The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-05-29

nit to the people of South Carolina:
First. Am / honest in the views l
advocate? Second. Am l mistaken:
Ny interests are inseperably inter
woven with the interest Of the State,
no good can come to her in which |
cannot participate, and no evil of
which must not bear my share. If
I wanted to have an easy time, GER
tainlv choose the hard road. might
have drifted with the current, sang
me, too" and continued to hold
Office. [ had pretty good tutelage and
an illustrious example in my early po
litical career in the arts of demagog
ery, and could do it again in pinch.
But fellow-citizens,. the game isn't
worth the candle. y
I am human, and have my full share
of the frallty and vanity which go
with poor, weak human nature. / look
back to some things that I have said
and done, and l know that [ was
wrong and I wish it were otherwise.
But fellow citizens, twice within the
last three years I have felt that | was
very near the time whenI would stand
before the bar of a just God, who
knows the secrets of my innermost
soul, and I felt that he would mercy
have for petty frailties and short
comings, and give me credit for the
earnest and honest effort, for the sac
rifces which I had made to serve the
best and highest interest of my State
and country. I am not afraid to
meet my God and stand upon my
public record-why, then, should [
fear any tribunal here below? only
wish that my life as man was as
sinless and free from reproach as it
is as your public servant. Charges of
corruption have been rife in South
Carolina during the past ten years,
charged that dirty dollar has ever
crossed the palm of my hand.
I do not control. I do not profess
to control, nor will I become respon-
slible for, the Federal patronage in
South Carolina. On account of my
liberal veiws, and what he is pleased
to consider my patriotic stand for
broad American doctrines, the Presl
dent has done me the honor to consult
me on certain occasions as to South
Carolina appointments. He has done
50, to my certain knowledge, with
Senator's Morgan, Sullivan, McEnery
and other Democrates. [ appreciate
it beyond measure, for wiser man, a
truer patriot. and a more kindly
Christian gentlemnam. never occupied
the White Hnouse than William Nc
Kinley. l believe I have his conf
dence and friendship and there is
no treasure that value more highly.
If I have controlled any patronage.
it has been in the public interest, not
my own. No nephews of mine have
been commissioned in the United
States Army. l have had no son
drawing a large salary, travelling this
State at5government expense. manipu
lating political affairs for me. | be
leive in the rule Of the people, and [
want to see the time come when the
patrons of the Office, those who sup
port it. shall name the postmaster
Just as they do the sheriff and clerk
of the court.
Ny intimate friends know that it
has been my desire to retire from
public life. / had determined never
again to undertake the canvass Of this
State, and were it not that felt that
1 owed it to the people of South Caro-
lima to discuss these issues and enable
them to act intelligently by placing
themselves in touch with the best
thought of the age, / would not be
here today The people of this State
gave me tne grandest chance that any
young man has had since the war, and
l fully realize the opportunity and
duty. I never doubted for one moment
but if allowed to present my case fair
ly to the people, [ would be reelected
to the Senate. I have not made vote
that can be successfully assailed, save
upon narrow partisan grounds. | had,
however, determined not to run on ac-
count of my health. The campaign Of
1897 left me in physical and mental
wreck. My physician has repeatedly
said that I could not stand either
mentally or physically the strain Of
such another campaign. Within the
ten months past, however, my health
has been wonderfully improved and I
am ready for the fray. I desire here
and now to tell the Bosses" Gin and
out of the State who have decreed
my political death, that l defy them.
The only way they can defeat me is to
rule me out of the primary and thus
prevent the people from expressing
themselves. Let them, if they dare,
prevent white men from passing judg-
ment at the ballot-box upon these
great national issues.
I desire now to take up some of my
votes and speeches. and address myself
to the qusetion. Am l mistaken:
When I was placed on the Ways and
Means Committee of the House, | be-
gan systematic course of reading on
the tariff question with reference to
It's effect upon the people of the South.
In March. 1897. l made speech in
which l embodied my views. | had
offered an amendment for a duty of
two and one-half cents per pound on
cotton imports. and had made a fight
in the Committee for proper sched-
ule on rice, pine lumber, turpentine,
cotton seed oil. oil cake. jute-bagging.
cotton tires and the coarse grade of