The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-08-12
EATS 'EM ALIVE.
Senator Burton of Kansas nc
Match for South CaroEinian.

To the great force of Senator Ben
Tillman, the Chicago Chronicle, most
prejudiced of papers, pays tribute,
while not softly worded, should never
theless hatter the self-esteem Of the
emphatic South Caroliniau.
Senator Tillman and Senator Bur
ton. be it known, are just now circus
inc through the North debating the
race question, and the southerner is
ard has been eating the Kansan alive,
SO to speak. Commenting upon this
fact the Chicago Chronicle says:
"Whatever we may think Of the
ideas and sentiments entertained by
Benjamin R. Tillman, we cannot but
concede the force and virility of his
character. He has been called a bar
barian, but if he has the barbarian's
savagery he has likewise the bar
barian's strength. He is not the sort
of man against whom weaklings may
be sent.
'sThe people who are managing the
hippodroming debate between Senator
Tillman and Senator Burton owe it to
their patrons-the people who pay
money at the box ofice-to maintain
at least show of contest. They
owe it to the country at large to pit
against the man from South Carolina
some one who is capable of confuting
him-some one who can expose the
fallacies which Mr.. Tillman deals out
with the air of an oracle"
These be hard facts, and bearing as
they dosupon the friend and adviser of
the president, they are worthy to
challenge the attention Of Mr.. Roose-
velt as well as the country at large.
Having said so much of Tillman, the
Chicago Chronicle takes occasion to
declare the North is no more prone
gro than the South and adds that Sen
ator Tillman, assuming it is, sets up
man of straw which Burton accepts
and seeks to defend, and which the
South Carolinian demolishes in spite
of the Kansan's attempt to protect
it.
"There is no more social equality
between blacks and whites in Chicago
than in Charleston. There is no more
notion of amalgamating the races by
| marriage in New York than there is
in New Orleans.
"The managers Of the oratorical
soft-glove contest owe it to the north
to send stout and worthy champion
against the gentleman from South
Carolina. Such champion will not
utter feeble and perfunctory conven-
tionalisms about educating the negro.
He will not use the language of the tea
party or church sociabie. He will tell
the truth and unmask humbug, apd he
will not be particular about the exact
language he employs in doing so. He
will keep BENJAMIN R. Tillman to the
facts and he will make it perfectly
clear that while the north is no more
negrophile' than the south it is deter
mined that the south shall not dis
| franchise the negro and still continue
to count him as a basis Of representa-
| ton
men available. If the rhetor-
icai circus is to continue their
ranks should be drawn upon.
Mr.. Burton has neither the yocabu.
larry nor the personal standing for the
task that he has assumed. -
It seems to us that the South is slow
to recognizes the tremendous force Of
the one-eyed senator. Whoever has
watched the comedy of the senate from
the gallery has learned that rough
though he may be, and uncouth, Till
man is the one figure from whom the
able men on republican side shrink,
and the Chicago Chronicle when it
says Tillman eats 'em alive, says what
! those who know do know.-Atlanta
News