Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-06-29
TILLMAN AND M'LAURlN.
The 'iatter of Demanding an Apology
From the President Nauseatins.


From the President Nauseatins.
Special to Charlotte Observer.
PELHAM, June 23.-That Washington
special to the Greenville News in re-
gard to an apology by President
Roosevelt to Senator Tillman Is really
a little nauseating to some who art
acquainted with the South Carolina
senator.
or course no sensible people expect
the president to apologize for with
drawing an invitation to the senatol
to a White House reception on ac'
count of his lawless attack upon Sen
ator McLaurin in the senate hall.
The only ostensible purpose OF dis
cussing such a proposition Is to give
the senator newspaper notoriety, o.
which he has already had too mucf
of a certain kind.
The public has really never had
proper understanding Of Senator
Tillman's political fight against Sen
ator McLaurin, and hence there has
been frequent unfavorable illusions tc
Senator McLaurin's senatorial record
whereas the truth Is. no Democra,
within the range Of my knowledge
has proven himself to be truer to DEM
ocracy and moral principle than has
Senator John L. McLaurin of South
Carolina. He changed his mind In
regard to the Paris peace treaty when
the Filipinos attacked our army al
Manila, and war was declared, and
voted for ratification, but that was
not undemocratic, but Manifestation
Of good craftsmanship.
In his canvass for the senatorship
he pledged himself to Democratic prln-
ciples, but stated that In legfslatlng foI
the nation he would not be restricted
by partizan politics, nor sectionansm
He Is a gentleman by heredity and
training a gold standard Democrat
and a broad minded statesman Of the
type our country needs.
He was offered an honorable ano
lucrative office by President Mckinley
but he disconnected his political enc
mics by refusing II. Many said how
ever. that he wanted the United States
iudgeship, and President Roosevelt
offered him that Office, but he declined
the favor and accepted nothing from
the Republican administration. but
its evident appreciation Of his high
moral character and craftsmanship.
Whence, then, all the fireworks and
smoke against him? The movement
was originated, inspired and directed
by Senator Tillman, who saw that
Senator McLaurin's growing popular
Ity had to be reversed or he, Tillman
would be deprived of political leader
ship in the state. He then declared
that Senator McLaurin was a traitor
to the Democratic party, and COM
menced to paw the earth and NIL
the political atmosphere with dust
He raised a big danger signal and sent
up political sky-rockets as a warning
that South Carolina Democracy was In
danger. He manipulated the state ex-
ecutiye committee and had 1t to pass
resolutions cOndemning Senator Nc
I.aurin's politics. He also had the
committee to construct special plat
form in order to exclude Senator NC
Laurin from the senatorial race, and
thus force him out Of politics. Senator
Tillman was in the saddle and, like
"Jehu." he rode furiously. He was
virtually prosecuting attorney. witness
and Judge In securing Senator Nc
Laurin's condemnation before the exc
cutiye committee in its unprecedented
exparte proceedings.
The Democratic newspapers In or
der to be and appear loyal. heralded
Senator McLaurin's condemnation
political death and burial.
Senator Tillman Is verify guilty of
politically numbering Senator McLaur-
in in the first degree-not that he is
greater in diplomacy, but he had the
power and he mercilessly used 1t for
all 1t was worth
Now, If Senator Tillman really
wishes to square himself with the
world upon the line Of apologies, let
him first apologize to the state of
South Carolina for his slanderous ac-
cusation against the officers Of the
state for dishonesty, and for being
bought by railroads with free passes,
before he got into office, and then
filling his own pockets with free pass
es as soon as he could get them. Let
him also apologize for taking advant-
age of "the farmers movement" and
manipulating himself into office
upon false issues, and for imposing
through trickery a statewide monopo-
ly whisky speculation upon the people
which has not only reversed the prin-
ciple of moral progress throughout the