The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1902-07-25
GEORGE TOMBSTONE
For United States Senator.

The purpose of our Democratic pri-
mary is to give the people an oppor-
tunity to find out something of those
who aspire to position; to give an op-
portunity to Judge of the character, abil
ity, and fitness for the position, so that
a judicious selection may be made, and
the voter may be able to cast his ballot
intelligently. In the canvass which is
now on the State for the United States
Senatorship, there are six aspirants.
One must be chosen. They all stand on
practically the same platform. There
are no issues among them. The ques-
ton then to be decided is one of per-
sonal fitness and intellectual ability to
stand up with the giants of intellect in
the Senate and defend Democratic prin-
ciples and the rights of the people.
George Johnstone, of Newberry, pos
sesses in an eminent degree the quail
fcations to fit him for this exalted po-
sition.
He is son of the late Chancellor Job
Johnstone, whose opinions rank in liter
ary ability and legal erudition with those
of the greatest chancellors and judges
the State has ever produced. The son
has inherited in great measure the in
tellect of the father, and that intellect
has had the advantage of thorough train
ing in the best schools of this country
and Europe. After attending the schools
of his county, he was sent to the noted
Slabtown school, in Anderson County.
From there he went to the Arsenal
thence to the Citadel, and, with the other
cadets, took up arms and marched to,
the front in defence Of the Southern
cause After the war was over, he went
to Edinburgh University, in Scotland,
where his education was completed.
Returning home, he read law in the
office of Fair & Pope, and was admitted
to the practice His ability as a lawyer
and an advocate was soon recognized
and his services were in demand. Dur
ing reconstruction, he took an active
part in redeeming, the State from the
hands of the alien anc the oppressor,
and if that part of his history were
written up, it would read like romance.
In 1877, he was elected to the Legls-
lature, in which body he served for eight
successive years, retiring voluntarily.
During the greater part of that time ne
was chairman of the Ways and Means
Committee. He was strong advocate
of the South Carolina College and the
Citadel, and during his terms of SER
vice in the Legislature, did good work
in helping to reorganize rehabilitate and
reopen the South Carolina College and
the Citadel to the white youth OF the
State, and was recognized as one OF the
leading Imembers of the LeSialature.
And while he favored these institutions
and helped to reopen them, he was, and
has always been, a true friend Of the de-
nominational college, because he believed
there was a work for bott to do, and
whatever was contributed to the educa-
ton of the youth was so much contrib
uted to the good citizenship Of the State,
and time and the concensus OF public
opinion have justified that Judgment.
In 1900, he was elected to Congress
from the Third District. He was chair
man of the Committee on Privileges and
Elections, from which Mr.. Crisp was
elected Speaker, and Mr.. Johnstone was
one to whom Mr.. Crisp looked con-
stantly for assistance. He was defeated
for reelection because he would not en-
dorse and advocate the sub-treasury
scheme, which illusion, at that time, had
taken possession of Our people. Even
those who were its most ardent advo-
Gates, and some who were the bene-
hciaries of such advocacy have since
learned the correctness of his position
at that time.
As lawyer, Mr.. Johnstone is known
in all parts of the State, and his ability
is unquestioned AS an advocate and
trained debater, he scarcely has an equal
in this State.
The people of this State are now IN
the enjoyment of their sober Judgment;
they are not torn by party strife and
factional feeling. The appeal is made to
this sober judgment in the selection they
will be called upon to make for the
highest office in their gift. 1t is their
duty to measure up the candidates by the
standard which every true Carollnlan
should set for such posltlon-char-
acter, fitness, intellect, ability to stand
up shoulder to shoulder, arm to arm,
hand to hand, intellect to intellect, with
any member of that body. In George
Johnstone, OF Newberry, you have man
who measures up to the standard.
In times like these there is demand
for men, not time servers; statesmen,
not politicians. There are momentous
questions to be settled and, above all do
we need men who are able to grapple
with these questions in the National
Congress- and to do so intelllgently and
with wisdom and foresight born of the
statesman.
In the public service of George John
stone which has been but briefly out
lined there is not a speck, but his es-
cutcheon is clean and pure. Time and
subsequent events have justified the po-
stions which he has taken on all public
questions. and it has been demonstrated
that he possesses that wisdom and fore
sight so essential to the true statesman,
and so necessary in the man we need to-