The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-05-30


as the day Is long, plain as an old shoe,
with head full of common SENSE
which. after all. Is the best sort Of
sense with lions heart in his breast,
with perfect confidence IN and deep
sympathy with the masses. he is the
inevitable foe Of jobbcry and hates a
sham as he hates his satanic majesty.
A most useful public servant is Benja-
min. and q most valuable instrument
for prodding and killing unsavory
schemes is his famous pitchfork. Late
ly Tillman has brought down on his
defiant head the hatred of jObbers Of
every degree by exposing the huge
armor plate frauds. He has a blunt,
almost brutal. way OF stating tie
truth. and he made it redhot for the
armor plate agents in the galleries and
the armOr plated senator's on the floor.
What Tillman lacks in grace he makes
up In emphasis. He could not write so
good handbook OH rhetoric as Senator
Henry Cabot Lodge, but no man of
this generation can send fact
straighter to the mark than this great
South Carolina tribune of the people.
He can't be wheedled, bullied or conx-
ed from doing the right for rights
sake. He Is q man Of vast mental
force--of the order Of dynamite. He
loves the plain people. God be praised.
and the plain people love him.
Ienator Tillman.
Privately he Is the most genial ard
companiOnable Of men--full of kindly
humOr and rich in "Reminiscences.
have been n guest in his house. and it
was genuine pleasure to be there.
He selected his guests-public men,
newspaper men, army Officers-because
they were his friends, apd we got more
enjoyment out Of the acceptance Of
Senator Tillmans invitation ito help
eat two South Carolina hams" than we
would out OF q dinner in any palace in
Europe or America. 1t is pleasure to
know that his reelection to the senate
Is absolutely certain.
Since Mark Twain shed such copious
tears at the tomb Of Adam nothing SO
pathetic has happened as the interest
manifested by Republican newspapers
as to Democratic candidates for the
vice presidency.
For many months they gave us ad-
vice in great and imposing chunks as
to whom we should nominate for pres
ident. They warned us against the
monstrOus folly Of nominating Bryan,
with whom they solemnly averred that
we cannot win. and begged us piteously
to nominate some good lord. good devil
sort of fellow with whom we could
win-as though Democratic success
were the one thing dear to the average
Republican heart! That was effrontery
stupendOus enough to please Old Horn
ie himself. But we paid no attention
to his imps or their suggestions as to
the presidency, and we still cling to
Bryan.
Then they turned their attention to
making platform for us. They vocif-
erously assured us that certain victory
was within our grasp If we would only
discard the Chicago platform. especial
ly the financial plank. and get us up a
new platform meaning all things to all
men and nothing in particular to any
body anywhere. We were besought
by these friends of Democracy, the
aforementioned Republican editors, to
run with the hare and hold with the
hOunds-otherwisc we were rushing
headlong to the demhitiOn bowwows.
Still we paid no attention to these
modern gift bearing Greeks, and it is
now an assured fact that the Chicago
platform will be. rcadopted at Kansas
City on the 4th Of July. Now. having
been despitcfully used by the Demo.
Gratis as to presidential candidate and
platform, learning nothing from their
repulses. they blandly come forward
and offer to name for us q vice presi.
Dental candidate. They are persistent
In this matter. but will make nothing
by their motion. for the Democrats
who will be in charge Of the Il. &. con.
vent'oiNwill dO as they please.
Mckinley Up Against 1t.
The probabilities arc that the Nc
Hanna administration is up against it
at last in the BOer- English affair 1t is
difficult to sec how they can any longer
refuse to show their hand. 1t Is well
known that the Boer commissioners
arc not only in the country. but in the
capital Of the nation. 1t is also we'll
known that ninc-tenths Of the Ameri-
can people. without reference to polit-
ical affiliations. sympathizc with the
Beers. and, what's more, they want
that sympathy officially and cmphat-
ically expressed.
There is also Il Gecp seated suspicion
that the administration syinpathizes
with England in its murder Of the two
heroic little South African republics.
lf this suspicion grows into positive
knowledge. William Mckinley will
stand no more chance Of being rc-clect-
cd president than of being translated
In chariot of fire after the manner Of
the prophet Elijah.