The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1901-05-29

it again in pinch. But fellow. cit
zens, the game isn't worth the can
die" If | can't be Senator, worth
the great statesmen whom l succeed
| do not wish TO hold the office. d.
not claim to be infallib!e, and the tim
has been when | would gladly hav,
been convinced that l was wrong, ant
). thus enabled to escape from the posi-
tion which at times was almost uncn
durable but, fellow. citizens, | nc
l. now to be convinced. When mar
: very dear to him, aud think that i,
c would break my neart il could find
y now that, after all, it is mistake, and
{ that have been deceived by mirage
. IN the bleak desert. am human,
) and have my full share of the frailty
5 and vanity which go with poor, weak
human nature. | look back to some
things that / have said and done, and
; know that | was wrong, and | wish
, it were otherwise. But, fellow citizens,
twice within the last three years have
telt that was very near the time when
| would have to stand before the bar
OF just God, who knows the secrets
of my lnnermost soul, and | felt that
he would mercy have for petty frailtics
and shortcomings, and give me credit
Tor the earnest and honest effort, for
the sacrifices which | had made to
serve the best and highest interest of
my State and country. am not afraid
to meet my God and stand upon my
public record why, then, should
fear any tribunal here below? l only
wish that my life as man was as sim
less and free from reproach as it is as
your public servant. Charges of cor
ruptlon have been rife in South Caro-
lima during the past ten years, but nv
worst enemies have never charged that
dirty dollar has ever crossed the palm
of my hand.
Felow-citizens To a man who
loved society and that sort of thing, a
seat in the Senate may be prize worth
having, but to me, it is of no value
save to further the best cause to which |
| am devoting the best years of my
life. / am in the Senate for what l |
can get for South Carolina, not TO fur |
ther my personal interests. Do YOU
suppose that enjoy being tlayed alive,
ana called all sorts of pet names by the |
growing, grumbling Gonzales, and the
whining, cringing dyspeptic Hemphill?
IL does not worry me very much, for /
know that there is one kind of an ami
mai that will growl just for the pleas
urc of growing, and another that will
whine, especially when milk is scarce.
there is good deal of growing and
whining just now because of few
Federal plums that have been dropping
around: but L notice that it all com
from the direction where none are
dropping or likely to drop. From OBJ.
scrvation l infer that there are a plent,
of Gold Democrats, Silver Democrats,
Bryan Democrats, Cleveland Demo.
Gratis, Mckinley Democrats, Tillman
Democrats, McLaurin Democrats, and
Democrats none of whom object to
job under L" Uncle Sam"
FEDERAL PATRONAGE.
Now, fellow citizens, l want to saw
one word on this subject. l do not
control, do not profess to control, |
do not wish to control, nor will | be,
come responsible for, the Federal pat
ronage in South Carolina. On account
of my liberal views, and what he IS
pleased to consider my patriotic stand
Tor broad American doctrines, the Pres.
ldcnt has done me the honor to con-
suit me on certain occasions as to South
Carolina appointments. He has done
so, to my certain knowledge, with SEN
ators Morgan, Sullivan, McEnery, and
other Democrats. appreciate it be-
yOnd measure, for wiser man, q truer
patriot, and a more kindly Christian
gentleman, never occupied the White
House than William Mckinley. l be.
llevc have his confidence and friend
ship, and there is no treasure that /
value more highly. 1 would not have
IL ana could not retain il were | a
traitor to my State and people. He
honors me, because he knows as well
as any man living, how much 1 love
my native State. When he expressed
a desire TO be the President of the
whole country and not of q section,
why should l not meet him half way
When he Is willing that the patrons
who support a postOflice in South Car
oina should be consulted as they are
in Vermont, Massachusetts and Ohio,
why should /, as your Senator, stick a
pltch-fork into his vitals?
All, fellow citizens, if l have con-
trolled any patronage, it has been in
the public interest, not my own. No
nephcws of mine have been commits
stoned in the United States Army.
have had no son drawing large sal
airy, travelling this State at government
expense, manipulating political affairs
for me. Take th> postotlice at Aiken,
OF what personal interest is it to me
who fills it3 1t does not put dollar
into my pocket and / do not get my
mail there. | believe in the rule of
the people, and j want to see the time
come when the patrons of the Office,
those who support it, shall name the
postmaster just as they do the sheriff
and clerk of the court. Who do you
suppose the people of Aiken prefer for
poslmastcr-a man who is identified |
with the town, born and reared among
them, or citizen of another State,
with no interest in the town or people |
further than to use them for his own |
personal advantage Who is not even |
willing, after death, to permit his dust
to minglc with the soil of South Caro-.
lima, but had his body shipped home
to Connecticut for burial, where | am