The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-05-28

to occupy the seat in the Senate of
the United States which Calhoun had
filed SO long: farmers boy, as Cal
houn was; and his name was BenJa-
min Ryan Tillman.
Pursuing the restless life Of this
stormy petrel of contemporary politics,
we prefer to believe that two baby I'LL
mans we're born that 1lth of August,
1S47: one with pitchfork, the other
with a darning-needle both with a
rattle; for it is not easy to reconcile
Tillman, the constructive statesman OF
schools and industries-the Tillman Of
the darning needle mending South
Cardinals stockings-the successful
author of the greatest practical moral
innovation of modern times, the Dis
pensary System-and the Tillman OF
knock-down and drag-out politics,
the Tillman of the pitchfork. Each
of us doubtless has within himself
something of the Jekyl and the Hyde:
Why not Benjamin Ryan Tillman!
Was it not Jekyl who studied under
Galphin, who, though but child, en-
listed for soldier, and, stricken with
blindness, suffered the torments
and horrors of the last year OF the
Confederacy, returning to an impov-
erished homestead to follow the plow
during the awful days of Reconstruc-
tion, and, getting a few pots and pans
together, who married Sallie Starke!
Surely it must have been, it was
whilst the Tillman that swooped down
from the hills upon the bluebloods of
the old regime, and sent both Hamp-
ton and Butler to grass, and raised so
much hell to the square inch general
ly, was Hyde!
Everybody in Washington personal
ly likes this brittle, brusque gentle,
man with the pitchfork. 1t is said
the pitchfork is sometimes padded
with velvet. In his private life Till
man is as virtuous and clean as Cal
houn was. His integrity, as his cour-
age, is unchallenged. His abilities
show for themselves. Why should such
man, with his opportunities for
good, his power for harm, not put him
self through a course Of introspection,
why should he not begin to retsrain
himself? That fracas in the Senate
ought to have been as fash of light
ming indicating the situation as it con-
Germs him individually. Honestly, he
was seeking to smoke out rat. He
did it; but why place himself on an
equality with the rat? One can always
fight. OF all things a fight is the
thing that cannot, will not get away
from us unless we so let it. But, in
politics. fighting is mighty poor bust
ness. One has to kill so many adver-
saries: and, though he kill thou
sand, once he loses battle, it is
good bye, my honey,
Good evenin,' Mary Jane"
It is much better to give and take
to live and let live. Try it, Ben lTill-
man!
And so it is that, addressing this
sturdy, pugnacious, upright man, as
one brother to another, though as an
older to a younger, we say, quit your
foolishness, discipline your intellect
and your temepr, and keeping your
pitchfork handy, reserve it for emer-
gencies. Foraker is by nature sweet
fellow; and even Lodge is not so bad
if you fumigate the premises. They
are professional poilicians-statesman-
like bunkosteerers, = spread-eagle
cardsharps-and they play you, dear
boy, for farmer, as you are! Learn
some Of the tricks of trade, if not fol-
profit. at least for protection. Snatch
the flag out of their hands-they have
no more right to it than you have
and. after smuggling their faces with
its folds, swipe the staff over their as
tonished craniums. Leave the niger
to simmer in his juice; but mop the
floor with Lodges can't about Reli-
gion and Civilization, and with For
aker's buncombe about the boys in
blue! The pitchfork is ali right, but
do not always use the pitchfork.
And, finally, Senator, not merely in
South Carolina, but in Democratic
party council generally, try the
virtues of sweet Oil. Throw the nasty
old bottle of vitriol out of the win
dow. Easy's better than hard. An
ouuce OF sweet is worth pound Of sour
and you can afford it. Your name
and fame as fighter are safe. You
have come to your kingdom. Lord it,
if you please, but lord it like a king
Louisville Courier-J Journal.