The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-26
CURRENT TOPICS.
South Carolina's Humiliation.

Senator Tillman's apology to the Sen
ate OH Saturday for his disgraceful con-
duct was even worse than his otfense
against all decency and good order. Ills
plea that II had never had any legislative
experience when 1 came here and my pre-
vious service as Governor Of South Caro-
lima for four years had untitled me in a
measure to enter this august assembly
with that dignity and regard, proper re-
gard / will say, for its traditions ana
habits and rules that is desirable" was a
reflection upon the traditions and habits
and rules of the people Of this State
There is nothing in the office OF Gov
ernor OF South Carolina to encourage the
manners of the prize ring and we hope
the better sentiment Of the country VIII
acquit the people Of this State of any
sympathy with the brutal exhibition made
by the senior Senator from South Caro-
lima and his colleague on Saturday. The
State cannot escape responsibility, Oh
course, for the miserable affair, but 1t
can at least express sincere regret that
it should have been so disgraced ty IT'S
representatives and hope that the rest OF
the world will pity if it cannot forgive
Charleston News and Courier.
We prefer not to consider the affair too
seriously 1t were better treated with
light irony as a natural consequence OF
our political decadence. TO make COM
parisons between South Cardinals present
representation in the Senate and what it
was in the days OF Calhoun and Hayne
would be too painful-and perhaps it
would be without profit. We must take
cur successful politicians as we find them
and not mourn too greatly over the de-
parted forensic slories of our State.
Yet. as outsiders will look to the South
Carolina press for the sober expression
of opinion on this sunseemly and untimel|
sCuabble, we are constrained to declare
our regret that Senator's Tillman and Nc
Laurin did not carry out their agreement
of last summer to resign their seats and
Appeal to the people Of South Carolina
for vinClication. And we think we can
say for the white voters OF the Stair,
without regard to faction, that they
would be glad to have an opportunity
now afforded them to vote on the fitness
of Benjamin r. Tillman and John L.
McLaurin to represent them IN the SENATE
of the United States
This is q, State whose white people
have long held to the axiom that ID
lie means knock-down. They are a
rather hot-blooded people ana have the
habit of resentinG personal insults. Sut
still they hold that there are places Tor
giving insults and for reseEting them;
and other places where they should
be neither given nor resented Among the
latter they could name churches, courts
of Justice and chambers of legislation. It
is easy and usually safe to call a man a
liar in a place and presence which Tor
bid the response of 4 blow; and it is easy
ana safe to deal Il blow in Il place and
presence which guarantee instant inter
vention without use of arms. Senator
McLaurin has restrained his passion be-
fore at places where the expression OF
that passion would have been perilous;
he could have done SO in a place where
it was not perilous. The same can be
said of Senator Tillnan. Each, If he con-
sidered himself insulted beyond endur-
ance could have deferred the expression
of his resentment to q more fitting time
and place. II they had to call each other
liars and punch each others noses they
could easily have found opportunity to
do so outside of that majestic forum.
wherein they represented the dignity OF
the state of South Carolina. BY making
the Senate chamber the arena fer their
epitllets and blows they misrepresented
the character of their constituents and
put a stain upon their State-Columba