Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1901-05-01
The Pot and the Kettle.
GTho State. |

political treachery! What specta-
ole, ye gods and minnows!
Ben's roast Of Johnnie on the point
of the pitchfork is warm, very warm.
1t has all the characteristics of a
real, hearty Tillman TRADE, and, sad
to say, it is all deserved. Johnnie
has been very bad little boy-but
has not Ben been just as bad a big
boyP
Tillman charges McLaurin with
unfaithfulness to Democratic princi-
pies, and the charge is lammentably
just. But is it so long ago that this
same Tillman was looking somewhat
longingly for that slight in the
West ?" Is our memory at fault or
did Tillman ever threaten to leave the
Democratic party and to take South
Carolina with him Are dcscrtion
and treachery different when Popu-
lism and Republicanism arc to be
tho respective benefciarics I? Nc
Laurin is about as far out of the De-
mocratic party as man can be and
still claim to be in it, but he is hardly
step farther than Tillman was Il
few years ago. The difference is
one of direction, not of degree, and
we are not sure but that after all
McLaurin has as good claim to be
called a Democrat as his colleague
formerly possessed. NIcLaurin is
not much more of protectionist
than Tillman is, and he says he has
never threatened to leave the party.
Tillman cannot truthfully say that
for himself.
1t is hard and definite charge
Tillman makes against his colleague
III the matter Of the Paris treaty.
1t is very true that after speaking
against the treaty and denouncing
the policy of imperialism it might
lead to, Senator McLaurin changed
front and voted for ratification. So
far as the mere act of voting for rati-
tication is concerned, Senator Nc
Laurin might plead that Mr.. Bryan,
the acknowledged leader of the De
mocratic party, counselled such a
course although the situation had
radically changed since Bryan gave
his advice, and what seemed best be-
fore the opening of hostlities seemed
worst after it. On his subsequent
votes he cannot so plausibly and SO
easily defend himself, but in this one
case, which Senator Tillman brings
forward, the junior coleagc has the
better of the senior, for the latter
also changed front at critical mo.
ment. 1t was not quite two months
ago. Senator ViIlman, it will be re-
mambered, was vowing his relentless
and unwavcring opposition to the
imperiaistic schemes Of the Repub-
lican party, of which the most nota-
bic was the Plat resolution concern
ing Cuba. He sworc "war to the
knife and the knife to the hilt !" he
threatened to talk the whole legisla-
tive programme to death, and i'm
short, was at his best, raging, blufling
and clustering.
Suddenly, Ben subsidized. "Silenccd
and soothed," the correspondents
said, by the promise of an appropria-
ton for Charleston's Exposition and
an nnobstructcd river and harbor
bill, in which Senator Tillman cx-
pectcd "to get his share of the steal
ing for South Carolina" This is a
likely charge, and although Tillman
has made a partial denial, it remains
unrcfntcd to this day.
That Ben was bought off there is
little doubt, but he was also bun
coed-for the price was not paid. If
Senator McLaurin, as Tillman SO
plainly intimatcs, was ever bought,
he made a better bargain and has
been more successful as n tradesman.
SO on that score also, the honors are
cven--or if there is an advantage, it
is McLaurin's, for it was left to the
junior Senator to help out poor
Charleston with his dearly mortgagcd
influence.
AS for the charge of plagiarism
against the Bcnncttsvillc statesman
of the new school, it has been made
before and proved. No one has ever
accused Tillman Of plagiarism. His
imagination is capable of manufac-
turing not only speeches, but facts,
and on occasion he does not hesitate
to invent any sort of story that suits
his selfish purpose. TO "stcal the
brain work of another" is pretty
bad, but is it any worse than con
cocting statements that are original
but false ? There are different kinds
Of dishonesty.
And McLaurin has made Tilman
blush for South Carolina Aurora's
rouge pot 1t is an accepted say.
ing that "chickcns will come home