The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-10-07
uHE wATcaMAN AND sourHRoN, OCTOBER z, 1908

tion. Most people recall today the
epithets applied to Mr. Tillman rath-
er than the alleged occasion for their
aptnss The marvellously lucid Ian
guage of the dead editor has passed
out of memory; it is OILY those white
hot words of insult which stand forth
vividly.
Let him speak once more in his own
defence, reasoned the State. Let him
tell the jury what he felt and believed.
Living, he was an advocate hard to
answer, dead though be is, his vigor
yet remains. Let it not be said merely
that be heaped upon an opponent such
abuse as no Southern man is expected
to endure without seeking redress,
but let it appear that loving his State
and his people, actuated by high
seems of public responsibility he did not
decline an issue which could net have
failed to be pregnant with possibilities
of danger to himself, and reasoning
somewhat in this fashion the prosecu-
tion determined to give the whole re-
cord to the jury.
It may have gone even a step fur
ther, step which sought to forestall
the spirit rather than the letter of the
defence. That the latter will be the
usual oneself -defence-may be ac-
cepted as a matter of course. But the
public sense of honor will cut almost
as much figure here as evidence.
Traditions are to be reckoned with.
No man may observe himself from
them even though he be juror The
men who are to determine whether
James II. Tillman is a murderer are
Southern men. Their mental processes
are Southern mental processes. Their
estimation of provocation is such as
their neighbors hold now and such as
their fathers held before them. They
have been taught that there are words
more stinging than blows-that man
has to take good heed of his facts
| before he is jusifed in calling another
cur, or coward, Or thief, or liar.
Therefore, it was essential
in the States estimation that
the men who are to pass in
judgment upon Mr.. Tillman's
deed should not be left under the i'm
preston that there was no more in the
language applied to him by Mr.. Con
zales than the words that blistered and
burned.
It will be understood, of course,
that am not myself expressing an
opinion one way or the other, I am
merely dealing with the record as [
see it, and seeking to convey to others
an Intelligent, comprehensive impress
sion of what I imagine is going for
ward here.
It will be claimed by many that the
circumstances admit of more than one
Interpretation. Had Mr.. Tillman
taken summary vengeance upon the
first man who ever applied to him
any or all of the epithets hurled at
him by Mr.. Gonzales-Southern esti-
nations of conduct being what they
are-the mental attitude of many peo-
pie concerning him would be different
from what it is. The defence will
offer justification, which his friends
hold to be ample and convincing
The incident in Washington will
doubtless be given very different
perspective from that assigned it in
the editorial of Mr.. Gonzales; the
scene at Gafney will be pictured an
other way the failure to resent the
early editorial attacks made upon him
will be counted forbearance and pro-
found sense of his official duty and
responsibility. The friends of Mr..
Titlman are entitled to interpret, no
less than are the friends of Mr..
Gonzales, and the able lawyers assem-
bled here in his behalf will see to it,
doubtless, that full emphasis is given
to the construction which they place
upon the editorials which were sub
mitted in evidence today. State and
defence alike put forward this testi-
mony and / have sought to do no more
here than indicate the respective ends
they have in view-to suggest, too,
that, while the days proceedings in
Court have been monotonous, tedious,
routine, they we're, in fact, dealing
with the very core of the matter at
issue.
For the rest it need only be added
that the prisoner sat through the long
hours of the day coolly, calmly and
collectedly as ever. That it was
trial few men could have stood with
perfect equanimity goes without the
saying. Once more the language of the
editorials wriJhed about him as the
thongs of a knout. While hundreds
of eyes we're upon him he was called
upon to sit quietly there and listen to
characterizations of himself and his
conduct which would set the blood Of
normal man ahame. What were his
feelings, his reflections, his conclus-
ions may only be imagined, but it is
fairly safe to assume that to James
H. Tillman the days proceedings
we're not the most tedious or the most
monotonous of the trial.-John Mar
shall, in News and Courier.
Special to the Daily Item:
Lexington, S. g., Oct. 2.-This
mornings session Of the Iillman
trial was the most interesting that
has yet been held. The testimony is
;1ct non touohino uDon the ri rcnm-