The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-11-02
THE DISPENSARY.
By Invitation Senator Tillman Speaks
to the People About It.
STILL BELIEVES IT Z GOOD Law,

But Says He Would be Prohibit.
tionists, if He Believed
Such Law Gould
be Enforced.
We present below part Of the
speech delivered at Gaffney recently
by Senator Tiliman ou the diSpensary.
This part OF the speech may be
termed offence of the D'spensary
Law. Next week we will publish the
other half Of the Senator's speech, In
which be makes some suggestions
about changing and enforcing the
law.
Senator Tillman, after referring to
his visits to Gafney on former oc-
casions said:
I am here today in response to an
invitation signed by two or three hun
dred Of you asking me to discuss
Temperance, Prohibition, Dispensary
aud License, as you are to pass on
that at the next election. There is
some difference Of opinion as to
whether I have any business here.
There are soma people who are diSpos-
ed to think that I am meddler; that
am interfering with purely local
matter with which I have no cor c ern
and that I ought not to be here.
want to say in regard to that that
when you elected me Governor, you
did not rob me Of the right OF a citi-
zen to discuss any question anywhere
and though you have sent me to
Washington as your representative 10
the United States Senate 1 am still
a South Carolinian and still a tax
payer, and more than that am still
your servant. (Chesrs.) at least I feel
that way and try to do my duty IN
the National hall and tried to do
my duty in the Governors office. The
| question Is, why G ! you ASK me to
co ne here? t. IS a difference OF
opinion as to W.T. Who was instru-
mental In inviting me- here? 10 give
you my reason for saying some things
I intend to say, I will read from the
News and Courier Of Thursday last a
communication frou this City or
town, which is not signed.
The Senator then read the article
which was in effect as follows: (Taat
Senator Ti]lnan was Ginning 10 CAT.
ney to interfere in local matter and
crack the ship of boss ever the boys
and make them line up f)r the Dis
psnsary against even their conscclen'
tious scrupies).
Now I com mplain Of that manner OF
treating this meeting as far as am
concerned because, first, I am called
a Boss and you know I have 70 desire
to attempt to crack whip over you,
and object TO it most because OF the
fact that this man, whoever be may
be, has so little respect for you, SO
little comprehension Of your natural
capacity, Of your manly self respect,
that he states that you will obey the
crack Of the whip aud fall into line
and even vote against your con c:en-
ces and your batter Judgment. What
sort of mangey cur dogs does he take
you to be, men of Cherokee? Where
in South Carolina is there a County
which has within its bounds a lot OF
slavish, ignorant, debased and COW
ardly citizens who obey me? TnlS Is
the old CRY that used to come from
way back; that you were a lot OF fools
who followed me obediently and that
I had only to get out and crack my
whip and that you would follow and
do my bidding.
There is another little clipping, or
rather editorial from one Of your
County papers to which want to ask
you to listen while I read it.
Senator Tillman then read from
editorial in the Gaffney Ledger, which
was to the effect that he had com
plained of Senator Hampton coming
here in 1890 to in. .e7fere in a local
state affair and that his coming to
Cherokee now was very much cut OF
place.
Is it out of place? Well that is a
matter Of opinion. I have already
said you put me in the respons BILE
position which I now occupy but you
did not take from me every right l
have in my state and this County, and
T want to ask you, what position
would I occupy, il l YVES so much OF a
politician, so afraid Of making enc.
mics, so cowardly that | would de-
cline to accept your invitation to
come here and discuss a great puo.lc
question in which we are all interest.
ed. when two or three hundred
citizens ask me 20 discuss the
question calmly and dispass;onat=ly
without any fear but merely to pleas
ure you. say, what sort OF cow
a,dly creature would l BE- If l had said
I am too busy or the circumstances
are such that I cannot accept? l
would not have long retained your re-
spect or good will. l certainly would
not deserve to retain it at all if l was
so low and contemptible 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? Ssna-
Tor Hampton LETT his seat in the Sen
ate and came to South Carolina when
there was a very heated campaign on
for the Office of Governor. He spoke
from the same platform with the
candidates and lent al 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 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 aud is it not my
6,tv to come? You all know | would