The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-11-04
THE DiSPENSARY.
By Invitation Senator Tillman Speaks
to the People shout It.
STILL BELIEVES IT A GOOD LAW,


But Says He Would be n Prohibi
tionists, If He Believed
suoh Law Gould
be Enforccd.
We present below a past OF the
speech delivered at Gatfney recently
by Senator Tillman on the dispensary.
This part OF the speech may be
termed defence Of the D'spensary
Law. Next week we will publish the
other half of the Senator's speech, in
which he makes some suggestions
about changing and enforcing the
law.
Senator Tillman. after referring to
bis visits to Gaffney on former oc-
casio1s said.
I a. ,,,ere today in response to an
invitation signed by two or three hun.
dred pf you asking me to discuss
Temperance, Prohibition, Dlspehsary
and License, as you are to pass on
that at the next election. There is
some difference of opinion as to
whether have any business here.
Thereare some people who are dSpos:
ed TO think that am meddler; that
am interfering with purely local
matter with which have no COT c 1rn
and that ought not to be here. L
want to say in rega'd d to that that
when 5you elected me Governor, you
did not rob me of the right Of a citi-
zen to discuss any question anywhere
onH fhnt,0l, ho. 30
Washington as your representative in
the United States Senate l am still
a South Carolinian and still tax
payer, and more than that am still
3cnrs servant. {Cheers.) At least feel
that way and try to do my duty 10
the National hall and tried to do
my duty in the Governors oilice. The
question Is. why did you ask me to
co ne here? There is difference OF
opinion as to why. Who was instru-
mental in inviting m, here? TO give
you mylreason for saying some things
intend to say, will read from the
News and Courier of Thursday last a
communication from this City or
town, which is not signed.
The Senator then read the article
which was in effect as follows: (Tlat
Senator lTlilman was ming to Gaff.
ner interfere in local matter and
era hesship of a boss over the boys
ant We them line up Jr the Dis.
|pn against even their conscien-
tious -. ipleS).
Nowyls lscomplain of that manner of
treating this meeting as far as / am
conceT Ibecause, first, am called
'5St,2a:ss aspni, bnnw.J q 10 a. -<lr,,t..s,
To aGt jJG crack a whip over you,
and object to it most because of the
fact that this man, whoever he may
be, has SO little respect for you, SO
little comprehension OF your natural
capacity, OF your manly self respect,
that hs 8 ates that you will obey the
crack of the whip aud fall into line
and even vote against your con cien-
ces and your better Judgment. What
sort of mapgey cur dogs does he take
you to be, men of Cherokee? Where
in South Carolina is there County
which has within its bounds lot or
slavsh, ignorant, debased and COW.
ardly citizens who obey me? This is
the old cry that used to come from
way back; that you were lot OF fools
who followed me obediently and that
had only to get out and crack my
whip and that you would follow ana
do my bidding.
There Is another little clipping, or
rather editorial from one Of your
County papers to which want to asa
you to listen while | read it.
Senator Tillman then read from
editorial in the Gaifney Ledger, which
was to the effect that be had com
here in 1890 to in erfere in Il local
state affair and that his coming to
Cherokee now was very much out o!
place.
Is 1T out of place? Well that is a
matter Of opinion. l have already
said you put me In the reSpons BILE
position which l now occupy but you
did not take from me every right |
have In my state and this County, and
| want to ask yOn, what position
would occupy. If L was SO much Of a
politician, SO afraid OF making enc
mics, so cowardly that l would de-
cline to accept your invitation to
come here and discuss great public
uucSUlOu III WulCll We are oil luUCIcSU.
ed, when two or three hundred
citizens ask me to discu S the
question calmly and dispass onat ly
without any fear but merely to pleas
ure you. / say, what sort OF COW
ardly creature would b. IL had said
am too busy or the circumstances
are such that l clnnot accept? l
would not have long retained your re.
spect or good will. certainly would
not deserve to retain 1t at all If l was
so low and contemplate as that.
There is another fling here that L will
mention. He speaks Of Senator
Hampton coming here in 1890. Is there
any analogy in the conditions? Sena.
Tor Hampton left his seat in the Sen.
ate and came to South Carolina when
there was very heated campaign on
for the Office Of Governor. He spoke
from the same platform with the
candidates and lent all his influence
in behalf Of one man against another
and there is no analogy between that
case and this at all. This is not a
personal matter, this a matter OF
principle and public policy. You are
to vote on most important meas
ure. AS both Of your papers are lined
up on one side, Is it not natural that
| am glad to come here to let you
hear the other side and Is il not my