The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1902-03-18

were confident that he could not have
intended any reflection upon the Of.
flee of governor Of this State or its
people. For this reason Mr.. d. IL.
Magill wrote him to explain and tho
senator replied in the following let
tor
United States Senate,
Washington, ID. c.,
March, 4, 1902.
Hon. ID. II. Maglll, Greenwood,
S. G.
Dear Sir:--I have your kind lot =.
tor of March, lst. In reference to
tho expression used by mo in my
apology to the Senate, that "NIy pre-
ylous service as Governor Of South
Carolina for four years had untitled
mo in a measure to enter this august
assembly, with the dignity and re.
gard-proper regard ! will say, for
its traditions and habits and rules
that Is desirable." | would say that
the only reasonable construction to
put on the words, and my meaning
was that when | was governor it was
my business to handle problems,
many of them very important and
without consulting any one, and act
entirely Oh my own responsibility,
and the habit Of mind which natur
| ally resulted, from that manner of
thought and action, and the work as
executive, untitled me in Il measure
| for service here. Mono but a gan
grened imagination, or some one
anxious to misconstrue, will think
that | meant that a governor Of South
Carolina can not be dignitied and
act with decency and courtesy on all
occasions. Things are SO different
in the Senate that l have never yet
| become used to them.
While AN writing, | wish to say
that my action here was necessity
and while | regret as much as any
one that circumstances we're Of Il ma
ture, SO had no alternative but to
strike my colleague, believe my &C
ton meets with the approval of a
large majority Of the Democrats in
! the House and Senate. Not that
they approve the giving of blow
in the Senate, bnt they think there
was nothing else to do, and had l
taken the lie my own self-respect
would have been gone, and my ser
vice here in the future Of no effect
So then, have but one comment
to make in answer to newspaper
criticisms published in South Caro-
| lima. It does look hard, that when
am making the best fight can against
the Republicans here, and acting in
the capacity of one Of the fighters in
tho Senate, delegated by tho Dem
| ocratic side to answer the strongest
Republican, Senator Spooner, on Il
party question, that some of my own
people, Democrats in reality or ap-
| parently, should stab no in the back,
while am engaged all along the
line in front by Republicans. 1t
| however de oonstrates the fact that
there are some in South Carolina,
who are anti Tillmanites, first and
Democrats afterwards and will seize
on any and every thing to give me a
stab. We will let that pass though,
and I will 20 back to my people
feeling, as | have felt for long
while that I have the respect and
support Of large majority Of them
and for those who are 30 narrow and
prejudiced as to be unable to see any
good in any thing that 1 do, | feel
only contempt and pity.
The dinner incident WAS not Of nv
making and in that I have no doubt
az to the sentiment Of the folks at
home. The statement has been
made that it was an official dinner
This is untrue because Pierpont Nor
gan, Robt. Lincoln and ten or fifteen
other private citizens were invited
The invitation to mo came unsought.
| had no special desire to attend the
function but before | had any notice
whatever that it was desired that my
acceptance be withdrawn the whole
thing was ventilated in the morning
papers, and J. was thus notified pub
licly that the President was trying
to punish Senator, before the Sen
ate had taken action. Had the Pres
ident sent mutual friend, in quiet