The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-03-10
Remarks Of Senator TiIlman in Honor Of
-. the Late Senator Latimer.

| Mr.. Tillman, Mr.. Prebident, II Is q little
the people OF South Carolina to be one Of
| their representatives in this Chamber. AS
| things now are that Ia about one-thtrd OF the
average lifetime OF a man, and while, during
The time there have transpired many events
OF national importance, IL seems but q brief
period after all. Yet during this compare
lively short span | have served here With
DINA, and after the 4th OF March my sixth
colleague will have taken the oath at the
desk, 1t Ia q strange coincidence that all OF
these'men who have come and gone save one
have answered the roll call on the other side Of
the river. First In service, John LowndesMan-
ming 1rby, bright. brave. witty, and genial;
next, the kpightly and conrtIy Joseph
rous, and In every waywell equipped for work
In the forum or on the bencn; last, Asbury
ChurchwelI Latimer, who, while denied In
youth those advantages OF education possess
ed by the other two, was in some respects
the superior ofeither OF them.
His was not q career which one would nat
usally expect to follow from childish environ
ment and family tradition, as was the case
Of the other two. While OF q good family,
bis opportunities, owing to the war; were
fife, which barred him from the educa-
ton and that Iacquaintane with books which
are in q great degree essential In q public Ca
reer. But the obstacles he overcame land the
force OF character 81, and naive ~ En-, mental mt V1go1
WIiS ho
who Of necessity would. have made an I'M
press in any walk OF life.
district. south Carolina, July 81, 1s5l-Abbe.
willie, which has given birth TO or been the
homes Of 30 many :of South Cardinals Illus
trious sons-Calhoun. Cheves. Noble. MoDul-
fle, Burt, Gary, McGowan, the two Wardlaws,
Perrin, not TO mention my present colleague.
The original settlers OF that county were
Scotb-Irlsh Pyesbyterians and French Hug
uenots. Their descendants have we'll illus.
fro tod tho afOr6v trQtfQ and HIGH tdaRla nf
their ancestors.
Asbury ChurchHell Latimer was only II
when the war closed, and could not on &C
count OF poverty, devoted much time to get.
ting an education, and early set about map
ping out q career for himself and working
toward making Of life q success. He married
quite young. one OF the safest and best
Things for any, man to do who wishe TO pre-
serve high ideals and gain the inspiration
which alone comes from contact and associ-
alton with good and noble women. He had
but possessed o. great energy and q keen
busin ess sense, he soon outstripped most OF
his fellows in gathering q competence. and
was 80 successful as q business man that in
South is considered wealthy. 1
After the death grapple upon which the
people of South Carolina entered In 1876 with
tenance lof white civilization. during which
crisis Mr.. Latimer did his full duty, like
many other farmers, he relapsed into indif-
fernce TO public affairs. It was only in 1880,
when SO years OF age, that he came 10 the
front as an active political factor in his coun-
" and State. He had moved TO Bolton, in
was known as The farmers movement" or
reform campaign" shook the State from
center to circumferene, his sturdy good sense
and s5s for cs,Gan man aDs s of sgsa6 6i E., won 41,s him
and neighbors. and he soon became an
acknowledged leader.
1t was during the year 1890 when I was
acquainted viii him, and 1 have had, there
fore, the fullest opportunity. to observe and
note with surprise an admiration the won
derful growth OF the man. His Ignorance OF
public affairs and current political events
was then 80 great that 1t would have been
thought utterly absurd that two years later
be would be a successful candidate for Con-
gress against one OF the ablest lawyers and
best speakers In the State, or that 1t would be
possible for him TO hold that high position
with great credit to himself and entire salts
faction to his co stituents for ten years, and
then be elected TO the United States Senate
over a man SO popular that be had been re-
Gently elected governor and who was withal a
good orator and able lawyer, These achieve
mentsi In politics were not brought about by
chicanery or trickery OF party conventions,
but through the primary system, where the
appeal must be made directly TO the voters
themselves. When :he entered 1.-THE race for
Congress in 1892 I doubt II he had ever at
tempted to address at any length any as.
semblage other than q Sunday school or
other religious 8atnerlng, 1Or MS OenL OF
mind was in that direction. But with very
little practice he developed into one OF the
best stump speakers we have ever mad In the
State.
When he entered Congress he began 10
study. public questions, and the facility with
which he mastered details and gained &C
auaintance with political and governmental
history was we'll nigh marvellous. Only
those who know how Ignorant and SIM
ple-minded he was eighteen years ago., as FAR
as politics was concerned, could believe IL
possible that In 80 short q time he would be-
come versed In public affairs to such an ex-
tent that he could venture to enter into the
debates In the.other House and I'm the Sem
ate with any degree OF safety or success.
While q member Of the House he early be-
came deeply interested in the subject OF ru-
raj free delivery, and he went about pressing
experiments along that line and urging It's
universal adoption with such vigor that he
must be considered as one Of the pioneers
and q potent fundamentally in the inaugu-
ration of that great and beneicent system.
Another matter with which his name will
long be associated was the good-roads ques.
ton. so well posted did he become on this
subject that he was Invited TO many states
ether than his own to address meetings called
for the purpose OF advancing TIE consVruc-
ton of better highways.
He was an ardent friend OF every measure
looking to the advancement and uplift OF
the Agricultural interests. Being q practical
farmer he underatocd the needs OF other
farmers and could the better set about aiding
in legislation for their advantage. Early In
his tpublic career he became the staunoh
I riend and supporter OF the Agricultural