The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1912-05-08
ADDRESS FROM TILhMAN.
Says He Has Always Acted Conscien.
tiously and Trusts to His Record
To Carry Him Over. ,

t1VOo15 - w AAS
To Carry Elm Over. ,
To the People Of South Carolina.
twenty-five years ago, I asked You
to elect me to the Office of governor.
You did. it, after a very hot campaign
in which l spoke in. every, county of
the. state Twoayearss later, I asked
for reelection. You gave me the Of
fee the second time by an overwhelm-
ing vote. After four years Of service
n the governors office, I asked you
to. send me to the senate; and again,
after a. heated canvass, you placed
me in the Office I now. hold.
= / have held this Office for nearly
eighteen years, and / am asking yon
to re-elect me to 1t, although my
health Ia broken and I am nc longer
the strong, and vigorous man once
was. l have q. ripe experience end
knowledge Ut the workings
Of the goYernment, and have. many
warm personal friends In the depart
nents, and In both branches of con-
gress.
I came to the senate in a cloud Of
.obloquy on account of newspaper
abuse at home. I have fought my
way In spite OF 1t and have lived 10
see most Of the newspaper men in
he press gallery my friends.
BY long service and hard work, ]
have won an enyiable position in
Washington, and the state Is entitled
% whatever benefit / have In places
IN the committees which can only be
obtained by such service.
I have flattered ne man and feared
no man in, debate, and have q
strong desire to Idle in harness." for
sentimental reasons, only.
I have NO words that can. express
my appreciation, and gratitude for the
confidence and love you. have given
me. in all these years. IL did not
eel that my experience and intimate
acquaintance, with: public AFFAIRS will
enable me give acceptable service In
The future; l would not ask re-elec-
ton at your hands, but content my
self with the full measure Of the hon+
ors you have given me already.
When l first came into public life;
[ met a storm Of opposition which was
very bitter and intense. 1t required
intense and aggressive action to; overs
,ome. it; and being combative by ma
fure, ! fought with all my might for
hose ,thingsI thought were right and
[ won BECAUSE you approved my poll
,ies; my u~tterances and my actions:
Amid this exciting contest, many
'hings were said and done on both
tides that, perhaps had better been
left unsaid and undone. Men are
but human. and when fred by strone
conviction, they speak and. do things
which. they afterwards regret A.
Sod is, my, Judge, / never saido any
hing but truth, or did" anything al
or as SENATOR / did not be-
lieve to be for the public welfare: AZ
look back over my career, ] can
see mistakes and blunders. plenty OF
hem, but they are honest blunderst
md / have never permitter selfish
,mbitionslor petty revengeito contfel
actions, I haye"tried to be "sena-i
Tor Of all II the people, asI was COVER
aor of the whole state and my ambi-'
ton has been, In the senate, to give
the people the best service of which
I was. capable.
g., Owing. to. my poor health and In &C
eordanee. with the advice Of my physi.
cian, / shall not. make any speeches
during the canHasssthis summer. All
Of the old men In the state have al
ready heard me speak; and II there
ire any young ones who have not
and desire 1t, I shall take pleasure In
mailing such pamphlet copies of some
Of my best speeches which ! have vet
IN hand. Nothing would delight me
more, than. to- be able once again to
my old friends face to face. md
t. saddens sme to think that ! shall
never have this pleasure again.
I shall hope that the people OF
South Carolina will not .displace me-
by voting rue, out, but that~in some
way, you vii sindicasssaswish TOR me
10. retire from this positions because
,f youE bellies that-I ANA pOAidnser
physicaliyycapabie o. perfcrminV the
luties Of the office. Tia dictatorship
las alwayssbssnpregardedSby mssas a
sacredstrust, and if'fsknew YOU want
ID me to surrender it .I>would gladly
itadowa;. conscious that I have
lone my duty always~tort the bestvo of
my ability.
pt p Tfllman