The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-04-09
A Closer View of
Senator Tillr1an.

more attention during recent years or
been more severely criticised than
, Senator Ben. r. Tillman, of South
right in many of his beliefs, he has
had but few defenders among the
press. The Mobile Register finds much
to commend in the fiery South Caro-
linian and has the following, in a re-
cent issue, regarding him:
Preconceived ideas of the men who
are making history, thought and inter
est in our own time have to be re-
vised when one comes into contact
with the men themselves.
No man in the United States has
been more harshly regarded within
the past decade than has Senator Till
man. of South Carolina. He has often
been violent in speech and action, and
the public has been no less violent in
| its judgement OF the man.
That Senator Tillman has kept his
hands clean throughout his entire pub
lie career, in so far as any faint of
graft is concerned, is admitted even
by his numerous enemies. That he is
absolutely sincere is no less appar-
ent to those who know him
Honesty and sincerity are the two
strong points on which any claim he
may have to greatness must be based.
for many of his views are msound
and many of his expressions abomina-
BILE.
Intense in his sectionalism. he pro-
claims that the spirit of sectional hate
is dead at the north. A loyal demo
crat, he expresses the hope that the
time may soon come when the white
people of the south. though divided in
national politics, may walk in honor
and peace. Severe in his denuncia-
ton of the negro in his present atti-
tude toward the white race. brought
about by political blunder. he has
no hatred for the negro, as a race. but
only pity. And while demanding
honesty in the expenditure of public
measures he will vote and work for any
measure which will secure appropria-
tons for expenditure south of the Ma
son and Dixon line
With these apparent contradictions
Senator TillInan is warm, true and
sympathetic in his friendships; dis
tant, severe and unforgiving in his
hates. a peculiar character. worthy
of study, and, in a measure, of emula-
ton
Like the evangelist Sam Jones, he
is seen at his worst in his imitators.
The shadow which he casts across the
nation is distorted 1t is not a sill
houette of the real man.
At Chronicle, on Saturday night
Mr.. Tillman delivered a characteristic
address on the race question, which
was reported at some length in the
Register of Sunday morning, and to
one who heard him speak. the fact is
noticeable that the printed words
seem mrcls more severe than they
sounded in the speaking The man
gives little heed to what anyone may
think or his remarks. bur those who
hear him feel that he has no intention
TO wound their feelings, but to speak
his mind and have done with it.
Though his words at CitroneIle were
addressed to the many northern peo-
pie in the audience, and to use his
own expression, he rubbed it in" no
offense was expressed by anyone
II was noticed at Chronicle that
Senator Tillman did not mention Pres /
ident Roosevelt This may have been !
merely an oversight. ii may have been !
due to the fact that his time was limit /
ed and he did not care to introduce a
subject to which he could not do JUS |
been design The senator neither loves \
nor admires the president, and in con-
versation does not hesitate to express /
his dislike very strongly The presi- 1
dent revoked an invitation to attend 1
a public function at the White House 4
shortly after Senator Tillman struck |
a colleague in the senate for an often
sive epithet, an incident which created
much comment at the time and the
CaroliniGn has not forgotten nor for
given the slur.
In his advocacy of the repeal of the /
amendment to the national +
Mr. Tillman does not hold
out the hope that this may be accom-
plished within the term of his life. o-
within this generation, but he holds /
that TO reverse the verdict of the Civil /
War is worth the effort, no matter how
long 1t may take to accomplish il. In
this he differs from those who are rid