The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-06-05

" accepted. The RESULT of that meet
inc is now we'll known. Mr.. McLaurin
was Unexpectedly brought face to face
with the question of resignation, and
appeal to the people whose confidence
he had abused and whose trust he had
BETRAYED. He tried to dodge the
thrust, by charging that | was at
tempting to dictate and boss the peo-
pie and interfere in race with which
/ had no concern and was safely escon-
ed in my seat for six years, and had
nothingto lose, but could we'll afford
to Law down code of moral ethics,
for another which I was unwilling to
follow myself I saw the opportunity
to precipitate a battle at once rather
than wait fifteen months and [ offered
to resign if he would, and the result
YOU know. I acted from impulse it is
true, but I have always acted upon
impulse and as a public man / can
affirm with the sacredness of an oath
that all of my impulses have been to
serve the best interest of the people
who have. honored me. I had every
opportunity to weigh the consequences
of my action and to get out of it with
out discredit, but felt then and still
feel that my duty was to force the
fighting and rid the party of all trait
ors. The situation as understand 1t,
is this. The people who are interested
in having two senators at Washington
to do their will and stand by their
principles will have an opportunity OF
being honestly and honorably repre-
sented. This has not been the case dur
ing the last two years, and as long as
McLaurin remains in the senate 1t
could not be the case.
AS to the burdens of the contest.
The citizens of a given county will
lose but two days, to bring about this
much desired result, one day to at
tend the campaign meeting and the
other to go to the primary. While l
Will have the fatigue and expense of
a State canvass which [ could easily
have, avoided.
The contest between the Democracy
and the man who seeks to betray 1t
will be fought without any local COM
plications whatever. Voters will not
be Influenced in thissscontest by the de-
sire to elect local favorites and thus
swapping will be prevented. The IS
sues will be clear cut. The organiza-
ton of the Commercial Democra
cy," another name for Mckinley De-
mcracy, will have to be consummated
in much shorter time and under much
less favorable conditions. Our party
has the opportunity to rebuke and pun
ish treachery at once as warnlg to
those who may be wavering. Many
good men will be prevnted from be
coming Republicans in fact, though
not in name by having the issues
explained before they have aligned
themselves under the new banner.
The democatic uniform will be struck
off of those who have proven unworthy
to wear it and they will be made to
understand the difference between
honorable and dishonorable dis
charges. Civil virtue, the sacred rela-
tions which should exist between the
representative and his constituency,
will be more clearly understood and
all true democrats must rejoice at the
result. For myself and the sacrifice [
have made I will say nothing. | pre-
fer to let the people of the State con-
slider the matter for themselves and
pass upon my conduct as they may
determine, whether it was right and
proper or rash and quixotic. I have
served them to the best of my ability
with zeal and honesty since I have
been their servant aud shall continue
to do so, if they continue to honor
and trust ME. When I cannot truth
fully say that l represent the majority
of the people Of South Carolina and
vote and speak as they desire, l be-
come as sounding brass and tink-
ling cymbal. And prefer the retire
ment of private life to the degraded
elevation of a high position obtained
by deceit and held against the wishes
of the people. I put my case in your
hands and will explain and vindicate
my case more fully in the coming pri-
mary canvass.
B. R. Tillman.