The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-07-31
TILLMAN VS.. McLAURIN.
Mr.. Meschine Writes on the Action
of the State Democratic Commit.
Eermi.ape LoWndeSyille, 6. c.,

Hermitage, Lowndesville. S. c.,
July 9th, 1901.
Editor Press and Banner. Aboevile, $. c.:
Dear Sir: The scientists have found out
tbat.lhe sidereal system established by the
Creator OF the Universe is governed by the
laws OF attraction and gravitation.
They have also discovered that the stars are
divided into groups or onstellations. each
one of them under the superior influence OF a
main star or sun OF some description ~hich
attracts the minor stars and around which
the latter gravitate.
The constellation known in South Carolina
as the State Democratic Executive Commit
tee'' was In session on the 95th OF this month
and from certain resolutions passed by that
body. every South Caroinian ts apt 10 judge
with his naked eye that B. +. Tillman is al
ways the Ratn star. His power OF attractlon
has not diminished. and his satellites are
still gravilating around him as before.
The sky of South Carolina ia nndisturbed,
as ni yore. b. r. Tlllmau dictates.
So the junior Senator is excommunlcateu.
The Pope and his Wears have pronounced
the sentence, ameni
This act OF the State Democratic Executive
Committee may bring forth some Luther or
mittee has exceeded its powers and who Will
reinstate the Democratic faith upon It's true
and primitive basis.
But let us suppose that McLaurin submits
TO the resolution Of the committee, 10 vlndt.
cate himself and to clear away all the doubts
and distrusts which the resolution OF the
mmittee has iusinuated as 10 his character
and his conduct. He will be bound 10 ruu Tor
reelection.
The South Carolinians may see In the reso-
tion OF the committee a mere persecution ;
they are neither slaves nor unjust people, ana
as The voters have sometime ways OF their
fidence and he may be reelected.
What may happen then, may be nothing
short OF a total eclipse of the sun OF South
Carolina and of his satellites.
SOUTH CAROLINA IN THE DARK.
Surely the gentlemen of the committee
must be very certain Of the victory, other
wise they would have hesltated TO expose
their State to such q fate and TO put upon the
shoulders OF their constituents unnecessary
additional taxes, to say nothing OF the trou.
BILE OF a somewhat untimely compaign.
In the North one may be Democrat the other
Republican and both enjoy equally the
friendship Of their fellow-country men.
In the South it is very different: Here
Democrat means patron OF the white man;
Republican means patron OF the negro, and
as such traitor to his own race.
To the present time the South has been
Democrat by necessity and In self-deuse, be-
cause the North is Republican, and It may
be said truly that under said conditions the
Southerners have cared very little about pol
itics in general and about the Democratic
platforms In particular.
II the committee In ruling McLaurin out oi
the Democratic party succeeds In throwing
him In the ranks OF the Repuolcan party
they have won, because the sole fact OF being
q epublican here means the enemity OF the
white voters.
But the dilemma is not Democrat or Re.
publican"
Between the two propositions there Is q
considerable margin there is room Tor
various shades Of Democracy, there is also
room for a new name and new banner un'
der which the progressive men OF the South
can enlist themselves without fearing TO be
called the enemies Of their race.
Since, and as consequence OF the spanish
war, questions Of supreme Importance have
risen for the South meantime the North (or
Republicans.) seem TO be disposed to leave 70
the South the solution OF the negro problem
hence something like new era, an era o
political liberty seems TO be dawniDg Tor the
|Southerners who will therefore soon be IN
the obligation to quilt their neutral attitude
and be called to enter the political arena
Who can predict which will be their ban ner
The southern progressists may see thelr
ranks filed with Democrats who do not share
the views OF the State Democratic Executive
Committee and with those who, though not
admitting the Democratic or Republican doc
trines or platforms altogether, think that
there Is more than one way to work for the
development and the grandeur OF their coun.
try, aud who want TO enjoy the privilege and
the liberty of expressing their opinions With
out being obliged to kneeI before dictator OF
a body OF dictators.
This McLaurin incident may be but pass
Ing cloud; II may also bring unexpected con.
E. c. Meschine.