The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1912-09-04
SENATOR TILLMAN WRITES
OPEN LETTER TO GOV. BLEASE.
CONTINUED From Page TwoD

hdence 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 "wool-hat. one
g&luS boys" and my fellow citizens
VINO work in the cotton mills, were
shouting cruelty him." retire him
to private life, etc" I'VE can no longer
trust him." etc. My reelection to the
Senate is assured and Shall die in
| harness" when the Lords time comes
for me to go.
am conscious that all of the good
| people of the State now appreciate
/ me and realize at least what manner
of man I am.
1t is sweet thought to feel that
many of the Haskellities voted for
me, and right here l wan to say that
that "Haskellite" ought not to be an
epithot of epprobrium in South Caro-.
lima any longer. Judge Haskell and
| l made friends before he died and
always felt that he was blind fa-
natic who had been led off into the
frenzy of indepententism by the same
emotions which your election has
produced. He was a knightly gen
tleman and brave soldier. Peace to
ms ashes. Haskellism and Bleaseism
ought to be buried in the same grave
ana the world hear no more of either.
1T is time for South Carolina to
quit wounding each others feelings
and lighting like cats and dogs. No
good can come of it and much harm
has already come of ii, and more will
follow If we do not realize that a
mouse divided AGAINST itself cannot
stand AS good men voted for
Blease as voted for Jones. They felt
1t to be their right as citizens. and
many of the religiously believed
that their liberties were in danger. for
you, Governor are reported as saying
that If Jones was elected they would
never vote again.
Jefferson said once that as between
government without newspapers and
newspapers without government ho
would take the latter for the news
papers would keep the people inform
ed and they would nave intelligence
enough to give themselves good gov
ernmcnt in some way The newspa-
papers in South Carolina have lost
sight of the necessity for fair and
square dealing with theirreadcrs, SO
much so that they have not the in
hucnce with the people that they
ought to have. There is room for a
great many reforms in this particu-
lar and | sincerely hope that the ed
ltors of the South Carolina papers
VIII seriously consider how they can
regain the confidence of the people
again. So great has been the dis
trust caused by the dishonesty and
partisnship that hundreds nay thu
sands of my friends could not be made
to believe that | had written the let
ter TO ferguson or given out the
statement accompanying it. receiv-
ed many, many kilograms and let
w hot .
tic This condition of the public
mind has been brought about by
seeing that the newspapers in their
readiness and in the body of the ar
tlcles themselves distort and color un-
rlghteously the facts. When the peo-
pie are taught they can always be
trusted but when the people distrust
the newspapers and believe them cor
rupt and dishonest and given to all
manner of lying they lose that respect
for them that is necessary to pr-
serV free government.
If | ever get able to speak again
! want to go to three counties in
south Carolina and talk to my old
l1endS race to face, Anderson, Lau-
rens and York. You nave stolen the
love and confidence of these people
did not lose it; you stole it. Who
would ever have believed it possible
that the men who % years ago were
SO frenZied in their Tillmanism and
worship of Tillmna as to unhitch the
horses from his carriage and hitch
themselves to drag him in triumph
through the street would come to dis
trust, hate and abuse him without
cause.
Madame Roland before she was
guillotincd exclaimed: "Oh. liberty
what crimes are committed in thy
name" Noting the progress which
has been made toward the demorali-
zatlon among the Democrats in South
Carolina one can shout "Oh, Democ-
racy, will the people never learn to
know their true friends from their
raise leaders, never distinguish be-
tween statesman and a damagogue,
always listening to flattery and sweet
words without looking below the sur
race and the true inwardness of
things and man" To think that the
very men %, whom | have done most,
the 1oor farmers and factory peo-
pie should turn and rend me their
way! gave them Clemson College
and winthrop. At least ] had more
to do with it than any other one
man. | gave them the primary. for
l wrote the Democratic State consti-
tuition with my hands in conjunction
with my brother, c. d. Tillman, and
made the rules governing the primary
and safe-guarded in every possible way
their rights so that now every cit
1Zen can protect himself if he has
sense enough
All pleasure and satisfaction in my
rp-nlapfinn n hn T.,