The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1901-05-30

. was oIcred, the people would see thu
L received fair play, and that the
would at least accord me honesty {
purpose.
There arc two question that I sui
mt to the people of South Carolina
First. Am l honest in the views
advocate? Second. Am l mistaken
AS to the first. All that have t
say is that my people have shed thei
!. blood for South Carolina III every cor
test in which she has ever been en-
gagged. l was born in South Carollna
L took my wife in South Carolina, an,
. when l die l expect my bones to b
laid beside five generations OF homes
men and true women who have gOn
before. [ have children who mus
bear ny name, good or bad. Ever,
dollar that l have is invested in thi
State, except a small amount in Nortl
Carolina and Florida. My Interests
arc inseparably interviewer with The
Interest of my State, no good can come
TO her in which l cannot participate
and no evil of which must not bear
my share. If l wanted to have an
easy time, l certainly chose the hard
road. L might have drfted with the
current, sang "me, too," and con-
tlnucd to hold office. L had pretty
good tutelagc and an illustrlous cx-
ample in my early political career in
the arts of demagogery, and could do
it again in pinch. But fclIow-cti-
zens, the "game isn't worth the can
dle." If l can't be a Senator, worthy
the great statesmen whom | succeed
| do not wish to hold the Office. do
not claim to be infalliblc, and the time
has been when l would gladly have
been convinced that was wrong, and
thus enabled 10 escape from the posi-
ton which at times was almost unen-
durable ; but, fellow. citizens, l no
longer feel that way. l do not wish
now to be convinced. When man
has suffered for a cause it becomes
very dear to him, and 1 think that it
would break my ncart if l could find
now that, after all, it is a mistake, and
that l have been deceived by mirage
III the bleak desert. l am human,
and have my full share of the frailLy
and vanity which go with poor, weak
human nature. l look back to some
things that l have said and done, and
know that | was wrong, and l wish
it were otherwise. But, fellow-citizens,
twice within the last three years have
felt that | was very near the time when
l would have to stand before the bar
of a just God, who knows the secrets
of my lnnermost soul, and l felt that
he would mercy have for petty frailties
and shortcomings, and give me credit
Tor the earnest and honest effort, for
the sacrifices which l had made to
serve tic best and highest interest of
my State and country. l am not afraid
to meet my God and stand upon my
public record--why, then, should l
fear any tribunal here below7 | 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 my
worst enemies have never charged that
dirty dollar has ever crossed the palm
of my hand.
Fellow-citizens To man who
loved society and that sort of thing,
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 dcvoting the best years of my
life. / am in the Senate for what l
can get for South Carolina, not TO fur
thcr my personal interests. DO you
suppose that enjoy being ilaycd alive,
and called all sorts of pet names by the
growing, grumbling Gonzales, and the
whining, cringing dyspeptic Hcmphill9
1t does not worry me very much, for l
know that there is one kind of an ami
NAL that will growl just for the pleas
ure of growing, and another that will
whine, especially when milk is scarce.
There is a good deal Of growing and
whining just now because of few
Federal plums that have been dropping
around, but notice that it all com
from the direction where none are
dropping or likely to drop. From OBJ.
scrvatiOn l infer that there are plenty
Of Gold Democrats, Silver Democrats,
Bryan Democrats, Cleveland Demo-
Gratis, Mckinley Democrats, Tillman
Democrats, McIIaurin Democrats, and
Democrats none Of whom object to a
Job under " Uncle Sam.''
FEDERAL PATRONAGE.
Now, fellow-citizens, want to say
one word on this subject. / do not
control, l do not profess to control, 1
do not wish to control, nor will 1 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
for broad American doctrines, the Pres.
idcnt 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, McEncry, and
other Democrats. l appreciate it be-
yond measure, for a wiser man, a truer
patriot, and a more kindly Christian
gentleman, never occupied the White
House than William Mckinley. l be-
lieve l have his confidence and friend.
ship, and there is no treasure that
value more highly. 1 would not have
it and l could not retain il were l q
traitor to my State and people. He
honors me, because he knows as well
as any man living, how much I love
my native State. When he expressed
4