Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-08-03
Rev. John A. Brunson's First View OF
the Senator.

TFrom the News and Courier.]
To the Editor Of the News and Cou-
rier. When Senator Tillman came to
Elloree and spoke, July IA, 1 saw and
heard him for the first time. 1t was
an opportunity 1 had long desired. My
estimate of him hitherto had been
based upon fragmentary and unsatis-
factory reports of his political WORK.
and I was anxious to see him face to
face, watch him in action, and hear
from him viva voce deliverance that
that I might be aided in reaching
more just conception of his character
The conclusions l have reached are
embodied In the following criticism.
They may be right. They may be
wrong. They are only the opinions or
one observer.
Mr.. Tillman possesses but little depth
and originality of thought and small
genius for far-seeing constructive
craftsmanship. He has wealth OF
common sense. He is strong, alert, ac-
tive. He is bold, blunt and boastful'
He has rare powers Of discernment
and is quick to catch the current OF
popular opinion, and ride upon 1t to
the goal of his ambition. He is In SYM
pathetic touch with the masses OF the
common people, and embodies their
thought and ideals, in vigorous, pop
ular language which is sure to evoke
| 4 n a q ~
enthusiastic following. He leads the
people not by instructing and enligh-
| tening them, thereby enlarging and
elevating their notions Of the sacredly
responsible duties of citizenship, but
rather by pandering to their tastes
Emerson's criticism of Napoleon Is
| applicable to him. Says Emerson
If Napoleon Is France. If Napoleon Is
Europe, II Is because the people whom
he sways are little Napoleons." So
| II Mr.. Tillman is the Democracy OF
South Carolina it Is because the Demo
Gratis whom he sways are little Illi-
mans. Their likes and dislikes, their
prejudices and passions, their desires
hopes and aims, all find expression IN
MIR. Tillmans words and conduct. He
Is their mouthpiece, their oracle. lie
| Is the incarnation of the common peo-
ple of the state He was moulded OF
common clay and differs from the
common man In quantity rather than
quality. He feels more intensely, sees
| farther and says more than the COM
mon man. but what he feels, sees ano
says Is all Of a piece with that Which
the common man feels, sees and says
Or quoting Emerson again: HE Is the
idol OF the common men, because ne
has In transcendent degree the quail
| ltIa
Therefore, he Is a leader, but not
teacher.
| Mr. Tillman's success i'm the field OF
politics has been remarkable, but Ii Is
not the success which Is achieved by
answering devotion TO high and holy
Ideals. 1t lies almost entirely in the
low plane Of materialism, rather than
In the higher sphere of mind and NOR
ais A generation Of his leadership
would accomplish among the common
people little more than the strengthen
Ing Of their desire for party domina
tiOn. have yet to see anything from
him that Is suited to inculcate a gen.
ulne love OF the right for rights owr
sake or to awaken a desire for noble
living. II Is true that he boasts OF
rugged honesty and poses as the chic
apostle Of fair play. But after all hi:
. claim Of fair play is based more upor
ItdTltSSItSS anu Will
he assails the public career of his con
temporaries and exposes their misdo
ings, than in the consistent exhibition
of the virtue that he so Justify extols
He is bellicose and is at his best wher
the fight Is hottest. Such men usually
are not over-scrupulous in the choice
, of the weapons they employ to defea
an antagonist. Mr.. Tillman Is no eX
ception to the rule. He is hard fight
er, and his words are often rougl
clubs which bring bruises and blood
| but they do not always measure up Il
his own self-erected standard Of fai
play and accuracy
In short, Mr.. Tillman's strength lie
in his sympathy with the masses. HI
has made common cause with the peo
pie. and has agreed to fight their bat
ties for them and to give them wha
they demand rather than what the.
need, and when he dies Tillmanisn
, will be dead. John A. Brunson,
Baptist Parsonage, Elloree, S. c.
July %, 1906.