The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-05-25
TILLMAN AND THE SPREAD
EAGLE BUNCO-STEERERS
The Pitchfork Statesmans Strength and Weakness.
How He Should Meet the Senatorial Card
Sharps. Compared With Calhoun.

cal moral innovation of modern times
the Dispensary 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 a child. enlisted for soldier,
and, stricken with half blindness, suffer
ed the torments and horrors of the last
year of the Confederaey, returning to an
| impoverished homestead to follow the
pillow during the awful days of Reconstruc-
ton, 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 blue-bloods of the old
regime, and sent both Hampton and But
Ter to grass, and raised much hell to
the square inch generally, was Hydei
Everybody in Washington personally
likes this brittle. brusque gentleman with
the pitchfork. 1t is said the pitchfork
is sometimes padded with velvet In his
private life Tillman is as virtuous and
clean Calhoun was. His integrity, as
his courage, is unchallenged. His abli-
ties show for themselves. Why should
good, his power for harm. not put him
self through a course of introspection,
why should he not begin to restrain him
self? That fracas in the Senate ought
to have been as a flash of lightning in
dicating the situation as it concerns him
individually. Honestly, he was seeking
to smoke out a rat. He did it; but why
place himself on an equality with the
rat? One can always fight. OF all things
fight is the thing that cannot, viii not
get away from us unless we so let it,
But, in politics, fighting is a mighty poor
business. One has to kill so many adj
versaries; and, though he kill thous-
and, once he loses battle, 1t is
good bye, my honey,
Good eyenin', Mary Jane"
1t is much better to give and take; to
live and let live. Try 1t, Ben Tillmanl
And so it is that addressing this
sturdy, pugnacious, upright man, as one
brother to another, though as an older
to younger, we say, quit your foolish
ness, discipline your intellect and your
temper, and keeping your pitchfork
handy, reserve it for emergencies For
aker is by nature a sweet fellow: and,
I even Lodge is not so bad IL you fumi-
/ BdIe the premises IHey are professional
politicians-statesman like bunko- steer
ers-spread eagle card sharps-and they
! play you, dear boy, for a farmer, as you
are! Learn some of the tricks of trade
| if not for 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 cant about Religion and
Civilization, and with Foraker's bum
combe about the boys in blue! The pitch
fork is all right, but do not always use
the pitchfork
And, finally, Senator, not merely in
South Carolina, but in Democratic party
councils generally, try the virtues OF
sweet oil. Throw the nasty old bottle OF
vitriol out of the window Easy's better
than hard. An ounce of sweet is worth
a pound of sour; and you can afford it.
Your name and fame as a fighter are
safe You have come to your kingdom.
Lord it, If you please, but lord ii like
a king!