The Fairfield news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1881-1900, March 09, 1892, Image 1
VOL. XLVI. WINNSBOBO, S. C., WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 1892. NO. 30.
?? zs ?
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?^ * T\?IU)
TILLMAN' AT NEWBERRY.!
1
HE GIVES HIS VIEWS ON AGRICULT- j
URAL DEPRESSION.
The J?nactiu*ct of thti .Lien Lhw Hastened
It i?ua the Stock Law Completed It.
D*bt? Ca2;not IIj P:tid bv liaising Cwt
ton at a JLoss.
]Sewdei:i:v, .S. C, Feb. 27?Governor
Tillman spoke h-:;re to day to a meeting
called for the purpose of discussing the
agricultural situation and the necesssty
of reducim: the colton acreage. The
opera house in which the mating was
held was well lilled by about TOO people,
most of whom was "from the country.
Governor Tillman devoted himsrlf almost
exclusively to the subject m hand,
and although his recent lllntss had left
him week and incapable of any extend[
ed effort, made an address full of sound
sense, and wb:ch mgniy commenuea iir
L self to the audience and evoked fre
quent applause.
?| On the sta^e wr-e I)r. Suapson Fope,
B Col. J. L. Keitt, Kev. W. C. Shafer, Hon.
j. A. Sligb. J. S. Hare, Dr. W. E. Lake
III and the inevitable and indispensible
Bk newspaper men. Among the audience
IH were several prominent men of the
III The'merting was called to order by
Hon. J. A. iUigh. and prayer was cffer|1|
ed by Rev. W. C. Shafer. After a few
introductory rem3rks1M^fl#ffiTtfr5S*
BL dent of the CouaSy AiBSnce, introduce^
T <?> )an who was created P
enthusiastic applause,
intinlly as fellows:
i, Fellow Citizens of
>unty:
lad to respond to any
zens of any County to
m on any topic affectilfare.
Your invita5
the agricultural outlook
and the condition of the farming:
interest and kindred interests bearing
on it.
Agriculture is the basis of all wealth,
the fouadat on cn which society rests.
4 crvmutViiTior tchif?h ftnP
X4U f 1VV M ?* M?VM w . j
has a superabundance and is willing to
give on all occassions, but which tew
ever take.
[ \V? are confronted b? a condition
* which is blue, indeed. Never in my
recollection since 1865 have we been
face to face with a prospect so gloomy.
Before the war every plantation was
self-sustaining. Oar farmers bought
very little of the necessaries of life, and
cotton was a surplus crop. From causus
which I will point out we have reversed
the order of things. We have changed
the economy of the farm and in large
measure depend on one crop to buy
ovorit'hincr tvn ?rp tvimneliprl t.n have.
The present condition of overproduction?too
much cotton?was predicted
by me seven years ago in a speech at
Bennettsville.aud I set to work to bring
about some chasge as far as discussion
would do it.
What has produced tbis revolution?
I say in soberness and truth that by
every measure m our power we have
driven our people to the culture of cotton
alone. How? One of the greatest
causes was tne enactment of the lien
law. The enactment of this law placed
credit on the crop before it is planted.
It placed the man of character and the
man without it on the same plane. The
honest, and dishonest, the intelligent
and ignorant, the industrious and lazy,
were all placed on the same level. It
placed the value of the crop in the
bands of those who did the buying, and |
all went to planting cotton because
debts were payabie in cotton. The
Legislature is largely responsible for
the condition of cotton.
The effect has bten to make cotton
the crop to buy everything eise with,
and this, together with the rental system,
brought about the enactment of
the stock law. The people said we
can't make money out "of stock, so why
keep up the fences, and so the stock
law came. Stock raising disappeared
and people turned tneir attention more
and more* to cotton.
Other ills have followed the culture
- W of cotton. One is the increased use of
ft fertilizers. Every year we pay over
m $3,000,000. There is no rotation of crops,
R and no aitempt to preserve the land,
gal We kill grass niue months in the year
and then buy Northern hay. F^reseegjl
ing this condition of affair?, I. with
others, endeavored to put on toot Clem9ft
son College, where our young men could
learn something of diversilieu 1'armjflSffil
To put us on the right road appears
a plain case. We need no convention
III to do it. Whether the present price of
cotton is due to speculation or legislation,
we cannot afford to raise it at the
HL nrpia^nf. nrj,->>? When a man knows he
I loses money by rai.sing cotton and does
not propose to raise rood, he has only
himself to blame for his condition.
But the cry is we are in debt, what are
we todo'r How will you get out of
debt by raising a crop on which you
lose oue cent a pound? It'our people
con't undertake to raise meat and bread
starvation is before us.
1 believe the low price of cotton is influenced
by two causes: the demonetization
of silver and the conduct of our
linancial alfairs m the interests of Wall
street. "We are systematically and persistently
robbed tor the beneiit of manufacturing
industries and money sharks
of the Xortu. The cry gees up from
bullions cf homes, give us relief or we
l?erish? The Alliance has sprung up
Lnd spread like lire. The farmers stand
ft'getiier aad ask relief. If it gees too
Sir and touches on agrarianism, ceo alism
or paternalism as has been
Barged, 1 am afraid the raiubow of
Hhmisp will disaopear from our skies.
I we are men and stand shoulder to
ulder and vote tor measures of relief,
ve don't get ail we ask, we shall get
ie measures of relief. We must not
[rrel about means.
fe want a currency which does not
te at New York, to be let out from
i by men who can let it out or withfet
as their interests dictates. We
Sa cirrency scattered broadcast.
Bant it?millions of us?aid wedeKt
in no uncertain tones.
jft Derajgatic party in Congress
|s?<ira^^a. ' it is dlyided in quarM
There come mice qL^estTor2^#",
gaterests. The interests of M*ssaBfc.
South Carolina and Nebraska
jgsalike. "Whether party alignw'ill
in the future divide the
Hfrom the Northwest to South?ad
of along Mason and Dixon's
nhin rivpr those on each
riding what the other don't
iont Know; somethmg of the
ieiy to happen, But we who
bted by the Republican party
kempt* lo force upon us nebacy
and the force bill have
| ihe Democratic party of
fastened upon us.
iCt anu cannot be reasonable
iagoni^m between the Ailir
other class. Our interests
Itical. Unless the farmer
classes will go by the board
Lo plow. There is no an
lept among those who are
Ikthe banking interests.
Jkisputes and differences
na's to means. I beg my
Kiember that while we
Bp means we must not i
fight because we want to go to the same
end by different roads. I feel that I
need not say it here, for I don't believe
the third party has or can have yet; any
strength here. If the Democratic party
don't give relief this year next will be
time 1.0 cast about and see what can be
done. ISut now we must stand together
against rorce bill legislation shoulder
to shouicer for God and home and native
land.
At the close of the Governor's speech
the foiiowiug resolutions were read
and adopted:
Resolved, That in mass meeting assembled
on this 2Gth day of February,
1892, we the citizens of the Eastern portions
of Townships Nos. 9 and 10 of
rVv.->? + ?T < ? 1 Hn uHrnf tVlP
G TO ITC1 1 J WUUl?J, "W-, uv w** v
following views and principles, believing
that if they were properly carried
out that they would form an efficient
remedy for the correction of the evils
which have brought upon our South
land such widespread disaster and financial
ruin.
1. The acreage of cotton should be
reduced, not so much with a view of
tho orAn that hi<rher nrinPS
UUV VA V ~ x
might be obtained" for we do not belive
that the very low price of cotton at
the present time can be accounted for
on tne ground of over-production, but
more with the view of giving the cotton
farmer more time, more laud, more labor,
more fertilizers and better attention
to the raising of the cere;*ls adapted
to our soil, realizing as w av? that
brino-c
gram, wua ine ricuaeas matgettt;r if."
with it, .means edox?_ aod
cnasecnoytn^arr^^^B
cotton without being meMH
ruin. '|w5ffi&g?K8
2. Rentals of land and credits?
ed should not be based exclusiveljM
cotton. By such a course hundreds
thousands of bales of cotton are raised
by thousands of farmers who, instead i
of producing anything like a sufficiency I
ot farm products necessary for man and
beast, produce little else than cotton.
Such a system is not only ruinous and !
detrimental to the interest of this class |
of farmers, but its direful effects are
felt as a general thing by all other far
aaers ana citizens 01 tne country. \
most effectiye way of reducing the acre-1
age of cotton would be to change this?
system.
3. The times and the condition of ttae
country demand the practice of economy
on the part of every farmer to lettable
him to pay his debts, to bring aim
* - ? - * .. u rkAoifinn in l/i frt
IU Liiai LLIUUU UCOliCU. Aja M??V
when he can pay cash as he goes, thVs
enabling him to buy cntaply, to holc^
and control to a measure his cotton j
crop and other products of the farm,
keeping him out of the hands of spec-1
ulators and doing away with the neces- j
sity of borrowing money at high rate
of interest, or what is still worse, of
obtaining credit on lien or mortgage
for food products, that should be raised
on his own farm. If the price of cot- ]
ten ever did justify the Southern cotfnn
irrnwsr irt hnrrown? monev 0T Of I
obtaining credit at a high rate of interest
to enable him to make cotton, certainly
that time has passed, and it now j
should be apparent to ali that the farmer
cannot stand for any lengtb of !
time at a high rate of interest or "a dear
credit.
4. A judicious use of commercial fertilizes
connected with a j udicious purchasing
of the same is a question that
has no negative to it. But there can
be no such use and purchasing of commercial
fertilizers when the farmer
?. ??Af cfoKlo onH horn
uej^icucd t:ic Luan.ii-15 ui. oiuviu t*uv?
yard manures, the growing upon the
soil and turning under of vegetable
matter, with a judicious system of
farming and proper care of his land.
5. Money is' scarce and tight and labor
is poorly rewarded. Under existing
circumstances few, if any, can buy
and pay for a farm out of the net earnings
of the same, and those farmers not
very greatly in debt must economise as
they have never before done to enable
them to pay their debts. Xow we
know there is a cause for all this, and
we firmly believe that it does not altoOii+Kof
r>nmo fmm mismarinaempnt. on
V. luvi WUAV i-Li. .-0 _
the part of the farmer, but tnat the financial
system and rolicy of the government
aie greatly at fault and have contributed
largely in bringing on the
country the present deplorable condition
of* affairs. Therefore, as citizens
and farmers, while we believe it to be
our imperative duty to practice and
teach and encourage a reduction in the
acreage of cotton, the raising more
largely of the cereals, the improving of
our live stock and farms and homes,
the right practicing of economy, and
the doing of any and all other things
connected with our farms and farm
work, in order to bring to our country
a more prosperous condition of affairs,
that we at the same time, as citizens
responsible for our citizenship and lov
ing our country and homes ana liresities
as we do, feel it incumbent upon us to
teach and use our influence in correcting
all other evils detrimental to our
interests, and especially that which we
believe to be a ruinous "financial system
of the government, in the best way
that can be shown to us, and to do it
with a patriotic view and desire or
bringing prosperity and happiness to
every man, woman and child, to every
city, town and rural home throughout
our beautiful Sunny South, and causing
this grand Southland, this God-given
heritage of ours, "the land of the free
and th? home of the brave," to blossom
as the rose and to be filled with a teeming,
smiling, happy and prosperous
population.
The following resolution offered by
Dr. Pope was also adoptt-d :
Resolved, That tbe thanks of this
meeting are due and are hereby extended
to Governor Tillmam for his
excellent address of today.
Noted Character Dead.
Mobile, Ala., March 3.?Capt.
Timothy Meaher, a venerate steamboat
man, died here this morning, ased
79 years. He was for many years identified
with business on the Alabama and
Tombigbee Rivers in thp palmiest days
of steamboatm*. He was noted as the
importer of the last car^o of slaves
brought to the United States. This was
of ISO!. lie chartered the
schooner Clotilde which brought 100 negroes
and managed to spirit them into a
cane brake 100 miles up stream. News
of the importation soon got abroad and
Meaher was arrested and tried, but
proved that he had made every trip on
his own boat Toney and the inference
Oiot Via iiad nnt. time to receive ne
If CO bi^ttb UV MMVO ?? V ? W
groes and personally superintend the
hiding of them. He was discharged.
If convicted he would have suil'ered the
death penaltv. Thirty negroes fell to
his share. He settled in a suburb of
thfe-city where, being freed shortly af;er
their arrival, they and their descendants
have remained. They have never associated
witli other negroes, are but half
civilized, still use their native lan^ua^e
and arc ruled by a queen ot their own
choosiug. They enjoy a good reputation
lor industry and honesty and their
nnlonv ia nnp of the CUriOSi'.ieS HlOSt
eagerly viewed by sight-seers.
Three thousand bales of cottoa was
burned up in Augusta last week. This
reduces tbe surplus some.
? : ii_
| THE STATE COMMITTEE.
| THE OEMOCRAY GETTING READY FOR
j THE COMING ELECTION.
I tr?lfnlou A nnrava(1 but Tu o
! Propositions' of Dr. Pope Arc Voted
I Down?Master and County Cotmuis'
sloners.
Columbia. S, C., March 2.?The
fact that there were guards at every
possible avenus of eavesdropping at the
meeting of the State Democrtaic executive
committee last night might have led
to the idea that there was to be a lively
| and exciting meeting or the comruiuee.
| Subsequent event?, however, proved
J that the meeting was devoid of special
! sensational features, and that very little
[ of importance was done.
The rules about which so very l.uch
; have already been said were adopted
J with but little protest, and with the important
amendment that the position of
Probate Judiie shall be voted for at 1
general primary.
The meetiDg was very largely attended.
as perhaps it was thought something
unusal would occur, 'mere were present
Chairman Irbv, State Secretary G.
Duncan Bellinger^ Stale Treasurer Wiiie
[Jones; Q. C.Jordan, Aiken; W. A.
Xeal, An lerson; D. A. J. Sullivan,
^^arlestOD; A. G. Br ice, Chester; Dr.
Mc Go vraii, Florence; j! \V.
?K Greenville; A. M. Younians,
ftton; W. J. Walter, Ilorry; J. 11.
jl^Kershaw; T. T. Williams,
Qcoaee; bsCti
R. LoWi&an, Orangeburg; Glen 1). Peak*.
Union; JR. T. Ridging, York; Dr. A. II.
Williams, Williamsburg; II. R. Thomas,
Sum^r.
Thdre were a number of visitor3
present, among whom were J. W.
Stokes,kof the Alliance, Representative
J. H. l)ukes, of Orangeburg; uCal"
Caughman, of Lexington, and other alternates.
Chairman Irby, in opening the busi
* * ? r.i. ^ 1? i
ness, stateu mat at uie mst meeuus; ui
the State committee a sub-committes
had been appointed to draft rules for the
government of the Democratic partv.
lie called on Dr. Pope to make a report.
The rules were the same as have here tofore""
be5n publiTetf aun1 very-"sjedSsS-rdiscussed.
Upon motion of Mr. Jordan, seconded
by Gen Gray, the lules were endorsed
and confirmed as the action of the Slate
committee.
Dr. Pope moved as an amendment,
which was adopted, that the olliee of
j Master be added to be voted at the pn:
mary.
Dr. Sampson Pope introduced the following
resolution, which occasioned
considerable discussion:
Resolved, That in the primary elections,
where there are more persons
than one to bs elected, either as delesates
to conventions, merrbers of the
House of Representatives aud county
commissioners, the ballot voted shall
- - - - -1 - -tit*
contain tee names m lug umcicui ycisous
for these positions to the extent of
the number to be chosen or elected, and
no ballot for these offices which shall
not be lull shall be connected.
Dr. Pope explained at length the motive
of the resolution, which was to prevent
''plumping."
Gen Gray moved to table the resolution,
which motion prevailed by a vote
ol 17 to G.
The question of the appoiutment ol
supervisors of registration by Governor
Tillman Wits discussed and it was the
~ ~ ~ ~ ^ ^ ( fl-io f 4 Ti a no/.naoi 1 \r
aeuse ui iuc uumuiiLiet uuab wvuv/v-wanj
of the aDDninlruent ot ollicers be called
to iu. of the various county
executrv, with a view of
their recomu.. opointments.
Oa motion of Mr. uraans, of Hampton,
it was reaolveu that the rules for
the government of the piiroarv be printed,
and on the same circular be printed
the Act. of 1888, and that these be distributed
among the managers at various
voting precincts though the various
county chairmen. The rules will be
forwarded directly to the county chair
men.
At this juncture Dr. Pope introduced
his resolution to lix the number to constitute
a quorum at seven, which was,
subsequently withdrawn.
A nice point was raised in refereci-e
to placing the names of county commissioners
on billots for the primary, in
view of the uncertainty of the oillce being
a constitutional one. and to be voted
for or not.
It was decided that Chairman Irby
confer with Governor Tillman, and have
Jum cooiiro Hen "MVT.qjirin's nninion on
the point. The question evoked considerable
discussion.
On motion of Dr. Pope the instructions
to county chairmen from Chairman
Irby, which were issued to county chairmen,
were approved.
They are as follows:
Pursuant to the order of the State
Democratic executive committee the re* i
spcctive county executive committees,
I Trill ICtSllO O f!lll
LIJL LIJCJ1 Lliaiiuuvu. <i tu .vuuv ?? wv.?
for the reorganization of the Democratic
party in their respective counties by calling
the subordinate clubs to meet at their
usual places of meeting " ' the second
Saturday (the 9th day) : <rial next,
for the purpose of reorganize : aid clubs
and for the purpose of electiu? d^lcuates
to the respective couuty conventions.
These conveutious will meet on the
" - i r 4
hrst JMOuaay ^uie zu uayj m n-.-v ulac,
to reorganize the party iu each couuty, to
elect? ncvr county executive committee,
to elect delegates to the State Convention,
which meets In Columbia on tlie
third Wednesday in May next, and to
transact s?ch business as many be proper
under the constitution.
The representatives of each subordinate
club in said couuty conventions
shall be one delegate lor ever.v twentyGve
members and one delegate for each
majority fraction thereof. (July such
j Democratic clubs as were in existence
I on thfi 12th of August. 1890. shall be
recognized; provided, however, that two
clubs in each ward iu the cities of Charleston,
Columbia, Greenville and SparI
tanbunr ma}- be formed.
Xo ciub that was formed or organized
'after the 13th of August, A. I). 1800.
j by the division of an old club, or otberJ
wise, sbaH be recosruized.
John L. M. Iri>v,
Chairman State Dem ?.x Com.
(J. Duncan Belt.ixc.er,
I January 14, 1S92V Secretary.
! in* tot.be constructor. ot the
j first sentence placed on ir. by most of
the mem ers the question ot'theChari
leston clubs and others having no exist{ence
for the present campaign is pretty
[ well settled."'
Mr. Thomas, of Sumter, jokingly reI
marked that hs had been out of the com*
- dfc?
mittee so Ions that he felt somewhat
strange and had to ask for a copy of the
rules of the party. |
The matter of method for the election I
of trial justices by primary was referred I
to the various county executive commit- j
tees as to the most acceptable manner)
of their election, whether by districts at j
lariie or by townships.
Chairman Irby stated that, following
the example of Chaisman Izlar, he
would suggest that the railroad expenditures
of ihe members who attend
the meetings be paid out of the funds of
the committee, which amount to $2,000
or $3,000. He had instructed the members
in the call that such provision had
I rP1ir> cnfwpstirm was adnnted. I
XXUlllV* yv.=nvw W.v? ? x f
and checks will be issued to members
attending.
It was scarcely 10 o'clock when the
committee adjourned. The members
will all return to their respective homes
to-morrow.
The minority element in the commit-1
tee was icpreseutcd by the lone Charleston
delegate. D. A. J. Sullivan. Col.
Haskell was in New York. .Josephs.
Read, of Ueautort, and J. Harleston
Head, of Georgetown, were absent.
They probably expected that the rules
and everything else would g> through
as prepared by the special cammiltee.
?News and Courier.
Washington, March 2.?Extravagance
at Congressional funerals is
again a troublesome question. The
House committee on accounts has bills
before it for the funerals of those
members of the present House who
have died, but all are delayed because
of extraordinary items in one.
The disputed bill was
the funeral of Ju^s^irtrGlCof Tennessee^iuage""ECbuk
died suddenly last
"Summer at his home in Knoxville and
was buried there. The funeral was in
charge of the House sergeant-at-arms,
who gave the necessary orders. A local
undertaker famished the castketand
looked after ali arrangements. A Congressional
committee attended and its
expenses were included in the bill.
When the bill was sent in the amount
surprised even Congressmen hardened
to exorbitant charges in such cases.
huH nut". i
JL iJC i\UUAVliiC uuuci uauvi uuu ^
casket down at 81,200, and had added |
an item of $200 for '-extra trimmings."
This was a poser. Inquiry showed
that the most expensive burial casket
in- Washington would cost only $500,
while many ordered by persons of
wealth had been bought for $300 each.
I The casket in which Gen. Spinola was
T?r_r l.firo on/l />r>n<su]prpfi
UUlieu, uu\rygtf^ nviv ?
a very line one, cost oitifi?88&. ? |
Another item staggered the committee.
It was'"for photographs, $31." This
was an entirely new wrinkle. It was
not stated what or who had been photographed,
and so the committee concluded
that probably the funeral procession
had been, possibly the interior
of the church during the religious exercises.
There was no authority for
such expense and that item was rejected.
A third surprise was a charge of sixteen
dollars for stenographers. What
a short hand writer could lind to do at
the funeral, unless he took down the
minister's sermon, the committee could
not imagine. Since Congress was not
interested in preserving me seiwuij,
that item was rejected.
The overcharge in the Houk bill is
not great, but it shows the abuse of the
custom of burying members of Congress
who die in harness at public expense.
For that reason the committee
on accounts refused payment. It is remarked
as strange that such a bill
should be rendered for the burial of
such a man. Judge Houk was one of
the plain people and gloried in it. He
abhorred all show, and one of his
friends said that if the sturdy ExJudge
could know that he was buried
in so expensive and ornamental a casket
he would insist upon immediate
resurrection and a simple appropriate
reinterment.
Hill and bis .Salary.
Washington, March 3.?There was
quite an interesting little episode in the
ooms of the Secretary of the Senate
this afternoon. After the vote on the
Idaho case had been taken. Senator Hill
strolled iuto the room, aud remarked
that, if convenient, he would like to
draw a little money. The Secretary of
the Senate, who is Gen. Anson <j. aicCook,
of Xcw York, is the disbursing
officer of the Senate. lie draws monthly
from the lieasury a sufficient amount
to pay the salaries of members, aud at
the beginning of each session dravs
enough to pay their mileage and sta?;.->ncru
oiin?-nnfP?_ Senator Hill's re
j quest was promptly responded to by
Secretary McCook's disbursing clerk,
who placed belore him vouchers for au
amount aggregating about $5,000, and
asked him to sign them. "On, no,"
said the Senator, "I want a voucher for
my salary from the day I was sworn in,
the 7th of January, 1S92, up to the end
of February. This is your usual pay day,
is it not? The 3d of the month?''
The clerk said it was, but weut on to
remarK mat incy nau a ceiruuu itmuuuu
standing oq their books to the credit of
the 2s"ew York Senator, and to pay out
oni.y a portion of that amount would
fnnfnainn in hnf.h their bookkeen
mg and in the Treasury Department.
With some brusqueness of manner
Mr. Ilill said this was none of his business;
they must keep their books to sui
vhemselves. lie wished to draw his
sslarv for the actual time he had served
ia 1he Hecate and not one cent more.
Aitcr some further parleying the clerk J
nude cut a voucher lor ?897.0fJ, and this
Mr. IIill signed and took a check for
that amount iu full payment of all his
claims upon the Senate salary and mileage
fund up to date, $778 of this amount
1 * " ' ' r * ? TVk
I DOOlJ I or saiary nuiu .jauuci) t l uxcir
ruary 2'J ami the balance fur mileage.
The disbursing clerk stated afterwards
that the balancc left UDdrawn was
?4.221, wbicli would in due conrse. by
operation of law, be covered back into
the Treasury.
I?o V.'iW Not J:e Tried.
San I)n:c:o, Cal., Starch 3.?J. "W.
Collin?, president of the defunct Calir'nrn
in. Xationnl IJank. shot himself!
this afternoon at Hotel J>rewster. Collins
was tound lying on the lloor with
blood streaming over him and a pistol
in his hand. The California National
Dank closed its doors November 12 It
was considered one of the strongest institutions
financially in Southern California.
A warrant was sworn out for
Collin's arrest on a charge of appropriation
of the bank's funds, and it was
also shown that deposits were being re
_j ? 4 li a frnio nf i n or thp I
ceiveu up lu me tiixic
doors. It is unierstocd that Collins
was to have been tak<*n to Los Angeles
to day lor trial. Collins was interested
in a number of enterprises for
the development of trie Southern _part
oi the State and was always cqmB
a. wealtny man. lie came^^H|HP>
from Cheyenne, Wis
terestecl in a banl^[^H|Bn|HLtly
failed.
| THE VIEWS OF DR. STOKES.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE STATE ALLIANCE
ON THE SITUATION.
He Savs "We must Get to the People iu
the Primaries, and we must Abide with
the People when they have Spokon."
| To the Editor of The Xews and Courier:
Your favor of lGth February is at
i hand and has had careful attention. I
j note that you de3ire to obtain from me
j an expression of my views "upou what
! course the conservative people of the
I State should take to bring about ttie un|
ity and harmony of the party, which
was so rudely broken by the unnatural
course of events in the State two years
ago."
It affords me pleasure to comply with
your request; not, perhaps, uas fully as
in my judgment the importance of ths
issues to be discussed may require," out
| as fully as the limited time at my disposal
for this purpose will allow.
This is a serious matter, regardless of
the factional affiliation of him who considers
it from the standpoint of the patriot,
and any sincere effort to avert the
impending dangers is a highly patriotic
ell'ort, its projector a patriot of generous
impulse, regardless of past or present
affiliations.
L'ermit me, at the outset, to make exception
to the phraseology of the text
you furnish me?not in any captious
spirit?but solely to the end that invesnnh
l-mn/lir-ormpi] hv nnv as
l^auivu UV 4AVW - J J
sumptions not clearly warranted iu the
premises. He who seeks a rcmeijv,
rather than a mere nal1AauVfr"for'any
sprigs rnnflij^rTmust go deeper into
the matter than a surface view of local
manifestations. Causes must be discovered,
the principles governing them
must be established; their relations to
contiguous and even remote cotemporaneous
events must be considered, and
remedies must be predicated upon tho
findings in all these directions.
The exception I make is to your use
of the word "unnatural," as applied to
the events of 1890, Whether viewed
from the standpoint of political acid social
science, or of industrial and commercial
development, ihey strike me as
proceeding along wfill-dehned lines of
j human nature at least, as read in the
' individual and collective history of the
race.
In my judgment, then, it is a mistake
to treat, or to attempt to treat, the
manifestatioEs of two years ago as "unnatural"
or as mere local phenomena,
peculiar to South CxJ&ILna; and any
ourse'predibsprtstihi'pon the aSStXZPPlion
that they were either unnatural or meteor.
ly local will be futile. They were the
resultant of forces long ago put into
operation, and the plane of their activity
i i i 1
nas ueeu as uiuau us uit iuuuucui,
They were the manifestation of a discontent
long felt and growing among all
laboring classes in city and in country,
in field and In factory, in farm house and
m shop. That discontent exists today,
Mr. Editor, 5d youi own city and in
every city .of .the land to an extc-nt not
less aiarming than Is that in the rural
districts; and all that is lacking, in city
as in country, is leadership In irout and ,
a sympathetic press behind to make it .
an irresistible power. These people
the land over have long felt the pres- ,
sure 01 an intangible, indefinable force ,
bearing them down, down. In the face
of unparalleled general prosperity and
progress they have been growing poorer
r\AAvftr TVhiln 1..Yiuwl onrl
dUU IT UUV L-. wiikvt
harder from year to year, they bave '
found it hard and harder to live, to educate
their children and keep up even a
show ol respectability. Whether right ;
or wrong they have become impressed
that the hidden force they feel is applied
through manipulation of the fiuancial
system of the Government in the interest
of a class, as well as in unequal taxation.
Ilence their simultaneous assault
upon all the avenues to government?local,
State and national. While
not al.vays rational in the direction of
iheir eil'orts, it must be admitted that
the effort itself is eminently natural.
It is natural for them to wish to shift
the burdens they feel to be inequitably
imposed: and it is natural for those who
enjoy the benefits of manipulation and
of uuequal taxation to resist any interference.
I think it not impertinent to
remark In passing that in my opinion
this discontent is in no sense a tact to
be deplored. On the contrary, it is a
divinely appointed safeguard to popular
government. The painstaking statesman
recognizes it as a warning, a 3ym^
torn ot disease; but many of our leaders
01 pUL)l!C opinion axe uui, {jiuusiaiuu^,
and too often dismiss t >e matter (when
pressed upoD their attention) in a Hippant
way?referring all evidences of discontent
to a desire on the part of improvident
people to set more than they
are entitled to.
Upon the general causes I think theie
is almost universal agreement among
our people of all classes. The majority
of the people are impressed that there
is something seriously wrong, asd share
in the discontent of the farmers aud laborers.
This practical agreement upon
the general conditions furnishes, in my
judgment, the key totne situation, jsui
superimposed upon them are various
local questions, more or less remotely
connected with them, which give the
coloring peculiar to each State. In some
sections there is an appalling gulf between
poor and rich, and there the local
manifestations are highly alarmicg.
Happily there exist no such extremes of
poverty and wealth in our State. 33ut
the teudency is here, and its blighting
ell'ect unon moral and industrial inter
ests elsewhere should lead all patriotic
people to resist the tendency here.
In our own case, then, where sentiment
as well as condition is comparatively
homogeneous alon r the lines ot
local disturbance prevalent elsewhere,
it should be easy to restore "unity and
harmony," whether "rudely broken" or
not; whether broken by a natural or "no
unnatural course of events."
Tt-1 mv iiirlfr/nr.nt thpro tS n W3V f.O pf.
feet this, and that way leads direct to
the people; a time-honored way, the
Democratic way. suiled to all conditions,
local and general. A fair lield and a
patient, respectful Hearing for candidates
representing every shade of opinion
among us; fullest and freest discussion
upon a hi^h piano?calm, rational
discussion of issues rather than men;
national issues upon which there f? practical
agreement?is the first step in the
direction of unity and harmony. All
discussiou should be pitched upon a high
plane, free from personal vituperation
and abuse. The maa that leads cli' on
any personal or vituperative line should
be promptly side-tracked by all conservative
people, whatever their factional
afliliation. The bewspaper that prints
such, whether as "news" or a? editorial,
or that misrepresents any individual
or faction, sho^-1 hp mads to leel the
displeasure of fl&gSO^^M^ple
of ail classes in a very emphatic way.
A free ballot and a fair count in the
primaries?a count above the taint of
suspicion; and then absolute acquiescence
in the will of the majority thus
ascertained will, in my judgment, do the
work?i.e., "restore uuitv and harmony
amonir our people." Xothinn short of
this will ecnipass it. Xo individuals
nor collection oi individuals, can do it.
There is almost universal distrust of
what are designated as political methods,
The action of any delegated or undelegated
body beforehand would be suspected
of "wire-pulling" aud ''swapping"
in the interest of some one and
against some one, or ol having a per
sonal animus. This would be inevitable
and unavoidable, however wisely
and patriotically conducted. This distrust
is the legitimate outcome ot prevalent
journalistic methods. Heretofore
the press has been full of charges
of political corruption, it is true; but the
charges have been uniformly preferred
against Republicans by Democrats, and
against Democrats by Republicans.
Lately there have been charges and
counter charges of "deals" and of corrupt
trades as frequently against Dem??u..
1
uuictis uy auu u^aiucc jlvgpublicans
by Republicans, as there have
ever been, vice versa?in the National
and the State organizations. There
have been threats of revolt from party
supremacy in high circles, and in close
sequence revolts have come, to our present
confusion and possible undoing.
For these reasons, and others too painfully
familiar, nothing short of an appeal
to the people antlaosoiuie acquiescence
in their verdict will avail m this case.
ejnii=L_^t -oHnT
'hands of all leaders whomsoever, or
howsoever constituted, and refer it down
dispassionately, apart Irom personal
ambitions and animosities, (or suspicion
of such,) to the people for settlement.
We must get to the people in the primaries,
and we must abide with the people
when they have spoken. Doubtless
some few wise and patriotic men
might shape a more consistent, a more
logical, a more symmetrical settlement,
but it could not stand because it would
Qot have the people behind it.
If there be any who will not submit
their opinions to the arbitrament o* the
ballot In the primaries for the sake of
"unity and harmony in the party,"
neither will they be conciliated by any
concession, however or by whomsoever
offered, short of full concurrence in their
views.
Now, Mr. Editor, these are my views.
j.uev are not new, pernaps, uuu uiey
represent the conclusions I have reached
after as careful consideration of the situation
as I have beeD able to give.
J. Wm. Stokes,
*-Resident's Office, South Carolina
State TsuteeS^^JJjance, Orangeburg,
February 20.
Hemphill as a Keformer.
Washington, March 2.?llepresentative
Hemphill is a practical economist.
as was clearly shown today during
the consideration of the District of Columbia
appropriation bill. Upon his
motion the recorder of deeds for the
District of Columbia v,*as made a sala- ;
ried ollicial instead of receiving lees.
Mr. Ilemphill proposed to give the recorder
$3,GOO, and his amendment was
adopted. The Republicans antagonized
it vigorously, because the present recorder
is Ex-Senator B. K. Bruce, a
colored Republican from Mississippi.
In support of Mr. Hemphill's motion
it was shown that the net profits realized
bv Recorder Bruce during the lirst
year of his tenure of oflice, over and :
above all expenses, amounted to ?11,- ,
3S9.10. In the second year business .
improved a little and his net profits
^ l" 1 o <f 1 9 I r.
auivuuiuu lkj Vi. a tutai uci
profit of $23,$02.55 for two years' work.
At the instance of Mr. Hemphill the
House also gives the register of will3 a
tixed salary instead ol fees. Mr. Hemphill
is not a member of the appropriations
committee, but as chairman, of the
committee on the District of Columbia
he is familiar with this subject. lie believes
in giving these oflicials a reasonable
salary, but insists that the surplus
revenues of the office should be turned
back into the treasury.
Such economy does not cripple any :
Wnch of the public service, but it is a
sc.. "e blow lo the politicians wbo are
constantly fighting to get the recordership.
For years past the oflice has been
given to colored men, much to the disgust
of the white local politicians. Garfield
gave the rccordeiship to Fred
Douglass when the local real estate
boom was greatest, and he is said to
Korn C?O^ flAA !n rtno rnir
Uft * ^ u?u V ? Xia vuu jv.ui?
Mr. Cleveland, to show his friendship
for the colored New England Democrats,
appointed a colored friend from
Albany. The Senate refused to confirm
him, so a Eoston colored man
named Trotter was appointed to succeed
him. When Harrison came in there
was a grand scramble arnonr: local Ilepublicans,
but Ex-Serator Eruce carried
oil* the prize.?News aDd Courier,
Sanguine Gen. Weaver.
Dies Moines, March 2.?Gen. J. E.
Weaver, who has just returned from
the St. Louis Convention, is much
pleased with ine worn acne mere anu
the way it was done. "It was a perfect
love feast," sjid he, "What did we do?
Why, sir, we cemented together 5,000,000
of the voters of this country into a
new party, which will sweep "the two
old parties from the page of American
politics. Yes, sir, the new party will
carry the next Presidential election.
I expect the South and West will join
us, and we are confident of carrying
our banner far towards the East by
means of the Knisrhts oi' Labor vote.
I do not think that the Republican
party is really in the race, and the
Democratic party is hopelessly split.
Neither of these old parties will advance
our interests of reform."
Fatal Explosion.
Savaxnaii. Ga., Feb. 29.- The
boiler in the Savannah, Florida and
r.
>v esuiru jianwiij cuuus u
o'clock this morning. killing two men
and fatally injuring another. The buildin
was wrecked and .the patterns ol the
company's machinery and locomotives
were dcsirovcd. The killed are. John
C. Murphy, engineer, white, and Fireman
Siolt, colors?. A colored porter
was fatally injured. The damase cutside
of the loss of patterns is estimated
at $8,000. The cause of the explosion
has not yet been determined. The boil
ei" was uucii miu v> iinj-r yco*ciuu_v
the fire was started. This morning the
explosion took place.
A. Tardy Act of Justice.
Washington, March 2.?Mr. Turner J
of Georgia, from the ways and means j
committee, submitted to the House;
yesterday tho majority report on the |
hill to aamit l'ree of dutv backing: for (
cotton, machinery lor manufacturing
bagging, cotton ties and cotton gins,
with the recommendation that the bill
pass. The Republican members oi' the
committee submitted a minority report.
|g
A MUCH MOOTED POINT.
"What is tbe Status of the County Commissioners?
Columbia, S. C., March 4.?At the
meeting 01 me OUl?C ^cmut/Lam/ oja\.uu~
live Committee Tuesday night the question
of the status of the County Commissioners
came up and the committee
decided to refer the matter to the Governor
and ask him to get the opinion of
the Attorney General on the subject.
On Wednesday Governor Tillman wrote
the following letter to Attorney General
McLaurin:
"It has been called to my attention
fliot tVioro <*viafs ir> r.hfi r>uhlie mind a
doubt as to the office of County Commissioner,
and in order to set the matter
at rest I would ask that you give me
your written opinion as to what eft'ect
if any the passage of the constitutional
amendment abolishing that office has
upon the existing boards. Do they hold
over till the Legislature devises some
other form of County government or
will it be lawful to elect a new board
next November?"
Attorney General McLaurin considered
the subject carefully and found a
number of knottv Doints wrapped up in
it. After mature deliberation Mr. McLauriu
wrote the folio wing opinion:
"Your letter of yesterday's date has
been received, m which you ask for the
opinion of the Attorney General as to
what cfleet, if any, the passage of the
constitutional amendment abnljiifr^
the oflice^o^^^yxtnirmrssio ners has
"OpSnThe existing boards, and also if the
present officers hold over or are new
ones elected.
"Section 10 of Article 4 of our Constitution
provided for a Board of County
Commissioners to be elected bilnnially,
ana ueuutiu uie iuhowluuu w
such b jards.
"An amendment to the constitution
providing for the repeal of tbis section
was submitted to the qualified voters of
the State at the general election of 1890,
and a majority voting in favor of the
repeal, the usual Act ratiiying amendments
to the constitution was passed at
the first session of the next General
Assembly.
"It is certainly a proper attribute of
legislative power to provjde suitable
machinery for the conduct of County
affairs.
" Anv rtmihtaexistmcr oil the DOintS in
question I em satisfied have arisen from
a misapprehension of what is the effect
of a State constitution on legislative
power.
"The constitutions of the States are
declarations of negative powers, while
that of the United States is a grant of
affirmative powers. We look m the
Constitution of the United States for
grants of legislative power, but La the
Q>?sUtution of the State to ascertain if
any lirmtaOtiSShavebeeniajj^gtftl^on'
the complete power with which the legislative
department of the State was vested
in its creation. Cooley, Const. Lim.
"The section of the Constitution
which was repeale J was simply of an
ainrmauve legislative cutuautci, <auu
the Legislature would have had power
to create the present bo ards without any
constitution? 1 authority, or to have
provided some other system of County
government, and the Statute law as it
now stands is not in conflict with the
Constitution.
"The constitutional restriction created
fay the Section referred to operated to
prevent the Legislature from altering
the scheme of County government, extent
in conformitv with that provision.
and the amendment striking out this
provision leaves to the legislative power
an unlmited and unrestricted control
over the County governments. This
restrict on being removed the Legislature
may now, in its wisdom, provide
such system as may be deemed best calculated
to promote the welfare of the
people. In all such cases no intention
to abrogate previously existing laws can
be presume i in the absence of expression
to that effect. English on Stat
mes.
"I understand the rule as laid down
by Cooley and other authorities to be in
substance that where a Statute ha3
been passed by the Legislature within
its general legislative powers, but in
pursuance of an affirmative -direction in
the constitution, the repeal of this
direction will not necessarily operate to
repeal the Statute, but the validity of
the Statute will be referred to the general
legislative power.
"It is therefore my opinion that the
Statute law upon the subject of the
County Commissioners is of lull lorce
and not abridged or repealed in any way
by the constitutional amendment, and
that the terms of .the present officers
will end upon the election and qualification
of their successors. The election
lor these officers under this construction
of the law will of course take place at
the usual lime for holding an election."
Down With the Trusts.
Columbus, Ohio, March 2.?The
Supreme Court of Ohio, ia the case of
the State of Ohio ex rel Attorney General
Watson vs the Standard Oil Company,
rendered a decision yesterday of
importance concerning trusts. This
case was instituted by petitions in quo
warranto to oust the company from its
corporate rights and to forfeit its
franchise. The judgement of the Court
is to oust the company from the right
to make the trust agreements set forth
' if t/\r* nf f rvAtror tA
ILL UUC poilbiuu auu Ui. fcuv t* \,a vv
perform the same. While the decision
does not oust the company from its
franchise it prohibits it from in any
way continuing to carry out or fulfil
any provisionb or agreements under
trust contracts. The Attorney General
of New York has papers ready to file
against the Standard in that State, prepared
in contemplation of this "decision.
We Hope It Will be Tried.
" if l o rpu/x axtaaii
liALYJESTO^i, iuarcn -.? xuc cacv,ulive
committee of the Texas Bankers'
Association has issued an address to
the farmers and business men urging
a reduction of the cotton acreagc 15
per cent., giving as their opinion that
the effect will be to raise the price 30
per cent. They cite an increase in
prices of 10 per cent, in 1871 by a decrease
of acreage of 15 per cent., and
refer to the example of the Brazilian
coli'ee planters raising the price of coffeg
from 7 cents to 24 cents in 1880 and
up to 1880 by reduced acreage.
Death of Mrs. Stackhoase.
Marion*, March 2.?Mrs. E. T. Stackhouse,
wife of Congressman Stackhouse,
died here at 0 o'clock yesterday
morning. She had heen sick for several
clays, Due notnmg 01 a serious nature
was expected until Sunday afternoon,
when she grew rapidly worse. She
was visiting her sister, Mrs. W. W.
Hamilton, as the time of her death.
Her remains will b? interred at Little
Kock tomorrow. Col. IStackhouse was
in Washington, and reached here o .4
last night.
NO THIKD JTAMI.
A SPEECH FROM THE PRESIDENT OF
THE GEORGIA ALLIANCE.
He Vigorously Denounces the Third Party
Movement?He Advises AlUancemen w
Stick to the Demo racy?An Enthusiastic
lieception.
Covington, Ga., Feb. 27.?The
people of Newton and adjoining counties
and many from distant counties, in
great crowds, gathersd here today until , J|
the Superior Court room of the court > fl
house was packed, easer to "hear the H
snoM^M tViof moro frthp. made: H
bUMV f( V4w?< ?v wv ?. ... ? w
Mr. Wilson, a plain, blunt, honest
man, was the first speaker. He an- ?
nounced in the outset of his speech that 1
he was an Allianceman first, last and all I
the time; heartily devoted to Its printi- 1
pies, because the aim and objectand par- S
pose of the Alliance was to make the
people happier, better and more prosperous.
But, said he, the Alliance people
of Georgia and the South, and their
friends outside the Alliance, constitute
the Democratic party and are the Democratic
part7 of Georgia and the South.
Thus constituted and working in this
line, the Alliance had accomplished and
3 ja
Is stlii accompusmng great guou, aau
there is no use, no occasioa and no.seose
in a change. The best thing for the
Alliance to do is tn stay
[Great apalause.j
He criticised severely, but in no objectionable
language, the obnoxious
make-up and unjust and unfair doings of
the mixed, crankyjand loud-mouth Third
party people at the St. Louis convention,
and held himself in no way bound
K*t tW?r>Hrtn TTo nnf. insider
\JJ UVtUVU* M.W VMV* ? 1 ?. ....
that there was any political action taken ft
by the convention; that birth was given
to the Third party by cranks, and hybrids
in a mass neeiing after the convention
had adjourned. His speech was
well received, and was listened to with
interest.
Col. Livingston was greeted with applause
when he rose to speak. Tour
correspondent cin'tdo justice to his
speech, writing, as he is, entirely from j
memory. It was one of the best
speeches he ever made?earnest, con- f
servative, strong, eloquent and convino |
ing. Danger, he said, comes when the
top of the hill is reached as is the case
now with the Alliance. In struggling I
to reach the too of the hill,-the Alliance
clung together and accomplished so
much that the ootsfde^world was as ton- I
ished and dumfoonded. "This was done 1
be repeated, by holding together. jk
He drew a vivid picture of the financial
condition
possibly" corSSS^^^^^^*
division and bv SDlittlnsr up. A call i
bad been issuad for a congregation of J
the producers of the country to meet in
convention at St. I i. He went there
to meet this congregation, but instead
he found there all kinds of organizations
in existence or that could be organized,
and found them there for the purpose of /
over-riding Southern sentiment, and
they did it.
Jfo where in all his life, and he had
been in many places and seen much
doubtful doings, had he seen as much
trickery and underground railroading to
accomplish their purpose and carry their
points as he saw there. Shall the Alii?/vAnfmMA
in fKa rvoof
aucc SUU1U auu UUUWiiUC ao xu vuu
and as now, or shall we launch out into
a political campaign and take the
chances?
During the last political campaign
every Allianceman who went into a
Democratic primary and was defeated,
worked and votel tor the fellow who defeated
him. He said he accepted the
nomination for Congress as a Democrat
who stood on the Ocala platform, was
eieeted as such, and was standing right
f-Viorii fn/1 o x?
Referring again to the Third party
crowd at St. Louis, h<i said it was the
most confused and confoundedly confused
crowd he ever saw; calling on
.Bealer, of The Atlanta Journal, who
was present, and who was also at St. ^
Louis, to state if he misrepresented J
them, Bealer said no, that they were
simply an aggregation of cranks.
Can you follow a multitude like that,
or a man who will pander to the passion
of a crowd like that? M
Everything was cut and dried to outrage
justice, decency and fair-dealing.
Will you cling together as Alliancemen,
or will you follow the strange banner
noatea oy mis crowar
Are you ready to turn your back on
your liiends at the bidding of some
stranger following'
He was opposed to the Alliance going
into any party. The order is nonpartisan.
You can't go Into any party
without losing large numbers of your
members, and it would be impolitic and
unwise to do so, there would be no success
for the Alliance in doing so. Don't
fight as an organization in any party,
sues togeiaer axiu vuwj yum. jjituupico
and you will win, to go inte any party
will kill your order.
He would give up everything to fisht 9
the man who would obliterate the color
line. Go in any party as an organization,
and the contest for the negro vote
will be fruuful of strife, bitterness and
disgraceful scenes that will shock decency.
Can you get relief in the Third
party, I ask you soberly can you?
Who controls the politics of the country,
the politicians, the court house
rin^s? No the people, and the time is
coming when it the Democratic party
I /1n?o nftf Vvoo/1 fVl/? TT/ >!/">/} /if fhp T4Af*n?P._
UUtO UVW uwu VUV I ViW V* WMVf
it will find itself split in two. Yoor financial
enemies don't live in the live
South. We are all lor financial relief,
then why split and divide. Lei 8 hold
together* and fight Wall street, New
York, and Lombard stre it London. ?
Horrors of Famine.
Vienna, March 2.?Horrible details
have been received of the condition of
the starving neoDle at Namessto. in the
county of Arva, Hungary. Many have
died of hunger and privation, and those
who survive are feeding on roots and
bark. Child beggars swarm everywhere,
making pitiful appeals to travelers,
while tbeir pinched and pale faces
show the sufferings they endure. The
death rate from famine is increasing;
?nd the survivors are DreDarine to em
igrate, if thev can, to Some "district
where they can obtain a chanca to live.
Killed by a Preacher.
13iiimingiia}i, Ala., March 3.?Key. i
John Calvin, a Methodist preacher in 2
Green County, this morning shot and ?
killed William Herdy, a deacon in the
church, and fatally wounded David
Smith, brother-in law of Herdy. Her- m
dy suspected Calvin of being intimate M
with his (Herdy's) wife, and attacked ^
him with a cane,v when Calvin drew a J
#istol and fired five shots with the M
above result. Calvin is in jail at Eu- 4
taw.