The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-03-20
Wednesday, March 20, 1901.
The Call For McLaurin's Resignation.

The Call For McLaurin's Resignation.
Somebody called for McLaurin's resigna-
tion on exaggerated statements that he was
no longer Democrat and then a great howl
went up from thoughtless people.
Why should McLaurin resign: Has he
violated any recognized law of the party?
Even II he had opinions Of his own on
national questions in which this State was
equally interested with other States, and they
we're at various with the opinions of other
Democrats, that furnishes no reason why Nc
Laurln should resign his seat in the Senate.
Should he disregard the wishes OF his friends
and yield TO the demands of his enemies he
would be entitled to the respect OF nobody.
HIS enem les would regard him as fool, and
his friends would regard him as truant 10 his
trust.
Did McLaurin represent the interests OF
majority of the Democratic party in South
Carolina when he voted for the ratification of
the Paris treaty OF peace? We contend that
he did.
Did McLaurin represent majority OF the
Democratic party in his vote tor the increase
OF the army TO such numbers as TO crush the
insurrection In the Philippine Islands" We
contend thatbe did.
Did McLaurin represent the Democratic
party in his vote for the shipsubsidy? We con.
tend that he acted under precedent Of the
Democratic party which voted for railroad
subsidies and voted for bounty on Louisiana
sugar. Twenty millions year was paid by
Cleveland and his congress as q bounty on
Louisiana sugar.
Did the members OF congress commit
treason thirty years ago in voting public
lands to transcontin entail railroads?
Did the people OF Abbeville give offence to
good Democratic doctrine in voting subsidy
70 the 8. A. L. TO secure the shops?
Did our people prove themselves traitors to
the Democratic party by voting bonds for
that most palpable brand, the Black Dia.
mond railroad?
Did our people mrromise their honor and
their good Democratic standing by voting a
subsidy to the Coumband Gap Railroad?
Did the Democrats in Washington vote
right in the matter OF subsidizing the big
Indian Show In Charleston? We will allow
others to answer.
Did our Democratic Legislators vote DEM
ocratic vote in making an appropriation for
the Charleston, South Carolina, Interstate
and West Indian Show? We leave others
10 answer this who think subsidies are
offensive to public policy, and at variance with
good Democratic doctrine.
The fact Is, that opposition to McLaurin
because he voted with the Republicans on
the treaty OF peace, the army and the ship.
sidy, is based more upon hurrah and the cry
of Repnblicanism, than upon reason, honesty
or common sense. Does mans Democracy
depend upon senseless and bullheaded opposl-
tion TO everything which Republicans may
favor?
Tillma1 broke the ties which bound US to
old time blind hatred OF everything on
broad lines, and he opened our eyes to need
ed reforms at home. This condition has
brought about an era business prosperity.
Although 1t was predicted by a few of
the politicians and some OF the editors
that he would drive capital from the State.
the State, under Tillmans rule, has enjoyed
prosperity never seen before. Manufactures
have grown up with magic haste. That
growth has set people to thinking and the
great Reformer OF 1890 may be In fact the
founder Of political opinions which are
broader and better than any OF which he
then had conception.
Tillman opened up the manufacturing in.
terests OF the State, and 1t would be Idle TO
say that where millions OF dollars are invest
cd and where thousands of men, women and
children are daily employed will sit idle in
politics while their interests are attacked. To
prove that the man featuring interests Of the
South are exciting the jealousy and spite Of
the small politicians, 1t is only necessary to
look at their attempted intermeddlipg
with their prosperity. In their spite
their worded attack would lead the
unthinking to believe that the interests
OF the laboring class we're sought. The offen-
siveness Of that meddlesome Interference can
be seen In the proposition TO enact laws gov
erning mill operatives and taking from par
ents the management and control OF their
own children. Isn't such proposition, and
such an insult to the manhood of laboring
people, paternalism with vengeance?
1t has been charged that mill people would
support McLaurin. We hope this is true.
We know them to be sensible people, and
they will defend their own interests. The
railroad people will no doubt do the same
thing. The merchants and business men Of
this State will likely support McLaurin. and
1t is fair to believe that many Of the best In
formed farmers in this State will be found in
the McLaurin column. The day for stone
blind hate has passed, and We may expect
reason and common sense to assert them
selves.
Whether McLaurin erred in voting for the
shipsubsidy depends entirely upon the
merits Of the case, with which we are not
fully informed. Believing that he knew what
xlotn - I