The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-02-26
LET CENSURE BE JUST,
Columbia Record.

Columbia Record.
A calm and dispassionate review OF
Saturdays unfortunate occurrence in
the United States senate places the
blame squareIy upon Tillman, who
was double aggressor, first In the use
of harsh and unjustitiable language
and second in starting tisticufi. Me-
Iaurin would have been less than q
man and wholly unworthy 10 repre-.
sent brave people like South Carroll
mans had he failed to act as he did.
He simply called halt to imputations
upon his honor and defended himself
when be was assaulted. What else
could he have done? Any man OF
spirit nows that in McLaurin's place
be would have done what MIR. McLau-
rim did or more. And yet some people
will be so unjust as to blame him
equally with 1illman, who provoked
and started the difficulty. All men
must deplore the affair, but that
should not lead to indiscriminate con-
demnation of both senators.
The men who fought in the senate
Saturday were once good friends, but
for wears there has been growing es.
trangement between them. McLaurin
was attracted to the Tillman movement
| in South Carolina politics because il
promised political liberty and freedom
of thought and speech. 1t sought to
abolish government by rings and
cliuues and substitute therefor cOndi'
ton of affairs under which there would
be full and free discussion of all pub
| lie matters, and officers would be elec-
ted upon their merits. Though very
young man at the inception of the
movement, McLaurin rendered ma
terial assistance in securing its success
and speedily became one of its recog-
nized leaders. Indeed, there have
always been those who believed that
Tillman would have been defeated for
reelection as governor in 1892, but for
the effective stump speaking of Farley
and McLaurin, who offset the effect OF
Youman's aggressive and logical at
tacks upon Tillman, which Tillman
seemed unable to meet.
While Tillman may have felt a little
Jealous of the laurels his young lieuten-
ant won in that campaign, in some
measure he realized his obligation to
him and their friendship was very
close. While Tillman is an able man,
he is not broad man, and he wanted
absolute power. He obtained power
as q member of triumvirate, but it is
we'll known how he succeeded to all
the power once welded by him, Shell
and Irby together, and those two died
hating Tillman and despisiDg him fol-
his alleged treachery TO them. Nc
Laurin was too independent to become
the tool of tillman and this trait of his
character opened the breach between
them. The first rift occurred early in
1894 and it steadily widened. McLau-
rim has never waved from his idea OF
the purpose of the Reform movement
to ensure liberty of speech and action,
and he opposed Tillman's effort to sub.
stitute Tillman dictatorship for the
CLIQUE domination lie had destroyed.
McLaurin showed his independence &c
in 1894 when he refused to join Till.
man in desertlng Ellerbe, whom Till.
man first favored as his successor, and
forcing the election of Jonn Gary Ev-
ans through the Colleton plan. He
also showed it in fathering the ia.
NOUS Forty movement, which tried to
wipe out factional bitterness and har.
monize the De nocracy The breach
that slowly and steadily widened.
Tillman becomes McLaurin's bitter,
implacable enemy when the Paris
reaty of peace, which ended the
Spanish-American war, was ratified
by McLaurin's vote. Those who have
never analized Tillman's motives In
opposing that treaty have not under
stood why Tillman has been so viru-
lent in his attacks upon McLaurin
for that vote. McLaurin's vote with
out which the treaty would not have
been ratified, blocked Tillman's am
bition in a way the public had over
looked.
When the Paris treaty was ratified,
Bryan was the recognized national
Democratic leader, despite his disas-
trous defeat in 1896. Bryan advocated
ratification of the treaty, and in pub.
lie utterances and interviews urged
Democratic senators to vote for it..
Here was Tillman's opportunity.
There were some Republican and
some Democratic senators who did
not favor the treaty. Tillman organ
lied them to defeat the treaty, believ-
ing it's defeat, despite Bryan's advoca.
cy of ratification, would discount Bry-
ans leadership an d make Tillman in
stead, of Bryan, the national Demo
cratic leader. Such a consummation
achieved, Tillman had visions of Pres
idential nomination. His ambition
was fixed high. He seemed in fair
way to carry out his plan to succeed
Bryan in the national Democratic
leadership. But, the best laid plans
o'mice and men gang aft a-gley.n
Noses had been counted, and enough
votes could not be secured to ratify
the treaty. And Tillman dreamed of
the presidency.
McLaurin was going to vote against
the treaty. He has explained why.
But lie voted for the treaty aud that
vote saved it from defeat. Tillman
was furious. His boast that he would
defeat the treaty had come to naught.
His dream of displacing Bryan, of de-
featlng what Bryan favored; was shat
tered and the vials of his wrath were
poured out upon the man who slaugh-
tered his plans. He Immediately in
sinuated that McLaurin's change of
front was improperly influenced. AS
his disappointment has eaten into his
heart more and more, he has grown
blunter with this insinuation and
more bitter in his hatred of his COL
league, who dared think and act for
himself. Finally, in the senate Satur-
day in q discussion with Senator
Spooner, Tlllman agreed that the in
fiuence of Bryan was potent, but in