The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-04-08
j HIGH ESTIMATE OF TILLMhN.
A Good Man to Have in the Senate
---What Prof. Dowd Says.
Written for Charlotte Observer.


University of Wisconsin, Madison,
Wis, March Ex-senator Tillman
spoke here Thursday night on the
negro problem. The weather was bad
being cold and rainy. I walked in the
auditorium a little late, expecting to
find not more than 100 people present.
Much to my surprise I saw an audi
ence of 1,so0 people, each member OF
which had paid so cents for admission.
There is something remarkable
about this fact. Was this large audi
ence due to the deep interest felt in
the negro problem? If so, it is not
remarkable that Wisconsin people
should wish to hear man on that
subject who is. known to represent
views the most opposite from those
now held or formerly held by the
majority Of the people?
Did these people come out to hear
simply because he is sensational, a man
with a pitchtork, sort of wild man
from Bcfneo?
After hearing the speech I answered
this question in the negative. I saw
Senator Tillman in new light. A
few years ago I heard him in South
Carolina campaign. The subjects
discussed were local and personal and
I came away unfavorably impressed.
His speech here showed me that he
had developed a good deal since that
time. His style was better, his Ian
guage better and his grasp of ideas
and his store of information respect
ing history snd literature, we're more
those of the scholar and statesman.
There is no discounting the fact
that Senator Tillman is man Of eX-
traordinary power. The demagogue
who rides into Office upon popular cur
rent may attract attention for awhile,
but he soon collapses as he has moth
ing solid to rest upon. Senator Till
man has been to the front too long to
be classed as demagogue. He is an
honest man, an earnest man, "a
courageous man and fundamentally
actuated by the highest feelings and
sentiments. When he told this audi
ence that all of the political honors
that could be heaped upon him we're
as nothing compared to his love for
home and family he was loudly ap-
plauded. The people believed what
he said. In this particular he is
genuine representative of the best that
there is in the southern men. How
ever people may have differed from his
reasoning, and felt themselves oppos-
ing his ideas, they could not but
realize that there was in the restless
figure pacing. up and down the plat
form, a type of man too rare not to be
admired. He suggests something of
the rugged characteristics of Andrew
Jackson, and in one sense he repre-
sents the best that there is or ever has
been in southern statesmanship. He
has profound convictions, an over
whelming passion for the cause which
he espouses, a frankness and an ag-
gressiveness, together with the ability
to hit the mark that he aims at which
are indispensable requisites Of effect
i've oratory. Attachment for some
great cause and deep sincerity of pur-
pose count for more than erudition,
rhetoric or grace of style. First of all
the orator or writer must have some
irresistible devotion to a principle be-
fore he can hope to win and retain the
ear of the public. In the case of Till
man his passion is for democracy, in
the sense of maintaining the rights
and manhood of the individual as
against any political or economic or
social domination. All Of his feelings
side with the commonality and oppose
any power which may take an unfair
advantage of the people. Of course he
cannot appeal to people of opposite
sentiments although such people open
their ears to him and dread him. 1t
is his intense personality and his
burning love for democracy which ex-
plain the secret of his power in South
Carolina and explain why 1,900 people
in this city pay 5000 to hear him speak.
I differ in many respects from his
political views and doubt the discre-
tion of many of his utterances, but
fundamentally, especially as regards
his general sentiments, | believe that
he is one of the best types of men and
that it is fortunate for the country
that such man has seat in the
United States senate. His errors Of
Judgment and his lack of liberaI educa-
tion, initiate against him and prevent
him from taking the highest rank.
Jerome Dowd.