The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-02-01
T1LLMAN' s Speech.
Mr., Johnson Says that it Deserves to
IS Rank Among the Great Speeches
Delivered in Senate.

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speeches which have been made in
that chamber, and yet the superseni-
tiveness of Mr.. Carmack of Tennes-
see, who is still "raw'' from his de-
feat by "Bob" Taylor, caused a mere
incident Of the speech-a bit Of de-
lightful pleasantly in nowise touch
ing or affecting the main thing in
hand--to be seized upon, and, in the
press reports given to the country,
magnified, to the observation of the
speech itself. "
[ heard the speech--every word Of
it--and no longer hesitate to say
that Mr.. Tillman is the strongest pub.
lie speaker it has ever been my for
lune to hear. Multitudes in the city
from all parts Of the country press
to hear him, when it is known that he
is to speak, and, getting within ear
shot, they remain to the end, held to
the last word with rapt attention. In
this quality of drawing and holding
an audience, no man in the Senate
chamber, either now or for the last
twenty-five years. speak of what
I know-has been the equal Of Mr..
Tillman.
Barring the pleasant satire with
which he began his remarks on Mon-
day last, Mr.. Tillman used not
word Of levity in the whole of his
speech, and yet, for nearly two hours,
during all the time he was speaking,
there was not the slightest break Of
attention in his hearers, every gal
lery, the diplomatic included, crowd
ed to its utmost capacity, the usual
rule departed from, men and women,
where there was standing room, we'd
ged together as close as sardines in
box. Time and time again the fall
Of a pin could have been heard in any
part Of the chamber, on floor or
gallery, so death-like was the still
ness as the senator, with pathos
seldom equalled, told Of the negro Of
forty years ago, between whom and
the white folks there was the kind
liest of feeling, and contrasted with
him the negro into whom has entered
the virus Of equality with the white
man engendered of false teaching,
and the fanatical legislation Of the
Reconstruction era-a negro between
whom and the white race there is
growing enmity.
It does not do to say Mr.. Tillman
is proposing no remedy. He is speak
ing the wisdom of the ages and show
ing the profoundest knowledge Of hu-
man nature when he declares that
legislators are not able to change
racial instincts or make the African
to share equality with the Caucasian.
And he is not an Anarchist when, in
this connection, he decries the efforts
Of those who prate Of the law as a
fetch, erecting it into deity to be
worshiped regardless of justice. Nor
is he mistaken when he says there
are circumstances under which our
impulses cause us to revert to the
original type Of our savage ancestry,
civilization being but veneer OF
outer coating that peels off at such
time.
In the strongest possible manner he
is making clear the diagnosis Of the
case. The disease and its cause laid
bare, he is appealing to the American
people for a remedy. What more af-
fecting than his plea in this regard,
uttered in behalf Of the whole south;
his imagery taken from the words of
the great Apostle to the Gentiles:
con! who will deliver me from the
body of this DEATH" the dead carcass
Of slavery having been chained to
the south by the 18th and 18th
amendments. A remedy will be found
when the natrue Of the illness and its
causes are properly understood by
the country at large. Mr.. Tillman
is only giving expression to truth
apparent in all history when he says:
''If the majority Of the white people
throughout the country make up their
minds that the negroes are not their
equals, they will sooner or later put
it in the law that they shall not have
part Of the inheritance Of the white
race" He is pointing out, and expos
ing by their fruits, the political here.
sizes which implant false notions and
declusive hopes in the people Of an
inferior race-notions and hopes
which disqualify them from living in
peace and harmony with race that