Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-28
HIGH PRAISE EoR BEN nLEMAN
Ciassed zone OF the Most Extraordi-
hary Men Our Ceuatrg Has
Produced.


Until Benjamin r. Tillman rose to smite
H. the state OF South Carolina was dom
mated By an oliEarehy made up OF illus
trious families. This regime was partly
political and partly social n was a pure
government, frugal and honest. II was
never suiIty OF extravagance. and never
accused OF graft. But the great families
ruled. though the form was a representa-
tive commonwealth.
In the revolutionary period were Butler.
Gadsden. lizard Laurens Matte. PincRnsy
and the Rutledges. to say nothing OF the
heroes Mouitf1e. sumter and Marion. After
the adoption OF the federal constitution
came the Buffers. the Calhouns, Gaiiiard.
Hayne, Legare, Preston. Piekens. McDuftie.
BarnweIl. the Rhetts, Chestnut, Hamilton.
Hammond. Hampton and others. There
was oomminsled the blood OF scotch-Irisb
and Hugusnot, and perhaps 1t was the ell
mate that made it 30 fervent and 30 i'm
petuous.
It sconed the spoils Of office aid this
oligarchy. for glance win show that since
the federal government was estabushei
but four citizens Of South Carolina have
been called to the cabinet, and but two
have sat on the supreme bench. The state
furnished but one minister to England.
Thomas Pincknsy, appointed by Washing
ton. serving four years. and but one to
France. Charles c. Pinckney. also an
pointed BY Washington, serving one year.
No South carolinian ever represented the
United States at the court OF Austria or
Germany OF italy. Under washington our
minister to Spain was that same Thomas
Pinekney for two years and later Jefferson
appointed Charles C. Pinckney to Madrid
where he remained four years Three south
Carolinians represented the United states
at the court OF the czar-Ffenry Middleton.
one year. appointed by Monroe: Francis
Pickens two years. appointed by Buchanan
and James L. orr. one year, appointed by
Grant
Thus II win be observed that this OIL
garchy OF aristocratic families was no v,d-
gar association OF political bosses intent on
official patronage. And therein was its VI
tslity and its strength.
Less than twenty-five years ago Bep-
tanin r. Tnlman deterrntned to destroy
this aristocratic regime 1t was a battle
OF the giants. Hampton and Butler were
Representatives OF It. Both were OF ilI,s-
trious families; both had fought ana blea
for the south on many stricken field:
both we're men OF unblemished honor
There rallied to them the scions OF the old
families, and they were intreuched IN the
traditions OF centuries. Even Ben TIN
mans elder brother, who had displayed
conspicuous abilities in congress, spoke
and voted against the poiices OF his
brother
But the Cracker was aroused. He had
found a leader brave as Caesar, devoted as
Hampden, impetuous as Hotspur, resolute. |
earnest honest, invincible After a tre- |
mendous struggle TBlman was elected |
governor in 1890, and two years thereafter /
he was reelected. He was an architect |
Of ruin" in that he held in contempt the !
traditions OF the past and smote the |
until It treinblsd and fell Wade |
Hampton was the first citizen OF the state, |
a hero and a statesman, the heir OF a great
name and Of an immense fortune. No
more gallant soldier drew sword in the
big war, at the close Of which he could
have said with more truth than did the |
crowned Yaiols on the day of Pavta, |
All is lost save honors's
But without hesitatioEthe new champion
OF popuisr- government stripped wade
Hampton OF hiS toEa ana gave il TO an
other. Only little while and he defeated
M. G. Butler for the senate, in which body
he took his seat In 1895.
Nobody who witnessed the scene whsn
rillman delivered his maiden speech in the
senate VIII ever forget IT, His fellows
appeared to be awed Certainly nothing
like It ever before transpirsd In that
thsatsr. It recalled the presence OF the
rude. Gaul IN the Roman senate. as
recorded in ancient story. Tillman was
fierce in his denunciation Of the then demo-
cratic president and the democratic secre-
tary OF the treasury. Nor was he content
with that He assalled everything political
then In existence. and talked as though
he felt that there was but one honest man
In public life, and he a senator from South
Carolina, with but one eye and a pitch
fork In his hand.
But T1llman got bravely over that. AS he
came to know the senate he respected 1t.
Blunt to vulgarity, he was honest to the
core, and the senate came to respect him
and senator's love him Perhaps had he
been greater intellect and a thoroughly
cultivated scholar he would have made for
himself a smaller place Certainly he
would not have been the picturesque figure
he became.
Not In breadth OF intellect, not in learn
ing not in eloquence. but in resistless force
OF character Ben TillThan Is the greatest
man South Carolina ever produced, and one
OF the most extraordinary men our eoun-
Try has produced.-w aahington Post