Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1911-06-21
SENATOR TILLMAN AT CLEMSON.
Makes Speech to Graduates of the In.
Misunderstanding Scene.

address to the graduating class by
DR.. James X. Patterson, Of the Uni
versity OF Kentucky; the powerful
speech of Alan Johnstone to the grad
yates, the eloquent short speech of
w. D. Evans In presenting the trus-
tees medal for oratory to M. w. Call.
Of Marion; the remarkable ovation
given Senator Tilman when he pre-
sented the d. K. Norris medal, given
to the best all-round man in the grad
uating class to A. M. Salley, of Or
angeburg. ~
The exercises were most gracefully
presided over BY President Riggs,
who seems to be the right man in the
right place-at the head Of Clemson.
The graduating class this year con-
sisted Of eighty-seven young men,
who go out into the world we'll equip
ped for the battle Of life. The col
lege has closed the best year, in many
respects. In Its history.
Senator B. r. Tillman was present
and made speech to the graduating
class.
One of the most notable incidents
of the day was the affecting scene
when Senator Tillman stood waiting
for the applause to subside, covering
his face with his hands to hide the
tears, and In a voice choking with
emotion began characteristic
speech, In which he told of being for
hidden by his physician to make an
address He reviewed his career
briefly, telling of the vision he had
In 1885 when he offered resolutions
at~the Grange meeting in Benefits
vile, which were defeated, calling
fol a department of agriculture at
the South Carolina University, and Of
his subsequent letters advocating the
establishment Of separate agricul-
tural college. He said few men lived
to realize their dreams, but he had
lived to see more at Clemson and
Winthrop than he had ever dreamed.
There were occasional flashes Of the
old time fire and force in the Sena-
tors address, and the audience list
such an ovation been given a man at
Clemson as greeted the Senator when
he, seemingly >unwillmgly, sat down.
He stood the fatigue of speaking
very well, and seemed supremely
happy. Senator Tillman spoke as
follows:
Ladies and Gentlemen: My ply
sician has forbidden me to make q
speech, but | cannot, on this occa-
sion, refrain from expressing to you
my great pleasure at being here, and,
above all, to return to you thanks
for the heartiness of your welcome.
| shall not take long, but there are
some things, l think, ought to be
said, and If my strength holds out
will attempt to say them. Our
honorable president OF the board of
trustees has spoken of Mr.. Clemson's
dream and Of his vision years ago. I
also had dream and a vision, and
will tell you Of 1t. In 1885, twenty
six years ago the 5th day Of next Au-
gust, attended the joint meeting Of
the State Grange and State Agricul-
tural Society at Bennettsville, in
Marlboro county. I offered series
of resolutions there. which were not
adopted by the meeting, but the
speech I made on this occasion met
with such a spontaneous outburst Of
approval from the assembled farmers
of the State, that I felt sufficiently
encouraged to march forward along
the line l had marked out
THAT fall wrote a series Of let
ters for the News and Courier, which
was then the leading paper Of the
State and reached almost every farm
house. In these articles l advocated
different education from that which
we had In the State. l urged the
establishment Of separate college,
although the Bennettsville resolu-
ton had only demanded that the
Legislature establish department
in the University Of South Carolina
which would be devoted to agricul-
ture and mechanical arts, and to
which women would be admitted.
have seen the time when would en-
JOY very much talking to you. |
have addressed thousands and hun
hreds OF thousands Of my fellow-citi-
Zens in tn. and other States, and
enjoyed the stimulus Of large audi
ence, but my mind will not respond
to my will as it once did.
will or oneor5 foil wa, oJ,o ~, -,