The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-08-09
The sSupe" Missed His Cue
The State, August 7.

Somebody mas sent us copy OF tue
Sumter Evening Item Of Saturday,
consaioiDg a report Of meeting in that
city at which Senator Tillman made an
address. This is not our year for poll
tics, aud ne have in time past given
the esteemed Tillman more than his
due share of free advertising; Jet, as
there seems to be challenge 10 this
paragraph from his speech, specially
marked by the person who sent it to US,
We are moved to consider it.
"While sitting here aud listening to
Dr.. Abbott's words of praise could
not help thinking Of what The News
and Courier and The State would do if
DR.. Abbott's speech we're to be printed
in their columns l believe the presses
would explode With indignation. /"
Speaking fer The State, We beg to
cay that the senator is mistaken. The
press of this newspaper is tolersbly
tough piece Of machinery aud is not SO
uuaccustomed to recording evidences Of
folly on the part of public speakers that
it can be 'exp!oded" by the utterances
of one more oratorical fool. If our
press ever felt Indignation at the stupid
fankeyism Of class of Senator Till
mans admirers that indignation was
long ago fatigred aud has retired from
active service.
1t appears from The Items report
that Senator Tillmsn was Introduced to
his Sumter audience by oue Dr.. Il. I
Abbott. Dr. Abbott in turn needs 40
introduction to us, although we have
misty memory of somewhere and at
some time seeing bis name 10 print. 1t
is to be presumed that be vas chosen to
perform this task because of his powers
as aa:terer, the Sumter people in an
excess of courtesy, desiring to ''go the
whole hog" and make the senator
| happy-knowiog Of course his e2:ep-
tioual capacity for the deglutition of
.affy. At any rate the job was thor
oughiy done. DR.. Abbott did not offer
to get down on ail-fours, harness him
self to wagon aud drag the eDshroOed
Tillman around the streets as some OF
his Sumter County worsbippers did in
1890. but nevertheless be did his best
in another way to show that he was
williog to make an ass Of himself for
the man of his alteration.
Dr.. Abbott began by comparing Ben
Til!man to John Wesley and seemed to
intimate that ike John be deserved a
tomb 10 Westminster Abbey-a sugges.
sion which the Home Secretary may
adopt az soon as be likes without protest
from Us.
he concluded by combating BsDja-
min for vice president next year.
1t is not our purpose to contest Dr.
Abbots's opinion of his hero or of the
men WHO opposed him 10 1890 and
after There is 30 disputipg about
tastes, end few men are SO unfortunate
as not to find meaner aod smaller men
to toady them. For people who like
that sort of great man Ben Tilluau is
the sort Of great nan they like. and
nav continue to like for al! We care.
Nevertheless it is pleasant to observe
that notwithstanding the little ou'bu'st
of tickled vanity which We quoted at
the beginning Of this article Senator
Tillman realized that his aattcrer had
made fool of himself, for he immedi-
ately added "Hsd been consulted |
would have advised Dr. Abbott against
making tne speech he did in introduc.
ise nc. but as was DOT consulted aud
was not prepared for what was said, |
take it as it was intended. | am not
here to rske up old feelings or to stir
up strife that belonged TO past years.
We are getting along pretty we'll, and
| would utter no word that would tend
to iuoite feeling and prejudice
The fact is that Tillman's cue at
present is consultation. He is in Office
and wants to stay IN, and if be can do
so BY being amiable, tolerant and pacl-
6ca,ory be is quite willing to adopt that
policy. Had he been able to get into
office originally by employing the same
means We cannot doubt that he would
cot have created bis ten years he'll 10
our politics. DR.. Abbott 10 his super
servicable stupidity did not realize that
his master's Interests had changed, that
the curtain hsd been rung down on the
tragedy Of Get 10" and had risen on
the pleasant comedy Of "Stay In, >"
With the leading man 10 an entirely
new role.
Any other "supes" of the Abbott
SOFT who may be lying around loose in
South Carolina waiting 70. their cue
nav profit BY his experience.