Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1902-02-06
The TIIIman Lecture.

Considerable curiosity has been express
ed as to what subject Senator Tillman
would speak on at his lecture next Mon
day evening. Senator Tillmsn is well
known as a Southerner of very radical
views, and habit Of expressing them in
the most radical language. Many of his
utterances are extremely offensive to
people of contrary opinions. But Tillman
is without question very able man, or he
could not maintain his political supremacy
in great state, and no one ever question:
ed his personal honor or courage. he
strikes straight from the shoulder, and
his famous ''pitchfork" is used on friend
and foe alike with energy when its owner
| deems the use of il warranted. He is a
Democrat of Democrats. He has, the
HERALD believes, never faced Vermont
audience. Our course patrons will come
prepared to hear something startling-and
they won't be disappointed.
Many of our people have expressed
| wish TO hear Tillman at his best Tor worst)
viz, on his favorite theme, "The Race
1 Problem From Southern Point of View
The committee hesitated about thus intro
ducing him, but after hearing from Laco-
mia, n. H., where he delivered this lecture
| two weeks ago. have decided to assign the
same subject to him here.
This lecture IS shot stuff" Tillman
gives the North the views Of rabid
Southerner, putting them forth in the
most earnest and picturesque manner He
usually leaves the majority OF his audience
warm under the collar-but he sets them
a-thinking. And when they cool off they
are quite apt to conclude that
there are two sides to question that be-
fore appeared to have only one, and to
have higher respect for "Pitchferk Bel.
than they had entertained previously. If
Laoonia people can stand Tillman, Ran
dolph ought to.
A personal letter from a cultured Laco-
MIA lady to a member OF the course COM
mittee reads as follows:
"We have heard Tillman. He talked
rapidly for two hours, and i could have
| sat two hours longer. He IS not an orator,
and not always choice in his language, but
| he is intensely in earnest. so much so that
: it seemed to me at times he showed con-
siderable temper. But it showed us the
! serious side of the race problem through
| the eyes Of a Southerner, a rabid one, per-
haps. but one believe that voices the sem
timent Of majority of the Southern
people.
shy opinion, however. is only my opin-
| ion. and others did not agree with me.
! One OF our most important citizens and
one quite prominent politically (Hon. II.
b. Quinby) said he considered 1t an insult
to ask man 90 cents to 60 and hear a IL
rade like that. One of the prominent
merchants Of the south end agreed with
me, and liked 1t very much. 80 II here
there was one who did not like him, over
I there would be one who did. The papers
will not be out until Wednesday and SAT-
urday. As soon as they are we Will send
! them to YOU. / am anxious to see them
because in them you will get opinions
! that will be worth something to you, but,
as for me- / should certainly want TO hear
/ him on that subject, for / cannot think he
/ 4 her III
J ject. He is plain with only one eye. Of
he can see so much of the race problem
| with only one eve. what would he see II he
| had two9 He had on a business suit and
the pantaloons bagged a little at the knee,
but for two hours was so interested that
| did not care nor know how he looked"
| Both the Iaconia papers handled the
lecture at length. In summarizing 1t, the
Democrat said
"a few of our stalwart Republican
friends are still warm under their collars
| over Senator Tillman's lecture. So far as
we are able to ascertain they do not take
any very decided exceptions to any OF his
statements of facts, but claim that his lee
/ ture as a whole and especially his manner
of delivery was insulting, coming as II did
from Southerner to Northern audience.
] They argue that Northern lecturer, re-
yersing the situation, and delivering so
caustic an address in South Carolina,
would have been mobbed. II is noticeable
4 that the few citizens who make these crit
icisms of Senator Tillman's lecture are
dyed-in- the-wool Republicans, and we
have a notion that they feel about the
I same over this address as some OF our old
! Hunker Democrats have felt in years past
after listening to some OF Congressman
| Cy sideways drastic political TRADES.
| All OF which merely goes TO demonstrate
| that il is much pleasanter TO sit and listen
! krfth bfngr II I'M the other
fellow than to have him rub II in TO
YOU"
The Netcs and Critic Republican, said:
"sWhat did you think of Iillman2' has
been the common topic of conversation In
Iaconia since last Friday evening, when
Senator Tillman OF South Carolina held
the breathless attention of the large audi
ence for two hours at Moulton opera
house, while delivering his lecture, 1.-THE
/ Race Problem from a Southern Point OF
| View.n There were few, who, having
found tongue after the shock produced by
the clear-cut phrases OF the speaker, de-
clared Tillman TO be 'ylrulent nre-
eater,u and were confident that had the
same abuse been heaped upon a Southern
audience by a Northern man he would
have been mobbed. His conservative
auditors, however, saw in Mr.. Iulman
Caucasian brother menaced by the existing
race conditions prevailing IN the south
today and agreed with him that negro
government wasn't the thing for white
man. This was evidenced by the hearty
applause which followed his invectiye
utterance, "You declare the Filipino IN
capable for self government and by federal
enactment turn over the state OF South
Carolina to the rule OF horde OF unedu-
Gated nlggers.n Despite his vindictive
manner, the senator awoke responsive
chord in the breasts of many who believe
the race problem is one which demands
careful consideration and statesmanship.
The lecture will be given at Dubois q
Gays hall next Monday evening.