New-York tribune., 1901-12-11
THE SnETH CAROLINA FEUD.

The long standing controversy between the
two Senators from South Carolina might better
have been kept out of the United States senate.
The bitterness of factional warfare Is always
more or less amusing to outsiders. ana there Is
no doubt that both Tillman and McLaurln nave
done their share to contribute to the sa!et! ol
nations; but there is no reason why the Houtn
Carolina primary debates. accompanied ps resis-
nations which do not resign should be trahs-
ferred to the halls of Congress. The gentlemen
MIGHT better settle their differences at home.
The quarrel does not greatly concern anybody
outside of South Carolina, except the few poilti-
cal leaders Of the Tilman stripe who are every
where irving to read out of the Democratic
party everybody but cranks and Bourbons
Tilman's ebjeeting TO McLaurin's Democracy
end calling his colleague a Republican seems d
case of the pot calling the kettle black I1liman
himself owes his success to revolt from the
traditional Democracy of his State. He was
long looked on more as Popullst than as a
Democrat. and in any State where political con-
ditions admitted of two parties of nearly equal
strength he would have been one. In South
Carolina however, to win he must call himself
a Democrat, so he labelled his collection of
ideas Democracy and by his energy forced
them On the people in place of the traditional
line Democrats. Now McLaurin comes along
with new set of ideas They are far less at
variance with the traditions of the Democratic
party in general than are Tillman's In New
York PENNSYLVANIA. Massachusetts Mary
land he would pass as good Democrat. He Is
being read out of the party for voting for the
Treaty of Paris; but Mr.. Bryan advised his fol-
lowers to do this. He supports the administra-
ton in its Philippine policy; but many North
ern Democrats do. He is ready to accept pro-
lection for South Carolina Industries. Even
John c. Calhoun was ready to do that when
conditions made protection profitable TO his
State, and the Wilson bill bore eloquent testi-
mony to ex-senator Gormans prowess as a
protectionist of interests he wanted to protect.
McLaurin recommends candidates for Federal
Office whenever he gets chance There is
nothing peculiar or un-Democratic in that 1t
is quite characteristic of the party.
Possibly something of McLaurin's reputation
for irregularity is due to sympathy that has
been expressed for his views by some North
erners and Republicans That sympathy was
natural. Ii was not based on any recognition of
McLaurin as a Republican, but On disgust at
Tillman and all of brutality and narrowness
that Tllman stands for. Doubtless a strong
opposition party in South Carolina would con-
tribute to the public welfare, but with race feel
ing and tradition what they are there need be
no expectation of Republican gain from such a
division. The most that can be hoped for is a
healthy political activity which will advance
South Carolina itself, and so indirectly benefit
the whole country. Nothing is more deadenng
to democratic government than apathy and
uncontested supremacy of party or faction
Beyond benevolent interest in any political activ
ity which makes for progress, the Republicans
are not concerned in the fortunes of either Till
man or McLaurin.