Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1899-11-30
...1he Open door peyIey.a,IstI


the East is attracting, the attention
|and wide publication Of Senator
McLaurin's letter to the Spartan
burg manufacturers is sufficient
Most of the daily papers, except
those in South Carolina, either pub.
llighed this letter in whole or in part
and many Of the leading papers gave
it long editorial endorsement. Sena.
tor Tillman's letter was a surprise in
virtually endorsing tho position Of
Senator MoLaurin, and in explain.
ing why he also did not vote for the
ratification of the Spanish treaty.
Senator Tillman did not go as fully
into the question as did Senator Nc
Laurin; but taking both letters, the
trade question in the East is pre-
sented in q new and entioing light
We are reminded of three years age
when McI4aurin made his tariff
speech in the house, and Tillman fol-
lowed the Same line in the Senate in
q fight for equality in protection
Blinded by prejudice and deladed by
political sentimentalism, the people
of this State have been disposed
under the tutelage of The News and
Courier and The State, to regard the
Philippine question as one of politi-
cal rather than commercial signifi-
canoe. Senator McLaurin's letter
was the first thing that opened thei,
eyes, and disclosed the true com,
mcrcial and industrial interest in
volved. At this time, in the face OF
public sentiment, the outgrowth of q
want of information, it required bold
ness and true craftsmanship to give
publicity to such yiows as Senators
Tillman and McI1aurin have ex-
pressed. A faithful representative,
however, should not alone aspire to
be the exponent of public sentiment
but when satisfied that ignorance,
or influences antagonistic to their
true interests, the people are mis-
taken, he should lead them Alright
We believe that Senators McLaurin
and Tillman are pushing in the right
direction in this matter but realizing,
as we do, the powerful influence that
are working against them, and their
own comparatively poor facilities for
making their positions thoroughly un-
derstood, we believe that the~tas!!s
ahead of then. saIlsa?a'et' which, to say
the least, is calculated to fully tcst
their metal.-Y Yorkville Enquirer, No
vcmbcr 18th.
The State is beginning to study
the Eastern situation. We see owl
dcnco of this fact in an editorial in
Wednesdays paper. 1t says that it
has already said that it is in favor Of
the open door by any "reasonable
peaceful means" That much is en-.
couraging; but that is not all, fol
after indicating its distaste at Sena.
tor McLaurin for "lugging in the
Philippine question:" and at Senate,
Tillman for "lugging in his threat o.
men and money!" it goes on to quote
from very interesting article in the
November McClure's, to show thai
within short time after next spring
Russia will be in position to mass
100000 troops in China, while We
arc crossing the ocean with oul
transports. Now we are sure thai
both Senators Tillman and McLa,ril
arc as anxious for peace in this mat
ter as is the State. We are sure
that both of them would a hundred
times rather maintain the open doo1
by "rcasonablo, peaceful MEANS
But suppose reasonable, peaceful
means fail, what then? We are
sure that the State does not believe
that Russia will ever refrain from
taking anything she is not afraid te
take, or give up anything she has
once taken, unless she is forced tt
give it up. We are sure that the
State is not willing that the United
States should be bluffcd out of it,
rights in the East because of Rus
sia's ability to mass 100000 troop
in China within fortnight. Thel
to tho logic of the situation. If Rus
sia is in position to mass 100000
mon in China within a fortnight, W,
must, as Senator McLaurin ha
pointed out, hold to the Philippines
from which we can send an army
within a week. If it is "rcasonabie
peaceful mcanC" that the State il
looking for, then here they are; ant
from the best calculations that ~
are able to make they arc the only
"reasonable, peaceful means" il
! sight. TO secure the States opel
door without bloodshed, wo are com
no1lod to boyo McT ourip'o phiIin