The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-07-15
THEY REJOICE AT HIS MISFORTUNE.

Ex-senator McLaurin is now a
private citizen at his home IN
Bennettsville, and we think it
will be in good taste for the tall
wagging editors to stop slurrlng
at him because of his business
reverses in New York.
John L. McLaurin is an hon
est man we believe, and he IS
not the first one from the South
to venture in speculation and
come out loser. We we'll remem-
Der that General John B. Gordon
of Georgia gave up seat in the
United States Senate and launch
ed into railroading and mining.
He met with misfortune, lost his
fortune and came back home:
lust as McLaurin has done. The
{ difference is, that Gordon did not
have a gang Of political mar
plots to seek his destruction as
M,Laurin has had, and when he
came back home his people did
not ieer at his financial misfort-
une. McLaurin lost money IN
speculation, but we have never
seen in any reputable newspaper
where there was even a suspl-
cion of his having ever received
a dishonest dollar. Some sour
vey politicians have charged that
he sold his vote on the Paris
treaty for federal patronage, and
on the floor of the Senate he de-
nounced it as-al lie. If McLaurin
ever receiyed a dishonest penny
he mgs have it buried where
ragsean find it, because we are
told he came out Of the Senate
worth hardly as much as when
he went there.
McLaurin has always been a
man of considerale means, most
lv in real estate. There are 9th
ers not now under the political
ban who are rich, but were not
always so, unless they lied when
they first started out in politics.
We do not think Mr.. McLaurin's
movements since his retirement
from the Senate is legitimate
newspaper material, and there,
fore think it is high time to stop
dragging his name jeeringly into
the press. When that gentleman
again comes forward for public
favor there viii be time enough
for the newspapers opposed to
him. to ascertain from his enc.
mics what they want said about
him.
McLaurin's political undoing
was his independence. He re-
garded craftsmanship far prefer,
able to temporary policy. He
knew when he took his advanced
position it would give unscrupu-
lous politicians and editors a
chance to misrepresent him, but
he was one who had faith in his
cause and was willing for time
to vindicate him, and it would
not surprise US in the leas5 to
see McLaurin's views prevail in
this State, and the very politl-
clans who were denouncing him
and charging him with treach-
cry, espousing the very doctrines
be preached. We are so satisfied
such will be the case that we
think we can already see where
some Of these political fakirs are
commencing to pave the way.
We do not know what Mr.. Nc
Laurin's future plans are, ,wheth-
er 'he will ever appear on the
political field again we are not
Informed, but we believe there
never was a more maligned man
in the State, and we do not be-
lleve South Carolina ever had a
representative who tried harder
to serve his people, to bring
about a condition to benefit the
masses. Had he worked to serve
himself instead of the people he
would today be in the United
States Senate and not the object
Of the contemplate slurs of his
enemies.
MAKE THEM KEEP The PLEDGE.