The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-09-04
9ouncirg McLaurin and those who en-

city in a short while and would, there
fore, adjourn the meeting until 2
o'clock.
1t was $50 o'clock when Chair-
man breazeale again called the meet
! ing 70 order, ard !: was very evident
that Senator McLaurin's coming had
greatly increased the attendance, for
the Court HOUSE was crowded to its
utmost capacity. When the Senator
entered the Court House he was re-
ceived with an immense ovation, and
throughout the meeting it was the
general opinion that he had at least rs
per cent Of the auditors with him.
Chairman Breazealo announced that
the Senator would be the first speaker
with limit of Ono hour and half,
tho Hon; sSIe3g George J9hnstons & e. follow. and
The debate between the two gentle
E1en was full Of 0ratory. satire and
ridicule, couChed in the most courteous
terms. but cutting to the core. There
was not q personal or offensive remark
between them.
AsCol. Kohn, of the Neus and Courier,
made n pretty full and fair synopsis
or the speeches Of the two gentlemen
IN his report to his paper, we reproduce
the following from his pen:
AFTER the dinner recess Senator Me-
Laurin said he had no idea yesterday
he would be here. On every great
question there was more than one side
and he ascribed to all who differed with
him honorable motives. His course
mas boen misrepresented to such an ex-
tent that when he saw the papers ut
Norfolk he decided to be Mt this meet
ing no matter what the expense or pain.
lie had been charged with trying to
help organize n Republican party in
this State. This was untrue and he
unequivocally denied any and all such
statements. There are now too many
parties and too many politicians.
He took I'D the conditions in 1890,
apd how the Reform movement and
primary started, and the primary sys-
tenn, he said, was one ef the wisest
moves that could be started; Demo-
Gratis could thcE differ and have their
rights settled by the white voters.
he had pursued proper course and
ne believed rs firmly .as he did that
there was God that his every action
had been right and III tho interest of
tho people. Whether elected or not
his position has put the people to
thinking and looking to their own well
fare. and il it does nothing else he
hoped his contest would elevate the
plane of political; contests.
He said he could have easily avoided
the heart burnings, troubles and tribu-
sitions for the good of the people he
represented. He then went on to take
up the issues and first handled expan-
sion and held that the Democratic doc
trlne had been to add territory. Until
the Spanish war the policy of the Re-
publican party had been to contract
and then he discussed whether it was a
wise, just and expedient policy to pur-
sue. He took up the events leading to
the Spanish war and the Industrial con-
ditiOns of Cuba, everything that has
occurred since that war came on. He
could not see how conditions could pos
sibly have been widely different from
what they are to-day. Mr.. Bryan, he
thought, could not have materially
chlngeG conditions.
The Philippines did not come as a
fOreseen result. 1t was an accident,
more or less, and because the god Of
war was on the American side. He
took up the conditions in the Philip
pines and he contended that the war
was a Democratic war. He explained
speech on the Paris treaty and based
his vote upon the fact TINT the country
was in conflict with an armed foe and
he stood by his own people, whether
right or wrong.
He had just gone through q heated
campaign. He knew what it was to be
maligned and slandered, and he knew
never for n minute regretted his vote.
He. consulted no one. If the treaty
had not been ratified Spain and the
United States were again ready for
war;. and France and Germany were
much in sympathy with Spain.
Then Senator McLaurin took up the
question as to whether it is good
policy. There can never be imperial
ism under the American form of gov
imperialism more vehemently than he
would, and he voted against everything
looking like imperialism in the Philip
pine government and he felt, in time,
those people would be given self-gov-
ernment.
He claimed that no people were more
interested in the retention of that Sec
wrapped up In cotton and manufacture
ed cotton, and any country to become
rich must use it's raw material, and so
he drifted on to show the opportunities
to this market. It was foolish, he
thought, for American merchants to
try to get into the foreign market with
out the protection of the American
flag. He did not believe it possible.
with existing conditions, for the United
States to have maintained a footing in
the far East without its holding the
Philippines; this country would have
been choked out by port charges if it
did not have the Philippines as stand
Off.
In reply to Mr.. Hemphill he said the
insurgents had to be subdued for the
reputation of the country, and that
was an expense of the war proper, but
the trade in China will be worth q
hundred times what it will cost. He
predicted that in five years no public
mar could be found in South Carolina
who would advocate turning loose the
Philippines. Their value rs base of
operation has already been shown in
the recent Chinese troubles. Nobody
is attempting to shoot religion into
these people. The country could not
and plundered. Having destroyed
their only form OF govern ment it was
| incumbent to establish q new govern