Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1899-03-15
of the POSTMASTER and preside

right S2CsSenat0r llllman anu tHe
position to the left was filled by
DR.. H. W. Bays. When the guests
had all arrived at the places as
signed to them DR.. Bays asked the
blessing, the orchestra started a
merry rondelay and all was soon as
merry.as the proverbial marriage
bell.
Mayor Smyth, before calling
upon Senator Tillman to respond
to the toast of "South Carolina"
said that the city was glad to have
him within. her gates. He had
done much for Charleston and for
the past two years he had never
refused or neglected request
made by her. He said he wished
to thank Senator Tillmon publicly
for all he had done for Charles
ton.
Senator Tillmap said he hardly
knew how to begin a speech at
midnight hour aud under the con-
ditions existing, 1t was his first
experience in making a speech at
banquet where lovely woman was
present. So many things had been
alluded to and SO many jokes had
been perpetrated he was perplexed
as to what to say. Some of the
things said reminded him of some
of the sermons he had preached
on the City Hall steps. He told
how he had ridden on the
steeplechase at the Isle, and was
glad to see that the tinkle of the
horse car had disappeared from
Charleston's streets.
Some good things had been
credited to him, be was proud to
name the twin colleges and the
new Constitution, and all had
been accomplished under petticoat
government. At the tender age
of 20 his good mother had turned
him over to good wife.
Abiding to Congressman
Connolly's speech the Senator said
that it was all new him, although
some people might have thought
he loaded and primed the gun for
| firing.
In the Senate hs was first
} recognized for his brutal frank
ness. "You have felt the sting of
: my words in Charleston" he said,
"and now l want to spologize for
their sharpness. You were fighting
me and | hit back hard. But !
would have been less than a man
. bad | carried the war to Washing
ton. You had q right to differ
with me, but now that is past. | am
ready to take to my heart any
project to advance the interests Of
my State, and TO press forward
For South Cardinals share. l
gained the respect of the Senate
by telling what thought. They
soon learned that despite my
unQuth speech they could always
put finger down and find me.
Seeing the South an outcast-a
sort of step-danghter-with little
} chance for consideration or justice.
l went to work and tried to win
the confidence and esteem of the
best Republicans. L was success
ful, and now count many warm
and true friends, among whom |
} will mention Bill Chandler, and il
you saw, "Oh! he stole the electoral
vote of Florida" l cannot help
that. We did some quiet work
, ourselves once, and L tell the
Senators about it myself"
The Senator then briefly alluded
to the needs of Charleston and his
desire to see the harbor improved.
He also shoke of the proposed
Sanitarium at Castle Pinckney,
and said that he depended upon
the Congressman present to get
: the bill through the National
: House of Representatives at the
next session.
"The best way to get what is due
Charleston and the South" said the
} Senator, "is to have such trips as
the one now being enjoyed by my
self and the Congressman. | invited
this party to Charleston; it was
booked for Florida, but l thought
} it ought to come here. i am very
glad I did so, and I think the visit
will be productive of good"
In conclusion, Senator Tillman
thanked the people of Charleston
for the kindly reception rendered
himself and the Congressman.
IL - &C NJ,