The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-12-13

noble an act 1t was true that an unfor-
tunate condition of affairs had existed
in his state and that h had recon-
mended good men for office. because he
did not desire to see a repetition OF the
horrible affair at Lake City. when a
negro postmaster had been burned to
death. He had voted for the war with
Spain and declared that in the same
spirit in which he had cast tina vote
he felt that he was compelled to sup
port the administration that conducted
1t de still thought that the condition
OF the war shoul have beer non-par-
tisan and during its progress he had
never heard from President McKinley's
lips q word concerning party advant-
ages
Senator McLaurin paid a high tribute
to the ate pre-iicTi whom he ch2rac-
terized as a broad statesman and
Christian gentleman"
| Senator Mel aurin said that he had no
| official knowledge of the charge brought
against him by his democratic coll
leagues, but Tat from the newspapers
he understood that the principal
charges were IL at he had not opposed
the ratification OF the treaty Of peace
with Spain: that he had upheld the ad-
ministration in its efforts to restore or
der IN the Philippines and to that end
had voted for an increase in the stand
ing army n that he was in favor Of
L lit bf'btllulJlS OIL the American mQr-
chant marine.
If these are the only charges" said
he dramatically. they are true and l
glory in them"
He said he had not wished to
vote against his party upon the ques-
ton or ratifying the peace treaty and
had It not been for the re~-opening Of
hostlltles in the Philippines he would
nave deferred to the opinion OF his col
leagues; but he declared the dictates
or reason n conscience should not be
stlfied by the the party lash"
with bitter words Senator McLaurin
then proceeded to excoriate the new
leaders of the democracy who, he said,
had guided the party through its de-
structlon during the last six years and
who were trying to cruelty those who
would seek to draw the democratic
party back to its old allegiance. That
party, he declared, had always been
triumphant except when the sectional
issue was raised. He still proposed, he
said, TO vote in his judgment for
ne beileved to be along the lines of
democratic principles. but he did not
propose to place himself against a prop
osltlon he believed to be for the best in
terest OF the people simply because it
was advocated by republicans.
In conclusion Mr.. McLaurin said he
did not propose to be driven from his
1890 ~ ~ 1oA>So NV III
with the party with which he did not
care to ally himself, and that on great
public question he would act accord
ing to the dictates Of his own con-
science and the best judgment.
When Senator McLaurin took his
seat Senator Jones, of Arkansas, took
the floor to make a statement. Some of
the statement made by Senator Nc
Laurin. Senator Jones said. he consid-
cred a reflection upo himself and HI
desired to offer a statement concerning
the incident to which Senator McLaurin
had referred. AT the extra session of
the senate last spring he had been asked
by the caucus officer for the list of
senators who were to be summoned to
q caucus and Senator McLaurin's
name being mentioned, he (Jones) had
said he would himself see the senator
from South Carolina. Il met him in
the cloak room. said Senator Jones,
and recalling the fact that he had nor
attended a democratic caucus for more
than two years., 1 asked him what his
status was. He replied that his rela-
tons with the party Were such that he
thought it would be embarrassing fol-
him to enter the democratic caucus. j
then said to him: You do not wish tc
be invited then and he replied Ger
tainly.' AS to the charge of uIterior
J motive Oh my part. / am content tC
treat it with the contempt it deserves
1t is a notorious fact which every one
seems to understand except the senator
l from South Carolina, that there has
been no democratic caucus at this SEES
sion of congress-. 1 have no hesitancy
however, in saying that in a recent
2 conversation with a leading member or
[ the other eide I said to him that 1 die
} not think the democratic caucus could
5 undertake to provide m as
I signments for the senator from South
Carolina.
2 Senator Tillman, of South Carolina
, was on his feet when Senator one!
. concluded. In his characteristic wa,
he announced that while his name hat
e not been mentioned he realized that h,
. was the cause of it all. He said h,
8 would not at this time make an ex
{ tended reply. Briefly, then. he reviewed
d the controversy between himself am
> Senator McLaurin, which led to tn
e joint tender of their designations to tn
. governor of South Carolina last spring
u and told of the governors suggestion
l that the designations be withdrawn.
Senator Tillman said he contende
that the governor was simply "a DO
!, into which we had put letters for tn
legislature" and that they could no
undo their act, but that Senator Nc
Laurin has fastened to withdraw hi
letter. Senator Tillman said he ex
amined the record and of about 20
cases in the history of the government
. where senators had resigned, Senate
y McLaurin enjoyed the enviable distinc
; ton of being the only n who ha
withdrawn his resignation after offer
4 ing it
10 AS to Senator McLaurin's charge c
conspiracy to humiliate him by barrin
him from the democratic caucus, Sena
tor Tillman called attention to the faf
that he had not been in Washingto
during the extra session Of the sena
70 last spring. "This conspiracy 4
~ said, lis a dream conjured up by Mn
20 It is a creation of his own brain
In conclusion Mr.. Tillman with
~ sweep of his arm, adjured his dem
a cratic colleagues not to fret abo'
"a the charge that they were consplrlf
al to discredit Senator McLaurin at non
/ because 'his crowd was demoralze
,s cowed and whipped"
or Senator McLaurin made no reply
III Senator Tillman, but he arose for q m
IN ment to reply to Senator n to s.
that he did not desire that there shou