Evening star., 1901-05-31
BOUND TO OLD IDOLS
Little Prospect of Change in South
Carolinians' Politics.
MLAURIN LEADS A F0RL0RN HOPE
Belief That He Has Been Outgen-
eraIed by Senior Senator.
PEOPLE ARE DE moo a 7 S
Special From a Staff Correspondent.

Special From STAFF Correspondent.
CHARLESTON, S. c., May 31.-There are
two things in Charleston that are impossi-
Bile. One is to break into or break down
the social system peculiar to this city and
people; the othe- is to get a following
of respectable white men for anything that
savors of republicanism.
There are men here who believe in the
gold standard and expansion on abstract
propositions. They will admit the argu-
ments advanced in advocacy of these poll
cies, but on election day they will walk to
the polls and vote the regular democratic
ticket or stay at home and not vote at ALL
When all Is said and done democracy Is the
touchstone
Conservative estimates figure that Mr.
TiIlman will beat Mr.. McLaurin in Charles
tor at the ratio of two to one. Mr.. McLau-
rim has friends in Charleston who believe
in the principles of which he is the expo
nent- But when the proposition is put
fatty to them, as 1t will be put by the
Tillmanites. as to supporting man who is
branded throughout the state allied with
republicanism, that is quite another thing.
MIR. Tillman is detested in Charleston by
very considerable number of the people
with fervor and intensity. He is daily
cursed in a greater variety, scope and Wig
, or of anathema by these citizens than by
a democrat.
McLaurin's Position.
One must not lose sight of this fact for
moment that Mr.. McLaurin is and will con-
true to be pilloried as attempting to lead
his followers into republicanism. No mat
. ter that 1t is not true, no matter that Mr..
McLaurfn protests and protests again that
he Is but trying to lift his party above
sectionaliSm into the calmer regions of
conservatism and advancement of material
interests. the salient fact remains that in
the minds of the rank and file his position
IS fixed as associated with republicaniSm,
and the people won't have 1t.
In Washington 1t is easy to theorize about
the possibilities of building up in the south
new democratic party. Reasons can be
found in plenty to bolster the theory and
buttress 1t with logic. But South Carolina
is the most unlikely state In which to try
IT and the support of a republican admins
tration. with it's patronage. is the most I'M
favorable godfather for the scheme. When
the new democratic party is built up in
this unreconStructed community it's spon-
scrs VIII have to be democrats to whom
attaches no possible taint of disloyalty to
the cause and VIII are above suspicion of
having side door connected with repub-
lCan administration.
CONSERVATION Among Omce-Ho1der.
Mr.. McLaurin's recent assumption of the
patronage dispensing roll created con-
sternation and dismay among the repub-
lican off1ce-holders. They saw their jobs
going over to the enemy in pursuance of
the supposed policy of pacification upon
which the administration was thought to
have entered. Now the faithful are heav-
Ing sigh of relief; they forsee the de-
truction of Mr.. McLaurin, and naturally
hope 1t will be brought about quickly and
before any more offices are turned over
for his disposition. With MIR. McLaurin
of b4 toll %I,1,r
organization to continue. for no one ex-
poets the administration to continue to be-
stow favors upon man who Will have no
goods to deliver in return
a great deal has been written from time
to time about the state becoming tired CT
Tiilman and Tillmanism. No doubt there
is dissatisfaction with him. He probably
has not enemy less than he had five
years ago, but they don't comprise more
than 80 per cent of the voting population
OF the state. The farmer vote is 10 per
cent of the whole. and from all accounts
the farmers are solid for Mr.. Tillman. l
have found no man who is acquainted with
the people, whether he is for Mr. Tillman
or against him. who will admit that Mr.
Ililman has lost any of his hold upon the
great body of the rough, rugged masses, to
whom his methods appeal and who have
above all things unfaitering confidence In
Democracy His opponents may fume and
Tret as much they will against him he
Is still the boss of South Carolina politics,
and his end Is not yet in sight.
McLanrin Has Been OutgeneraIed
1t Is the prevailing opinion that thus far
Mr. Tillman has outgeneraled his oppo-
nent- The springIng of the resignation
scheme was a master stroke of craftiness
and put the other man at DISADVANTAGES
Immediately. Mr.. Tillman's address TO the
people was also more adroit than that of
Mr.. McLaurins, which was issued last
night.
Mr.. Tillman's victory in the coming CON-
test Is practically assured. The most i'm
pnrtant feature of the outcome is the like
Hhood That this incident will further
strengthen his hold upon the state and
proiong his term of office as supreme ruler
Of South Carolina politics N M
TURNED DOWN BY McsWEExy
south Carolina Governor DecIines tn