The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-09-04

an opportunity to investigate the ques..
ton and really are totally ignorant OF
the effects and intention Of such
legislation, but, parrot-like, they re-
peat the windy assertion of some favor
tie politician, who possibly is as we'll
informed as they are. It is not argu-
ment one would expect to hear from q
profound lawyer, such as my friend
IS. and I am surprised that he is so
careless of his reputation as to permit
such an argument to go out from MN.
Col Lees opposition to 1t seems TO
be based upon the ground that Senator
McLaurin advocates, as a business
principle, giving aid and encourage
ment to the American merchant ma
rine. to enable our freight-carriers to
compete with the subsidized ships OF
England and Germany, and, as Sena-
tor Tillman has denounced such legis-
lation as "Republicanism," of course
anything McLaurin favors is not Demo
cratic.
I did not ask my friend for his opin-
ion about Federal Office holding, but
he takes occasion to make bugbear"
ont of Senator McLaurin having OBJ
tained Federal appointment for a
Democrat in South Carolina. If that
is an indication Of disloyalty to the
Democratic party, why does not the
same rule apply to Senator Tillman
and congressman Latimer? The form
er has received an appointment for a
nephew and the latter lucrative ap-
pointment for his son. McLurin got
his for a friend, and the others got
theirs for kinsmen, but, because Nc
Lurin asked for and received an ap-
pointment for a Democrat to fill the
Greenville postofice, the only one he
has so far received, he must be read out
Of the Democratic party by COM
mittee assembled for another purpose,
and composed principally Of politicians
and aspiring ice-seekers: the chair
man, who issued the call, voted for
the resolution, after having used his
Influence with Governor McSweeney
to return Senator McLaurin's resigna-
zion, and in urging his appeal to the
Governor he said that he had just seen
Tillman, the whole thing was done in
passion, and the designations should be
returned Col Lee lays more stress
upon his fancied Democracy than upon
the good of the people of this state.
In other words, he would rather have
negro postmasterss ine every postofice
in South Carolina than ask Republi
can administration for competent white
federal officers. The people surely
have reason to cry: "Lord, deliver Us
from such Democracy.
I have about reached the CONCLUSION,
from Col Lees "me-too' utterances,
he has mistaken Populism and his new
" acquired Tillmanism for Jefferson
Democracy. He favors expansion of
trade and commerce, even territorial
expansion. He recognizes that expan-
sion of territory, trade and commerce
is, and has been, Democratic for near
" century. To this is due the un-
exampled growth and prosperity of
this country. The attempt to distin-
guish between contiguous and foreign
territory by the United States is
begging of = the question, and shows
my friends lack of material TO sustain
his Populist Democracy.
"The ratification of the treaty OF
Paris, - says Col. Lee, was advocat.
ed by Mr.. William Jennings Bryan"
and he also favored it, and has "nev-
er criticised adversely Senator McLau-
rims vote on that question. - Why.
yes, he did, when he responded TO
Senator Tillman's demand by voting
for those denunciatory resolutions.
But Notwithstanding the fact that Col.
Lee and Mr.. William Jennings Bryan
favored the ratification Of the treaty
of Paris, Col. Lee is opposed to ter
ritorial expansion" do wish that
my distinguished friend would tell the
people if the "treaty of Paris did
not carry with it the requirement Of
the Philippine Islands: if not what
did it carry? The Philippines were
acquired under the treaty at stip-
ulated price, and I cannot conceive of
the consistency of favoring the treaty
and opposing the acquiring of the ter
ritory carried by said treaty. Accord
ing to Col. Lees own admission he
endorses expansion by endorsing the
treaty, otherwise there is a glaring
inconsistency in his views. In a. large
standing army Col Lee sees the
'tghost'' of militarism and falls back
upon Jefferson's declaration of a cen
tury ago, and vet Notwithstanding
this apparition he realizes this coun-
try has grown and he admits the neces-
sity for the increase of our defences.
The population of the United States
is now $4,000, 1000, and common sense
tells US that we need a larger standing
army now than we had in Jeferson's
day-this is apparent to Col. Lee and
everyone else.
When Gen. Thomas Sumter, of Re
volutionary fame visited the village
of Sumter, dressed in knickerbocker
breeches and silver-buckled low-cut
shoes, only one guardsman was needed
for the protection of the citizens. but
the city of Sumter today, on account
of its increase of population and prop
erty, needs g strong police force to
make life. property and the pursuit OF
happiness safe Times have changed.
When our population was $4,000, 600
we had $4,000 soldiers and now that
our population is 100000 is there
any greater danger of militarism with
10000 soldiers: This is no longer an
infant Renbulic. the SWaddlino clothes