IL sjori,y as expressed last Tuesday. OF
course feel, somewhat, The cbagrin OF de-
feat, but it is tempered and mellowed with
the satisfaction OF knowing that we bad
pleasant campaige de7oid OF unpleasaDtness
Of any kind. fair election add, above all
things, that the ctors are rae0 of high char
acter and ability aud ahuodantly able to
guard tbe interest of Sumter County 10 the
Legislature. think | know the cause or
causes tbs, led to my defeat, oat it 10 needless
to discuss them now, suffice it TO say, that
the Almighty never intended me for polit-
ciap, for have never yet learned the art OF
holding my tongue or pen when felt it my
duty to give an honest expression of meo
and measures. There is no Office 10 the gift
of the people, that would have at sacrifice
Of principle or of my honest conviction Of
what l believed was right. | have been &C.
lively identified with Spmter County politics
for the past twelve years and during that
time the people have been very kind AID geo.
erous to me-far more possibly than | de-
served, but have never lost sight of the fact
that they were the masters and the officials
their eervan,s For six years have bad the
honor of representing them 10 the Legislature
and realized then, as l do now, that "a
public Office WIS public trust" and tried,
90 all occasions, whether in the ball OF the
House Of Representatives or out Of it, to dis.
charge nv duty fesressIy and conscientiousy
and, at ell tia es, 10 uphold the dignity and
honor of Sumter Couoty. Whether | sue.
ceede1 or not, am willing to leave il to my
colleagues and other members Of the Legisla-
ture to say In ali Of the campaigns that
ever participated in have done 80 strictly
on my merits as a man and citizen. have
never had anything 10 do with formieg
"slates;" have never entered toto comhina-
ton with apy man or set cf men and bave
never depended 90 being dragged toto office
swinging 10 the coat tail Of any one. To my
oppoueuts have always oe-n fair and just
and have never "struck below the belt"
Before every primary my position bias been
made p.ain to those | thought had any claims
on me and after the "spoke of battle" have
never had any one to cone 10 me with the
complaint You d,d not do for me what
you promised" have clean hands and Il
have oeen defeated my heart beats to-day 80
and am bonesl hen | say that Go not
cherish any litlerness or bard feelings to-
wards any one Gao never forget the good
people OF this grand old couuty Of ours for
the bouor, trust and cou6tepce heretofore
conferred on ne and vito n grateful and ap
preciative heart return 10 them my sincere
thanks 10 my friends especially Who have
always STOOL up to me so !oyallY, | Can not
6nd words to give adequate expression 10 the
sentiments that now o7ercrowd ue. beg
10 assure them that while life lasts and am
capd bic OF appreciatiug what th-y have done
for me in the past WILL ever hold them 10
grateful remembrance | /, Lot K ow what
the future has in store for me, politically or
otherwise, and Therefore, | am not prepared
10 deliver my farewell address yet, but
VI neither | enter again the sreaa as a caLdl-
date or not, | prom Sc the people 10 ever re-
main u factor in politics, working alway tor
the up-building Of my country and people
and ever striving 10 maintain honest, capable
and eficien, men in the public offices From
my earliest youth have always taken great
interest 10 pol,i,s; enjoy the excitement o.
a csmpaigo, er joy the elbow touch which
public man has 10 keep with the seDtiment OF
the people; have lever asked for au Office
of emolumeuts aud 30 no. know whether |
would erjoy that or not bu; | do know that
| have enjoyed the horor of representing the
bravsst and most generous people on earth
In conclusion, oeg to assure nv friends
that, whether | am a candidate again or not,
| will continue to do business at the same
old stand" where they can always fni lie,
ready and willing ct oil times to render them
any service 10 my power. Again extending
my heartfelt thanks for the honors heretofore
conferred and hoping i, my private walk 10
contipue to merit the Cor hdepce and good |
will Of my fellow citizens am, very
A. n. SANDERS
angcod, s. G. Sept 3, 1893,