The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-05-11
r.. II. TOLBERT'S STATEMENT
HE WANTS TO LIVE AT HOME.
Claims that Hc Has Been Misreprc-
schtcd and Tries to Set Himself
Right.

"''tSN ahu AFIcS Id ScG lllnlSCll
Right.
MIR. a. Nj. Carpenter, OF tho Grcen-
wood Index, whilo he was IN Green
vlllo rs witness in tho TOlbert con-
splrhcy case, had u long talk with MIR.
iI. IL. Tolbcrt, who sought the inter-
view Tor tho purpose Of making u
public statement, which is givcn here
with:
At the outset Mr. Tolbort said he
mad not been able to see that he was to
blame for the killing OF Mr.. Ethcrdge
or the other occurrences at Phoenix.
He did not think ho should be regard
ca IS an outlaw or hold in distrust by
The people OF this section.
year ago" said he, 81 could
pave iorosccn what was going to occur,
would not have accepted the nOmint-
tion for Congress- As it is, do not
sec that was the cause OF it. | have
been Republican and havo mover
boon afraid or ashamed to declare my
principles, but | have never Knowing
~ given any man any advice that
would tend 10 mako him other than a
good citizen or cause him to set At do
nance any established law. WHY
should desire to bring about IL state
ol lawlCssncsS? NV homo Is in Abbc-
VILE county and large part OF my in
Icrcsts lie in Greenwood. All that
care for in life, everything and cvcry-
BODY that | mold near and dear, is cen
Tered IN those two counties, and any
evil that could bcfall thcm would como
upon me, too. certainly have some
interest in trying TO preserve law and
oder, and had always thought until
last November that my neighbors gave
me credit for trying to do SO. 1t has
been very humiliating to me for my
ncighbors and many whom had re-
Eardcd as personal friends to charge
mo otherwise.
vt has been charged thnt | have too
$trorg Il prcdilcction for the negro in
politics. want to set myself right as
TO that. | am not, and Dcvor have
been, in favor OF negroes holding Office,
am not now, and never have been, in
favor OF any man, white or black, eX-
crcising the right Of suffrage unless he
is qualified TO do SO. But do not be-
'ieve IN DISTINGUISHING on account OF
their color men who, because OF pro-
pcrty or education or established
as good citizens, should be
allowed to vote. am not a believer in
social equality. | am Il believer in
white supremacy In tho broadcst and
strongest sense Of tho term, and if
soc that 1t Is in danger will go as far
as any man to defend It,.
81 cannot sec that thcrc Is the re
mOtcSt danger OF negro domination,
and / simply cannot believe the white
people, in the strength OF their suDe.
riority, should commit this crime
against weaker and doicncelcss race.
1t Is wrong, there Is no necessity for
it, and | DO not bclicvc there is any
white man in South Carolina who
can in tho depths Of his heart approve
Of 1T.
"Whcn | was nominated for Con-
Brc6s by my party in the third district
| wanted 10 make as good II showing as
possible. | wanted to rcfutc the state
mont that had been made that Republic
cans had been securing nominations
for oIlcc In this State solely for the
purpose OF getting money out OF the
national campaign fund. | did not
make any money out Of the campaign.
In the contest, II | am not seated,
will not get anything but the actual
expense In making the contest, and
tho expense account will be carefully
scrutiniZcd."
1t was suggested to Mr.. TOlbert that
Tie feeling against him in this section
was founded not SO much on account of
his politics, or his conduct during his
canvass FOR Congress. as on account OF
newspaper uttcranccs attributed to
him since the Phoenix riot, and nOtably Y
an Interview in the Now York Indc-
pendent.
" | was coming to that" he said, GIN
that interview | was greatly wrongcd
and misrepresentcd. Tho reporter
after talking with mo went oil and
wrote tho article and did not submit
the interview or his notes to mo. In
talking to tho reporter did not alludc
to Mr.. Etheridgo as an Irresponsible
renter | used the torn Irresponsible
renter | did not allude to Mr.. Etbc-
ridge in any unkind or uncharitablc
manner.
II did not usc tho white trash Ian
Huagc that has been attributed to me,
and do not sec how those who have
known me from my childhood could have
thought mo guilty Of such utteranccs.
| wish thc people could read my heart
that they might see how clear / am
from such feelings. The best friends |
ever had were two OLD persons, Mr.
and Mrs. Walker, VINO were among the
poorest Of people SO far rs worldly pos
sessions go. | hope | have never been
upon the size OF his purkctbo0k, or
to measure my friendship by that
standard.
"In Short" said Mr.. T0lbcrt, "I
have been msrcprcsentcd and misun.
dcrsto0d on so many points that |
hardly know what to say or whore to
commence to set myself right. | want
to get right before the people OF my
home, though, for am sure that If /
can do that the people will have a very
different opinion OF me-"
Mr.. TOlbcrt looks wan and thin. He
says he has suffered q great deal during
the past few months ond his appear
ancc Indicates it..
When | asked him what he wanted
me to say 10 the people OF Greenwood
County for him, his reply was digniGcd
and deliberate and he had the appear.
anco OF man who was trying to do the
right thing, from his point OF view.
" DO not tako IT," he said, "that the
people OF Greenwood County want me
to humiliatc myself, and could not DO
80 even II they wished it. / have been
Republican from principle and am
one yet. I do not see how anyone can
consider that 81 crime hut am DDrD