The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-01-21

the elimination of the old enmity be
tween the two men, increased by tbt
scathing denunciations of the State
last summer Of TIllman's personal and
public record and the consequent dis
appointment to his ambitions.
1t Is thought by some that the neat
approach Of the inauguration Of the
newly elected governor and the reflec'
ton upon IT, md Of the possibilities
that might ", cen his but for the
newspaper lmpa. IN against him last
summer has stirreu Tillman to fresh
bitterness aud moved him TO make the
assault upon the life Of the man who
was so largely responsible for his de-
feat.
TILLMAN WAS TAINTED.
It il said too, that he has been taunt.
ed in light way lately by some Of his
associates upon bis coming retirement
and that references have been made to
the part Gonzales had In bringing II
about, which have stirred him to new
wrath.
There Ii not a ray Of light upon the
exclamation of Tiliman when ne shot
that he had received Gonzales mess
age. The wounded editor has very
positively denied that he sent any
message to Tillman, aud his closest
friends are satisfied that there has been
no communication between the two
men directly or indirectly for q long
time. Moreover, the State has made
no reference to Tillman for several
months.
1t ia expected that Senator Ben Till
man will be in Columbia within q day
or two, as IL is reported that he Ia
making arrangements t. come here to
look after the Interests of lis nephew.
He is said to be greatly distressed at
the affair. Wide interest Is manifest.
ed in the condition of Gonzales, and
messages of sympathy are pouri:g In
from all sides.
EDITORIAL EXTRACTS FROM CON-
ZALEs' PAPER.
Columbia, 8. e., Jan. 1.-THE fol-
lowing editorial extracts from issues
of Mr.. Gonzales paper, The Columbia
State, are believed to have been the
of the Gonzales-Tillman
feud:
August 25, 1902, the day before the
primary election, The State said:
"LIED HIS WAY TO OFFICE"
"It was necessary that Jim Tillman,
who two years ago succeeded In get
ting himself elected lieutenant gov
ernor because the majority Of voters
did not know his character should this
year have that character made known
when his candidacy for governor
menanced South Carolina with su-
preme injury and disgrace. Tue In
terest of the public having been con-
centrated In 1900 on the fight for the
governorship he literally lied his way
into the secondary Office, and 1t wa.
somebody's duty to stand forth aud
show his falsity and depravity. The
State senate had missed its Opp0rtu-
nifty and resigned Its right TO do this,
and on the iiIstings . new rule OF
courtesy has ,een adopted whereby
the worst q I'd most indefensible man
who ever sought the Democratic nom-
ination In South Carolina WA exempt
ed from a custom Of criticism which
had not spared the best Of guberna.
torial candidates since the primary
system was adopted. Therefore It was
obvious that II the press were not to
undertake 1t the duty would not he
performed, that the name and method
which had won at the last might
win again .d South Carolina be
cursed witt lack uardism, debauch.
cry and di ,onesls in her highest and
most respOr sible office.
BRANDED \ BLACKBOARD.
ut happened that The State posses
sed larger proofs of the criminsiity Oi
James H. Tillnian than any other
newspaper, and, although IL would
have preferred-for technical reasons,
aud knowing the ver0al u"l ':asant.
ness OF an Issue with y biacf -d-tn
second the effnr' III anOthe. urnal.
rather than t. e the initia.. y. its
knowledge Of the case p, ompted after
months Of reticence and the actual
opening of the campaign tn bring out
the facts 1t held In store. For this rea.
son the criminal candidate has had an
excuse to c0ncent trate his fire on The
State, ignoring all the other Journal,
attacking him; but 1t may console
those who regard this as unfortunate tC
reflect that he would doubtless have
done this even II The State had only
trailed behind other newspapers In
declaring his unfitness-inasmuch q,
he has peristently attributed to The
State the charges Of its contemporaries
He thinks there are votes In such q
policy-and there are some, no doub
but the masses af Democracy IL
South Carolina are not 30 much con
cerned about the source Of the charge,
~ their truth. and Jim Tillman',
silence has confirmed their truth. H,
has underrated the sense Of patriotism
of q majority of former Re!Ormers iI
imagining that they would vote for 9
scoundrel because his name was TIL
man or because The State opposed
him.
"The issue once made, Il has devel
oped into an issue of the press OF Soutf
Carolina against fraud and falsehOot
In high ofiice-and thus 1t remains 70
the voters to pass judgment upon. On
by one the newspapers have swun!
into line, until out of eleven dali,
Journals In South Carolina ten hav,
pronounced aginst Jim Tillman. Thes
newspapers, lifted by cities, are a
follows:
"AndersOn, The Daily Mail.
"CharlestOn, The Evening Post.
| HCOlumbia. The State.
columbia, The Evening Record.
"Florence, The Daily Times.
| "Greenville, The Daily News.