The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-12-21


pe.oc. and other high German officials
for crimes committed during the
war must rest with the governments
and not with jurists, according to the
Marquis of Crewe, former secretary
oI Sta-e for the colonies, in letter
to the Westminster Gazette.
Burlington, n. c., Dec. 17.-Firc to-
day swept q portion Of the downtown
! business section of this city with
loss estimated at S250,000.
s1.ss~-t.--='...----e .-.-...
fallen in practice into two classes
those who insisted on continuing TO
attack the senate and all its habits
and methods. and those who sooner OF
later, generally sooner than later ac-
cepted the senate traditions ana ways
| of life: The former, very few IN num-
ber, become bores and found thehl-
se.ses unheard and without influence
and have been forgotten. Ihe latter
have been successful and often dls-
1ineuished senator's, influential and Ell
! set.tive It IS needless to say thal
| Senator Tillman belonged preenl-
nently to the second class. he never
bored anyone However widely "l:o
| might disagree with him ne was al
ways and unfailingly interesting. ne
came not only to. accept the senate
hut to be one of its most ardent de-
tenders, supporting its rules haolts
and traditions, and very proud OF its
history and Of its power and import
ance.
This came about through no sacri-
ice OF principle, but simply because
he was a man naturally Of strong
GOOD sense and open to conviction. He
startled the country land the senate
at the very outset by an unbridled at
tack upon President Cleveland, and
think he even then began to see that
in the senate at least this was not tn,
best metfo dto advance the policies o.
the principles he had at heart. lie
came to the senate also with bitteI
and deep seated dislike-I viii DO!
say prejudice-aga against all Republicans
and all> Northern men. Nevertheless,
among Republicans and Norther1:
men he found before very many
years had passed some Of his
warn1est personal, friends. In
these last years he one day made
short speech in the senate in which he
admitted that he had been mistaken
in these early opinions and rhs- he
had in these respects changed has
mind. It seemed, I am sure, to those
VINO heard or read what he said I'm
avowal ata once manly and tou:hinS
But it was something more than TINS
It showed willingness and ability 20
learn. admirable and essential caDaIl-
ties throughout life, and especially 10
be cherished in old age. It also snow
ed the courage to admit that he had
been wrong, and this is a loftier and
rarer attribute and very fine quahty
indeed
But if Senator Tillman learned to
know the senate and his fellow sena-
tors better and to like them better IS
the years passed, the senate also
learned much about him. Every one
was aware that he was able, forceIul
and possessed of unbounded energy.
But senators found also that the
blunt words and the stormy manner
when he was reused were far more
in. evidence in public than IN private
life. Behind al this was kindly
nature, plenty Of humor, serious
outlook on life, and real sincerity OF
purpose. One at least Of those VINO
came il the process Of time to know
him well discovered that Senator
,T;:l-ran had knowledge and genuine
eoadness for literature and poetry
good literature and coed poetry be 1t
said-an6 above all that he was a low
er OF SHAKESPEARE, q, phase OF his
character not generally appreciated.
He was q conspicuous and active sen
ator for many years and worked hard
and faithfully until he was stricken
by illness some Years; ago. After iis
partial recovery nc went on with an
cncolnplainiils and unfaiiing courage
which commanded every ones ad-
inIration until the end came. Never
Gid be appear better than in his at
tltude toward the war. He never had
any doubts he recognized what Ger
many meant, and ne was for the right
and fer the way with all his strength
During these years OF physical trial
and endurance be turned more than
ever toward the friends with whom
he had been long in service and
grew ever gentler and more kindly.
The affection and sympathy which
think he craved, for he had an
emotional nature. We're freely given
After a Ions day Of many conflicts the
evening was calm and peaceful. As l
talked with him and watched him
amid the lergthening shadows when
the sun of life was slowly setting l
ofen thought Of DR.. Holmes lines
written for his own 10th birthday:
Still the silver cord gets worn
aGd slender.
It's ligh aned task work tugs with
lessening strain,
Hands get more helpful, voices grown
more tender,
Soothe with their softcned tones
the s,un1berous brain.