Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-09-03
Noting the progress which has been
made toward the decentralization

Noting the progress which has been
| made toward the decentralization
among the Democrats in South Caro-
lima one can shout, "Oh, Democracy
| will the people never learn to know
their true friends from their false
leaders, never to distinguish between
statesman and q demagogue, always
without looking below the surface and
the true inwardness Of things and
man." To think that the very men
for whom have done most, the poor
farmers and factory people should
turn and rend me this way! ! gave
them Clemson college and Winthrop
At least ] had more to do with 1t than
any other one man. I gave them the
primary, for I wrote the Democratic
state constitution with my hand In
conjunction with my brother, G. D,
Tillman, and made the rules governing
the primary and safeguarded in every
possible way their rights so that now
every citizen has a voice in the gov
ernment and can protect himself II he
has sense enough.
All pleasure and satisfaction In my
reelection to the senate Is gone be-
cause Of ths desertion Of those old
friends anu followers Of mine. 1t
makes me doubt seriously whether I
have not erred seriously in giving the
power Of self-government to these peo-
pie and teaching them their rights.
They show such q woeful lack Of graf
itude. I feel that when am dead and
in the grave that they will realize and
understand the criminal folly Of their
action and the enormity Of the betray-
al of their best friend. I know II
could have spoken to them this sum-
mer this tragedy could not have oc-
Cured. When these old friends have
had time to cool Off and think II all
over they will curse themselves for
such base ingratitude and for their
idiocy in being misled by demagogue.
To think that they have been such
fools as not to understand and grant
the old mans last plea to "die in har-
ness" serving them and serving the
state and nation! Oh, 1t Is pitiful.
II you can clear yourself Of the foul
accusations made against you In the
governors Office and will pursue q
wholly different policy hereafter, there
is some future for you In the state yet.
II you do not, your name will go down
In history as the very worst native
South Carolinian who was ever gov
ernor, Moses not excepted. I repeat
you are "eminently qualified to be gov
ernor 80 far as brains CO." and II you
reform and make good In the two
years you have yet to serve in that Of
flee, the people may forgive you. But
you must be governor Of the whole
people and not Of your friends alone,
and they will take care Of your future
destiny, always supposing that you
clear yourself Of the infamous charges
that have been brought against you.
For unless you do that you can never
hope to aspire to higher promotion.
for the people Of South Carolina will
never send to Washington a man not
above suspicion. Your destiny Is large
ly in your own hands. governor. For
the honor Of the state hope you can
and will clear yourself. May God for
give you for the sins you have COM
mitted against yourself and the people
Of the state.
Governor Blease you are given an
other opportunity. Will you make use
Of It and show that you are man
and not a demon? Put the devil be-
hind you and be the governor Of all
the people instead Of your friends
alone. Conquer yourself and instead
Of being the governor Of $4,000, be-
come the governor Of the 100000 men
in South Carolina II you do this
the heather will quit raging while
the righteous will rejoice" You have
the brains. Make use Of them instead
Of giving away to your evil passions.
I do assure you that you will die q
happier man II you will follow this
advice. Conquer your enemies by
kindness and justice. You cannot con-
quer them in any other way.
B. R. Tillman.
Trenton, 8. c..