The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-05-29
M'LAURIN SPEAKS
To A Large Crowd in the c " Of
GTesnvil G.
DEFENDS HIS POSITION.
Which He Claims Is True
Democracy, and Not F.e-
cub'icanisn as Many
Claim II is.

Claim II is.
The following is the speech o: Sens
tor John L. McLauEir, which BE- made
st Greenville last Wednesday:
Fellow citizens: The political Re
formation of 1890 had fer its d ain OBJ
iect the independence of thought anG
sction on the part Of the people in po-
liticsl affairs. It was this that made
me 'Rsforner." A white primary,
where the white people Of the Stale
could settle their differences among
themselves. In part it has accom-
plished its obi ct in spite Of the efforts
to dwarf it into one man movement
Its leader has rot been content for it to
be complete, and has attempted more
than once to dictate Eho Should and
who should not be elected to o&,e All
revolutions Of this kird go farther than
its originstors design, no power can
control them.
Men who suppose that the ''move-
ment" Of 1890 was a mere ef5rvescenca
to give cmce to favored few are CREST
" mistaken. Some Of the best and
truest have never held ef6ce, and the
time is coming when those who betrayed
and prostituted this great movement
into q zone man power" and mare
scramble for the ''loaves and the fishes"
will be held to an account. I stand to-
dsy just where I stood in 1890, with
the added experience Of ten y;sEs Of
study and contact with public men and
affairs. I thank God that one thing
has been accomplished. The people
have been disenthralled and enlightened
and will never be satisfied with the ac-
complishment Of anything less thar the
full purpose of the movement-free
thought, free speech, fair ballot and
rule Of the people. This must and shall
be the final outcome. No attempt to
break down the reforms nearly accom-
plished can succeed. The natural and
inevitable consequ ances Of that TeVolu-
tion must follow. Nothing can stay
them.
THE ALLIANCE.
citizens: 1t affords me great
pleasure to address you today. thank
you for the honor and the opportunity.
recognize the fsct that lam you pub
lie servant, and am accountable to the
people who elected me for my steward
ship. This responsibility Of public
Office is the great conservative and pre-
ser7ativa force in our republican form
Of government. 1t is the province and
duty Of Representative to study sll
important public questions and fern $
judgment as to their effect on the Wel.
fare Of the people. To do this, be must
at times act Independently and lead
public sentiment rather than blirdly
fellow what is rep1ted to be the maj ri.
ty. It is his duty to study national
problems and vote according to his
best lights and honest convictions, leaV-
ing the final decision as to the wisdom
Of his course to the people. AS for
myself, I acknowledge no master save
the sovereign people, speaking at the
ballot box, and refuse to obey the die
,ates of any political Boss, either II or
outside Of South Carolina. This is my
conception Of the rish:s, duties and
position Of a Senator. Ny course
since my election has been protected
along the liue Of discretion and ac,oup-
liability. Ia voting ca great national
issues have considered the best inter
ests of the South and the country rather
than the i'm practical results to flow from
rigid adherence to party lines. It is
passing strange that soma Of the men
elected to Congress in 1892 should
criticiz, me for doing what they
solemnly pledged themselves to do.
Don't you RENE nber thst an Alliance
Delegation was elec ed in 1892 pledged
not to be bound by a D:mocrati, eau
Gus, but to vote for measures calculated
to benefit the nation at large, irrespec
tive of party? I feel like recslling the
words, Ca, Lord God of Hosts, Lest
We forget, Lest We forget"
PRINCIPLES HIGHER THAN PARTY.
Political parties under our form Of
government are q necessity. They
grow cut Of the political relations
established By the government itself.
There ha7e been since the birth Of the
nation and always will be two great
political parties, if there we're no real
issues they would divide and fight over
the mere spoils of Office. These differ
ences originated in the diverse views
entertained when our Constitution was
adopted as to what constituted the pro-
ger functions Of the government.
Party platforms have always been
supposed to be the ezponents Of these
views. A bloody Civil var settled the
question Of States rights, and for
quarter Of 6 century the waving Of the
blood. shirt on the one side and the
"nigger in the wocd-pile" on the>other
constituted the dividing lines. l say
that every man, on purely sectional
question, like white supremacy, is
traitor and renegade who does not
stand By his own section and his oEn
people. | say that sny man, On do.
nestic problems, problems Of internal
concern, 7lould, SIS fsr as possible,
bow to the behests Of his party. II he
cannot agree with his party on ques-
tions Of this kind, he should, if posi-
bic, find party with which he is IN
accord. I assert, fellow citizens, that
it is almost crime for any party to
make great, broad, non-politicsl Amer.
can measures, involving the political
and commercial development Of the
nation, the test Of party feslty. Is,
sues essential to the maintenance OF
the honor and prestige Of the nation
are too vital to be relegated to the plane
of partisan and sectional contention
Out of changed industrial and econo-
mic conditions have grown great ma.
tiooal cuestions nartaininp to the ma.