The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-02-14
MIR. CHRtsTrNsrN's REPLY.
senator Rescuts Gov~rnor's !Allsg~,l
lnsinuations Against His Father.

Cnfistensen, az Beaufort, made the
following statement in the executive
session OF the senate on last Thursday
night:
Feeling that IL would not be prop
or for me TO be present during the dis.
cussion OF a matter SO personal, I alb.
ssnted myself from the latter part
of your executive session. But I am
told that you have taken action TO vim
diestc the rights and dignity of this
senate. body greatly respected by
the people OF South Carolina: and to
Nindicate me. for which I am deeply
srateful.
1T now becomes my place to speak
for mine ewn.
Beneath the shade of a great live
oak in a Beaufort graveyard lies the
body of my father. Tonight his name
IL held up for the scorn OF the people
of this State by its governor. and for
a thing ne did not do. MY father was
N union soldier. IL IL had become his
duty to lead charges with negro
troops against the white soldiers OF
the Southern Contcderacy," ne could
have done nothing else as q soldier
But that duty did not become his. He
entered tho army "a foreigner. hardly
able to speak this language. and for
bravery on many hard-fought bat
tleheld he was promoted to be "a cor
Poral, TO be a sergeant. to he "a cap
tain. He received a commission. put
ting him in command OF a negro COM
pany on a distant field. But his or
ders were modified. and he was assign
ed TO other duty
The insinuations in this message
were voiced shortly after the dispen-
sary investigation by II. III. Evans. in
Nswberry. and published In the daily
paper. Confederate Veterans in Beau
fort. my father being absent from the
State. published "a statement protest.
Ing against the attack and speaking
highly Of his life In Beaufort. That
action OF those Confederate Veterans
~ part OF my heritage.
II believe that no youth in this
State has grown up with feelings of
greater respect for the soldiers of the
Confederacy than I have. and I got
them from my father. He taught me
10 honor the Confederate soldiers. For
four years he fought against the
armies Of the South. For more than
thirty years after the war he lived
in the South and did all n man could
tn an humble way to build II up.
In my campaigns for the position
now hold. all these facts were fully
discussed. and the people who are re-
sponsible Tor my beina here know all
about them. They have passed on
them. They knew my father we'll.
sray-haired Confederate Veterans and
men whose forefathcrs lived On that
soil when Il was roamed by the In
dians. voted for me and sent me here
Co represent them.
Born In this State. loved II "a
lad. But that love has Grown very
deep and very s,rone these later years
ss have found its people ready 20
accept mo and mine without prejudice.
people who can rise above these
sectional passions Is a noble people,
and their State Is a great State 1t
seems "A splendid thing to mo that my
humble political career could embody
the evidence OF this fine trait OF South
Caroiinians. She forgets the bitter
ness OF the past. and. chcrishing It's
ideals OF sacrifice for conviction. lives
In the present and I'm the future.
There IL now another matter. and
about II I hesitate TO speak. Bu.,
think. must.
After serving here for ten years -
was my privilege to bring into this
chamber and to introduce to many Of
Fou my mother. During an evening
session. while was called out, she was
Srhjected TO the experience of hcar-
'"S '"'' V'hcr message or the Cover
nor read In which her nan.o is mon
toned In connection with his slurs
and insinuations. and in which yelled
and snccring illusions To- her dead
husband were made. l stand here 10
resent this.
II know that IL YOU feel as I did
that you would wish YOU could have
such things said face 10 face man 10
man. But they are sent to US NJ mes.
sases and i must meet them as such.
This Is no time for vitupcration
but l will say this. that every man in
this room knows that as long as the
man who now sits in the governors
chair Is there We may expect him 10
thu nss