The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-08-20

D. D.
nal and Review
With the people of South Carolina
the pending contest for the seat In the
United States Senate, to be made
vacant by the retirement of the junior
senator from this State, is perhaps the
most vital matter. of the moment. The
senatorial prize is one of the highest
honors for which our political gladi-
ators contend; from its organization
the upper house of Congress has at
tracted the ambition of orators and
iurists possessed of genius for public
affairs.
With the passing Of McLaurin, and
the final overthrow Of the CONNER
cial Democracy, but another name
for republicanism in South Carolina,
the times call very loudly for sena-
tor, who will ftly represent this State
in what is, after all, the most import
ant legislative assembly in the world.
This need is the more apparent at
this time because of the subversion OF
the established principles of the
Federal constitution, and the imperial
istic tendencies, ever increasing OF a
centralized government, OF the few
for the few, by the few.
THE COMMERCIAL DEMOCRACY.
In a speech delivered at Union last
summer State Senator Henderson, Of
Aiken, was among the first OF the
political leaders to point out the I'M
pending dangers of the Commercial
Democracy, insidious effort on the
part of McLaurin and the republican
administration, to disrupt and disor-
ganize the Democratic party in South
Carolina. The result Of the county
and State conventions fully illus
trates how well this advice was heed
ed, and how thoroughly the death
blow to his sabtle conspiracy was de-
liyered. Its defeat proved final and
irretrieyable. Senator McLaurfn has
voluntarily withdrawn from the politl-
cal arena. A State convention of the
party to which he formerly professed
allegiance has pronounced his polltl-
cal epitaph.
Among the distinguished gentlemen,
who aspire to the Senate to succeed
John &. McLaurin, the Honorable
D. S. Henderson, Of Aiken, is easily
one of the most prominent. An ora
tor of rare ability man OF broad
and generous views and impulses
profound student of human AFFAIRS
he possesses in an unusu1 degree those
Qualities that upon the worlds stage
90 to make up man of mark.
And in addition to his we'll armour
ed intellect 4sDan'' Henderson is a
good friend and a good citizen, to
boot. Beyond the natural limits OF
his own State he is known as one OF
the acknowledged leaders in public
affairs, and at the bar, of South Caro-
lima. AS one of our contemporaries
has put it, he is indeed, "a christian
gentleman, an accomplished scholar,
an able jurist, and an eloquent speak
er,-one altogether worthy of seat IN
the United States Senate. -
BEGINNING A CAREER.
Dan S. Henderson was born in Wal
terborough, in the county OF Cotleton,
South Carolina, in 1850. Both his
father and mother were natives OF
this State. The father, Daniel Hen
derson, was descended from a Scotch
Irish origin, of which type are found
some of the most eminently successful
men of this and other times. The
elder Henderson, in his day, was a
lawyer of note, and served with dis
tinction in the Legislature Of his
State. He. died in 1854.
Dan Henderson, tie son, at an early
age began his education in the Charles
ton College with a scholarship won in
competitive examination. La 1870
he left the quiet college walls with the
first honors Of his class. With the
close of college days the young student
devoted himself to the mysteries OF the
law. Like many lawyers who have at
tained eminence Henderson gathered
his first knowledge Of the practical
machinery of Jurisprudence as stu
dent in law Office. For year and
half after leaving Charleston College,
he studied law in the Office of Messrs.
Simons and Seigling, then among
the leading practitioners in the his
toric city of Charleston.
At the expiration of this period
Henderson began the struggle OF life
as a school teacher in Chester, 5. Y;
His manly bearing, self-reliance, and
thorough methods of work soon won
| for him many friends. he nao aoout
him that quality of personal magnet,
ism that made him favorite with all
who came in contact with the young
teacher. In spare moments he pursued
the study of the law with unhagging
zeal.
A MEMBER OF THE BAR.
From the beginning of his career as
a young lawyer at Aiken in 1877
"Dan'' Henderson as he was familiar
" known, gave undisputed promise of
successful future. He had the faculty
of winning cases. Courts and juries
alike were impressed with the keen
! logic and brilliant speeches of the
Young lawyer. He was spoken of On
: all sides as one predestined to play an
important part upon the stage OF pub
lie affairs. From the start his repu-
| tation as an orator and advocate Of
unusual ability gathered to MS office
clients of all classes. The poor, seek
ing his aid, we're never turned from
] Henderson's door unheeded. The num-
Der of his cases increased. He began
].,o,y, about tho State aS a