The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-08-19
'fthih issues FAREWELL WARNING
!. Says That He Will Retire From Office at
End of Present Term
POINTS OUT DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN TILMANSM
Ism AND SHOWS HARMFUL EFFECTS EIECrNG ExECU.
4 1--WE TO sENATE-BEILEvEs IN PEOPLE THEIR RULE
~ FOR THEY WILL CORRECT MISTAKES

the wiles and tricks Of demagogues.
Audacity and aptitude in repartee,
coupled with a 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. I have been and
still am accused of inaugurating this
method Of campaigning. I challenge
the production Of a single speech of
mine wherein departed from the
discussion Of public issues or INDUCED
In unparliamcntary language until
forced to do so by unfair opponet. nsn
forced to do SO by unfair opponents.
The moro bitter enemies of the re-
form movement began the vitupera-
tion and abuse that have marked
South Carolina politics since 1890.
They answered argument with invec-
tive; they greeted truth with show
ers Of mud and filth; and they, not ].
must bear the responsibility.
1.-TWO years ago lamented the
same thing. and said doubted wheth-
er had not made a mistake in CIV
In" the people the ballot and teaching
them how to use 1t. But I was impa-
tient. here reaffirm my confidence
In the people-all the people COL
lectively. believe that the judg-
ment Of the whole people-rich and
poor, educated and ignorant, high and
lows the surest and truest guide to
political action. Their mistakes will be
fewer and will be more quickly mend
ed than will be the errors Of any one
class, be 1t ever SO enlightened. be-
lieve this so religious;.- that 1 would
rather have a bad governor or q bad
senator elected by all the people than
a good one elected by any one class
The whole people correct their blum
ders: the rule Of a class tends to the
growth and perpetuation of abuse. I
have implicit faith that all. the peo-
pie OF South Carolina are going to
stamp out Bleassism sooner or later.
The strongest Bleaseites will be lead
ers as soon as they are convinced that
they have made a mistake. II did
not believe this. would lose all faith
In self-government.
"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 deviltry
and poison into their minds. good cit
izens must not despair. but redouble
their efforts; for the truth is more
powerful than falsehood and must
prevail In the long run.
Again I reaffirm my faith in the
people. The battle between privilege
and freedom. between equality and
favoritism. Is worldwide. and ages
old. 1t has brought the cataclysm
which 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 battle be-
tween autOcracy and republicanism.
The contest In South Carolina in 1890
was to overthrow an aristocracy which
had come down to us from colonial
days.
1t was real revolution, In which
families were divided. father against
son. and brother against brother,
showing that principle. and principle
alone. moved the people to action. 1t
was my high privilege to lead the
movement which emancipated South
Carolinians from the thraldom OF
an oligarchy which had ruled the
State for a century.
That was my greatest work. 1
taught South Carolinians to know
their rights and how to obtain these
rights. and the state has made mar
velous progress In every way. In edu-
cation. In some OF its aspects. it has
progressed more than any OF it's sis
ter states: for we have Clemson and
winthrop as model schools, the best
OF their kind, and. IL there were less
selflshness and more public spirit
throughout the State. the lamentabl
ignorance now existing in some sec
tiOns would soon disappear. But our
common schools I'm many counties are
Il nZL-