The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1912-09-04
Hon Cole l.. Blease,
Columbia, S. c.,

it certain that you and | are both
reelected to tho high Offices we now
hold. In. every way possible you
have tried to make my old friends
among the people believe that you
are the representative of Tillmanism,
and therefore entitled to be my po-
litcal heir.
Permit me to explain briefly the
difference between Tillmanism and
Bleaseism as | understand it. Till
manism means genuine democracy.
the rule of the people-of all the
white people privilege and favors to
none, with equality of opportunity
and equality of burden to all. 1t
was SO understood by the Tillman-
ties in 1890 and 1892 and it is so
understood by them still.
Bleascism 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 others need ap-
ply"
While Tillman as Governor did not
hesitate to pardon constable by
telegraph who had been unrighteous-
ly punished for rading Chicco's
house, Tillman always tried and did
administer the law equally and just
favorites and tried to obey the will
of the majority of the people even
in those counties which had voted
against him. He refused appoint
ments as trial justice to some of his
bitter political opponents, but they
had not been elected at the primary,
but were nominated by his political
enemies in the Legislature.
Tillman in Washington has never
asked whether man from South
Carolina who has applied to him
for favor, for promotion of for
protection was a Tilmanite or an
anti" his only purpose being to
try to discover whether the man was
trustworthy, honorable and clean and
would make good If the got Tillman's
endorsement.
l believe in sticking by my friends,
Governor, but | 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 tantalized and howled at
worse than you have ever been, but
and never under the greatest pro-
vocation did he threaten to make
anybody sweat blood" or indulge in
indecent speech, Blackguardism or
vulgarity on the stump. 1t it not
the business Of governor nor
ought 1t to be permitted to him to
threaten his constituents. The law
is for the protection of every man
and not for "A Governors friends
only
The one thing which gave Tillman
the most concern was dealing with
petitions for pardon, the life, death
lihnrtV nj hn
for whom the petitions were filed.
Blease is charged with selling par
dons through his lawyer friends and
sharing the money. Governor you
know whether there is any shadow
or reason or foundation for this? II
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 cannot
afford to treat it with silent con-
tempt for it will not down that way.
Illlman was accused of grating in
the dispensary, but no proofs were
ever adduced or could have ever
been produced. His most effective
defence was that those who charged
him with stealing would have stolen
If they had had the same opportuni-
ties as he had.
Blease is charged with having vot-
ed in the Legislature as a lawyer
for fee rather than as the Legis-
lativ representative of the peovle
l have not examined the records and
cannot say whether this is true. 9th
ers can determine for themselves and
convict or acquit you according to
the evidence.
When the question was asked by
the inuriated Tillmanites who felt
that they had been BETRAYED nv their
old leader, what induced him to do
this" Some of them in their rage
shouted "he has been bought" Who
in South Carolina knows what the
price of Tillman is? In Washington
where he has worked for the last is
years for the State and nation he
had opportunities almost innumer-
able to get money for official action.
When he was in charge of the rail
road rate bill where there were hun
dreds of millions and even billions
or dollars worth of property involved
and aslight change in the law which
Iillman could have added to obtain.
meant untold money for the railroad
interests. no one ever hinted nor did
anyone ever believe that he was ap-
probable as a bribe-ta taker. 1t has
remained for some crazy South Car
Gilman, drunk with Bleaseism, to
hurl this suspicion at an old man
lowering to the brink of the grave
man whose purity In private and
whose purity as servant of the
people has made him above sus-
picion.
On the night of the election 1 had
dream in which something told me
"Blease is elected" Becoming fully
/ al ~