Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-07-31
Misesllaaeulls 8sadins.
TILLMAN's CHESTER SPEECH.
Interesting Analysis BY Former Fol-
lower.
leicester Lantern.l

Editor Lantern:-Tnere seems 10 De
a very great misapprehension among
the men of Chester county in regard
to who wrote to the State newspaper
in Columbia from Chester that Sena-
tor Tillman was lecturing in the inter-
est Of the large wholesale liquor deal
ers. 1t seems that quite a number Of
the men who were present at the pic
mic on the 10Th instance, imagined that
Mr.. Tillman alluded to me as the man
who wrote the letter. That Is not true,
and is not at all complimentary to the
intelligence of any man who heard the
speech. That article which wrote the
State was over my own signature. I
am no bush-whacker, and I am res
ponsible for what write, and I am,
as rule. always sure Of my facts. Mr..
Tiilman did not refer to my article or
to anything contained in It. The truth
of the matter Is, he is fighting shy Of
the matter contained In my article, and
will not discuss some features Of the
dispensary question IL he can help It.
I did not write the letter to which
Mr.. Tillman referred, never thought of,
and don't believe the allegations II
contained. When asked the question
"who wrote it?" Mr.. Tillman replied,
Il don't know, but expect he is in the
States office In Columbia" as much
as to say he did not believe anybody
wrote 1t. l am sorry to dampen the
joy that some partisans Of the g. M.
/. are getting from the false impression
that Mr.. Tillman made old Capt. Ed
wards take water" l was sitting
close to the stand and heard every
word of the speech, and those who
know me, will am sure, give me cred
1t for a reasonable amount Of intelli-
gence. and not single reference was
made to my article. So much for that
matter.
/ want to offer some comments on
my impressions Of the speaker. have
heard Mr. Tillman make number Of
speeches, the 18th instant was decided
ly the poorest effort ever heard him
Hldhc. IL 10 Quitc cfiucut tunb uC hScAo
that he Is fighting against the con-
scientious convictions of the Chris
tian and enlightened sentiment Of the
state. He Is lampooning the governor,
the members Of the general assembly,
the investigating committee, and to let
him tell the tale, "B. r. Tillman Is the
only man who can save the state from
everlasting destruction" He says the
general assembly had no instructions
from the people to abolish the state
dispensary. What about the delegation
from the sixteen counties that had
voted out the dispensary or had never
voted them In? Had they no instruc-
ton? Where did the general assem-
bly, who first enacted the dispensary
law get their instruction? Had the
people Of the state asked for such a
law? Not at all. But Mr.. Tillman was
boss, and got tickled to death with the
dispensary at Athens, Ga, and the idea
of making a million Of dollars OF reve-
nue. for the state, hence the dispensary
system was-inangurated Mr.. Tillman
claims that the system has been en-
dorsed several times by the Democratic
party Of South Carolina. He spoke
of Col. Jas. A. Hoyt, a man OF high
character, prominent newspaperman,
a gallant Confederate soldier, and
man of eminent ability, defeated for
governor by the dispensary element.
But be failed to tell us that he became
alarmed because of the popularity of
Colonel Hoyt, and came home and took
the stump for McSweeney, and exerted
all his personal and partisan influence
against Colonel Hoyt That Is ancient
history, but true history all the same.
He lampooned the investigating
committee because they did not make
Parker tell the name Of the prominent
man whom Lanahan said he had en-
ployed to solicit orders for him, but
failed to tell us that both Lyon and
Christensen tried to force the informa-
ton, but were prevented by the major
ity Of the committee. He can see no good
in Lyon, and when asked about the
double pay, said Ragsdale would attend
to that matter when the campaign
crowd comes to Chester. He forgot TO
tell us that he, Irby, and Talbert ana
a whole lot Of others took full pay from
the state for service in the constitu-
tional convention while they were
drawing full pay from the U. 8. gov
ernment as officers Of South Carolina.
1t makes a big difference whose OK
gets gored, and who gets the damage.
He told us how many Democratic
voters there were In the fourteen coun-
ties that had voted out the dispensa-
ries, and but thirteen thousand voted
against the dispensaries. He will not
deny that they were Democrats, and
he cannot deny that they were quail
fed electors, and is 1t not barely pos
sible that these thirteen thousand citi-
zens, in the aggregate might have as
much sense as b. r. Tillman? There
is no question, but the whole layout
are his equals I'm patriotism, and the
love Of country and their fellowmen.
Mr.. Tillman reminds me very much
of a ram that learned the butting hab-
1t In his infancy, and when he Is full
grown sheep Is butting everything In
sight. He says he never favors any
measures recommended by his enemies,
therefore as the state Is In favor or
compulsory education he Is against 1t.
He warns against such a law and lugs
in the negro as an element or danger,
when everybody knows the negroes are
sending their children to school, while
the white children are working In the
cotton mills. He bemoans the condi-
ton of the poor little children In the
cotton mills and tells us there Is where
we ought to begin to provide schools
for these neglected children and In the
same breath opposed the only law that
would make these schools effective.
He knows and we all know that there
are negro men enough right now In the
state who can read and write to be
menace to white supremacy, II the
white men would stand 1t. He struck
the keynote to the situation when ne
treated our women, our young men, our
boys and girls to the classic express
sion that there were mot long-nosed
Yankees enough between Cape Cod
and hell to prevent the white men from
ruling the south" According to Mr..
Tillman, IL the candidates for the gen.
eral assembly favor the dispensary
system and oppose compulsory eduea-
tion, 1t matters not about any other
qualifications mentally or morally.
His business In South Carolina, ac-
cording to his own public statement,
Is to elect q Legislature favorable TO
the dispensary system. 1t matters not
how much valuable service any citizen
may have rendered, if he is opposed to
the dispensary system he must go down
and out. How long will the men OF
South Carolina stand this kind OF
bossism.
In conclusion, I want to say that
personally l have no unkind feelings
for Mr.. Tillman, and have voted for
him In every election since 1890.
want him to go back to the u. s. SEN
ate. While he can't play dictator
there, he Is a thorn in the flesh of
some others who aspire to play the
role.