Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-09-02

ii
upset along with the whole primary
and that you would have to run owe
again and that a feeling engendere'
against you in the last days Of tina
campaign might cause you to lose-a
you did nearly lose, anyhow. I do no
think that South Carolina would 'hani
her head in shame II a repetition o
the Whaley matter in either branch o
congress could be prevented by con
gressional action; and what Is more T.
the point, will not allow you to pu
any such words in my mouth, as yo,
; Go when you say You are asking M
to pursue a course which you admi
would cause the people Of South Caro-
line to hang their heads in shame.
Point out to me where I said any sucf
thing. Instead Of hanging her head II
shame, she would be proud Of the fac
that 1t was she who helped largely tt
write the Constitution, and that by 1t
In the last analysis, her honor hat
been saved, not lost. In the face o
what have told you, and what I an
sure you have heard both through the
press and from responsible men in this
district, do not believe you can be
sincere in intimating that the charac.
ter Of my proof is doubtful, as you de
In these words:
II love my state, its honor and Its
good name; and am not willing L
bring either its home or its good name
into question upon heresay testimony
or belief; nor am I willing to confess
the incapacity Of the people Of South
Carolina-keeping in mind their proud
history-to rectify any wrongs, etc."
You are not afraid, nor is Mr. Wha-
ley, nor can anybody be afraid Of the
quality of my proof; or that the case
rests upon "hearsay testimony or be.
lief" You know that the proof Is clear
If 1t Is not, then the word that has
gone forth throughout the land that
Mr.. Whaley sits in a bought seat, 9
bought and perjured seat, will be
shown to have been a vile slander and
South Carolina and Mr.. Whaley will be
proudly vindicated. South Carolina
should hang her head in shame now
because of the conditions which have
existed for a long time and gone from
bad to worse. Instead Of permitting
you to put me In the position Of bring
ing any shame upon South Carolina,
want to tell you that I am already Sc
ashamed of her and so ashamed OF
what the world knows Of her that an
willing to do anything to redeem her;
and shouldering a gun would be the
least of these things. 1 have always
admired what Danton said on the way
to the guillotine: Let France be free
though my name be accurst" If South
Carolina were free, that is, free under
the Constitution, would be the hap
piest man in her borders. All that
am working for is to bring about, as
an actual living reality, the full enjoy
ment of the institution for which the
founders of this Republic fought on the
battlefield; and for which my owr
father fought on the. fields Of the Con-
federacy. The last thing that occurs
to me is what the people think about
me; notwithstanding I would wish
them to think we'll OF me. am gen.
timely content when my own consci-
ence is clear, though all the world
might doubt me. Hence I am not in
terested in that part Of your letter
where you adroitly appeal to my am
bition by suggesting that what should
do now in this matter Is only that
which hereafter the people will ap-
plaud. You say:
II do not question at this time the
motive which prompts you to insist
upon the washing of the dirty linen
of South Carolina" here in the capital
of the nation. 1t has too much Of the
appearance of malignancy and person
al spite and a desire for revenge on
your part, and you cannot escape that
press it. But your cooperation with
me to have the Democratic party OF
South Carolina and legislature Of South
Carolina reform the situation In the
state can be attributed to no other
motive than that Of the highest pa
triotism."
That might appeal to some Of your
friends here who are time serving pol
iticians only. But my ear Is not to
the ground; hope my eyes are fixed
on the stars. And to such an extent
am I willing to go that believe, with
tranquil voice and without tremor,
could say with Danton, let South Car
olina be free though my name be ac-
curst.' 1 do believe that all we need is
an honest, broadminded application OF
our already constitutionally guaran-
teed rights. If 1 had a case to be tried
and 1 thought the atmosphere Of the
Federal courts most suited to its trial
I would step over into U. S. Judge
EoIlllll COuIl anu tNdl jul iouiS
ton; and / would do so without the
remotest feeling that / was rejecting
upon my native state in passing by our
county court house on the way. How
much more so then should I seek re-
lief in congress in the Whaley case
when there Is no other Jurisdiction?
There is such a thing as the fitness
Of things. Every atom Of the universe
moves in its proper orbit; but always
nevertheless, governed by two conflict
Ing forces, the centrifugal and the Gen.
tripetaI. Sometimes the equilibrium is
preserved by one and again by the
other. It was the recognition Of this
law that gave origin to our govern
ment. There are times when there is
too much Washington and We fall back
upon the states; and again. when our
states are pulling down our ideals, we
fly to the national Capitol. There is nc
lack of patriotism in either; but SIM
ply a balanced knowledge Of our con-
stitutional system.
cannot follow you in your hair
splitting distinction between the Blease