Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-04-24
and paragraphs, and have the effron

that they may fully inform themselves
on all Of these matters and stand ready
to furnish the proof Of everything
say, and If necessary will meet Mr..
McLaurin face to face in any forum
he may choose. If his proposed scheme
Of broad craftsmanship is Democracy,
then am not and have never been a
Democrat, and as the people of South
Carolina have recently reelected me as
Democrat without opposition, I feel
warranted in letting the people outside
Of the state. as we'll as those inside,
know just what manner of man this
Is. I have kept silent heretofore, be-
cause I was ashamed to let the world
know how our people had been de-
ceived in him."
M'LAURIN IN REPLY.
Senator McLaurin was in Charleston
when the foregoing was published and
the newspaper men Immediately ap-
piled to him to see whether or not he
had anything to say in reply. He met
the attack with characteristic direct
ness as follows:
II have only this to say in reference
to Senator Tillman's interview. So far
as his personal attack on me is con-
cerned, the public prints are not the
place to reply. I neither court nor de-
sire his friendship or good opinion.
Nor do I propose, for the benefit Of
some one else, to be drawn into con-
troversy with him. I am ready to do
my own fighting and want other people
to do the same"
Concerning his vote on the Paris
treaty, Senator McLaurin said:
II did intend to vote with the major
ity Of the Democrats against the ratif1-
cation Of the treaty, for reasons purely
of party consideration. I never said
anything to Senator Tillman or any
one else to give him the right to truth
fully say that I was bitterly opposed
to its ratification. It is and has been
intensely unpleasant for me to differ
from so many of my party associates.
had just been through campaign
full Of bitterness and desired If possi-
BILE to avoid further differences. The
appeal was made to me to defeat the
treaty and secure the tactical advan-
tage Of defeating the administration
and forcing them to call an extra ses-
sion. 1t Is a pretty low plane Of &C
ton, but for the sake Of peace and to
avoid just what has occurred since,
concluded to vote for the rejection Of
the treaty. 1t was with this idea that
I went home Saturday night. Sunday
afternoon, sitting in my dining room,
heard a newsboy calling extras and
sent out and got one. I saw the ma
and when read the account, made up
my mind at once that the treaty should
be ratified so as to fix the status Of the
United States in foreign war already
on. It made the people firing on our
troops rebels, and not us intruders. The
30 days lacking before an extra session
could be called might be productive Of
untold harm. have never seen the
day since when was not glad that
did have the strength to vote as I
thought right. I did so freely and
with no promise or pledge to any man.
Immediately it was published to the
world that had been promised Judge
Simonton's place. A more UNANIMOUSLY
false and cruel slander was never per-
petrated.
There hasn't been time In five
years when haven't wished that
couldn't decently and honorably get
out Of public life. When President Nc
Kinley offered me the place intended
for a Democrat on the Philippine COM
mission, I declined and told him that I
never wanted anything for myself at
his hands, but that II through me he
could help South Carolina wanted
him to do it. This is all ever desire
or expect, and If did not feel that I
was helping and could help my state,
nothing on earth could induce me to
submit one hour longer to such vitu-
peration and abuse.
1T is no new role" continud the
senator "for Senator Tillman. He be-
gan his career by abusing and SANDER
ing better men. I have naught but
contempt for an intellectual bully and
shameless pretender masquerading as
a statesman, a moral pigmy posing as
the champion Of honesty"
Concerning the charge Of plagiarism
McLaurin said:
$50 far as plagiarzing DIR. Van
Dykes sermon is concerned, 1t was
largely due to accident. I was much
struck with its beauty of thought and
diction. I had a borrowed copy and
dictated from 1t three or four sentences
to my stenographer, and In the orig
inal, which anyone can see, are the
words 'paraphrasing the recent utter
ances Of a distinguished divine etc.
These were left out Of the copy. At
ter making the speech I went South
on the next train and never saw the
speech again until it was in print. Ny
secretary did not notice 1t, and had dis
tributed se'cral thousand before my
attention was called 10 It,
In conclusion Senator McLaurlh
made this caustic comment:
IT sincerely regret the modification
to the sensitive, delicate and refined
nature Of my colleague. Honors are
easy, however, for I can assure him
that 1 have experienced similar pangs
at some of the 'pitchfork tunes which
he plays to the disgust of the senate
and the delectation of the gallery loaf
ers."