The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1914-08-21
BY p. III. MCGOWAN.

would not again become a candidate
for the senate, gave out the following
signed statement:
Fellow Citizens:
81 was 67 years old the 11th day of
August and felt like sending all of
you greeting. | served you as gov
ernor four years and have been your
senator in Washington 20 years.
When my term expires March 4, 1919,
if live so long, l shall have held the
highest offices in your gift for 2S
years. An old man desires to thank
you for your generous support all
this long while. May he not, with
out boasting, but in sincerely and
earnestnesS, say that he has done his
very best for both South Carolina and
the nation? Constituted as l am, |
could not have done otherwise. One
of the first lessons my good and noble
mother taught me was, If a thing is
worth doing at all, it is worth doing
WE'LL While | was governor, there
fore, | was governor, as every one in
South Carolina knows, not of the Till
NANTES alone, but of all the people.
And since have been senator / have
tried to be as good a senator as there
was in Washington.
A Large Figure.
"Since August, 1885, when l made
my first speech at Bennettsville, |
have been one of the most prominent
figures, and since 1890 the most DOW
erful political factor in South Caro-
lima. From the very start | won the
love and confidence of a large major
ity of my fellow citizens and it wa
because of the genuineness of my De
mocracy that was so hated and bit
terly opposed. Many good men be-
lleved | was an Office seeking dema-
gogue and could find no language
strong enough to express their hatred
and contempt.
1.-Two years ago when a test of my
patriotism came, demonstrated to
those who had always opposed me
that was not the selfish politician
they had judged me to be- No one
knew better than | the risk | ran in
making the Ferguson letter public.
knew it jeopardizeZd my reelection
but | would rather have been beaten
than to have remained silent. Ny
frankness, straightforward opennesS
of speech and honesty of purpose
despise hypocrisy above all other
vices-have thrown me into many
briar patch when a more cautious
man would have avoided, but I never
have lost sight of the ideals whixS
opened before me at Bennettsville
and the welfare and uplift of the
masses have always been the guiding
star which led me on. Your faith.
fellow citizens, sustained me, and
greet you in this farewell address
with atfection and confidence
"This is my goodbye to public of
flee. | shall not be candidate again.
Two years ago when | asked you to
reelect me that might die in mar
ness I fully expected to die very soon;
but the good Lord has seen fit to pro-
long my life and by teaching me to
live nationally has enabled me to re-
gain some degree of health. Should
live to the end of my term, shall
be ~ years of age and | now serve
notice upon all who are interested
that shall not try to succeed myself
If | live until March 4, 1919, | shall
die out of and not in harness. as
have always wanted to do. But /
shall not worry. Death awaits us all
and is inevitable. | go tho way of all
my fathers, and try to say in all
humility and sincerity, Lord, Thy will
be done.
Hopes for Best.
"For four years at least many men
in South Carolina have had their eyes
on the seat I held This is natural
because of my illness and the eXpec-
TO of ,,.lx, L.
been some discussion of it in the
newspapers, which was to be expect
ed. How curious. fantastic and cruel
is human selfshness; but withal how
natural thing it is. 1t is the only
element of human nature which is
universal. | do not complain at it,
and | earnestly hope that the man
who is chosen will serve the people
as faithfully as I have. You may
find man with more ability than I
possess; you can not find one who will
bring to his work greater earnestness
and honesty of purpose.
Under the peculiar circumstances
which now exist in South Carolina,
hope | may be permitted to say a fe,>
words about the present situation in
our State without being misunder-
stood. 1t gives me deep concern. I
am mortified and disappointed that
the primary system has failed to de-
velop in the people sufficient political
intelligence to enable them to escape
the wiles and tricks of demagogues.
Audacity and aptitude in repartee,
coupled with striking personal.v
have made the people an easy prey.
Instead of candidates being compelled
to discuss public questions and poll
cies. they have been allowed to make
anpeals to prejudice, and the people,
blinded by these arts, have followed
and made heroes of men who arc
wholly unworthy. I have been md