Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1901-06-19
THE POLITICAL PROSPECT.
mcLaurln Tells Of His Purpose TO Fight
Bryanarchy and TilImanIa.

'ye"NSby ehu
The following is an interview with
Senator John l.. McLourin printed In
tho Baltimore American Of Saturday:
II have lived Democrat and expect
to die one," Senator McLaurin replied,
"but my Democracy is not that of Bryan
and Tillman. My Democracy is that of
Intelligence and enlightened public inter
| est; progressive, non.sectional and de-
voted to tho interests of tho country. 1t
is the Democracy that made our country
great and grand in all material things
during its enjoyment of power from 1900
to 1860. 1t is tho Democracy that looks
to tho future and means to servo the
nation by aiding and assisting tho indi-
| vidual. 1t is the Democracy that will
ultimately FREQ tho South from the thral-
dom of blindness and ignorance which
now negatives it's every effort. 1t is the
| Democracy that will sweep away proju.
dice as tho basis of political standardiza-
| ton and enthrone reason. SO long as
the South continues as it is to day it can
not be factor in tho party conventions
or in the government. The Democracy
beliovo in would change all this and
mako Southern Representatives somo-
thing moro than puppets. Whom it tri-
umphs-and that will be in November if
Tillman wants the fight this ycar-tho
South will have voice in formulating
principles, and wo will thon give to our
country somo of our mon, like John w.
Daniel, of Virginia, candidates for the
Presidency. On the other hand the
Democracy of Bryan and Tillman is moth
ing except socialism, populism and an
archsm. 1t thrives upon and advocates
the bascst of class and sectional preju.
dccs and appeals to those passions
which no honest man will, as an indi-
vidual, acknowledge as influencing him.
1t is tho Democracy of ignorance, ntol-
oranco, hatc, radicalsm, depression, dis
astcr, and tho only consolation there is
in it is in knowing that it will ncvor win
another victory in South Carolina.
Senator McLaurin spoke with convinc-
ing oarnostness, and was 80 emphatic
that thought it a good timo to ask him
somcthing moro about Tillman, as the
conditions were all propitious for an in
torcsting reply, 80 l said:
What have you to say about Tillman's
statement that when tho crucial moment
arrives you will bo afraid to meet on tho
stump and discuss these things before
the people of South Carolina?'
Senator McLaurin rose from his scat.
walked to tho window at my back, drew
tho curtain aside, and, with all tho signs
of gathering storm about his counte-
nance, said in tense voice:
"Scc that dome of yonder?"
/ looked and saw the domc of tho
Marlboro County Court House, half a
mile away, just discerniblo over the
trees, and signiticd to tho Senator that I
saw.
1T was in that building that Ben Till
man began his political career in 1880,
and 1t was thcro that 1 launched him
into politics. Up to tho time of this
difference Tillman never camo to Ben.
ncttsvillc without referring to that cir.
cnmstance. 1t was this way: There was
State Agricultural Convention in sos
sion here and Tillman was delegate.
He stopped at my house, and together
wc talked over State affairs. Tho bripa-
dier generals wore in power and tho
State suffered under thcir rulo. Tillman
determined to mako aspecch. We wrote
it Jointly, and when it was completed |
did what you would call 'cditcd it,
That speech was tho beginning of Till
man as n politician, and from that day
until the scales foil from my eyes wo
were together, and he knows that am
not afraid to meet him. Whom Tillman
ran for Governor tho first timo | was his
friend. supported him, WAS on tho
stump with him. know him through,
backward and frontward. know him
to be blutlcr and bully--an intcllcc-
tual bully. IIo shouts and fumes and
raves on tho stump, calls names and dis
tributes cpithets, but his noise docs not
scare mo. told him at Galfnoy that |
was tho ono man in the State who could
COW him, and can"
Growing moro intensely earnest Soma
CoT MCiIturln continued.
'Last year Tillman and his gang went
up and down tho State villifying mo,
and saying that would novor daro como
back and face tho pooplo of South Caro-.
lima. Now, when l am hero and speak
ing in response to invitations, Tillman
like tho bully and ruffian that ho is,
comes in az a common dlsturbcr of tho
peace and tiles to break up my meetings.
Last year ho said was AFRAID to speak :
this year ho tries to keep mo from speak.
ing; but | will break every tho out of
that pitchfork and wear the handle ont
on his body, and ho knows it. He's q
coward, else ho would accept my propo-
sition to have fair and square fight,
with no other candidates IL; tho field.
Tho people of South Carolina arc get
ting onto him. They learned n good
deal last ycar when he accused the min
listers of the Gospel of being in league
with tho saloonists, and boldly fought
the religious community while champions
ing tho State disponsary, and justified
his conduct by the declaration on tho
stump that tho Bible is obsolete, any
how"
There was wrath writ largo all over
Senator Mclaurin's face rs ho finished.
asked but ono moro question. and that:
You arc determined to keep up the
fight, then?'
"rhe fight will most certainly be kent
This noxt Il,