University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1911-04-26

| SDcdh anu use
Anglo Saxon. the yernacular, the Ian
guage OF the common people; for am
lone of them and | expect TO tell you
how they feel and what they think and
what they want"
In this wise Benjamin Ryan Tillman
of South Carolina introduced himself
ito the most august and dignified law
making body in the world-the United
States Senate. That wa, January 30.
1896. The Senate chamber was full
that Gay, and the Ofttimes empty gal
Ileries held many who had come to hear
1.-THE first speech of the new Senator,
Iheralded as i demagogue and an avow
ed revolutioMist. No one expected to
IcOnsider seriously anything he said; it
was just mere curiosity that kept the
older senators in their seats and
brought the people to the galleries.
| Thee words flashed to every part of
the crowd. and his loud, raspins voice.
which is elCnuent only in its peculiar
ring. grew stronger. Senators shifted
uneasly as the speaker whipped his
arms 40 the right and the left. declar-
| ing in vigorous language that he was
going TO apply the pitchfOrk to some
governmental que tions. His one ey"
st emed to penetrate every person it
fell upon, and his six feet and more
than two hundred pounds shook like
Il giant oak in gale. And America
had rOund the man who was destined
to he for fifteen years the most Strik-
ing i2ure. the -tormiest Petral, in the
United States Senate.
Before going to the Senate. Tillman
for ten years had managed the politi-
cal switch in his native state. In 1896
he sldck;neG his plow lines enough TO
ALLOW TimScll TO take a hand in the
POpu'istic Iiuve that was then sweep
ing III" country. AriStOcracy mad yOk
ed the state and was racing il down
the rough road to destruction. This |
not but TO farm. He rose in revolt and |
soon found himself leader He or
ganiZrd and agitated. spoke and educa- |
ted; and, for the frs; time, so far as |
il concerned arisiOcratical control in |
South Carolina. the pendulum perform
ed the other half of that duty for which !
il WIS cieated-it swung back. The
common people unyoked the state. and
Benjamin Ryan Tillman was the great
est man in its bounds.
Politics is much akin 10 war, for
speed the pas ing of such shameful
the victor belongs the
spoils." That is why Tillman became
Governor OF South Carolina in 1890
and again in 1892, defeating i'm the first
election the great Confederate. General Al
Wade Hampton. Though radical in
speech and of fiery temperament. the !,
new governor served his state well.
He managed her affairs with a judg
nent and saneneSs that was little short !,
Of marvellous, for, in an academic way,
he knew nothing of law. of economics. |;
Of sociology, and his knowledge of
rules &c parliament was as limited as
vas his experience in the use of them c
He trampled on tradition. and social
md hereditary prestige met with the |
same favor. The maturing interests" I
OOkeI to him like menaces OF govern lg
Try obstacle possible. In construct $
We way, he brought purity into politics. {
honesty into Legislation and progress a
veness to the state. He bent public q
opinion into wider educational chan II
lels, established technical and indus
rial schools He broadened and better hi
ysteaIized the whole field of public b
lstructiOn. He fathered the liquor dis In
'ensary plan. which had its origin b
While he was governor f
Stepping down from the governors h
hair, he walked into the campaign for +
is'R''i iii ilOliOl lt vi ,DOIJI
'arolina believed in him. He had serv- Il
d them four years and well. They had 81
Dund a man in whom they could put s.
heir trust. He was the friend of the +
lasseS-he fought for them, was hon a
t with them and had given them ma tf
y of the things they wanted and need b
d. He had been faithful servant; tC
nd ne went to the Senate. l.
In Washington, Tillman has been the ol
5 Senator. he has been same servant IN
g was as Governor. He Is a democrat
SoIIherner and South CarOlinian.
g is honest and faithful ana fighter.
e expressed his loyalty TO the Demo +.
'atic party in a elaborated series of
agaZine articles on Bryan or McKin-
y?" by putting these words into the W
Ou-h of another:
"EVGn fhorph NcKinl ic aIac-od