Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-05-07
rILLMAN TO THE VOTERS.
Senator Pleads That He Be Permitted
to Die In Harness.

Senator Tillman has given the press
the following, which Is being gener-
ally printed throughout the state:
To the People Of South Carolina:
Twenty-Five years ago / asked you
to elect me to the office Of governor.
You did 1t, after very hot campaign
in which I spoke in every county OF
the state. Two years later / asked
for reelection. You gave me the Of
flee the second time by an overwhelm-
Ing vote. After four years Of service
in the governors Office, asked you
to send me to the senate; and again,
after heated canvass, you placed me
in the Office / now hold.
/ have held this office for nearly
Is years and I am now asking you
to re-elect me to 1t, although my
health is broken and ! am no longer
the strong and vigorous man once
was I have ripe experience and
thorough knowledge Of the workings
Of the government, and have many
warm personal friends in the depart
ments and in both branches Of con-
gress.
1 came to the senate in a cloud Of
obloquy on account OF newspaper
abuse at home. have fought my
way in spite Of II and have lived to
see most Of the newspaper men in the
press gallery my friends.
BY long service and hard work, /
have won an enviable position In
Washington, and the state Is entitled
to whatever benefit I have In places
on the committees, which can only
be obtained by such service.
have fiattered no man and feared
no man in debate, and I have a strong
daoira tn Ndfa in - for aanti-
mental reasons only.
have no words that can express
my appreciation and gratitude for the
confidence and love you have given
me In all these years. II / did not
feel that my experience and intimate
acquaintance with public affairs will
enable me to give acceptable service
in the future, / would not ask re-
election at your hands, but content
myself with the full measure of hon
ors you have given me already.
When first came into public life
I met storm Of opposition, which
was very bitter and intense. 1t re-
quired intense and aggressive action
to overcome 1t; and, though combatiye
by nature, fought with all my might
and won because you approved my
tions.
Amid this exciting contest, many
things were said and done on both
sides that, perhaps, had better been
leftsnnsaid and undone. Men are but
human, and when fired by strong
conviction they speak and do things
which they afterwards regret. AS
God is my judge, I never said any
thing but truth, or did anything as
governor or as senator I did not be-
lieve to be for the public welfare. AS
look back over my career, can see
mistakes and blunders, plenty Of
them, but they were honest blunders
and 1 have never permitted selfish
ambition or petty revenge to control
my actions. I have tried to be senator
Of all the people, as 1 was governor
of the whole state, and my ambition
has been, In the senate, to give the
people the best service of which / was
capable.
Owing to my poor health and in ac-
cordance with the advice Of my ply
sician, / shall not make any speeches
during the canvass this summer. All
of the old men in the state have al
ready heard me speak, and II there
are any young ones who have not and
desire 1t, I shall take pleasure in
IldiiiHS SucH ptnpniel copies Oh SoHne
Of my best speeches which I have yet
on hand. Nothing would delight me
more than to be able once again to
see my old friends face to face, and
1t saddens me to think that / shall
never have this pleasure again.
I shall hope that the people Of
South Carolina will not displace me
by voting me out, but then in some
way you will indicate a wish for me
to retire from this position because
Of your belief that / am no longer
physically capable Of performing the
duties Of the office. The senatorship
has always been regarded by me as
a sacred trust, and If I knew you
wanted me to surrender 1t, would
gladly lay it down, conscious that /
have done my duty always to the best
Of my ability.
(Sipned0 r r Tillman