The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-09-03

very preceptibly increased in efficiency
and vigor and l am now fully capable
of doing as good work as ever did.
The only reason why l have felt un-
willing to make speeches in the SEN
ate and on the hustings this summer is
because l know l can not speak with
any force or vigor without turning on
the full voltage of the dynamo. I'm
der excitement the blood rushes to the
brain for that is the way the mind
works. DR.. Babcock had warned me
that to attempt to make speech
would mean grave danger and the
probable bursting of blood vessel fol-
lowed by paralysis or death. Therefore
7 have refrained and restrained myself,
though at times the temptation has
been very, very great But, governor,
while my memory is poor the moral
fibre in me is as sound as it ever was,
and my patriotism burns with an even
brighter fame than when my health
was vigorous. And my conscience is
in fine working order, too, can as
sure you.
When | told my wife that | intend
ed to write an open letter to you and
outlined some of the things l intend
ed to say, she pleaded with me thus:
"Blease is not wholly bad man. He
is passionate and has been tantalized,
abused and misrepresented until he
has lost all sense of responsibility and
self-control." Recollect, governor,
this same noble woman has been your
advocate with me until your recent
statement came out about what oc-
Cured last spring in Washington.
She knows you told an untruth and
has never forgiven you. 1t is in this
spirit 1 now speak. You have been
lied on, slandered and abused almost
beyond endurance, but so was l. |
had courage and self-control enough
to rise above it. You have been weak
enough to surrender to the impulse
to strike back and to strike below the
belt.
1 want those who consider Blease-
ism as Tillmanism to take this con-
trast in consideration when they
make up their final judgment. Till
manism as Tillman breaches it and
has always preached it, is noble, high
and elevating. Bleaseism is selfish,
low, dirty and revengeful.
1 have been very greatly blessed
in my life and every day I return
thanks to the Creator for his many
blessings. The greatest among these
has been a good woman whom God
gave me in her youth and purity 45
years ago. I have had one grief and
that was the knowledge that so many
good men in South Carolina seemed
implacabIe and irreconcilable in their
hatred of me. These men truly and
honestly hated me as badly as many
South Carolinians hate you now, but
there are more of them in your case
than there ever were in mine, thank
God. Honesty compels me to say
that you deserve the hate and distrust
in which they hold you. never did.
You had an opportunity when you
went into the governors Office such
as comes to few men in this life. Your
inaugural was a great disappointment
to your friends and provoked your
enemies to renewed and relentless ac-
tivity. You had shown yourself too
little and narrow to be governor of
any State for, my dear sir, the COVER
norship is a very high honor indeed,
but it also carries the very heaviest
responsibilities. You will recall when
you were elected two years ago wiz
ed you congratulations and added, "let
the heather rage" The heather have
ragged, but the righteous have also
moaned and their cries are now rising
to heaven in accusation of you.
One Satisfaction.
Returning to the blessings which
have been showered upon me, l have
before 1 die the satisfaction of know
ing, as now do know, that l have
won the admiration, love and conf
dence of the anti-Tillmanites of old,
and of the Haskellites even. owe my
reelection to the senate to these men
that came to me when some of my
old friends, the ''woolhat one-gallus
bovs" and my fellow citizens who