Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1918-07-10

I'm sSS
er an array of facts and ideas, an
Gent and modern, which astounds
those who hear him in a debate to-
day. He was a great hunter and fish
er. On the plantation he was "a steam
engine in breeches."
Although he is the most remorse-
less enemy of negro suffrage in South
Carolina, his whole history is full of
acts of generosity towards his black
farm laborers.
Before 20 he married, and he has
now six children. One son is at Glenn
son Agricultural College, on the old
Calhoun estate, to establish which
the senator made his first entry into
public life, and his eldest daughter,
Miss Addie Tillman, is studying at
the Hollins Institute, Virginia.
bright, pretty, high-spirited girl. His
son Henry, II years old, has inherit
ed his fathers extraordinary memory
and can tell you off hand any fact
in the World Almanac, the names of
congressman and the majorities by
which they were elected, how many
gallons of liquor are consumed IN the
country and how much money is in
circulation.
Often when the fierce, ruthless
leader returns from battle with his
enemies, he lies down on the floor and
in a minute his children are piled on
top of him, pulling his hair, pinchlng
his cheeks, and searching his pockets.
Like all really strong men, he is gen
tie at home.
The loss of the left eye and the ne
cessity for care in the use of the
right eye prevented Tillman from
studying law. But for this fact he
would have been another Roscoe
Conkling.
In Reconstruction Days.
Tillman's young manhood develop
ed in the reconstruction days when
the white population threatened to re
commence the war unless they were
relieved of the horrors and humilia-
lions of negro domination. The re-
publican party was pitiless. 1t debas-
ed and defrauded the State. Tillman
was captain of, a company OF volun-
teer hussars in Edgefeld> county and
in 1876 his cavalrymen were led by
him in the anti negro riots of Ellen
ton and Hamburg. Later on he rode
with his company into Aiken to stand
trial for instruction.
AS a taunt to John Sherman and
his friends, the whole company, IN
GLIDING it's captain, were attlred IN
blood-red shirts presented by South
Carolina The ladies of Aiken
gave a flag of honor to the hussars
and Tillman was chosen to respond,
but he was unable to make a speech.
He has since gotten over that difficult
ty bravely.
y There is not a more remarkable or
ator and debater in the country. His
invectives bite to the bone. He can
turn and twist around, corner with
astonishing with dexterity, deluding
and confusing his opponents. He de-
spises and ignores politicians, slash
ing and stabbing them indiscriminate-
ly, whether they support him or not.
The secret of his power is his strong
hold upon the mass of the white peo-
pie. He is the god, the redeemer OF
the "poor whites" Nothing in heaven
or earth escapes his vehement irrev-
erence. He has an especial hatred and
contempt for President Cleveland.
"When / get to the United States
senate" he says, cpl punch that old
bag of beef in the ribs with my pitch
fork and make him show up some
thing about these Wall Street deals"
Whereat enthuosanded hayseedism
wags it's head, sticks its tongue in its
cheek and swears that Benjamin Ry
an Tillman is the mightiest man that
lives, has lived, or ever will live. And
ro.l1v helieye if
Farms to Rule the Towns.
In 1886 Tillman was a domlneer-
ing, somewhat unpopular and tongue
tied planter. But he had a vigilant
eve. Nothing escaped him. He was
invited to a meeting Of the State Ag-
r~icultural Board, which met at Ben
nettsville. This body was composed OF
politicians backed by the old faml-
lies. 1t spent something like $4,000
a year-certainly a large sunni
experimental work. Tillman was in
vited to make a speech. He stumped
= wkwardlv through written address,