The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-04-24
Tillman on McLaurin.
CHARLOTTE SPEECH TO
PAVE WAY INTO RE.
PUBLICAN PARTY.
Declares Junior Senator
Without Conscience
Senator

Rss seea at his home sonigos sno reply
ing 20 request for his opioiou on Seq
asor. McLaurin's Charlotte speech.
said
at is contradictory, full of pare
doxes aud seems intended to pave the
way fos the senator's passage Toto the
Republican camp. It may excite sur
prise outside of .he State, bat the only
thing which assonisbes US bere is his
continued effort to pose as Democrat
Democracy has q broad or geeeral
meaning and special OF local meaning
as applied to one of the great national
parties. Ny colleagues say. my
definition Of Democracy is liberty for
man formulated into theory of govern
mens ; it ueaos mans ioslieoable
ownership of himself. Il means free
sboughs and free speech This is not
the defuition given ie auy dictionary,
nor is it the definition given by Jefer-
SOD, and is is oOly intended TO j0ssify
the seuasor's desertion OF bis party. bis
sreachery to It's principles and bis
betrayal Of the people Of South Caro-
lima Who hsve trusted him. The
Kansas City platform is shs ooly
embodiment of Democratic principles
that can now be recognized and no man
can be considered Democrat Who
ignores the principles aOd policies laid
down in that platform and persissensly
votes with she Republican admiuisssa.
ton in both its foreigo and domestic
policies.
Senator MoLaurln iserates and
reiterases the charge that the new
Democracy is sectional party aOd
then trushfully claims that the south
Which 10 the last sanpaigD was alooe
Democratic. SIS the American end Of
America Strange that because of
this fact and our venerasioo sDd love
for the principles upon which our gov
ernmeet rests that shis broad American
statesman aud new born Democrat of a
hitherto uaknown type should council
our people TO accept conditions as
they are and make the most of them
Senator McLaurin declared 10 '9S
chat Mckinley should be reuouinated
by acolamasion.' aod if bis speech
mesDs aoysbiug it meaOs sbas the
Democratic party ought TO surreoder
all of iss traditions which he claims
are long since dead. become au echo
TO the Republican party, endorse its
foreign policy as we'll as lis domessic
policy. sbip-subsidy, large standing
army and everything. and subside abso.
lu,ely as a Democratic party
IF the administration party is right,
what need is there for political factor.
I have never believed sbasm colleague
would dare face the people of South
Caroliea in any political oaupaigu
again, keowiog what | do about him.
but as be indicates bis purpose Co still
masquerade as Democrat and while
attacking me coversly as one of she
leaders of the so called new Demo
cracy, it his purpose aud to lead our
people into she Republican camp, duty
ooupels me 10 speak out aod tell GER
tain things.
"Mr MeLauriu made 10 the senate,
January, 1899. speech which vas as
ultra aud as pronounced 10 its denuo-
ciatioo of the acquisition Of the Poilip-
pines and portrayed the macy dangers
which threatened our country 10 Goose
ouence as any ever delivered in that
body. Up to Saturday night before we
voted OF the treaty With Spain on Moo
day, Feb I, 1899. be repeatedly toia
me sBd other senators be vas bitterly
opposed to the ratification and wouid
not vote for it. Besweeo adjourDmens
Saturday evening aDd the vote 90 Mon
day the nsntle Of broad American
stasesnauship' descended upon him aod
few minutes before the senate Weot
into executive session to oooslder the
treaty and take cote as agreed. be
gave bal.iog and lane exploration of
his intended change of front His
vote secured the ratification because oD
the first roll call Mr. Jones OF Nevada
who bad also told us be would vote
against the treaty, passed when bis
name vas called, aud feel certalo II
Senator McLaurin had stood by bis
party and By himself, Mr. JoOes woald
not at the end have voted for the ratlh
cation
"Couscie1s as be vas that his vote
vas the governing factor in the srsin of
nouentous consequences so far-reacb-
ing sud terrible aod involving the var
of subiugation iD the Philippines. the
expenditure Of hundreds Of millions Of
dollars, the loss OF thousands OF lives
and other dire results which DO man
can forsee, it is nasural for Senator
MoLaurip to make deeperas effort 20
viudicsse the presidents policy IN his