Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-04-08
TiLEMAN TO THE STUDENTS.
Address to the Graduating Class Of
Charleston College.

Cnarfo8ton SoHoSos
Senator Benjamin r. Tillman deliv-
cred an address to the graduating class
of the Charleston Medical college in
the Academy Of Music last Thursday
night. There was a tremendous crowd
in attendance. DR.. Francis L. Parker,
dean Of the faculty, introduced the
senator in highly complimentary
terms, and the speech was received
throughout with enthusiastic approval.
The following report of what Senator
Tillman said is from tpe News and
Courier Of Friday morning:
Senator TiIIman's Speech.
There was a great demonstration
when Senator Tillman came forward.
II must confess some embarrassment
and a strange kind Of feeling-l am
not altogether clear in my mind what
1t is," he said. MY distinguished
friend Of long standing, DR.. Parker
and there were times when I didn't
have so many friends here-has laid
1t on 80 thick that I hardly know how
to scrape off the sugar and butter to get
at the cake. I want you to understand,
by way Of explanation, that I never
prepare a speech. That Is something
I never do. II I understand subject
and have some facts I can present the
facts and then weave an argument
about it. My ambition always has been
to have myself clearly understood.
don't want to emulate any speaker,
whose habit it Is to be so ambiguous
that you can't tell which side he Is on:
I must depend on the inspiration OF
me.
81 am especially delighted tonight
to have the opportunity to speak to the
people of Charleston under conditions
that will cause them to listen kindly.
You people down here never do things
by halves. You don't do 1t at all, or
else you are the whole hog. I have
had the pleasure Of speaking to the
men from the city hall steps, and am
glad now to be face to face with the
fair women. II I had ever got their
ear in the past I would have discount
ed YOUR men and whipped you worse
than I did. l find that the women
have been listening to man ever since
Adams time, and you can rest assured
that when they are satisfied a man Is
honest he can easily get into their
good graces.
II am almost lost about what is to
follow. There are four or five Ideas
pulling at my brain, but must not
forget that I am here to speak to the
members of the graduating classic
say something that may be Of benefit
to them.
"This college has always been IA
nous. in the history Of the state. It
has been famous for it's great physi-
clans, and as look back I recall the
names of Ogier Geddings, Dickson and
my old friend here, the dean, who isn't
dead vet, but when he does pass to
the great beyond he will leave this
magnificently established school a
monument to himself, more enduring
than brass.
"This Is the commencement OF
what? You young men are jusS get.
ting through with your education, ana
you are ready for the race Of life, q
race that may bring success or fall
ure, wealth or possibly disgrace. In
presenting few questions / am merely
dipping into my experience as pan,
and of the knowledge I have acquir-
ed, as my friend Hemphill says 90
about the country stirring up all the
meanness possible"
Senator Tillman drew a beautiful
word picture Of the young men who
start out in life, with its great possi-
bilities and purposes Speaking to the
graduates he said they were ready
for the fray, and from their faces he
felt that they were prepared to make
good.
"We have been told that there are
three learned professions-divinity,
law and medicine. The modern indus
trial life has brought In the scientthc
as the necessary basis for the founda.
ton of education. Your doctors and
preachers generally have a great field
for the exercise Of their talents. If q
man has a silver tongue and a logical
brain he has chance for fame and
preferment that comes to few. The
preacher Is compelled to get out IN
the open. You all must do this, for
without q character no man can get
far But your preacher must preach.
Unless his eloquence can seize the
heart and mind Of his congregation
he's q failure. Your lawyer also must
fight in the open. He takes cases, good
or bad, right or wrong-the conditions
compel it, I suppose, to accept any
case-and few men in. the legal pro-
fession will decline to take case, even
If they know man Is q rascal But,
I'm not here to discuss ethics. His
standing and advancement must de-
pend upon his worth, but he must
fight in the open.
Nov, what do these young gentle
men do? They go to the house when
called to visit a patient, examine his
pulse and tongue, ask questions and nod
their heads, take a book and give q
prescription and then say SO and so to
the relatives. They follow directions,
yet nobody knows whether the doctor
knows what he's doing or not. He may
make a correct diagnosis; he may To-
cate the trouble and cure it.; but too
often he doesn't know, SO he goes
guessing. If he's sensible he'll write
something that won't do any harm.
Secrecy is the mask behind which
the physician must go through the
world. They are not sure what they
are doing, yet they do the best they
Is the fortune Of life. No physician can
fail to look back without seeing where
he made blunders In his first cases
blunders that were injurious, If they
did not cause death.
After the young doctor gives his pre-
scription, who fills it? And now comes
this other contingent, the pharmacists.
We have read where this man or that
woman was killed by an accident Of an
unskilled pharmacist. They get the
wrong vial. 1t Is necessary to have
one kind trained as we'll as the other.
am glad South Carolina has place
where these young men can be trained
in their professions.
II believe the faculty acted wisely In
lengthening the course at the Medical
college. You don't turn these young
fellows loose too soon. You have just
had a smattering, and it is necessary
for you to work while you sit and wait
for patients-study more, for unless
you do you will fail. We see that the
preacher depends on publicity, the
lawyer Is forced to depend on it, and
the doctors have got to succeed by
curing and not killing. You are pre-
pared now to use the tools Of your
profession, but you must keep abreast
with advancement, for medical science
has made more progress in the last
twenty-five years than it did in CEN
t,1ries The doctors are counting on