The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-07-31
"Out OF His Own Mouth"
editorial Columbia Record, July /!
1879


1919.
| On June goth, 1918, at York, when
he made that famous 'reaftirmation"
of his loyalty, Cole l.. Blease Owe
quote the Charleston American) said:
Il have said that at the time the
vote was taken on the war, with the
lights before me, | would have voted
against it, and there is no use to be
harping on that, because 1 admit it,"
| He said, also, that he had stated his
opposition in several speeches, and
that "he had no apology to make for
any speech he had ever made"
The lights before him, before us
and before the world when the war
vote was taken were the same lights
we have before us now Nothing has
changed 50 far as the merits OF the
case are concerned. If America was
right on April 9Th, 1917, it is right to-
day. If it was wrong on April 9Th,
1917, At is wrong today.
Cole T." Blease made his speeches at
Pomarla and Filbert four months af-
ter we went into the war. With the
lights before him then, he affirmed, as
'religiOusly" as lie believed that there
is n Cod in heaven that every Ameri-
can killed in the war off of American
soil would be IAN unwarranted sacri-
nee of fresh young American man
mood, and that on the final judgment
day Coo would charge their lives
against Woodrow Wilson and the
members Of congress who voted for
the war.
A.
deaVoring to tone down part of his
rllbert speech as originally printed in
the Yorkville Enquirer, he said:
II, at Filbert, was repeating my
Pomaria speech in which | hal said
that | believed that President Wilson
and the members of congress who vot-
ed for this war would be held re- /
spOnsible for every American life lost
in it, and if my soul is to be lost did F,
not care what sort of an America they
had after | was dead and gone, and
neither does your boy"
1t was on this occasion, at York, !
on June goth, 1918, bear in mind,
that Cole l.. Blcasc said that he had
no apologies TO make for any speech
he had ever made. And on this Oc-
casion he did not hesitate to reiterate
the sentiments quoted above from the
Charleston American.
lie did not withdraw them: he did
not qualify them: he did not rcpudiatc
them. He repeated them. with al
trivial amendment, and said he had
no apology to make for them.
Such were his sentiments ut York
IL m0mtb ago.
Since then this man has been speak
ing at his own meetings, tearing pas
siOnS to tatters, outdoing Terma CANT,
outherOdng Herod, in the wordiness
of his patriotism. According 10 his es-
timation ut this time there is no more
ardent patriot on American soil.
AS they say in the advertisement:
There is n reason"
At Pomaria, in July, 1917, Please
said:
II am not Il candidate for any Of
fee"
At F'ilbert, in August 1917. he said:
II want to make ii clear that I am
not here as n candidate or as "a
spokesman for the Reform party. but
as Coleman Livingston Blcasc, Il free
born American citizen"
lie wanted it understood on those
occasions, to give emphasis to his de-
nunciations OF the war and of those
III high places. that he had no axe to
grind; that he was sincere; that he
was not trying to get votes: that he
was as he said. speaking the truth a.
| see it-speaking for my fellow man
and for what | believe TO be the Will
| of my God"
He is seeking Office now. aud IiC is a
| patriot. lie iS n candidate for the
| United States senate NOW, ana II"
would kiss the hand Of Woodrow
| Wilson. In 1917 he said he would
stump South Carolina in campaign
| with n running mate against Senators
| Tillman and smith. on TIA" issue or the
War. and now lie wants 10 stump tn"
| l'nitod states 10 advocat" u third term
| rOr Woodrow Wilson.
J Here is "A part of the record, Culled