The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1902-05-01

letter that he had received from his
former friend, for God knows said he
II Gisown him now"
(Porsonal.)
Manning, S. c.. Dec. 80. 1901.
Hon. B. R. Tillman, Trenton, 5. {.
Dear Sir: Your letter reached me TINS
evening too late to give 1t space IN my
columns this week, but If you insist
upon it of course shall publish 1t IN
my next Issue.
So far as my meeting you before
Clarendon audience. for that matter,
would not be so foolish, for the reason
that l haven't the ability to cope with
YOU. The matters which have offended
YOU, and to which you refer, as you
know, are altogether from statements
which have appeared in the neWspa-
pers and with no pretense Of any per-
sonal knowledge. l regret exceedingly
that you think l never was friend OF
YOURS. l was, and most falthfu! one
and my unyielding support TO your
cause and to you personally causei
rupture in my own family whlcn time
has not healed. l was your friend re-
gardless Of what you may think now.
The fight l am making is lot a Tree
and open primary, one that Will permit
any man to go into the primary ana
discuss any issue he desires, and take
n from what | can understand OF your
acts that YOU will use your influence 10
nreyent those who differ with you on
certain national questions from getting
in the primary. have conmentei On
the charges that have been brought OUT
against you without ever once saying
thev were true and would not say they
ere true unless l had the proof.
Probably in my zeal to keep the pri-
mary free for all white men l may
have allowed myself to take from some
of NV ammunition the charges OF neT3-
naners and went beyond bounds. Not
withstanding this think your IAN
guase towards me Is not merlteo, Out
feel right to punch and batter me.
would much prefer not publishing
vour Characterization OF me, but Will
do so II you insist. not because you de-
mand it, but because / propose TO per-
nit any man to use my columns Inat
I have written about.
Now, senator, you are provoked. You
have way of saying hard things. !
know you and l do not believe you
mean to be as offensive as your letter
apnears. Your rough letter will not
drive me into the Republican party,
por will any action you ard those who
think like you take. was born a
Darocrot raised one. and expect to
die one, and whatever action the state
convention takes will submit to. lnis
have said in my own paper and else
where and neither will your harsh
language to man who at Sumter
threw himself between You and man
by the name of Villancan and saVca
YOU from being disembowelled, cause
a change.
lam a personal friend OF Senator
McLaurin. and you goading him mas
had something to do with fghuns lAe
attitude you have assumed toward
him. make no charge but REFER 10
what is said by others, and If you want
to come to Manning to make speech
come ahead. l am certainly not gong
to invite you to come hero to "cuss
me out, nor would I, If you were TO
come. attempt to question you, Dut II
YOU want an invitation to come fesc
have no doubt that there are others
who would invite you, especially II you
would make known your purpose.
And then, l would not invite you to
abuse me, because l would not care 10
stand by and hear language such as
YOU use in your letter, and would Ro'.
Therefore If you come you Will nave 10
do so on the invitation of another, ana
I certainly would not obligate myseiI
to be present.
It was no longer than this day tina;
said to a friend: Il do not like he
recent developments at WASHINGTON
and if McLaurin really means 70 50
over to the Republicans l am done. 1
have stood to him and possibly gene
further than | would for any othcr
man. but cannot go with him into TIE
Republican camp. am going to gut
popping at old man Ben and let MN
and Mac do their own scrapping.
regard your letter a remarkable
Grange coincidence. I shall await your
reply with the hope you will withora"
II Yours, ETC.,
'' Louis Appelt.
Tillman said that The Times OF DC
cember 7 contained slanders against
| him to the effect that he was tnlei.
He had ignored similar accusations
from others. If he took time to answer
the thousands of lies against him ne
might grow to the age of Metausetah
without getting to the top Of the pile.