The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-08-19
a.lNxNa;


date for the senate. gave out the fol-
lowing signed statement:
Fellow Citissns:
"I was 81 years old the nth day
Iof August and felt like sending all of
you greeting. served you as gov
srnor four years and have been your
senator In Washington 20 years. When
my term expires March 4. 1919, II
fivs DO long. I shall have held the
highest ofsces in your gift for %
years. An old man desires to thank
you for your generous support all
this long while. May he not. with
ocs boastinx. but In sincerity and ear
nsstnsss. say that he has done his
very best for both South Carolina
and the nation' Constituted as am.
4 could not have done otherwise.
oas Of the nrst lessons my good and
noble mother taught me was. II a
thing n worth doing at all. Il Is worth
doing weli.' While I was governor
therefore. I was governor. as every
one In South Carolina knows. not of
the Tillmanites alone. but Of all the
nesp1s. And since I have been SEN
stor have tried to be as good a SEN
otof a there was In Washington.
's"Since August. 1856. when I made
- n
have been one of the most prominent
fxures and since 1890 the most DOW
srful political factor In South Caro-
'sans. From tho very start I won the
love and confidence Of q large major
ity Of my fellow citizens and It was
because OF the senuineness of my De-
mocracy that I was 30 hated and Bit
terly opposed: Many good men be-
heved I was TN ONCE seeking dema-
sogue and could find no language
strong enough to express their hatred
and contempt.
Two years ago when O test Of my
patriotism came. demonstrated to
those VINO had always opposed me
that ] was not the selfish politician
they bad judged me to be. No one
knew better than I the risk ran In
making the Ferguson letter public. I
knew u jeopardized my reelection but
would rather have been beaten than
TO have remained silent. My frank
mess. STRAIGHTFORWARD openness OF
speech and honesty Of purpose-I de-
spise hypocricy above all other vices
have thrown me into many briar
patch when q more cautious man
would have avoided, but never have
lost sight Of the ideals which opened
before mo at Bennettsville and the
welfare and upiift OF the masses have
always been the guiding star which
led me on. Your faith. fellow citi-
ssns. sustained me. and greet you In
this farewell address with affection
and confidence.
This Ia my goodbye to public Of
nee. shall not be q candidate again.
Two years ago when asked you to
reflect me that I might die II. har-
ness I fully expected to die very soon; !;
but the good Lord has seen mt to pro-
iong my life and by teaching me to
live nationally has enabled me to re-
sain some degree OF health. Should
live to the end Of my term. I shall
be 72 years Of age and I now serve
notice upon all who ire Interested
that shall not try to suo oceed myself.
IL live until March 4. 1919. 1 shall
die out Of and not In harness. as I
have always wanted to do. But l
shali not worry. Death awaits us all
and is Inevitable. I go the way of all
my fathers. and I try to say in all
humility and sincerity. Lord. Thy
will 20 done"
For four years at least many mon
In South Carolina have had their eyes
on the seat held. This is natural
because OF my illness and the expec-
tation Of my early death. There ha.
been some discussion Of 1t In the
.nsvspapers. which was to be expect.
ed How curious. fantastic and cruel
is human selflshness: but withal how
natural a thing II is. 1t Is the only
element Of human nature which Is
universal. I do not complain at It,
ana 1 earnestly hope that the man
who is chosen will serve the people
{" faithfully as I have. You may
ma man with moro ability than
possess; you can not find one who will
bring to his work greater earnestness
and honesty OF purpose.
Ohoer the peculiar circumstances
which now exist In south Carolina. /