The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-05-07
M'LAURIN DECLINES.

Desnoosass. Haskell Democrats
POpuliss Boudea Voters, Republa'
can Pepe Voters. MaSy Affiliate ~
Coed and loyal DeDoerais- b@'
Men who Support MeLaurin May
Nos Hese.
Washington, May I. Under date OF May : :
sued the following address 10 the people o.
South Carolina:
~ fsiIoW citizens OF south Caroliua:
The great doctrine OF representative respop
Ability is the fOupdAtion stone upon which
our republic resis. and no one more keeniy
than / recognizes his accountability TO The
people OF Sonth Carolina for all official acts
their Representatives adhere to political poll
cies and traditions long since dead and de-
clare them vital Issues can ever become Truly
great Every .dvancemsnt 10 @ tns n'stoiy -, ,yda o.
popdence Of thooght and action. In most OF
the Seates or this union this 10 secured by the
presence Of two political parties ADD the re-
s sesore The people. who are thus enabled io
form an iutelligent opinion and give YER
diet nc the ballot box.
Unfortunately In south Carolins for nearly
% yeafs No have been unable TO nave two par.
uss ior fear OF negro domlnstion. and for u
voafs After the Hampton revolution In 1876
our pooplo took no interest 10 pnbllc AFFAIR."
ssySoa maintaining ""h''e mans govern
About the year 1900. however, began whal
vas known n tbs "iarmers' movement
which was nothing more than al iustiacti
etnst on the perI Of the people u preserv.
Win Shell, iroys Norris, Tillman, Donald
son and others, Contributed what could To-
wards its success simply because i felt thsl
agitation was better than stagnation. and y u
pssssing strange, tn that come nsction, that th'
leader OF that movement. b. II. 1illmsn: was
than denounced. as am now denounced, ioI
attempting 70 Mahoueixc the STATE
s,ep. WSicS followed tSs .fsrmsr's move
meni." opened the doors for every white man
and every negro Who voted for HAMPTON 10
In ls76, and they, could advocate whatever
thsS ihsy took On oath 70 support the nomi'
neoo Of the primary election.
Man Who voted the national Republican
ticket vere allowed 2 vote IN tns psimssry sa 10,
nom The same platform men claiming TO DC
DomooraO advocating Cleveland and the goid
standsrd and others Weaver and Tree silver.
And sinos than no attempt 49, n.s ever @ oesn sD
independsnt Haakeli movement. the PopuliAt
Bovdsn movement or the hepuoliean Pope
mavemeok
sssssd % SopsIss Sss 10 a sI sns
yet On every stump In the district. I pro-
claimed my Independence and snnounc'
"a thas apon natioosl questions would fol
shs sasans OF any party. Although my De-
mocfany vas assalied at that time. I was
elected fcur times upon tho same declaration
ofpdnelples.
Sns %y y.,pSs ptSSSsss Cs ,Ss 20
1no day with the result that ehaEsed my
viowD uelon many ofthem. The nrst marked
dtfIessnoe With my party associates arose
hc1ss and . member Of its ways and means
Asssn. II 1881, when lwas candidate tor
sss sssa s., he
lion, and resolutely contended that the
policlso when advocated were for the ma
ieriai adsancsms1t Of ne people. regardless
of Aow thsy were labeled.
those voting IN the primary. and l came to
Tss issass growing ou.;of the spanl.h war
1sGossssic party leaders for I ooaId only
SolioW the aicsateo OF my conscience and
sland BY American soldiers fighting uioo
slfn ~ ~ III I'm. ,ns war VA. no, party oues-
,tion and hoped Il would not become 90. In
Shia I was disappointed and was soon cou.
frUated by tho alternative OF retraclng my
sssps or nndiss Myself IN Opposition .S.Is 70 a
and exciuded irom their caucus. concluded
Shas not even Q seat In the United States
senate vss worth 2 surrender Of my con.
VIE3I008
Thsre is not speech or vots Of mine upon
any question growing out Of the spanish
American war that would change even " ]
couid and In which do not take pride In
s1s ssSS svsf .SiS
Of thouRht and action.
Last Snmmef. recognising my responsibil
ity 70 the people. there being no campaign In
6sSoss them ior the purpose OF discussing
these national issuon. ] was Immediately
and vioioniiy assaiied for advocaiing Repu6-
Hem doctrines and branded ~ Republican
Tho Siate Democratic executive committee
met and under the dictation Of my colleague
In she SENATE. formally declared that wss
I.iisr % Action on ihe part OF tho Democratic
capaua Of the United States senate.
The policv Of my opponents has been 70 be-
ntsls fsal Issues into Q Personsl Quarrel be-.
lam NOT willing 70 accept % do not propose
% Be- infiueucedtn my public course By per
scnai spleen ar petty Jeelousy.
dinsssd 20 purely personal ends.
How the proposition OF my political enc
Uiee 10 exclude me nom the primary a.
oan1idsts. and 20 exclude oil candidates for
ss ss sG ss: nom wsS: nns s snS snS'
hearing them In Justification Of my course
and IN advocacy OF the absorbing public
measures nov confronting the American peo.
PIE g en- ,s. sao aad
friends hecanse have read the speech OF
Senator Tiilnan, the acknowledged dictator
Of the pemocsatic machine OF South Caro-.
lima, delivered as Mannieg. In which he d.
reefs 8 revision Of The rules and form and
ins myself snd lfisSds from participating in
t6s primary. I resent the suggested sxeeption
nee for the senate or proclaim my Views IN.
der conditions which were not equally ap
plicoole 20 those Who entertain and advocate
ss nv. IN
Id mot tho exponent OF the Views OF the ma.
,josity Of onr people.
Tue primary system adopted In oar State
prc1situtsd and perverted into Q political
machine fur the purpose Of excluding all
candidates who are not Ia full accord with
the visvs and wishes Of The dictator.
peCpIs Of The State submit 70 this disfrsn-
eh;slng the intslllgsut people and excluding
thsm 6om our eisctions:
.ps ss Ss no Of Sns
warn ths people against tyranny AZ Il en-.
eournSes and establishea.
with these facts before me and my con.
primary sysssm. / sm d:ivsn % the con.
einaion that it has subserved its purposes
and has outlivsd its usefulness.
It =. therefore, matter OF no concern TO
me what may bo the action OF the May COO.
veuSioo @ % the rules Of the primary and q
revision Of iA pledges.
The suppression OF froe speech aud inde-
pendeuoe Of action by voting such means
fsndeEs tt impossible for any self-resPectipg
citisen holeins my views 70 become . candt
data IN the Democratic primary In South
Caroliua.
nc . apparent that the system has been
warned and twisted % - 70 serve the one
pcrpooe of throttling free speech. free
thOSaht and liberty OF action.
Tns primary sysiem In South Carolina hai
been sacrificed upon the altar OF partisan
chip and personal malisnity. and has there.