The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-09-03
TILLMAN WRITES TO
GOVERNOR BLEASE
OPEN LETTER FROM SENATOR TO
GOVERNOR.
Thinks "Tillmanism" Was Fine and
"Bleaseism" is Very, Very, Very
Naughty.

ANNUSASS'
Hon. Cole. L. Blease,
Columbia, S. c.
My Dear Sir:
While the returns from the primary
election are not complete, enough is
known to make it certain that you and
l are both reelected to the high Of
fees we now hold.
In every way possible you have tried
to make my old friends among the
people believe that you are the rep
resentative of Tillmanism, and there
fore entitled to be my political heir.
Permit me to explain briefly the
difference between Tillmanism and
Bleaseism as l understand them. Till
manism means genuine democracy, the
rule of the people-of all the white
people, rich and poor alike, with spe-
cial privilege and favors to none, with
equality of opportunity and equality
of burden to ALL 1t was so under
stood by the Tillmanites in 1890 and
1892 and it is so understood by them
still.
Bleaseism on the contrary means
personal ambition and greed for Of
fice-the Office to be used not for the
welfare of all the people and the
State. but office for "Blease and his
friends. None other need apply"
While Tillman as governor did not
hesitate to pardon a constable by
telegraph who had been unrighteous-
ly punished by the liquor element IN
Charleston for raiding Chicco's house,
Tillman always tried and did admin
lister the law equally and justly as
he understood it. He had no favorites
and tried to obey the will of the ma
jority of the people even in those
counties which had voted against him.
He refused appointments as trial JUS
tice to some of his bitter political op-
ponents, but they had not been elected
at a primary, but were nominated by
his political enemies in the legislature.
Tillman in Washington has never
asked whether a man from South
Carolina who has applied to him for
a favor, for promotion or for protec-
ton was a Tillmanite Or an 'anti,
his only purpose being to try to dis
cover whether the man was trust
worthy, honorable and clean and
would make good if he got Tillman's
Endorsement.
l believe in sticking by my friends,
governor, but l want to stick by them
in the right way and not in the wrong
way as you have done. Again Tillman
said many harsh and bitter things on
the stump because he was tantallzeu
and howled at worse than you have
ever been, but he always tried to tell
the truth, and never under the great
est provocation did he threaten to
make anybody "sweat blood" or in
dulge in indecent speech, blackguard-
ism or vulgarity on the stump. 1t is
not the business of governor nor
ought it to be permitted to him TO
threaten his constituents. The law is
for the protection of every man and
not for governors friends only.
The one thing which gave Tillnan
the most concern was dealing with Pc
titions for pardon-the life, death and
liberty of the poor wretches for whom
the petitions were filed. Blease is
charged with selling pardons through
his lawyer friends and sharing the
money Governor, you know whether
there is any shadow of reason or foun-
dation for this. l do not, but for your
own fame and good name as we'll as
for the good name of the State you
ought to clear this charge up. You
can not afford to treat it with silent
contempt, for it will not down that
way. Tillman was accused of grating
in the dispensary, but no proofs were
ever adduced or could have ever been
produced. His most effective defense
was that those who charged him with
stealing would have stolen if they had
had the same opportunities as he had.
Blease is charged with having voted
in the legislature as lawyer for
fee rather than as the legislative rep