Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-10-31

/ TT was not the personality of Mari
on Butler, in North Carolina; he was
weaker man Intellectually and moral
ly than either Tillman or Blease. ]
was not the master mind Of Tom Wat
son, nor the dash and courage Of Var
darnan, In Mississippi, or Kolb, Of Ala
bama. But these men like Tillman an,
Blease interpreted and gave expression
to what was deep In the souls Of tn
| great plain people; they gave voice t
their unuttered thoughts and In thei
persons embodied hitherto dumb re
sentiment at political and industria
conditions which had been the SLOW
outgrowth Of time.
An Inheritance Of the Past.
Before the war an oligarchy baset
on slavery dominated the political, So
I cial and Industrial life Of the state.
| which have named. South Carolins
extended this into politics to greater
extent than the others, and the contes
here has been longer and more bitter
"Under the system of representation
for slaves the low country absolutely
controlled the machinery Of govern.
ment. In 1890 Charleston had two sen
ators instead Of one and double the
representation to which she was en-.
titled in the lower house. Is 1t q won.
der that there was a kick In the up.
country, whose white population re.
deemed the state in 1875?
"The large slave owners In ante-bel-
lum days were the rulers and office
holders, and the masses Of the people
were regarded as unflt to govern
There were two classes Of white peo-
pie as distinct as the Patrican and
Plebian orders Of Rome. 1t was gen.
erous, high.minded oligarchy. It gave
the world brave men and virtuous
women. In this day Of greed and graft
1t stands out sweet and clean, civil
were men Of high character and intel
lectual force. 1t produced soldiers the
like Of which the world has never
seen, but for all that II must be ad-
mitted that politically. it was an intol-
Grant, uncompromising tyranny. In
dependence Of thought and freedom OF
action was only permitted within the
bounds set by the leaders. The poor
whites as they were termed were moi
considered, and the middle class sue
cumbed, overawed by these naughty
slaye-owning barons.
"Feudalism amid 18th century civil
ization could not stand.
"It was well said, South Caroline
sneezed everytime Mr.. Calhoun tooh
snuff
Qualification and the war were the
inevitable results Of q condition where
only one class in society had any pow
er In shaping governmental policies.
Our constitution Is designed to give
each class and each individual his pro-
portionate power In government. Dis
aster followed them, and 1t viii follow
any movement which centres all pow
er In any particular class. This canno
be made a rich mans government mol
a poor mans government. 1t mus,
give every man the same rights ano
protect him In 1t.
A New Order of Things.
"The abolition of slavery was ths
destruction of this system. The ricf
and powerful Of the old, became tnt
poor and weak Of the new. The shack
les of caste were removed and the ar.
tificial distinction Of class abrogated
Ire plain farmer (not the planter)
the mechanic and laborer, claimed
6lNCh ll6hto oAo eSAA~S S>~~~-
ed the political arena.
This brought about an irrepressi
BILE conflict between the reconstructee
orders Of society. For want OF q bet
ter name the issue was called aftel
the Leader on one side or the other
Tillmanite and Haskellite; Bleasite ant
Jonesite. This must be true. Wha
were the so-called issues in 1897 Al
agricultural college. What an absurd
ity. Why didn't the contest end will
Clemson college? That was merely
the battle cry for the moment, the
flag around which we rallied. ! wei
remember, when little more than a boy
In my campaign for the legislature
the questions asked from the audi.
ence,' Air you in favor Of the Clemson
bequest?' Yes, sir, Is In favor OF
the Clemson bequest.' Air you IN ia
vor of B. r. Tillman? Yes, Is In
favor of 3. r. Tillman.' Pass on
brother, you'll do then a great shout
.Hurrah for Tillman. Neither side
cared cent for the Clemson bequest,
but way down underneath there wa
something in the souls OF men thaI
made them ready to die II need be
Fifty per cent didn't know what the
Clemson bequest' was; 1t took the su'
preme court to find out.
1.-The people were kept together dur
ing reconstruction by the instinct o.
race preservation. After 1876 the ole
time leaders resumed their sway ant
inaugurated the ante-bellum policy
just as much as changed conditions
would permit. They were glorious
leaders, too, In the red shirt days
Hampton, Butler and Gary did theii
work we'll, and everybody was amply
rewarded, except Gary, and we have
.een rewarding that family to the ex
tent of our ability ever since 1890
However, the old-time supineness wal
gone. AS early as 1880, rumblings Of
discontent on the part Of the masse.
were heard. The cut and dried con.
vention held the people down. In 1885,
back woodsman from Edgefield came
az delegate to farmers convention
in Bennettsville. 1t so CHANGED ht
was assigned to me as guest. The
convention, like all other assemblage'
at the time, was in the hands Of the
colonels and generals. The speech
made by Capt B. r. Tillman broke
up the convention. ! never saw
crowd get away from town like they
did. I became Tillmanite on the
spot, and with occasional lapses,
have been one ever since. am a bet.
ter one today than the man that made
that speech. A better one than II
had spent eighteen years In the Unit.
ed States senate, surrounded by III
luxury and seduced by sycophants and
fiatterers. Perhaps, l would not know
my own child, because 1t was mol
dressed in silks and velvets.
"The election Of Tillman governor
in 1890 was a general uprising OF the
masses against the classes, and present
conditions in South Carolina are the
elimination Of that great social and
political movement. The whole thine
is the legitimate result Of the evolu-
tionary forces set in motion by the de-
struction Of slavery. People formerly
denied living voice in government as
serted themselves in 1890, and are rev.
cling now in the plentitude Of power
It met violent opposition in 1890, and
there Is now an effort on foot to take
away the rights gained then. Revoiu-
tions never go backward. The people
never give up a right once gained
The true remedy is an appeal to JUS
lice, to the end that power may be
wisely used.
1--WE cannot have two political par
ties in South Carolina. We must set
tie all differences in a white mans
primary. A division means that soon.
er or later a minority will appeal to
the negro and when he holds the bal
ance of power he will control the des-
Inv ~ fho cfafn