Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-04-20
NeIAURIN'S SPEECH.


ticians who look upon politics as only
the science Of getting office, have been
stating for weeks, not as an assump-
ton, but as an actual fact, that Sena-
tor John L. McLaurin was to take ad-
vantage Of the opportunity to be offer
ed him at Charlotte on April IS, to
launch a white mans Republican party
in the South, and especially in South
Carolina.
1t gives us pleasure to be able to re-
produce in today's issue Of THE EN-
oUIRER, the speech which Senator Nc
Laurin has had under consideration,
and which he delivered Thursday
night. We have read it most care
fully from beginning to end, and we
have given 1t as much study as has
been possible in the limited time at
our disposal We have never enter
tanned the slightest idea that the pre-
dictions Of the political newspapers
would prove true, and we, therefore,
have no occasion for surprise in being
such convincing form.
But while Senator McLaurin has not
launched, or attempted to launch, a
new political party, dull indeed is the
Individual who cannot hear in his
speech a bugle blast that is to resound
throughout the South, arousing the
people to a keener appreciation Of a
birthright that they have for so long
brave, high-spirited people, bound
hand and foot, the miserable slaves Of
one party and the football Of the 9TH
er!' Is it not true? Does not every
sensible man in the South know it is
true, and that the reason Of it is not
intelligence, not principle, not interest;
but only an indefensible sulkiness?
Then do we propose to stand in our
own light forever? The thing is alb
surd.
Again, the political newspapers have
been saying that Senator McLaurin
would take occasion to explain and
apologize for various votes he has cast
on national questions of vital moment
to the people of the South. Those who
may have needed explanation will find
it in every line Of his remarkable
speech; but the man who is still wait
ing for an apology will wait in vain,
unless he contents himself with this,
which comes not as a defence, but as
the utterance of the greatest and
broadest statesman who has lived in
South Carolina since the days of John
c. Calhoun: For myself, would not,
under existing conditions, be willing to
hold a seat in the United States SEN
ate on any other terms. To allow 9TH
ers to think for me upon these great
questions is a cowardly evasion Of my
responsibilities, and a criminal neglect
of the true interests Of those who elect
ed me-"
There may be and there is some Re-
publican doctrine in this great speech:
but it is only such as has been handed
down to the Republicans by George
Washington, Thomas Jefferson and
Andrew Jackson, and not only is it as
good Democratic doctrine today as it
ever was: but it comes from the heart
and head of as fearless and able a
Democrat as lives in the South at this
time.
We sincerely hope that this speech
will be read and studied by all the
people of South Carolina. We do not
hope it on account of ourselves or of
Senator McLaurin. We do not hope it
on account Of any political party or in
dividual politician. We hope it because
we believe all that the senator says is
true. and upon the following out of
the lesson he teaches us depends the
present best interests and the future
prosperity of not only South Carolina
but Of the South.