The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-05-29
NeLlURIN 1T GREENVILLE.
Defense Of His Record in Congress.
Still Democrat But Independent of and
Broader Than the Party.
He DEFIEs THE BOSSES.

HE DEFlES the BOSSES.
Greenville, S. c., May 22.-senator
John L. McLaurin spoke here by invi-
tation today. One Of the largest and
most representative crowds that ever
gathered in this city heard his speech
with marked attention. The speech
was quite lengthy and evidenced care
full preparation. It was devoted large
" to the defense and explanation OF
his course in the Senate.
The following extracts will give an
idea of the line of argument he fol-
lowed:
Fellow-citizens: The political Re
formation of 1890 had for its main OBJ
ject the independence of thought and
action on the part Of the people IN
political affairs. It was this that
made me Reformer." \ white
primary, where the white people of
the State could settle their differences
among themselves. In spart it has
ACCOMPLISHED its object in spite Of
the efforts to dwarf it into a one-man
movement. It's leader has not been
content for it to be complete, and
has attempted more than once to
dictate who should not be elected to
Office. All revolutions Of this kind go
farther than its originators design,
no power can control them.
Men who suppose that the move
ment'' of 1890 was mere eferves-
-cence to give Office TO g favored few
are greatly mistaken. Some Of the
best and truest have never held Office.
and the time is coming when those
who betrayed and prostituted this
great movement into one-man pow
err and mere scramble for the
loaves and the fishes will be held
to an account. stand today just
where I stood in 1890, with the added
experience of ten years of study and
contact with public men and affairs.
[ thank God that one thing has been
accomplished. The people have been
disenthralled and enlightened, and
will never be satisfied with the accom-
plishment of anything less than the
full purpose of the movement-free
thought, free speech, a fair ballot and
rule of the people. This must and
shall be the final outcome. No attempt
to break down the reforms nearly ac-
complished can succeed. The natural
and inevitable consequences Of that
revolution must follow. Nothing can
stay them.
It is the province and duty of re-
preventative to study all important
public questions and form Judgment
as to their effect on the welfare of the
people. To do this, he must at times
act independently and lead public
sentiment rather than blindly follow
what is reputed to be the majority.
It is his duty to study national pro-
blems and vote according to his best
lights and honest convictions, leaving
the final decisions as to the wisdom of
his course to the people. AS for my
self, I acknowledge no master save the
sovereign people, speaking at the bal
lot box, and | refuse to obey the die
tates of any political boss, either in or
ohtside of South Carolina.
Political parties under our form OF
government are necessity They
grow out of the political relations es-
tablished by the government itself.
Party platforms have always been
supposed to be the exponents of these
views 4 bloody civil war settled the
question of State rights, and for
quarter of a century the waving of the
= bloody-s shirt" on the one side and
the niger in the wood pile on the
other constituted the dividing lines.
| say that every man. on a purely sec
tional question, like white supremacy.
is a traitor and renegade who does
not stand by his own section and his
own people. | say that any man. on
domestic poblems. problems of inter
nal concern. should. as far as possible,
bow to the behests of his party. If he
cannot agree with his party on ques-
tions of this kind. he should. if posi-
bic. find party with which be is in
accord. | assert. fellow citizens. that
it is almost a crime for any party to
make great, broad. political Amer
lean measures. involving the political
and commercial development of the
nation. the test of party fealty. Issues
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.
Believing as l do thatthere are vital
issues which, growing out of changed
industrial conditions. are higher and
broader than mere party questions, |
have, as your senator, looking beyond
the line marked by sectionalism and
partisanship. striven to promote the
material, political and commercial in
terests of our common country-for
in so doing l can best serve the inter
est of the Statde of South Carolina.
For this have been arraigned be
fore the people of this state and charg
ed with allaying myself with the Re
publican party.