The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-12-11
50
IS
50
IGNORANCE, INTOLERANCE, INC0N-
SISTENCY.

views, and as a consequence, if
they set up an idol to worship,
those who will not worship the
same idol, become in their esti
nation, heretics. Very recently
we had a little experience along
this line: one of our subscribers.
in fact, one of the Oldest sub
scribers on our lists, is so intense
in his love for Ben Tillman that
it was like worm-wood and gall
to him every time we undertook
to show the inconsistencies Of
his idols affection. We were
among the supporters of Benja-
min, and when he started out,
we sincerely believed him to be
an honest leader; that his whole
aim was to arouse the people to
a newborn energy, that they
might get out of old worn ruts
and strike out into more pro-
gressive paths. Tillman is a
great man, one specially adapted
to blaze the way, and it was
through him, that South Carolina
can proudly say, the right of the
people to have a voice in this
government, came.
We differed with Tillman's
methods numbers of times, and
did not hesitate then to give ex-
preston to our views: for there
is no man under the heavens who
can stop US from thinking and Civ
ing expression to our thoughts.
When we believed Tillman was
wrong. we said so, and when we
believed. him right we stood by
him. While he was Governor we
did not like his acceptance of
pass No. 1, because he had de-
nounced those who accepted
passes; we did not like his man
agement of the bond deal, be-
cause there are yet several mat
tiers connected Herewith which
have not been satisfactorily
explained, and his conduct on
the whiskey rebates was such as
laid him liable to the strongest
suspicion. In the latter matter,
the suspicion is so strong that
even some of his warmest ad-
mirers believe that he :'lin-
ed his pockets" When Till
man was approached on the SUD
ject he said, "prove it, The
legislature attempted to get the
proof, but those with whom Till
man had dealings refused to
show their books, and Tillman
not insisting upon those books
being investigated, has shaken
the faith of many,in his honesty.
It is well known that when
Tillman became governor he was
very poor man, a farmer sadly
in debt and his getting a posi-
ton which paid him a salary
of $500 a year was relief that
he never before found in his
credit accounts with the mer-
chants of Augusta. The salary
of the Governor, together with
the unauthorized free groceries
from the penitentiary, was only
sufficient to support him, and
when he came out of that Office,
after deducting his household
expenses from his salary, it
left but little. He was elect
to the United States Senate
at salary of $1,000 per year,
and it is the experience of all
men in such positions that it
takes the whole Of the salary of
a Senator to meet expenses.
Now here we have a very poor
man put in position which takes
all of his income to meet ex-
penses, and Notwithstanding
this, we find this same very poor
man after a few years in public
life, changed from financial
cramp to financial ahiuence. He
is reputed to be largely interest
ed in Mexican copper mines, and
a director in a corporation hav-
ing for it's capital stock the sum
of S5OO0,OOO. It is known to all
men that, to have a voice in the
direction of such an institution a
vast amount of the stockmust be
represented, and tits also known,
that people who invest largely
in the stock Of such a corpora
ton are not likely to have them
selves represented by proxy, to
the extent Of voting the policy
of the corporations management.
The question is asked where did
Tillman get all of his money
from? He was mixed up in some
questionable deals: the people
who honored him, and hoisted
from his bankrupt condition, are
wondering, whether or not they
we're mis-led in the beginning, or
did their trusted leader betray
the trust reposed in him? To all
inquiries, Tillman sneers out the
words ''prove it. When he was
running for Governor in 1890, it
was him who said lit is for me
to accuse, and for the accused to
prove themselves innocent" "
But he does not wish the same
rule to apply to him, nor will he
crafty his constituents by help
ing those who are seeking the
proof. Innocent men demand a
thorough investigation when they