The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-04-23
WATCH PRETENDING FRIENDS.

We want the people to remem-
Der that when newspaper pub
fishes charges against an official
and those charges are based
upon information, what is charg-
ed should not lose it's effect be-
cause Of lapse of time. In the
case Of the charges against Sen
ator Tillman we have several
times said that our reason for
not publishing them earlier was
because we could not get the
written information earlier. We
did not propose to go into a mat
ter of such a nature without first
getting into our possession GER
ti6cates making the allegations.
If Senator Tillman shows that
what we have published is not
true, then the charges fall and
those who made the certificates
are responsible. From the very
outset we stated that all the mat
tiers published by US rejecting
upon Senator Tillman was based
entirely upon written informa-
ton sent US, except those mat
ters which we CLEANED from the
newspapers, and these. we claim,
puts the Senator in a position to
explain. # our readers will go
to the trouble to read the edito-
rial in The MANNING TINES of
January 9Th they will see that
the most the Senator can do
when he comes here next Friday
is to prove that the information
furnished US is untrue. If he
can do this we will be satisfied
and glad.
We realize that to come out
against one who is so strongly
entrenched in the affections of
the people is a hard proposition
to run up against, but as news
paper writer weconceive it to
be our duty to give to the public
information sent US that reflects
upon the conduct of those in
public position, matters not how
high they are, and unless the
certificates we hold are rebutted
by something more convincing
than mere assertion, it will not
be satisfactory, not only to US,
but to a large majority of the
people, when they let their ex-
citement cool and take the time
to consider.
Senator Tillman will have sew
eral advantages over Us. He is
one of the strongest debaters we
have ever listened at. He is a
man thoroughly trained to pub
lie speaking and a master at
phrase making. We have heard
of men who can come near max
ing white appear black and he is
one of that class, but as for US,
we make no pretensions at pub
lie speaking, and especially be-
fore a large multitude Of people,
and they, too, in full sympathy
with our opponent. Already we
have been prejudged, some 60
ing so far as to say that it mat
tiers not what we offer as evi-
dence it will have no weight;
therefore under such conditions
is it any wonder that we realize
the enormous task we will have
to confront:
But, friends, let the result of
next Fridays meeting be as it
may, we shall never forget the
kindness shown US by the peo-
pie, and will always be ready to
give our best efforts for their in
terests. The people have mani
tested a friendship for US that
will linger in our memory as
long as life shall last, and let
come what will, our voice and
pen will always be at their ser
vice. Those who are convicting
US in advance may realize they
have been premature, and a mo-
ment's reflection will convince
them that this political wrangle
is not worth the breaking up of
lifelong friendships.
It often happens that the solic-
itor of a circuit from a sense Of
duty is called upon to do that
which is unpleasant, and it also
often happens that in the dis
charge Of his duty he becomes
subject for severe criticism, but
notwithstanding this he contin-
ues to do his duty and those who
have criticized him the most, be-
come his most ardent supporters.
Just so is it with a newspaper;
the editor frequently writes edi-
torials which do not meet with
popular approval, but if he can
Show what he claims, the people
realize that he has done that
which is his duty, even if the in
formation he received and upon
which his editorials were based
turns out to be false.
Then there is another matter
worth considering. There are
number Of political acrobats
who take advantage Of a condi-
ton like the present; they see
that the people disapprove and
they come forward and try to
profit by it. We well remember
that two years ago how Senator