The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-02-26

OF both of the old. papers, and is mani
festly the best advertising medium il
Senter
South Carolina is without represen
tation in the United States Senate,
and, until the Senate shall see Fit te
take action on the resolution declaring
Senators Tillman and McLaurin in
contempt, the State will be denied the
representation to which it is entitled
under the constitution. It is the
right of the Senate to punish its mem
bers for disorderly conduct, but it has
no right to deny 9 State representa-
tor. The Senate should take immedi-
ate action; Senators Tllman and Nc
Laurin should either be given immedi-
ate opportunity to purge themselves OF
contempt, or they should be expelled
from the Senate so that the Governor
may appoint their successors. Till
man and McLaurin were chosen to
represent South Carolina and they
should either be expelled without de-
lay or be permitted to discharge the
du ties they were. elected to perform
Tillman's statement in reference to
Rooseyeltss withdrawal Of the invita-
ton TO dine. at the White House
sounds ike an echo from 1S9o-94. It
has all the vim. vigor and sarcastic
bitterness that characterized Tillman
in the bellicose. days of the reform
movement.
This question arises in many minds,
would President Roosevelt have with
drawn the invitation had McLaurin
been in Tillman's place2 The fight be-
tween Tillman and McLaurin was a
disgraceful proceeding, but not a whit
more disgraceful and far less coward
ly, as well as more manly, than the
conduct of many Senators day after
day. It has become OF so common
occurrence for Senators to blackguard
each other :. Individually, and their
political opponents as whole, that it
excites not even q passing comment :
IF Senatorial dignity and decorum
permit Senators to handy back and
forth charges of hypecricy, falsehood,
corruption and general rascality, SO
small thing as fist fight should not
Zoe regarded so seriously. Senatorial
dignity is a queer thing and beyond
the comprehension of an, ordinary
mortal, for it appears to suffer not
=at all SO long as the august Senator's
eeon6ne themselves to words, but is
shocked and shattered beyond endur-
ance when Senator ceases to be a
mere Senator and becomes man enough
to resent an insult as man. It is in
keeping with Senatorial dignity to
say, you're another" when one Sena-
TOR insinuates that another is a
thief or liar, but it is a gross viola
ton of that strange thing known as
the dignity of the Senate to brand q
falsehood as lie, or to resent an insult
by blow.
The exhibition that Tillman and
McLaurin made of themselves was dis
graceful and disgusting, but the fight
was the least part Of their ofense.
They have long been disgrace to the
State, which they misrepresent, and no
one realizes it more fully than the
people of this State. Tillman gained
prominence and Office by making SLAM
derous charges against his opponents,
and in his campaigns of abuse and
MISREPRESENTATION he had a ready and
willing helper in McLaurin. When
the dominant element in South Caro-
lima saw it to send them to the Senate
it was to be expected that they WouIo
continue to exercise their talents in
their chosen method of conducting
political debates. It is true that many
of us who we're never in fellowship
with the dominant element have a
share of responsibility for McLaurin's
aIaot;o, br7t we SUPPORTED him rather
than see a worse man elected. It was
recognized as choice of evils. South
Cardinals disgrace is that such men
as Tillman and McLaurin, able
though they be in many respects, were
chosen to represent her in the Senate,
and not their conduct in the Senate
itself
The dry earth system does not ap-
pear to have proven the complete and