The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1914-08-21
TILLMAN'S FAREWELL
BIDS PEOPLE BEWARE
announcing HIS Retirement With End of Present Senatorial Term
He Urges That Voters Cast Their Ballots AGAINST BIease
Speaks Also Of His Own Career and of His Aims
must bear the responsibility.
Still Has CCnfidence

Two years ago l lamented the
same thing, and said doubted wheth-
er l had not made a mistake in Civ
ing the people the ballot and teaching
them how to use it. But was impa-
tient. here reaffirm my confidence
In the people-all the people col
lectlvely. | believe that the judg-
ment of the whole people-rich and
poor, educated and ignorant, high and
low-ls the surest and truest guide to
political action. Their mistakes will
be fewer and will be more ouick.1
nended than will the errors of any
one class, be it ever sienlightened. I
believe this so religiously that I
would rather have bad governor or
bad senator elected by all the peo-
pie than good one elected by am
one class, be it ever so enlightened. I
their blunders; the rule of a class
tends to the growth and perpetuation
of abuses. have implicit faith that
all the people of South Carolina are
going to stamp out Bleaseism sooner
or later. The strongest Bleasites will
be leaders as soon as they are con-
WINGED that they have made a mis-
take. If l did not believe this, I
would lose all faith in self-govern-
ment
"Jefferson's slogan was, Teach the
people and trust the people, To this
principle all patriots will give cred
ence, and all Democrats will gladly
obey When the demagogue comes
along and blinds the people by the
glamor of his arts and instills devil
try and poison into their minds, good
citizens must not despair, but re-
double their efforts; for the truth is
more powerful than falsehood and
must prevail in the long run.
Again | reaffirm my faith in the
people. The battle between privilege
and freedom, between equality and
favoritlsm, is worldwide, and ages
old: 1t has brought the cataclysm
winch we are witnessing in Europe
today The people of that continent
are struggling to free themselves
from the shackles of autocracy and
the divine right of kings. 1t is a bat
tle between autocracy and republi
canlsm. The contest in South Caro-
Ina In 1890 was to overthrow an aris-
tocracy which had come down to us
from colonial days.
The Real Revolt.
1t was real revolution. in which
families were divided, father against
son, and brother against brother
showing that principle, and princinle
alone, moved the people to action. II
was my high privilege to lead that
ovement which emancipated South
rolinians from the thraldom of on
ollgarchy which had ruled the STATE
for century.
That was my greatest work T
taught South Carolinians to know
their rights and how to obtain these
rights, and the State has made mar
veIous progress in every way. In edu-
cation, in some of its aspects. il has
progressed more than any of its sis
ter States; for we have Clemson and
winthrop as model schools. the hest
OF their kind, and, if there were less
selhshness and more public snir;t
throughout the State, the lamentabIe
ignorance now existing in some sec
tlons would soon disappear. But on;
common schools in MANY counties arc
sadly deficient, and must be improv-
ed. A democracy without aderuato
means for educating its citizens is
bound to be shipwrecked. We can nor
aHord to let our children grow m
like weeds. If we do, Ignorance will
choKe out all that is best in our peo-
PIE ana destroy our civilization. The
o'ate IN self-defense, if for no higher
easoh' VIII, somehow or other, have
TO see to it that all the white children
se. aI least the rudiments of an edu-
GaIloh' compulsory education is q
oiE question, and | have never here
,"'ofe favored it, but acute diseases
demand drastic remedies, and if a
statute can be framed that will force
the white children into schools and at
the same time give the blacks only
the KIND of training-manual and in.
auStrial which they can assimilate,
IL ought TO be done. Effective compul-
sory education will require great
deal of money, but if we are not will
ing to spend money for our children,
Hod pity US. Whether a general law
or local option by counties is the best
is matter of opinion and will hay.
70 DE threshed out by the legislature.
Their Mistake.
The people two years ago elected
man governor who has run amuck'
as it were, and displayed so little
realization of his high opportunities
that 1T makes me sad and angry tn
be told, as | have been more than
once, that Tillmanism is the direct
cause of Bleaseism. All thoughtful
and intelligent men know that this
Is only half truth, and half truths
are the worst sort of lies. Tillman-
ISM taught the people that they could
whip and destroy special privilege
with the ballot. That was good
thing, all must admit. Now, is Till
manism to blame because the people
nave used that same ballot with
which to elevate demagogue Yes.
| taught the people that tbey bod