The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-08-16

is. brief report OF Senator I1llman
speech in Sumter. In his speech IL
the afternoon, after he had eaten his
dinner, and when most men would
have BEEN ut peace with the whole
world, the Senator lost his temper and
said some very ugly things. Amongst
other things he declared that he was
no peace and unity man, by which
utterance he imparts no information
to the people of South Carolina, for
his whole record is that he has been a
stirrer of strife ever since he entered
the political arena.
Indeed. he rode into Office upon a
wave of such strife and bitterness as
has never been witnessed before in
this State, and even now he realizes
that his future success depends upon
again arraying brother against brother,
and creating, if he can, that old-time
strife and bitterness Of which the
people of our State are sick and tired.
But the writer desires especially to
call attention to the remarks made by
Senator Tillman at Sumter on the 4th
inst. with reference to the Prohibition
ists.; According to the report in the
News and Courier he used the follow
ing language :;The State had to
choose between prohibition and the
dispensary, and as the Prohibitionists
we're set Of hypocrites and towards
the choice fell on the dispensary.
Now, it may be remarked at the
outset that this article is written with
out any desire to engage in contro-
versy with Senator Tillman, but. mas
much as the writer had the honor to
lead IN the tight for prohibition last
year, he feels it to be his duty to say
something on the subject. It will be
seen that the Senator'S statement is
characterized by his usual reckless
ness. He deems it a, small matter to
denounce as towards and hypocrites
some twenty odd thousand Of the very
best people in South Carolina-people
who honestly believe that prohibition
is right, and who are ready to stand
up aud fight for their convictions.
Yet, because they dare to disagree
with Senator Tillman, they are. with
out provocation, denounced as towards
and hypocrites.
Truly, we have reached a beautiful
state Of affairs when people who dare
to live up to their own convictions are
to be denounced in such language by
one who occupies the high and dig
nifed position of United States Sen
ator.
Where do the ministers of the Cos
pei stand? Almost to man they
have declared in favor of prohibition
and because they did so they are cow
ards and hypocritcs.
What about the thousands Of Chris
tian people in South Carolina who
have declared in favor Of prohibition?
According 70 such high authority as
Senator Tillman they are towards and
hypocrites.
What about the great Baptist,
Methodist and Presbyterian Churches,
all Of which have spoken out in favor
Of prohibition? They are classed by
Senator Tillman as towards and hypo-
critics.
Il needs no argument to show that
the statement made by Senator Till
man was recklessly made andis wholly
untrue.
The.object in writing this is not to
show the falsity Of the charge, for
tkat,is self-evident, but to show the
condition Of affairs that prevails to
some extentin this State; condition
Of affairs which permits the use Of
such, reckless and false charges. The
Prohibitionists have never made any
fight on Senator Tillman, but they
may show him that he is bad judge
of what il takes to constitute towards
and hypocrites.
The writer also desires to call atten.
tion to certain other language Of Sen.
tor Tillman. He asserted that the
dispensary was not intended to be
moral institution, but a place where
people who wanted drink could gel
al they wanted of good quality, anc
the State receive the profits. So We
have the father of the great mora
institution robbing it of its chic
feature.
At the time the law was passed th'
Prohibitionists were thought to be
and doubtless we're, in the majority il
the General Assembly. The advocate
of the dispensary urged it as com
nromise measure. It Wss voted TO