The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1914-08-26

Washington, Aug. 14.-Senator B.
Fl. TiIlman, today announcing that
he would not again become candi-
| date for the senate, gave out the fol-
lowing signed statement:
Fellow Citizens:
II was 81 years old the 11th day
of August and felt like sending all of
you q greeting. ] served you as gov
| crnor four years and have been your
senator in Washington 20 years.
When my term expires March 4,
1919, if l live SO long, 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,
without boasting, but in sincerity and
earnestncss, say that he has done his
very best for both South Carolina and
the nation Constituted as i am,
could not have done otherwise. One
of the first lessons my good and
noble mother taught ME was, If
worth doing we'll While was gov
ernor, therefore, l was governor, as
everyone in South Carolina knows,
not Of the Tillmanites alone. but OF
all the people. And since l have been
senator have tried to be as good a
senator as there was in Washington.
4 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 pow
erful political factor in South Caro-
lima. From the very start l won the
love and confidence Of a large major
ity of my fellow citizens and 1t was
because of the genuineness of my
Democracy that l was so hated and
bitterly opposed. Many good men be-
lieved l was an office seeking dema-
gogue and could find no language
strong enough to express their hatred
and contempt.
Two years ago when test of my
patriotism came, l 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 l the risk l ran in
making the Ferguson letter public.
knew 1t jeopardized my reelection but
would rather have been beaten than
to have remained silent. My frank
ness, straightforward openness of
speech and honesty of purpose-I de-
spise hyprOcisy above all other vices
have thrown me into many briar
patch when more cautious man
would have avoided, but never have
lost sight of the ideals which 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 citi-
zens, sustained me. and greet you In
this farewell address with affection
and confidence
This Is my goodbye to public Of
fee. shall not be candidate again
Two years ago when l asked you to
reelect me that l might die in har.
ness l fully expected to die very
soon; but the good Lord has seen fl
to prolong my life and by teaching
me to live nationally has enabled me
to regain some degree of health
Should live to the end Of my term
I shall be 72 years OF age and now
serve notice upon all who are Inter
ested, that l shall not try to succeed
myself. II live until March 4, 1919
shall die out Of and not in harness
as I have always wanted to do. But
shall not worry. Death awaits US all
and Is inevitable. go the 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 held. This is natural
because Of my illness and the expec.
, tation Of my early death, There has
been some discussion of 1t In the
newspapers, which was to be expect.
ed. How curious. fantastic and cruel
Is human selfshness; but withal how
n 20 f1tF FsnI n In - (s =.
element of human nature which Is
universal. do not complain at It
and earnestly hope that the man
who is chosen will srcve the people
as faithfully as have. You may
find man with more ability than |
possess; you can not find one who
VIII bring to his work greater earn
estness and honesty of purpose.
Under the peculiar circumstances
which now exist in South Carolina, |
Hope | may be permitted to say a few
words about the present situation In
our State without being mtsunder-
stood. 1t gives me deep concern.
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 W1les and tricks Of domagogues
Audacity and aptitude in repartee
coupled with striking personality
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
appeals to prejudice and the people,
blinded by these arts, have followed
and made heroes of men who are
wholly unworthy. ! have been end
still am accused of inaugurating this