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' * . H TOL. XLIX. WINNSBORO, S. C., WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12,1894. . < NO. 18. ^ ^ - OUR MW GOVERNOR. mm THE HON. JOHN GARY EVANS INAUGURATED CHIEF MAGISTRATE. The Inaagraral Address Yerv Conservative and Patriotic in its Tone?What He Tiecommends?The Full Text of the Address "Will be Found Belorr. Columbia, S. C., Dec. 5.?The Hon. ? -i.i John Gary JKvans was inaugurated Governor of 7 South Carolina yester" day in the presence of a large and enthusiastic crowd. Do^n stairs in the executive chamber the inaugural party wa& assembling about noon. The Governor-elect was there chatting most of the time with Chief Justice Mclver. Governor Tillman, having shortly before done his last work as chief executive, wearing a white flower in the lapel of his coat, walked ut> and down, and was in an ideal goocl humor. United States Senator Irby was there too, as were also Circuit Judges Benet and Norton, .and Dr. J. A. Kice. Verv soon the clerks of the two houses, with the members of the inauguration joint committee, came in. The Senate came in about 1:05 p. m. with much pomp. In a short time the ^ inaugural party entered, headed bv the KL sergeant-at-arms of_ the House, "bearBL ing?the historic colonial mace, and the bs' same officer of the Senate, bearing: the K equally historic sword of State. Then Kthe band struck up a lively march. RPresident pro tem. of the Senate, John Harrison, who was in the chair orw?red the members to rise. Then came Kiief Justice Mclver and Associate |fctice Pope together, followed by AsWjate Jutsice Gary and Circuit Judge Ifet, all wearing their official B. Judge Norton and Mr. Robert >f the committee, followed, and Bfcame Dr. J. A. Rice, the officiat HBainister, on che arm of Senator- - |?ny Mr. Weston and Dr. James Htorow came next, and then Dr. BBMPPiKiEerman on the arm of a commit T^eeman. The Governor-elect came in on the arm of Senator McCalla. Gov V" ernor Tillman followed on the arm of Senator Dennis. The other State officers and solicitors followed. The party mounted the Speakers stand and most of them took seats. | Speaker Jones stood at the elbow of President Harrison,who forthwith announced that the Governor-elect was ready to take the oath of office. The exercises were then opened with prayer by the Rev. Dr. Jonn A. Rice. The prayer was a most beautiful and most L appropriate one*- The Governor-elect | ^ stcxxljust behind the minister. He asked God's blessing on the outgoing j administration. He prayed that all their deeds might redound to God's glorv. He invoked in choice language fiie t>ivine blessing on the incoming administration, and prayed that the T wrmlrJ (mint nntn th? nftW ruler ^ wisdom from on high, and a mind I. keen to discover the trutiu-ilf all his i f that all his to all condiBayed that in the ^Ppe young men of ^Rnplified the religion to the end that rightt^Osess and peace might kiss each other in South Carolina. At the inclusion of the prayer President Harrison Announced "The . Honorable John Gary Evans, Governor-elect, is present And ready to take the oath of office." He picked up a very handsome new bible and holaing I it out Mr. Evans and Chief Justice I Mclver also grasped it The chief justice then administered the required bb oath. When he ceased speaking Mr. ^ - Evans turned bisJiPAd tqlhajau&gpce | ana aeciarea in a ringing tone, ? uu ?and then he was Governor. Mr. Harrison then released the chair and Mr. Evans stepped to the elevation, proceeding at once to deliver his inL augural message. He was listened to .? with the closest attention all the way through, and many were surprised at the expressed tone of the effort. Mr. Evans spoke as follows, delivering the address with great deliberation. THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS. L " Gentlemen of the General Assembly: After obtaining the will of the poople in three separate elections. I might say, I am here today to assume the governorship of the proudest people on the globe-^-the Governorship of South . Carolina. Ten years ago the elevation >. of a man of my age to the highest " honor in the gift of the people would have been regarded almost as unconstitutional. A youn^ man in South K^fe&^Qrp^na would not have dared aspire Wg s honorable position for fear of i?j.i j* rf <jig tlie uuiuiu ui iu?i, vxoao *> uu J ^ oth. by reason of age or inheritiwoe., considered the offices as their particular property without regard to the popular will. There are some who still regard the political revolution of 1890, which gave to us an aristocracy of brains instead of land and money, as an hallucination, a dream of youth filled with iconoclasts and as the reign of the demagogue. This gentle slumber will result in good, and the Rip rVan Winkles of the State will awaken to find themselves monuments of antiquity.surrounded by young scions of modern progress and development, who have nothing but love and reverence for them. It is a matter of congratulation to the people that the effort to stay the course of Reform by an appeal to the ajLl UilU UUlViiCWWVAV > VIV 11UO been rebuked the second time in a manner unmistakable in terms, and let us hope that in the future there will be found in the State no man so ignoble as to dare threaten us with a return of the dark days from 1S6S to L1S76. It is unfortunate indeed that the foundation of our social and political institutions is the unity of the white people. This condition was thrust upon us by the emancipation and enfranchisement, with one stroke, of an . unfortunate, ignorant race, unfit to govern themselves. Placed in power ^^Sy the bayonet, forced to govern their H^iiprmer masters, we thus witnessed a ^ spectacle seldom recorded in history. fa government 01 ignorance, vice anu corruption, over wisdom, virtue and honesty. Such a condition of affairs was not expected to be perpetuated, and it -was no surprise to wise and thoughtful statesmen that a reversal was had at the very first opportunity. The result has been to limit our political affairs to the control of but one partv, to wit: ''The White Man's rarty.'' This was necessary for the preservation of our institutions. "Times change and men change with them." The fear of Radicalism has been dying out year by year on account of the inactivity of our foes, differences of opinion have, arisen naturally as to the ^^usanunistration of our government, un- J Wt tB^uufclly some of our citizens have 1 H foolishly taken the frozen viper to their bosom only to receive its deadly fang. Is it necessary for me to warn the youn? men of our State of the ('.angers that threaten ns? Must I picture South Carolina prostrate, struggling in the days of reconstruction? Must I, the son, of a Confederate soldier, ask his comrades to pause and consider? Will the sun turn upon his mother and pierce her through the heart with the same blade that smote her traducer? j I cannot believe it. nor will I do it, I nor will those who follow me. I say here and now upon the threshold of my administration to those -who oppose me: ''Come, let us reason together." There is no room in South Carolina for divided hearts. If the invitation is refused, remembey,South Carolina shall not suffer. I.et the blow fall upon the heads of those who seek to rule or ruin; I do not iear the result. It has been truly said that of all the States of the Union, the citizens of South Carolina are possessed of more characteristic individuality. It is ex- j pressed by an iiinglish instorian m these words: "Tney are first South Carolinians, next Southerners, and lastly Americans." This is tine; we are South Carolinians from birth and choice, Southerners from principle, and Americans from force ot circumstances. We cannot compromise principle, we will not surrender one birthright, and we must make the best of our surrounding1 circumstances. Let us then, in adjusting our differences, remember that we are South Carolinians, and the only plane upon which we can meet is that of equality, guided by wisdom, justice and moderation. Never in the history of our country was more patriotic action needed on the part of our citizens. The crisis j which confronts us threatens the very I life of ouj>institutions and industries. ! w e are an agricultural people?i<um-1 ers, if you please?dependent upon the j products of the soil for '"istence; as they prosper, so prospers, the State. Cotton raising and cotton manufacturing will ever be the chief industries of our State. God has made it so, and -we cannot change it. We are today the leaders in cotton manufacturing in the South; our laws are more favorable and our water powers grander and cheaper than elsewhere in the Union; strikes are unknown among ov.r operatives, and the greatest harmony and good Trill exists" between employer and employed. Our mills have continued to work to their utmost capacity even in time of panic, where Northern mills were forced to shut down: they-have, fp-cv PYOMitions. declared divi dends ranging from 6 fo 15 per cent, upon the capital invested, besides in many instances.doubling their capacity from fhe surplus profits. While all this is encouraging, and this industry should be fostered by every means in the power of our General Assembly, I regret to say the condition of the cfiiton producer is positively-alarming. Wiiile the demand for cotton goods has increased and the price remains comparatively steady, we find the price of the raw' material' lower than ever in the history of our country in times of peace; yer., even lower than the cost of production. In seeking for the cause of so abnormal a fact we are told that over-production and want of economy at home axe the reasons. Our farmers are advised to raise less cotton and practice more rigid economy at home and leave the government alono. We are contemptuously told to- plow on. Be not deceived. I'his is the voice of usurers and hypocrites. While overproduction, according to the law of supply and demand, does tend to decrease the price of products, the deUiiie-ftlilJtlld always be in proportion to the surplus stock. Such has not been the caseswith our products, and we must look Elsewhere for relief. * We have been -the victims since the civil war of the mo?t infamous: system of robbery under the guise of Republican government kn6wn to the world. Our crops are now sold before they are planted and the price vis f xed by gamblers and speculators^ a year in advance. The currency of our country is allowed to be restricted or inflated at the caprice of the ba:Jc !rs ancT bondholders, and it is invariably restricted ; indeed to such an extent until now a dollar buvs almost cne hun"* * ? ii ir ... oral per cent, more cotton ma n 11 cua two years ago. By the imposition of an unconstitutional tariff and unconscionable pensions the fixed charges upon our farms have almost been doubled, until bankruptcy now stares us in the face. We are fast losing our position as an independent State, and are becoming to the North what Ireland is to England, a dependent province. Our large plantations are being bought up and converted into hunting preserves by the rich barons who reap fhe profits of honest labor under a protective government. We welcome capital to our St^te in any shape or form, but we cannoc but deplore xl. - T ^ Hie Juarusuip vi uui unu pcvpir, vniv are forced to part with their homes under circumstances that should not exist. It is indeed painful to me to picture to you this gloomy outlook, but the time has come when the South and the agricultural classes of the nation must strike for their preservation and existence. The agricultural armies must move and must- be led. The party which has been true to us in the past and to which we must look in future has suffered defeat from one extreme of the nation to the othei*. My prediction to you has been fulfilled, and there is nota Democratic State north of ALason ana uixon sune. me Northeast seems to be deaf to our appeals, and the ray of light -vhich we had hoped to see in tne West has proved to be as fickle as an aurora borealis. South Carolina has led in every great moral, social and political reform, and it remains for us now to set the pace for the nation which will ultimatelv bring- relief to our entire people. You snould encourage the organization of every interest in the State; bv this means alone can the will of the concurrent majority bo obtained and an ideal government be established. The only intelligent mouthpiece of any class is an organi zation composed of individuals -who constitute it. ' When these organizations are complete it will be an easy matter to marshal them under one banner bearing the motto: "Equal rights to all and special privileges to none." We of the South are powerless, but we must not allow shackles to be placed upon us without an earnest and solemn protest. It is the duty of the General Assembly to set fortS in unmistakable terms that the world may read South Carolina's ordinance against the oppression of her people and the efforts of plutocrats to centralize government and convert the republic into a tyranical. depotism for the protection of hoarded millions. I will not presume "liere to suggest a plan for the organization of the agricultural and industrial interests of the nation. I can assure you. however, from the history of past nations, that no emergency has ever arisen, however great, that some bold leader did not come forth equal to the occasion. Let your memorial be prepared by those who feel what they sa^ and the messengers of peace will bear it to the sympathetic hearts and hands of the nation. A victory grander than that by force of arms will thus be won peaceably at the ballot box. Community of interests must unite the South and the West, and agriculture will be rescued from slavery. I desire to call you attention to the State Agricultural ana Mechanical Society, better known as our State Fair Association. This organization has received aid from the State until a few years past.-when its management made the mistake of intorducing politics into it. On this account the societv has languished and almost died. \vou must rescue it. Nothing is so beneficial to society and good government as the assembling of the people to indulge in friendly rivalry in the arts of peace. This fair has become an annual volksfest, where our people meet and know each other, where the black eves meet the blue, and the State becomes for the time being one happy family, with no thought but for the common welfare of South Carolina. I know of no State in the Union where a similar organization is maintained and this in a great measure is responsible for the maintenance of our striking individuality. A small appropriation is all that is needed to rescure the societv from death - ? v iiv-_.nl unci I am sure tne money win oe wen invested and no true citizen will begrudge it. I would suggest that the societv be incorporated, and that the Governor and State olTicers be made ex ofKcio directors, so that it may become a quasi State institution and at the same time give the people a guarantee that the money appropriated will be directed to the proper uses. I congratulate the people upon the fact that a Constitutional convention 1 is at last to be called in response to their desire expressed at the ballot box. This is a victory which means more than I shall express to you. It is the most important matter which you will have to deal with, and should recieve your earnest though and attention. It should be called at time a most convenient to our farmers. Remember the stringency of money and the proverty of our people and limit the number of delegates to the number of the General < Assembly. None but patriots should be members of this convention, and the pay of delegates should be so small as not to make it an inducement lor can- didacy. Two dollars a day and the same mileage as allowed members of the General Assembly is sufficient. Less than this amount would not support a delegate in the city of Columbia. I see no reason why the session of the convention should iast over forty days. If this plan is adopted the cost of the convention should not exceed $25,000, a small pittance indeed to pay for eternal liberty and white supremacy. - It has been truly said that the best educated people are the happiest and easiest governed. This principle has always oeen recognized by our State. We spend more money today for public ( education, in proportion to our wealth, 1 than any State in the Union. Our higher institutions of learning equal ! those of any State, and in Clemson Col- ; lege and the W;inthrop Normal and Industrial College for girls, the system will be completed. Clemson College is the poor boys' institution and its doors should not be closed to a single one ; who knocks for admission. If its capacity is too limited, enlarge it at once. Economy in this respect is unjust and ' nigorardlv, f0r the State recieves hundreds of clollars in return for every one invested in training the brains of her children. The South Carolina College, ; which is our higher classical institu- ; tion, should be opened to young women from the freshmen to the senior class. If our women desire to enter literary^ fields^here^STRrjcrst'i-eaTdrTwhy they should not be given the advantages of our highest literary institutions and not be compelled to leave the State on accont of a foolish, antiquated sentiment. Co-education has proved a success in the civilized nations of the world and the best and highest institutions of learning, both in Europe and America, arc now open to young men and women alike. Gambetta has truly said'That in order to make hearts beat together souls must be brought together." The pres- , ent law of allowing women onl\ in the junior and senior classos is absurd and ridiculous, and, while intended to satisfy a demand for such education, it is a makeshift and amounts to prohibition. The brig] it est jewels of any State are her literary and intelligent women and they should not be deprived of the State's bounty. . Our common school system is far from satisfactory, but under our present Constitution it is impossible to improve upon it. It is encoruaging, however, to note that under the operation of our separate school district law. the average free school term for the State has been incrased from two and a half months to a fraction over four. We have performed our duty to the. negro, possibly too liberally, asa study of the reports will show. There are nearly 15,000 more negro children than whites now enjoying the public school fund. This is a stinging rebuke to those who criticize our treatment of this unfortunate race. Our General Assembly has done all in its power for the nrotection and elevation of the negro, and while lynch law lias not been entirely stamped out, it remains for the Constitutional convention to provide suitable courts for the speedy trialand punishment of criminals who are invariably the victims of this menace to civil government. Under the present system of trials, it is absolutely impossible to restrain the people. This comes from an honest conviction on the part of our people that it is for the best interests of society that the victim of the brute should be spared the humiliation of testifying i:i a criminal court, where herre'intd sensibilities are lacerated by vulgar cross examination, required from the nature of the case, ana from being the cynosure of the eyes of the blackguards who attend such trials and from the further notoriety of modern newspapers enterprise. This may be an erroneous view, but it has grown up with our civilization and * * xT? i springs irom mat nigu regtu\iiu ? uita South Carolinians have ever held the innocence, virtue and purity of their women. There is no difference in principle between the lyncher and mm Who violates anv other law upon our statute books. "The poor wretch. J -v-L - w; ,.4 * > - ' r_ r* who converts his house into a barroom and gambling hell, to evade the law and seduce our youths is far worse. I am thoroughly satisfied, after an active canvass of the entire State, that the dispensary law is now -written on the hearts of the people. Fully S5 per cent, of our people uphold and respect the law and it is my duty, and shall be my pleasure, to see that the remainder do respect and obey it. There are certain municipalities which have refused to co-operate with the State authorities in enforcing this law, but this comes from the fact that they have regarded themselves as sovereign powers and actually in one instance have openly defied the State. It may be important rust here to know what is a munir.lml eornoration and its relation to the totate government. Mr. Dillard in his w^rkon municipal corporations < thus defines it: A municipal corporation in its strict and proper sense is the body politic and corporate, constituted by the incorporation of the inhabitants of a city or a town for the purposes of local government thereof. Municipal corporations, as they exist i in this country, are bodies politic and : corporate of the genei-al character above described, established by law, < partly as an agency of the State, to as- < sits in civil government of the country; ' but chiefly to regulate and administer : the local or internal affairs of the city; ; town or district which is incorporat- ' ed.M " i The principle of local self-govern- 1 ment is peculiar to our republic and is the very foundation of our constitu- : tion. State and national; but it must : not be contended that, in forming subordinate powers and agents, the State ! releases entirely to such subordinates j the right to say what laws shall be en- ; forced within their limits and what 1 shall- not be. They would in such cases ( no longer be the agent* of the State to assist in civil government of the coun try, but absolute enemies 6f the State. ] 4,The usefulness.'' says this learned ' author, ''of our municipal corporations ' has been impaired by evils that are ' either inherent in them or that have ' frequently accompanied tiieir woric- ' ings. Some of these may be briefly in- ] dicated: " ^ 1. Men, the best fitted by their in- ] telligence, business experience, capaci- . ty and moral character for local governors or counsellors, are not always i feared, and it might be added, are not generally chosen. This is especially so , of populous cities. 2. Those chosen are too apt to merge \ their individual conscience, if they * have any, in their corporate capacity. Under the shield of their corporate , character, men but too often do acts ' which they would never do as individ- ( uals. The influences brought to bear upon the elections for mayors and al- , derman have heretofore been most corrupt and degrading. In fact the decent ^ property holding and intelligent voter is avoided, as without influence, while , the barkeepers, paupers and ignorant , negroes are catered to.. They control elections and* thereby secure pledges to use the successful candidates to see that Sunday laws and liquor laws are , -?* -i ( not ciuorueu. <jc ujj.ucuj.cu. <hc v?aiutu f not to interfere with these favorites of % the municipal government, under the , severe penalty of losing their official heads. The recent exposures in the metropolis of the nation of such practices are sufficient to open the eyes of our , legislators of what is transpiring in t our cities. For example: One of our . cities elected three years ago what -was , termed a reform administration. As soon as its officers were installed they I revived certain ordinances calculated . to enforce a stricter observance of the Sabbath, and such was the result. Yet I am informed that such great stress was brought to bear upon the city fathers by old offenders, babbath breakers of all classes, and ward politicians, that the ordinances were repealed. Is this the agency of the State contemplated by a city charter? Is the < State to stand aside and say that we ] are paralyzed because, forsooth, our ( agents are corrupt? Shall the sub- ( ordinate power dictate to and rule its j creator? What encouragementisgiven , the honest law-abiding citizens of the \ rcho risk their lives to eaforce ^ the law wheirhi^c.-breakers in the cities ] go unpunished by ilr* failure of police ] to arrest, ana or cut gran^^uries even | to find true bills? This has beC^ttie ] greatest factor to create a sentimeirtp * if any there be, of country against , town. You are the doctors. The rem- \ edy is simple, and you must apply it, ] if law and order are to apply in ( South Carolina. f The power to enforce the law must 1 be taken from the hands of the muni- i cipal politicians and placed beyond 1 their control. It must be placed strong ( enough to guarantee equal justice to the rich and poor, the high and low. f You will be met by the cry of inter-11 fercnce with local self-government. It ; is false and a mere pretense to hood- ' wink honest Legislators. No lawyer ] of ability will deny the proposition* ] that a police officer is not simply a municipal officer, but he is an officer ] of the State. Therefore his first alle- : fiance is to the laws of the State and < lie should be appointed by the author- j ities of the State, if necessary. In speaking of the relations of mun- 1 icipal corporations to the State the Su- < preme Court of Louisiana in the case ; of Police Jury vs. Shrevport uses this : language: "The government of police jury of counties formed one of the sub- : divisions of the internal administration < /-vP fVi/\ Qiaia irtrl ic ahcnln+Al V linflfir ' vj. liuv utaov hjuv* ?'j . the control of the Legislature." This : same doctrine is affirmed by nearly < every State in the Union -where no ex- i press constitutional provision exists, i Mr. Dillon observes in this connection i respecting the authority of the Leglsla iure over municipal offices and officers: i "It is important to bear in mind the ! distinction between State officers, that is, officers whose duties concern the State at large or the general public, al- ; though exercised within defined terri- i torial limits, and municipal officers : whose functions relate exclusively to : r>nnr>m'TH! The administration of justice, the preservation of the public i peace and the like, although confided 1 to local agencies, are essentially mat ters of puolic concern. The Supreme j Court of Michigan in a well consider- : ed case, held that the Legislature had a right to appoint a board of police j commissioners as such board -was not 1 municipal; so in New York, Kansas, i Maryland, Florida, Illinois, Colorado, ; Kentucky, Georgia, Indiana; and, in ' fact, nearly every State Supreme Court has held that the Legislature'may take : from a municipal corporation its char- < ter powers respecting the police and ; their appointment, and, by statute, it- ! self directly provide for a permanent i police for the corporation under the < control of a board of police commissioners, not appointecf or elected by < the corporate authoritieSj but consist-j _ . W ing of commissioners named and appointed by the Legislature or Governor. "Police officers are in fact State or public officers and not private or corporate officers and a provision in such a law transferring to such commissioners for.the purpose of the new police the use of the police telegraph, station houses, watch ooxes. etc., provided by the city, is valid, since it only takes city propertv dedicated to a particular use and applies it to the same* purposes changing only the agency by which the use is directed, the property is still the city's." Hundreds'of cases could be cited going to show that police officers are in fact State officers and not municipal, aitnougn a parucuiur uity or town be taken to pav them. The office of police was unlniown to the criminal law. It is enacted by statute. He as an officer of the State in which he exercises his office. Bulk vs. Hardwick, 30th East. 24. The Supreme Court of Connecticut uses this language: "A policeman of a city is a public officer, holding his office as a trusf'from the State ana not as a matter of contract between himself and the citv." Having thus shown conclusively that policemen are State officers,"it remains for you to provide the necessary machinery for compelling them to do their duty. It is impossible to enforce any law in the cities peaceably and quietly unless the police i.T*A in svmna,thv with it. and in order to make them so, they must not be dependent for their appointment upon mayors and aldermen elected by opponents of the law. In some of our towns ex-barkeepers ire made policemen for the expressed purpose of protecting their former associates with whom they are partners in the illicit liquor traffic. If this recommendation for metropolitan police were an innovation, there would be some grounds for objection, but it has t>een tried successfully in nearly every State in the Union and there is no reason why it should not be done in our )wn State. It is no longer a question }f expediency, but of absolute necessity. The pride of the patriotic lawnoVor. cVim-ild fViAPnantrnftntof such laws as will secure the greatest happiness to the greatest number of people svithout regard to the welfare of politicians. This is an age of corporations and ' laws should be passed carefully guarding the interests of individuals against ' ;lie encroachments necessarily attend- < mt upon the growth of artificial per- i sons and the oppressions of corporate ; wealth. One of the greatest evils of tAe ; lay is this desire to incorporate any 1 md everything. The merchant who Jerires to avoid liability to his credit- < )rs beyond the capital invested finds an ; escape" in the chartered company. Selish neighborhoods desiring to tax the : ralues of farm products, who compete j vith them find a way in the incorpo- 1 nmoc i-z-vorl HPl-m orrpatftst nrotmp uxvim i ??- ?-, ^ j_ ? ion of the time our General Assem- ] >ly is taken up chartering all manner i )f wildest schemes and country vil- j ages and school districts. All of these :ompanies can be chartered under 1 general laws and they should not be 1 illowed to enter the General Assemby. ! Siine^B^s out of ten the State is put 1 expense than is e^er real- j zea from the company. The practice of usury by our bank- 1 ng institutions is becoming alarming, ' mcl is unjust to both borrower and ' ender. While our farmers are growng'poorer from five eents cotton, the " )anks continue te dcclare dividends ( *mr,rrir,rr fwim ClorVif fft fiftAPTI TtfTCfiTit. 1 "vm -" ft? ? ? It is a matter of congratulation that >ur banks -withstood the late panic vithout a failure and -we shoula en:ourage them, but an honest banker : ^ho is satisfied with what the law alows him has no desire to be compared < ,vith the shylock, who, by foulest usury, is enabled to make a better showng of profits. Our legal rate is high . inough, only three States in the Tin- j on having a higher one, and our laws . should be amended so as to allow only . r per cent, by special contract, and J ;ause the lender who practices usury ( jo forfiet both interest and debt. Un fortunate debtors will acree to pay > my rate of interest in order to save 3 themselves and to keep the wolf from i ;he door. No agricultural people can : live with usurious creditors. From Moses to the present time usury has , oeen forbidden, and laciius gives as a mson for the decay of Rome, the evasion of the interest laws. When uslry'lorded among them, Rome dates ;he beginning-^ of her downfall, [t is not only * practiced by pur bankers, but among our merchanis and facers. It remains for you to protect ;he borrowers by more stringent regulations, at the same time giving to ;he honest lender full and ample se;urity under the law. Almost every department of the State government having been reformed ;here is one which has not received pour attention?the State's prisoners, riicse unfortunate creatures are com nitted to our State penitentiary for punishment and not depredation. While, of course, there can be no such punishment without degradation, still it is the province of government and of Christianity to rescue the fallen, and if possible to restore them to society. There are 206 prisoners in the penitentiary of the class known as "juvenile offenders." Boys under the a<*e ef 20 vears should not be punished along side of men of matured habits, with wicked and abandoned hearts. # The result of such treatment is invariably degradation and ruin of the younger mind, and when discharged from confinement they re-enter society with diseased minds and hearts, only to return to prison for the commission of more ??TH-. om rnnnff nffon r? Ui XiilUO. XUOOV J vxi.v*Av?w*w should at least be isolated, furnished Frith different garbs and given good and wholesome instruction until our State is able to build reformatories for them. The practice of leasing convicts to private parties is repulsive to our institutions, results in cruelty and should not be allowed by law. Under our new county government law it is to be hoped that our convicts will be put upon our public highways and give us that greatest boon?good roads. I wouid suggest that this road law be amended by requiring all convicts sentenced for a period of five yeais or under to be placed upon the chaingangs instead of limiting this service to those sentenced to two years. It is as easy to protect and guard the one as the other, and a larger force will thus be given our road supervisors. It is not my desire in this address to review every reform that has suggested itself to me. I simply call these to of+ontinn as of crave irrTDortance. ? shall, from time to time, as the Constitution requires me to do, communicate vritlj you by special messages. In assuming the duties of the office of Governor I cannot expect to fill it with the brilliant ability which has characterized my predecessor. I am conscious of the heavy responsibilities resting upon rae and of my human weaknesses, but I am reassured by knowing myself sufficiently well to enable me to offer my people a heart which beats alone for their happiness, and a hand ever ready to strike for their interest and liberties. I am powerless as an executive without your co-operation and I feel assured that this you will freely give me. Your responsibility is as great as mine and all I ask is that in your deliberations you shall be governed by those principles which wul cause you to enact such laws as will secure the happiness of the greatest number of onr people. I now take my commission, thanking the people for the confidence reposed in me. In doing so, I pray that the God of nations will be with me and sustain me, and when I shall have returned my commission to those who gave it to me, may it be as pure and spotless as when I received it. If I can then say?Behold a happy people in peace, love and unity?my reward will indeed he great and sufficient. Asking the support of my friends, the charity of my enemies, and the help of God, I now dedicate my head, my hand and my heart to the service of mv State. When Mr. Evans ceased speaking and took his seat great appleause ana cheering came from the floor of the House. Then the band played "Dixie" and every one Cheered. Several bouquets were carried up to Governor Evans. Mr. Harrison stepped to the elevation and made the same . announcement as to the Lieutenant Governor. Slowly Dr. Timmerman rose and just as soon as he arose a titter began. In a fer moments it was a chuckle and then a subdued laugh. It was the campaign experience over again. It was what carried Dr. Timmerman A VS 4-"U blxlUUgll, ttliU JLLC W do JUL nor pained. The Doctor was attired in a long wine-colored Prince Albert, ffis thin hand grasped the Bible and he took the oath, making his response in rather a husky voice. He gave the Bible a good kiss and then slipped to the elevation and had a few words to say, thanking the members for the high honor they had conferred upon him, and asking them to bear his thanks and expressions of appreciation to their contituents. He promised to do all in, his power to discharge the duties of his office to the best of his : ability, and would do all he could to aid the chief executive in upholding the pride of his State. Dr. Timmerman, as the presiding Dfficerof the Senate then declared the 1 joint assem bly dissolved. a . . rn nrvn z n ~ -as ex-ijovernor jmuuian anu \jrover- u nor Evans came down, the latter having a handsome bouquet in his hand, many admirers shook their hands. they were going out the band played "Over the Waves." Thus the 1 >hip of State started on another voyige. Governor Evans went to the executive chamber, where many crowded to pay their respects. About 2 o'clock ill had gone. Governor Evans' very Srst official act was to appoint Chief ; Liquor Constable M. T. Holley of ' cdken a notary public. His next was to sign the commission of D. H. Fompldns as Secretary of State. This . "N - 1 XI. _ f? 4. J was tne omciai wont 01 ine jultsi. uay. Last night an impromptu reception i was tendered the Governor at the ex- : jcutive mansion by ex-Governor Tillman. ' ADDRESS TO DEMOCRATS. Son-Partisan Constitutional Convention Advocated Its Importance Set Forth. To the Democratic Voters of South . Carolina: In the progress of the eform movement we have reached a critical peri- ! od in the history of the State. All of ; the essential demands of that movement may properly be regarded as ac3?mplished facts, and having been ac- ; septed by the people should no longer ' ko o noiico r\f i-rrifa/Mrtn snH fliesA'nsiftri The constitutional convention alone remains to be acted upon by the people, and it is unfortunate- that they are in such a state of mind as to prevent manv of them from seeing the situation from an impartial and non- : partisan standpoint. As it is useless to discuss the cause or causes which ; led to this state of affairs we will look ' only to the future and leave the dead past to bury its dead. Every intelligent mind ->vhich is ca- ' E" able of realizing the gx>d that can e accompMsBed. and the great harm that may be done"~to~-Q.ur State and 1. s? _ :?KWv ^ peopie vy a sovereign juux^ <* constitutional convention; every.one who sees and feels the necessity anil" importance of securing the unity of our people and white supremacy bv a well regulated suffrage, without clis- > franchising a white voter; every patriotic citizen who is aware of t&e ills and evils afflicting and threatening the bodv politic, whether of a social, political, financial or industrial character, will readily admit that something ought to be done to correct the evils briefly alluded to and to secure the good so easily within our reach. Therefore, we, the undersigned Eeformers, having only these ends in view, and desiring nothing but the unity and harmony of our people, the highest and best interests of our State, the progress and development of her social, industrial and political interests, do hereby call upon all of our pemocratic citizens who sympathize with these views and are willing to abide the results of the Reform movement to earnestly consider the importance of a non-partisan convention, composed of the wisest and best men of both factions, and to take such action as is deemed best to secure it. (Signed:) J. Townes Robertson, A. C, Fuller, D. K. Norris, J. E. Pettigrew, Thos. J. Kirkland, T. P. Mitchell. J. E. Tindal, L. M. Ragin, W. C. Davis, J. W. Kennedy. T. S. Price, John R. Harrison, B. F. Miller, J. M. Hough, J. T. Douglass, C. R. D. Burns, John T. Bramlett. J. E. Ellerbe, John G. Williams, J. B. Suddath, P. B. Waters, J. W. Ashley, J. M. Whitmire, J. F. Lay, S. Y. Stribling, Zerah Hammett, C. E. Wallace, H. P. Goodwin, A. T. Newell, John B. Leverett, T. B. Stackhouse, W. B. Love, Gopfrey B. Fowler. J. T. Duncan, W, W. Smith, !>- M. Shuman, J. D. Sullivan, L. M. Wilson, J. R. Earle, D. E. Finlev. Poisoned her Children, Galveston, Tex., Dec. 6.?Mrs. Louis Alberfst, wife of a well known butcher, was arrested yesterday at the instance of her relatives on the charge of insanity. Her arrest is the resxut of the poisoning of her five children by her hand. Four of the children are dead. The fifth, a girl of 16 years, may recover. ? 1 ELECTIONS BY THE LEGISLATURE. Col. Joseph H. Earle is Made a Circuit Judge. Columblv S. C., Dec. 5.?Electious were held in the general assembly today for superintendent of the penitentiary, three directors of the penitentiary and two judges, the third and eighth circuits. The main interest was in the election for judge of the eighth circuit. For superintendent of the penitentiary W. A. Neal was nominated by J. B. Watson. He received the whole number of votes cast, 157. T VA/ T /vf .T C! Ashe, of York. S. J. Cunningham, of Chester. J. M. Sprott, of Clarendon. John Staubs, of Aiken, and J. C. Alexander, of Oconee were nominated for directors. The vote was, Cunningham 130, Lyles 10S, Sprott 89, Ashe 83, Alexander 31, Staubs 30. Cunningham, Lyles and Sprott were elected. For judge of the Third circuit Judge 1< razier was nominated by Senator Moses and Attorney General Buchanan by Senator Bvrd. The result was Buclianan 125, Crazier 29. Buchanan will resign as attorney general tomorrow. The candidates for at; torney general to succeed him are Assistant Attorney General Barber, Solicitor Bellinger and ex-Judge C. P. Townsend. There was much excitement over the election of a judge of the Eighth circuit. John E. Breazeale was nominated by J. B. Watson, Joseph EL Earle by M. B. McSweeny, of Hampton, Judge Norton by Senator Watson, of Edgefield. Rreazeale's and Earles nominations were numerously second-i ii - *?- _ n - A j.1. 4.* ea. un trie nrst oauoi lug v<jlc ??k> Earle 7S, Breazeale 53, Norton 27. Necessary to a cboce 80. On the second ballot it was Earle 100, Breazeale 49. Norton 8. The conservatives divided on Earie and Norton. The Sumter and Richland members voted for Earle. Very little general legislation is going on. Manning, of Sumter, has introduced the same measure he urged last year, the Australian ballot system. Mower has introduced the same bill in the senate. A bill to limit the profits of the dispensary sales is to be introduced. The limit is to be fixed at 25 per cent, by the State dispensary to county dispensaries and 25 per cent, by the latter to consumers. Another j important bill will come up. It is to} forbid the sale of drugs and medicines by any except licensed druggists. more elections. Columbia, S. C., Dec. 6?In the House Mr. Patton, at 12:4c o'clock, offered a concurrent resolution providing for a joint session of the two bodies at 1:30 o'clock for the purpose of electing a successor to Hon. 0. W. Buchanan, as Attorney General; for three Trustees for the South Carolina College and one Trustee of Clemson College. The resolution was adopted lay the House, sent to the senate, and at once adopted by that body, except that the hour was fixed at 2 o'clock. The jont session of the two bodies convened, according to the resolution, ?+ O T.i aii ten ant (rrtwcnor CLV fj V VXWix* ^-M,VV*W -v, v - - Timmerman presiding. Nominations for Attorney General being- first in order, Mr. Gaston, of. Aiken nominated Solictor G. Duncan Bellinger of Barnwell This was duly seconded. Mr. Duncan of Newberry nominated Assistant Attorney General Barber of Chester, for promotion. This was seconded on all sides. Tellers were appointed on the part of the Sen-" ate and House, and the election reresulted as follows: Barber 99, Bellinger 56. The nominees for three trustees of the South Carolina College were: Ira B. Jones, J. William Stokes and D. E. Finley, incumbents ;M. B. McSweeney ofJBampton, and S. G. Mayfield, of BarnwelL Mr. McSweeney attempted to decline the nomination, but his - 1 J. J ^ rrienas illhu.^ inm aio uunu, kj^juc*w.L Mayfield withdrew in favor of Mr. McSweenev, leaving ,four men in the race. The ballot was taken viva voce, as for Attorney General, and resulted as follows: Jones. 13S; Stokes, 04; Finley, 94; McSweeney, 101. Before the vote was announced there were changes from Finley to Stokes and vice versa, the race for third place between them being close. As it was a*tie, however, a second race between Stokes and Finley was called for. Before the voting began the Orangeburg delegation withdrew the name of Stokes and left Finley the only man i:i the race. Finley was elected. For Trustee of Clemson College there were two nominations?Gen. W. H. Ellerbe, of Marion, aud Hon. J. T. Duncan, of Newberry. The vote was as follows: Ellerbe. 75; Duncan, 37. " Tie'two "nouses aajuriiiiscLimmcdic ately after the dissolution of the joint ? A aV1A/>1'' SeSblUlZ* \V ilJLUii vv ao ?%j. tw -x. \j wv/v^. Refused a Gift of $300. New \ ork, Dcc. 5.?A dispatch to the Evening Post from Raleign, N. C., says: Washington Duke of the American Tobacco Company, and President of the Duke Cigarette Works at Durham, sent $300 to the North Carolina Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, which has been in session at States ville, N. C., for a week past, towards defraying the expenses of the conference. The Iter. Mr. Ware of Reidsville, and some other members of the conference, protested against the acceptance of the gift of which they termed "trust money/' and at a meeting of the board of stewards of his church, Mr. "Ware's action was approved. It is claimed that the trust having the only buyer on the tobacco markets who buys cutters used in the manufacture of cigarettes, the price of that grade of tobacco has been forced down so low that it's impoverishing the farmers who grow it. Desperate Murderer. Newman, Ga., Dec. 3.?About midnight Saturdava Negro named Joseph ^ i A T A jsean went 10 me nuu.^e ui ^ucucigu, a farmer, twelve miles from here and told him one of his croppers was very sick and wanted medicine. Leigh went with the negro. Half an hour later Bean returned and asked for Mr. or Mrs. Leigh. The woman suspected something was wron^ and her suspicions were confirmed by Bean displaying a revolver. Quick as a flash Millie Leigh grabbed her father's shotgun and ordered the negro out Bean fired but missed. Millie fired but the mirt Thp tipoto ran out and1 0 round to a window. Here the girl fired at him and he again at her. Two hours later the body of the father was found, his skull crushed ar.C his body stabbed in nine places. A search is being made for the negro, who esczfh ed and is suppossea to have gone down the Chattahoehee River in a boat. It is supposed he had an accomplice. ? HORRIFYING OUTRAGES. ARMENIANS BUTCHERED BY TURKS. - -ZM, BLOOD-CURDLING ATROCITIES. -v- . || Details of Hellish Murders and Outrages > on Helpless Women and Children?Fiend- V ish Cruelties That Surpass Belief?Story . Told by Sufferers Who Escaped^! Athens Greece, Dec. 3.?The associated Press exclusively lias been-able to give to the world the facts of the terrible atrocities perpetrated upon , Armenian Christians in Asia Minor, and today a representative of the asso- ? \}?M ciation succeeded in obtaining addi- . tional details from twenty refugees who have arrived here from Armenia, - . " ^ after a journey full of hardships and - . j&xgS suffering. With every mark of norror and indignation they told of the scenes they had witnessed. This party is the first that has escaped from the district where the massacres have occurred, an4 that even worse re- _. mainsTo^ne tola as the. horrors re- ..... -? corded are supposed to have lasted for a long time after they fled from the ' blood-stained districts. ' . This party escaped from Moosh, Bittis and Passaun. making their wav with the greatest difficulty to the Russian Turkish frontier. Several Armenian women escaped with the party, but when near Ezeraum they died from the effects of sabre wounds inflicted before their escape. For about eighteen months, the refugees say, the .. province of Sassoun has oeen surround- < * ed by Turkish troops and nobody has been allowed to enter it or to leave. About four months ago the Turkish .^^9 authorities learned that toe in habitants of Vartemis, a village outside the frontier of Sassoun, were sending for ' the necessaries of life to the village of Dalvorig. Such communication between the two villages being prohibited the Turks massacred nearly all the inhabitants of Vartmis. This was the second massacre. Dalveig, it appears, is the largest village in the province of Sassoun and v^^fi its iimabitants, when they learned of V ^ the horrors perpetrated by the Turks at Vartemis, attacked the Turks on the - . frontier. The Turkish commander sent soldiers into Dalevig in order to learn-what had occurred. The Arme- r|?fg| nians filled with indignation at the atrocities committed attacked the de tachmentof soldiers and put them all to death. When the Turkish commander heard of the death, of his soldiers | he determined upon avengrinffit in the most bloody manner possible. A _ strong force of Turkish troops was sent to the village with artillery and the massacre began. ^ The guns keptup a continuous fire upon JDalevig until practically not one stone was left standing upon another. ' Selo, the Bey of Initzoun. a Kurd, with a detachment of Kurdish cavalry, went with/the Turkish soldiers to the vi sage of Semal and forcibly took . the Armenian priest from his cntireh after disgustingly defiling the sacred vessels and the priests hands. Thev then bound him on a donkey which they drove a distance of a few yards. The soldiers then fired at the priest and killed frim and the beast he was bound to. They entered an Armenian hotise and "violated a -wom-m-a-nd'hex daughter, the latter 14 years of- age, and Selo took eight Armenian girls and sent them to his harem at Initzoun. m n -j jp urmer airocmes were wmuiuwu at the village of Keliehuzen. Before day this place was surrounded by soldiers, and while the inhabitants were asleep, it was set on fire. The brutal - -*/ soldiers entered the residence of a ma-n named Arkel, who was asleep with his wife, and tortured them both internally in a terrible manner with red - M hot irons. ' * At Keliehuzen the Armenian priest Margosi, who with twenty other inmates of a house, was burned to death, the soldiers preventing any lx>dy from escaping from the burning dwelling. The chief of the village of Cheney 11 was captured, oy tne soiaiers ana- oounu to his two daughters, all tliree were ? then scalded to death with boiling ^31 water. A detachment of twenty -five * regulars of the Turkish cavalry, after 3 committing inexpressible horrors at the village of Seb^hank, went to the village school ana ravished the girls 4 found there. The cavalrymen then devastated the building. . Ibo Bev, a notorious Kurd brigand of the village of Dyibran, and a colonel in the regular army, with adetachmentof Turkish troops, collected the j| female children of Bablon together, * _ I|| about 200 in all, and after ravishing them they killed them all with guns and swords. The Kurdish regular troops from Kizan andBabran entered t-he-"Arjn?man villages of Aliandzig and Agnte|rHfcalkdr>t^^ - / and wrecked their houses. The number of villages devastated in this manner is said to be over thirty-two. The Armenians fled in every possible direc- 3 tion, but many of them were captured /; bv the Turkish troops before they could get away and were taken to prison. Dr. G. Thomain, a well Icnown Armenian, formerly Professor of the Armenian College" has just received a >. /.'? letter written on September 29, from _ ji* Todowran, which says: "Mounted robbers rode up to this village an hour after sunset and immediately began an - ''/% indiscriminate attack upon the Armenian inhabitants. Over two hundred shots were fired at the houses of the Rev. Mr. Sookiss, pastor of the Protest ant Community. Three balls struck his wife in the face and she subsequent- . ly died from the effects of her wounds. TVarning to the Defeated. Washington, Dec. 6.?1The Republican Congressional committee has sent out a significant letter in regard to contested seats in the next Congress. There are upwards of thirty districts ' wherein defeated Republicans have indicated their intention to filing contests. The committee has addressed to ? each of these contestants a statement notifying him that he must not place any reliance on the large Republican majority- in the next Congress, but * must rest his prospects for success on the merits of tne claims he advances. . ' Probable contestants are advised not > . to file their papers unless able to reinforce them -with testimony of the most #unimpeachable character. A- % Governor Evans. Columbia, s. C., JN ov, 30.?The Legislature canvassed the vote for State officers today. The result was: Evans ^ ^ 3~,703; Pope, 16,703. Dr. Pope sent to the Speaker a petition to be allowed to . show alleged frauds, but the Speaker said that he did not feel called upon to read it unless presented by a member. A member moved that it be read, s3j but this was voted down. Evans will \< be inaugurated Tuesday next