The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-08-14
orootten how Senator Tillman left his

forgotten how Senator Tillman left his
seat in Washington, and used his great
power and influence over the people to
have Irby defeated; and neither have
they forgotten Senator Tillman's speech
at Laurens, when Mr.. McLaurin's Dem
ocracy was questioned, when he (IIll-
man) replied: ''If McLaurin is Repub-
lican then I am a Republican also"
John L. McLaurin's Democracy has
never been questioned. for he was ever
as true to his party and his people as
the needle to the pole. II / mistake not
it was Irby's single vote that saved this
country from that gigantic monopoly ly OF
the sugar trust. when he could have
made half million dollars or more by
selling out mis- people. When Senator
Tillman had John L. NJ. Irby defeated
for reelection. he (Irby) retired crush
ed and heart-broken, to the shades OF
private life, a much poorer man than
when he was first elected United States
Senator. No one familiar with the his
tory of the Reform movement in our
State can deny that had there been no
John L. NJ. Irby to lead and manipulate
the Tillman fight in that f1arch con-
vention, that South Cardinals senior
Senator would today be an humble fol-
lower of the plow When Tillman had
despaired and given up, Irby remained
at his post and secured the nomination
of his friend by one vote, l believe 1t
was. After the result was declared,
Irby said he found Tillman disconso-
lately sitting on the banks of the canal.
Yet as we South Carolinians all know,
Senator Tillman demanded the politi-
cal scalp of John L. NJ. Irby, and It was
through his aid and instrumentality
that this CORY political trophy was
borne aloft by Mr.. John L. McLaurln.
Had Senator Tillman never interfered
in that contest Irby would have re-
tained his seat. and, believe, well and
alive today, for he certainly died a
broken-hearted man over the lngratl-
tude OF those men for whose advance
ment ne had labored SO Loyalty and so
faithfully, and at the idea Of being re-
pudiated by the people of his native
State, to whose interest and welfare he.
had sacrificed not only his best services,
but his private property as well.
The meeting OF our State Executive
committee was not to take action on the
Senatorial contest, for it does not come
off until next year, but to arrange for
the election of a successor for the late
Congressman Stokes. Senator Tillman
was a national committeeman and the
action of the State committee was not
in his province. But he attended that
meeting, made a very little speech
against his colleague in the Senate and
the result was the passage of that anti
McLaurin resolution. l am neither
champion of Senator McLaurin nor a
defender of his vote in Congress. It
McLaurin has been unfaithful to his
trust, the people who elected him is the
jury to try his case, which will be call
ed next summer, and nota little packet
committee OF twenty-one men. And
again, if the political destiny of our
state must be arbitrarily controlled by
one man, the liberties of the people are
indeed in danger, and popular suffrage
misnomer.
If that committee was honest in its
desire to gauge our every public officer
by the Kansas City platform, why did
it's members not also demand the resig-
nation of Congressman Elliot, of the
first South Carolina district, who is
gold standard man and has ever been
opposed to the free coinage of silver?
If Senator McLaurin is menace to the
principles of Democracy, I would like
to know how that committee classified
Congressman Elliot, who repudiates the
principle plank in our platform? Is it
right, is it fair, is it consistent, to make
fish of one of our Democratic Repre-
sentatives in Congress and flesh of ano-
ther Of our Representatives in that
same Congress?
Senator Irby was struck down at the
command of Senator Tillman, and a
more honorable, loyal or true Democrat
than John L. NJ. Irby never breathed
the breath of life.
The people are now told that Senator
McLaurin, who wears Senator Irby's
mantle must in turn be repudiated. And
attempt has even been made to pre-
vent him from explaining or defending
his position before the people. It it
can be established to the satisfaction OF
our voters, that McLaurin has been
recreant to the trust reposed in him,
and that he has worked against the in
terest of his people, then he ought to
be repudiated and certainly will be
repudiated. But when arranged the
blackest and most ignorant negro in
our state has right to fair hearing,
and what applies to a criminal at the
bar, should, with equal justice, apply
to a public servant, and who owes alle-
glance and is solely responsible to the
people who elected him and not to a
little packed committee of twenty-one
men.--Democrat, in the Spartanburg
Herald.