Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-09-18
TiIlman a Loser.

Senator Tillman said last week that
Notwithstanding the fact that the men
he voted for were defeated he was
pleased. Just as the senator was for
merly a good winner, this declaration
goes to indicate that he is also good
loser.
However this may be, the fact re-
mains that the senator has lost 1t
was not at all necessary. There was
no reason why he should feel called
upon to stake his fortunes on the fate
of the tottering dispensary. but he
saw proper to do so, and-lost.
It's the fate of the politician. His
tory is full Of the records Of men who
have risen to political position and
power in various ways. Many Of them
became absolute masters for time.
But the story of all Is the same.
Whether they followed the golden rule
and governed with kindness and con-
sideration or whether their sway was
more or less tyrannical, the outcome
has always been the same. Unless
death came first, eventual defeat was
certain.
There is no doubt about the fact
that Senator Tillman's methods with
his home people have been generally
those of a demagogue. People have TO
do his way or not at all. He has never
been willing to concede to the other
fellow the right to have an opinion OF
his own. He always insists on being
everything or nothing, and the man
who does differ with him in anything
is, in his opinion, only worthy to be
smashed.
That the South Carolina dispensary
has been the battle ground Of lots OF
bitter partizan strife is a matter OF
history. It is also a matter of record
that Senator Tillman prevailed over
his opponents in every battle, even Sc
curing the subversion of the constitu-
ton in behalf of his cause, and sue
ceeded at last in firmly establishing
the dispensary system as the leading
institution of the state.
1t is claimed by some that the dis
pensary was ruined by its enemies;
but that is not strictly true. 1t fell as
the result of corruption-the corrup-
ton Of friends from within. The enc
mics" who ruined it were enemies only
in the sense that they were friends for
what they could make Of it. They were
certainly not political enemies. The
efforts Of political enemies had long
since proved impotent.
And that is where Senator Tillman
made his first great political mistake.
He should not have attempted to up
hold this rotten institution-an insti-
tuition which can never be cleansed.
At one time last year he declared that
If the last legislature did not purify 1t
he would help to kill 1t. That was
wise, and If he had held to that deter
mination he would have won out. Such
a humiliating defeat would not have
come to him at this time.
The significance Of Senator Tillman's
defeat is greater than appears on the
surface. The populace is made up OF
all kinds of elements and large per
centage of 1t is fickle-very tickle. 1t
is usually more or less content with
the existing situation, no matter how
intolerable that situation may be. In
the campaign just closed thousands
and thousands of people voted for men
and measures championed by Senator
Tillman merely because they consider
ed that Senator Tillman's champion
ship of those men and measures made
them invincible. AS the result OF the
election this illusion has been dispell-
new alignments.
The dictatOrial power of Senator
Tillman has been tremendously weak
ened. 1t is hardly probable that he
will ever again WELD the influence in
South Carolina that he has welded in
the past.
Senator Tillman, however, is safe in
the United States senate for the next six
years The reputation he has already
made there is one on which he could
have rested with Indifference as to the
fate of the corrupt dispensary at home.
If he devotes himself to the interests
of his people as they may be subserved
in the senate. there is no reason why
he should not spend the remainder Of
his days. no matter how long they may
be, in that body; but If he elects In
stead to sink or swim with his disease
infected baby, his political finish is
not involved in a great deal of doubt.