The daily sentinel., 1907-09-13


deep and lasting impression and
gave many people an entirely differ
eht opinion of the situation in the
sunny southland.
1t was remarkable address. a
wonderful discussion, startling ar
gument.
1t was the first appearance of the
famous southerner in Grand Junction
and many were doubtful as to how
he would be received Everybody
seemed anxious to hear what he had
to say. Nearly everybody admitted
that the man who was to speak was
an authority on the race question.
The demand for extra seats was
greater than the supply. The audi
ence was the largest that has ever
heard any man on the Grand juno
tioh lecture course with the eXcep-
tion of the Bryan audience.
When Senator Tillman appeared
on the platform he was heartily ap-
plauded. He was introduced by Mr.
|. n. Bunting, who referred to his
high standing in the national senate
and paid a splendid tribute to his
rugged honesty and fearless nature.
Senator Tillman was suffering
from a severe cold, and his voice
gave him much trouble all during
the evening, but he would not allow
the cold to detract from the force
of his lecture.
For nearly two hours Senator Till
man spoke, and every minute of that
time he held the closest attention of
the great audience. Phase after
phase of the race problem he took
up and thoroughly handled. He
turned the searchlight of scrutiny on
oil -fA Af hn gwl,
gument after argument he hurled at
his audience Defense after defense
of the southern people and their at
titude toward the negro he poured
out, and time and again he shouted
defiance at all who attempted to
make the southern people believe
that the negro is the equal of the
white man.
Surely a more effective and force
full speaker was never heard in this
city than the brainy, fiery statesman
from South Carolina. There is a
ruggedness about Tillmans manner
of speaking that is really genteel. His
homely Illustrations. his perfect rhet-
oric, his bursts of defiance, his point
ed arguments, his telling and origi-
nal epigrams and his striking atti-
tude on the platform and his remark
able facial expressions, certainly
mark him as a speaker among speak
ers. No wonder Ben Tillman has
such a reputation on the platform,
in the national senate and on the
hustings.
It would be impossible to under
take a full review of the lecture of
Senator Tillman in limited space
Justice could not be done it. We
will just touch 1t here and there.
Senator Tillman declared that he
was always glad Of an opportunity to
discuss the race question before a
northern audience because there was
so much ignorance and prejudice pre-
vailing regarding the question.
"What is the race question:" asked
Senator TiIlman. He referred to the
trouble with the Japanese on the
coast and said "That is n race ques-
ton. but not THE race question"
The best definition he said is, ",rhc
status and relation between the white
and black races of the country"
Then Mr.. Tillman launched into
the discussion in earnest and for two
hours he ripped the race question up
and down the sides and through the
middle. 1t Is a vain task to attempt
to summarize all his points. The lee
ture IS simply a mass of bristling
points and startling facts.
In general way II may lie said
that Mr.. Tillman hopes that the peo-
ple will repeal the fifteenth amend
ment to the constitution and modify
the fourteenth. He says that three
of the four race problems have been
settled. and that there is now only
one more to settle. The three set
tied are: The Indian question, the
Malay question and the Mongollan
/ question. Various methods were
| adopted in the adjustment of these
problems, but they we're all ehectiye,
esneciaIly so in the case of the In
dian.
Mr.. Tillman denouLces the system
that permits political renegades to
: come into the southern states, and
with the help of the ignorant negro
/ vote. hold domination over the
whites. He says that South Carolina
had eight years of it, and will have
no more of it. He is bitter against
the northerner who Is frantic; he pit
les the northern fool, and forgiyes
the northern ignorant. He declares
that all of the advancement and prog
ress the negro has made, and the
i achievement he has attained were
brought about during slavery days
Il and that Wnen slavery CedoSu Ht9O
der and Generalization began ano
continues. .-.
He says that the relief from negro
ruIe in South Carolina and Mlssissip-
nj is only temporary, and as soon al
the white taxpayers money IS spent
I'm the teaching of the negro how te
read and write the temporary expeil
| ent will have been exhausted IN it'
usefulness, and then Mr.. Tillman see'
on1v bloodshed and horror.
"The northern people believe one
wav. the southern people believe an,
/ other way about this question, but
many northern people are constantly
i changing their mind about 1t. You
/ trv to make us believe that we are
wrong. but we know we are rlsht
and we resent your Interference.
IL was a thrilling moment whei
the senator declared: 1--WE deny thal
| the negroes are our equals, ever wer'
or can be made the equals OF u'
"The bloody war from '61 to 81
was for the sole purpose of solvihs
the race question. o
"Thc war cost us as people, 900,
non of the flower of American man