The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1899-03-15
&. NJ, HARTMAN. Editor and Publisher.
TILLMAN'S TRIUMPH.

TTLLMAN'S TRIUMPH.
Senator Tillman and Congressman
.Latimer, Norton and Wilson of this
State, and several Congressman from
the East and North West, have been
wined and dined by the cities Of Green
Vile, Columbia and Charleston.
These occasions appears to have
been genuine love feasts in whicht the
Ratchet was buried and the pipe of
peace passed around. Conservatives
met Reformers with outstretched
hands and Reformers embraced Con-
servatives with the hug of reconcile
alton. The fatted calf was killed
and amid sthe flow of reason and
the soul of wit" the hours swiftly
passed as merrily as a marriage bell.
The wheels of time turns and brings
to view many startling and unex
pected changes. VINO among US
a few years ago would have imagined
that in so short a time that Green.
vile, and Columbia, and Charleston
would entertain Ben Tlllman at q
banquet, not that he had not fully
merited such distinguished attention
from the people whom he has so ably
and faithfully served, but because OF
their open and bitter hostility and
unreasonable opposition to him and his
administration in times past! Sena-
tor Tillman seems to have been fully
alive to the unique position be occu.
pied and appreciated the new expe-
riences which he was called upon to
undergo, for while approaching to a
marked degree the apparent change
Of sentiment Of those cities toward
himself, he was frank enough to let
it be Enthusiastically known that he
placed no political significance what
aver upon his kindly reception; that
what he had done for Columbia and
Charleston came in the line OF his
duty as q Senator from South Caro-
lima inasmuch 'as Cllumbis and
Charleston were in South Carolina
and not South Carolina in Columbia
or Charleston" He was as equally
clear in letting in be known that in
working for the interest of u cities
he was not p%ampering to public
sentiment in order to make votes for
himself. With him it was purely a
matter of duty and he worked for
and secured the appropriations solely
on this ground.
In entertaining Senator Tillman
and his party We are confident that
Greenville, Columbia and Charleston
opened their hearts and hospitality
from higher motives than from a po-
litical standpoint. They appreciate
the effective services of Senator Till
man and the Reform Congressman
and took this means to show that
appreciation in a substantial and
pleasant manner. They are begin
ming to recognize the influence of the
Senator in Congress and better under
stand his anxiety and perfect wiling
ness to lend that influence in secur-
ing the passage of such legislation
as will be beneficial to the ~agricultu-
raj, mechanical and commercial in
terests of the State. The mist of po-
lite prejudice and passions have
been rolled from their eyes and they
can now see clearly by the light of
reason that there is some good in
the Reform Movement; yes, even in
Ben Tillman, the agitator, its distin-
guished leader. Senator Tillman
has promised to help these places in
the future whenever the occasion may
arise and be can consistently do Sc.
II this he did the correct and proper
thing and one that is calculated to
make him many warm personal
friends and add to his popularity as
q profound and skillfal statesman.
Look at it from any standpoint
We may the hospitality of the cities
shown to Senator Tillman and his
party was a happy incident and n
that will have its Influence in brush
ing away the barriers which have
separated II people since 1890. Let
US accep! it as omen Of good for u
State.