Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-05-11
WILLIAMS IS WARM.
Goes Cunning For The State and
knocks Out Feathers.


The Greenville News, Of Thursday
prints the following dispatch from
Richmond, over the signature of A. b
Williams:
I have lust seen the three column edi-
torial in The State, Of Monday, regard
ing the suggestion of General Wade
Hampton, for the Columbia postmas-
tership.
The idea of the writer of that article
seems to be that was trying to have
General Hampton do a disgracefu
thing to shelter others under his name
and prestige.
I am glad to have direct assurances
from General Hampton that he has nc
such thought.
am sure that no man who is accus-
toned to high standards and straight
motives will have such a thought
There has never been a human pur-
pose, however large, for which mar
row mind can invent a small mind
no human act, however honest, tc
which a vindictive and petty spirit
could not attribute dishonesty. TIC
judge the methods and intentions OF
others by our own is a common human
characteristic.
1 am entirely willing to have the
South Carolina public consider my
course from the standpoint of Wade
Hampton on one side and The State
newspaper on the other.
The South Carolina public knows
both, and the contrast Is sufficiently
vivid to be impressive. If any man In
South Carolina who has accepted, OF
may accept, an appointment from Pres
ident Mckinley should need illustrous
precedent to justify him, he would not
70 ho n
State newspaper, two members Of the
staff of which held commissions in the
volunteer army on the recommendation
of Governor Ellerbe.
That was in time of war, but my in
formation was that there was no lack
of applications for positions as officers,
and that the appointments were dis
tinctly favors.
The State itself, organized as fierce
ly anti-Tillman and Independent and
Cleveland Democratic publication, sub
sequently accepted a rather advanta-
geous printing contract from an admin
istration to which 1t was supposed to
be bitterly hostile. 1t Is now apparent
ly trying to contend that acceptance of
an appointment suggested by an anti
Tillman senator would disgrace Gene
raj Hampton eternally.
The opinion Of The State concerning
myself is immaterial. To keep the rec
ord straight, however, permit me to say
in conclusion, that have never sought
nor accepted any jobs for myself or ia
vors for my newspaper which could
subject me to the suspicion Of fulfill
ing a bargain on one side or crafty
ing my resentment on the other, and
that my political plumage has never
changed. I did not begin as a Cleve-
land gold Democrat, opposing the Pop
ulist influence so flercely as to inef-
fectively lead a contesting delegation
to a national convention against it, and
then become red hot and intolerant
supporter of free silver and Populist
alliance. My recollection is The State
did.
I have fought Ben Tillman since the
day he was nominated, free silver from
the time it was broached, Populism
from it's beginning. Personally I would
rather be McKinleyite than Bryan
ite or a Tillmanite, but I am none of
them.
The result of the last presidential
election showed what the Democratic
party has been brought to under the
leadership The State follows. I want
to see the party become something bet
ter than laughing stock and the South
something more than a rallying point
and tool for the cranks of the continent
and a menace to the country's pros
perity.