The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1901-04-25
M'LAURIN COMES AGAIN.
Replies to the Senior Senator's Crit.
iciSm.


icism.
Senator McLaurin came back at Sem
ator Tillman in a hot interview, de-
Tending his course in the Senate and
explaining his vote on the ratification
of the Paris treaty and also his SEEM
ing plagiarism in the Rev. Van Dykes
sermon. He refuses to NEE Senator
Tillman on the stump.
The interview speaks for itself and
is as follows:
81 have only this to say in reference
to Senator Tillman's interview. SO 1ar
as his personal attack on me is con-
cerned, the public prints are not the
place to reply. l neither court nor de-
sire his friendship or good opinion. Nor
do propose for the benefit Of some one
else to be drawn into controversy
with him. l am ready to do my own
fighting and want other people to do
the same"
Concerning his vote on the Paris
treaty, Senator McLaurin said:
Il did intend TO vote with the ma
jority Of the Democrats against the
ratification Of the treaty, for reasons
purely Of party consideration. never
said anything to Senator Tillman or
any one else to give him the right to
truthfully say that was bitterly op-
posed to its ratification. 1t is and has
been intensely unpleasant for me TO
differ from so many Of my party asso-
ciates. I had just been through a
campaign full Of bitterness and desired
if possible to avoid further differences.
The appeal was made to me to defea.
the treaty and secure the tactical ad-
vantage Of defeating the administra-
tion and forcing them to call an extra
session. 1t is a pretty low plane Of
action, but for the sake OF peace and
to avoid just what has occurred since.
concluded to vote for the rejection Of
the treaty. 1t was with this idea that
l went home Saturday night. Sunday
afternoon, sitting in my dining room,
l heard newsboy calling extras and
sent out and got one. saw that the
natives had opened fire on our troops
and when l read the account made up
my mind at once that the treaty
should be ratified so as to fix the
status Of the United. States in a for
eign war already on. It made the
people on our troops rebels, and not
us intruders. The 80 days lacking
before an extra session could be call
ed might be productive Of untold
harm. l have never seen the day
since when I was not glad that did
have the strength to vote as l thought
right. did so freely and with no
pledge or promise to any man.
Immediately it was published to
the world that I had been promised
Judge Simonton's place. A more in
famously false and cruel slander was
never perpetrated.
There hasn't been time in FIVE
years when l haven't wished that I
could decently and honorably get out
of public life. When President Nc
Kinley offered me the place intended
for a Democrat on the Philippine
commission | declined and told aim
that I never wanted anything for my
self at his hands, but If through me
he could help South Carolina | want
ed him to do it. This is all | ever /.
desire or expect, and if did not feel
that l was helping and could help my
state nothing on earth could induce
me to submit one hour longer to such
yituperation and abuse.
1T is no new role" continued the
senator, for Senator Tillman. He
began his career by slandering and
abusing better men. / have naught
but contempt for an intellectual bull
ly and shameless pretender masquer-
aiding as a statesman, a moral pigmy
posing as the champion Of honesty"
Concerning the charge Of plagiar.
ism McLaurin said:
$50 far as plagiarizing DR.. Van
Dykes sermon is concerned, 1t was
largely due to accident I was much
struck with its beauty Of thought and
diction. I had a borrowed copy and
dictated from it three or four senten-
ces to my stenographer, and in the
original, which any one can see, are
the words paraphrasing the recent
utterances Of a distinguished divine,'
etc. They were left out Of the copy.
After making the speech L went
south on the next train and never
saw the speech again until it was in
print. My secretary did not notice 1t
and had distributed several thousand
before my attention was called to it"
In conclusion Senator McLaurln
made this caustin comment:
Il sincerely regret the modification
to the sensitive, delicate and refined
nature of my colleague. Honors are
even. however, for | can assure h:m
that have experienced similar pangs
at some of the 'pitchfork tunes which
he playes to the disgust Of the senate
and the delectation Of the gallery