The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-04-24

Trenton, April Ex-senator Tlllman was
seen at his home tonight ana replying 70
REQUEST for his opinion on Senator McLaurins
ut is contradictory, full of paradoxes and
seems intented 10 pave the way for the sena-
tors passage into the Republican camp. III
the only thing which astonishes as here Is
his continued effort to pose as Democrat.
Democracy has q broad or general meaning
and special or local meaning as aPpided1, M 1,oa TO
que says. My definition OF democracy ID iioel
ty for man formulated into theory OF gov
eminent; 1t means mans inalienaoie owner a
ship OF himself 1t means free thought ano
free speech. This is not the detlnition gwen
in any dictionary, nor is IL the oeIi9lt'on
given by Jefferson. and it is only INTENDED 10
iustity the senator's desertion OF his party,
his treachery to its principles and his oetray-
al of the people OF South Carolina WHO nave
trusted him. The Kansas City platform is
the only embodiment OF Democrats @ p prlner' Incl
can now be considered Democrat who ignores
the principles and policies LAID down Ia tpat
platform and persistently votes WITH tne re,
publican administration IN ootn i's iofeisn
an domestic policies.
"Senator McLaurin iterateS and relterates
the charge that the new Democracy Is sec
tionsl party and then truthfully claims that
the south which in the last campaign was
alone Democratic. is the American END OF
America Strange that because OF This iact an
our veneratiou and love for the prlclpies upon
which our government rests that this broad
American statesman and new born Demo
crat of a hitherto unknown type should coun-
are aud make the most OF them ~
'Senator McLaurin declared IN 70 that
Mckinley should be renominated by acclam ma. a.
tion.' and II his speech means anytnlhhg yhs u, IT
means that the Democratic party ought 10
surrender all OF its traditions which ne clamls
are long since dead become an echo 10 ine
Republican party, endorse its foreign poncy
as we'll as its domestic policy, shi p-suosldy,
large standing army and everything, ana
subside absolutely as Democratic party,
"Ifthe administration party is right, what
need is there for political FACTOR. l nave
never believed that my colleague would dare
Iace The people OF South Carolina in any poll
tical campaign, again, knowing what 40
about him, but as he indicates his purpose 10
still maso uerade as Democrat and wnlle at
lacking me covertly as one OF the leaders OF
the called new Democracy. IL is MS pur-
pose to lead our people Into the Repuoilcan
camp, duty compels me 10 speak out anu Tell
"Mr. McLaurin made in the senate. Jan
nary 1899 speech which was as ultra and az
pronounced IN its denuneiation OF ine acquisi, s
ton OF the Philippines and portrayed tne
many dangers which threatened our country
in consequence as any ever delivered In thai
body. UP to Saturday night before we voted
on the treaty with Spain on Monday, FeDru-
ary 7, 1899, he repeatedly told me and olner
senators he was bitterly opposed TO the rain
cation and would not vote for IT, between
adjournment Saturday evening and the vote
on Monday the mantle Of broad American
statesmapship' descended upon MIN and
few minutes before the senate went into exc
cutive session to consider the treaty anu taRe
r. vote az agreed, he gave q halting and lame
explanation of his intended change OF 'front.'
His vote secured the ratification because on
the first rollcall Mr.. Jones OF Nevada VINO nao
also told US he would vote against the treaty:
passed when bis name was called, and feel
certain If Senator McLaurin had stood by his
party and by himself. MIR. Jones would not at
the end have voted for the ratification.
ci0 oS ne that hi6 vote was the
governing factor Ia the train of momentouS
consequences 80 far-reaching and terrible anu
Philippines, the expenditure OF hundreds OF
millions of dollars, the loss OF thousands OF
lives and other dire results which no man can
foresee. 1t Is natural for Senator McLaurln @ 10
idepts policy in bis own action. The declar-
alton OF independence Of course and an
abandonment Of dead tradition Is the policy
OF man who behaves as he has done.
"Such man has no conscience OF prlncl'
Piles. The eloquent speech which be deliver
ed in the senate was largely stolen from
DR.. Henry Van Dyke on Thanksgiving day,
November 1899, In the Brick Church of New
York city, two months before Senator Nc
Laurin delivered II in the senate.
IL have not only had TO blush because NC
Laurin had deserted his party in great crisis
under suspicious circumstances and contrary
to bis avowed purpose, but have had the NOR
tification of having ether senator's, northern
gentlemen. speak OF the degradation to
which South Carolina had come In being
represented by man who would boldly steal
the brain work OF another by whole senten.
ces and paragraphs and have the efrontery
TO deliver II In the senate.
"The people of South Carolina cannot be
further deceived or misled by this man and
speak now in order that they may fully In
form themselves on all of these matters and
stand ready 10 furnish the proof OF everything
| say and If necessary will meet MIR. Nc
Laurin face 10 face In any forum he may
choose. II his proposed scheme OF broad
craftsmanship is Democracy, then ! am not
and have never been a Democrat, and as the
people of South Carolina have recently re.
elected me as Democrat without opposition
feel warranted in letting the people outside
of the State as well as those inside know just
silent heretofore because i was ashamed TO
let the world know how ourpeople had been
deceived in him" j.. K. NJ.