Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-08-31

ceived the nomination at Chicago. Our
state convention had denounced him as
"a prostitute Of Wall street." and de-
clared that he was not Democrat; but
when he received the nomination, re-
turned from Chicago and counseled
acquiesence In the result, and I make
bold to assert that but for my influence
and the influence Of the men allied
with me, the state would have gone to
the Populists that year by an over
whelming vote. AS it was, South Car
olina was the only southern state where
Populism did not make a bitter fight
against the regular Democracy. I
spoke very bitterly Of Cleveland's pol
Icy, and proclaimed my desire for a
union between the southern and west
ern farmers, and declared I was ready
to lead revolt against the Democratic
party as then led and leave it, If need
be. whenever I saw anywhere to go,
and made allusion to "a light in the
West" as a signal.
In the meantime I set myself zeal
ously to work to secure q constitution
al convention so as to take steps to
disfranchise as many Of the colored
people as we could under the 14th and
18th amendments. During the period
from '92 to 80, there was bitter and
constant agitation in this and other
states against Cleveland's policy. and
I denounced his betrayal Of the DEM
ocratic party with all the bitterness
that I felt. I proclaimed that If he
was Democrat was not, and mere
ly gave voice in all Of my denuncia-
tions of Cleveland Democracy. and
threats of leaving the party to the
overwhelming sentiment in control Of
the state. In other words, was abso-
lutely loyal at all times to the majority
Of my fellow citizens who were Demo-
Gratis, but not Of the Cleveland type,
and what 1 said about leaving the par,
ty then was the prevailing senti-
ment in South Carolina.
made a speech at Memphis and one
in st. Louis, in which I denounced
Cleveland and his policy as undemocra-
tic. and proclaimed my willingness and
purpose to fight to recapture the DEM
ocratic party from the wreckers, and
failing there to organize genuine
Democratic party, which should main
tain the principles Of Jefferson, the
father. I announced this policy as the
spokesman Of the Democracy of this
state on the floor Of the senate on the
1st Of May, 1896, in a debate with D. B.
Hill. I announced 1t In a speech at
Denver, Col, in one at Wichita, Kan.
at Lexington. KY. at Dallas, Tex. and
Atlanta, Ga, in all Of which the slogan
was '16 to or bust" The South Car
olina State convention which sent dele
gates to the Chicago convention in 1896,
was so thoroughly imbued with the
purpose to have a different kind Of
Democracy from that of Cleveland and
his followers. that they sent a dele
cation to that convention with instruc-
tions to withdraw and return home for
Hurther counsel in the event we did not
get platform to suit 1s---
I have never at any moment or any
time or any place given voice to any
feeling or sentiment about the Demo-
cratic party that was disloyal to the
will of the majority Of my fellow Dem
ocrats in this state. I have always
claimed to voice the will Of the major
ity Of the people of the state, and to
be a representative of the majority.
and every well informed man in the
state knows that what I have spoken
is capable Of proof from the records.
and. therefore. repeat what I said at
Union that any man who charges me
with disloyalty or with any purpose at
any time Of opposing the genuine DEM
ocracy Of South Carolina, as represen-
ted by the majority. lies. and knows he
lies. I am called Populist now by
Republican and goldbugs papers that
are so much in love with commercial
Democracy. always have and always
will spurn Cleveland's Democracy as
nothing but thinly disguised Republi-
canism, and McLaurins Democracy is
even less respectable. Cleveland never
played the hypocrite, while McLaurin
was as eager once to press Populism
pure and simple as he is now to advo-
cate McKinleyism. and Bowden, the
apostle Of Populism in South Carolina
in 1892, was the first man he gave job
to after his appointment to the senate.
and It Is said that this same popu-
istic leader Is now a strong supporter
of Senator McLaurin's last brand of
politics.
Some Of the newspaper editors and
other ardent supporters of Senator Nc
Laurin have been very much shocked
and outraged by what I said at Union
as a warning to the mill presidents not
to attempt to coerce their operatives.
It Is considered an objectionable sin
that should dare to threaten to inter-
fere in this matter. What said on
that occasion was for the purpose Of
warning these men against attempting
to go too far.
I recognize the right Of every man
to try to persuade others to vote with
him: but I deny that the employment
of men in mills carries with 1t the right
on the part Of the owner of the mill to
coerce or control the votes Of the en-
ployees. The relation between the mill
owner and the worker in the mill is one
Of mutual advantage, and the mills
were not built for the purpose Of CIV
ing employment to labor; but for the
purpose of making money. All men