Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, July 28, 1886, Image 2
?hc f arfeviHe inquirer.
YORKVILLE, S. C..^ A /
. ^ A
WEDNESDAY, JULY 28, 1886.
GENERAL BRATTON'S POSITION.
The Winnsboro Herald of last Thursday
* * " ? r r\ l !
pUDiisnes me ionowing uoie irom ueuerui
Bratton, from which it will be seen that he
does not desire, nor will he accept the nomination
for Goyernor:
Farmington, July 21st,. 1886.
Col. J. II. Rion: Dear Colonel.?Your
letter surprises me. I don't see how my |
letter on the Farmers' movement could be
understood to be an announcement of my
readiness to be a candidate for Governor in
opposition to the movement. This letter
was dragged out of me by a misstatement
of my remarks. I thought my letter showed
that I regretted the Farmers' movement,
especially as, and because, I was identified
in every way with the reel/are of farmers.
You say you are continually receiving
inquiries whether I will be a candidate. So
am I; and I agree with you that I ought to
inform my friends of my position.
Withoutgiving my reasons, I say emphatically,
I am not a candidate, will not be a
candidate, and will not accept a nomination.
I write briefly, but I think I make myself
understood.
With my grateful thanks to my kind and
flatering friends, I am, Your obedient servant,
Jxo. Bratton.
P. S.?Do what you please with this letter.
RAILROAD* INTELLIGENCE.
[From the Charlotte Observer, Friday]
Col. R. A. Johnson, of the Massachusetts
and Southern Construction Company, was
at the Central yesterday on his way South.
He reports that his company has contracted
with the Bethlehem Iron Company for the
rails for the road, and that the first installment
of the order is to be delivered at
Black's Station, on the Air Line, on Saturday,
the 24th instant. The rail to be used
is the best made, a first class 60$ pounds
steel rail, the same as is laici on me ^\ir
Line track. On August 2nd, Col. Johnsen
reports, his force will begin the work
of laying rails, beginning at Black's and
going in the direction of Rutherfordton.
The work will be pushed rapidly, and
the first train from Black's via Shelby
to Rutherfordton, will be run on or before
the 15th of next October. Col. Johnson's
company has labored under many very
serious disadvantages, but has made remarkably
good headway in the construction
of the road bed, and, notwithstanding the
excessively wet weather has greatly retarded
grading and masonry, and made it difficult,
and on some days impossible to haul
the trestle timber from the mills, the road
bed between Black's and Rutherfordton is
now ready for the iron. By an actual count,
there were forty-five days since the first of
last February upon which no work at all
could be done, and this much time was
therefore taken from their calculations.
The first shovel of dirt was thrown on this
road about ten months ago, and now a section
of the road 45 miles in length is graded,
trestled and bridged, showing that the company
worked with great energy and has
accomplished some unprecedentedly good
work.
Col. Johnson says that his company is
proceeding with arrangements to extend
the road from Black's to Yorkville, Rock
Hill and Sumter, S. C., at once. There are
yet a few little formalities to encompass,
and then the work will be commenced and
pushed forward with the same energy that
was displayed on the Black's-Rutherfordton
section. In regard to the extension in the
nroafofn rlironHnn PYil TnVinann rPnnrfS that
his company hopes to formulate matters in
Rutherford county so that they can put their
line under construction between Rutherfordton
and Marion and complete that section
at the same time they complete the section
below Black's. "If no delays are encountered
or no impediments placed in our way,"
said Ool. Johnson, "we will have our line
running between Charleston and Marion
within the next 15 or 18 months. And by
the way," he continued, "did you ever
think what an elegant and direct line of
railroad we could give Charlotte with the
ocean after we have constructed to Lancaster
and Sumter, and this is a matter now of
only a few months. I wonder if the value
of the opportunity would be appreciated."
A Very Pleasant Entertainment in
Honor of Judge Witherspoon.?1The
members of the Charleston Bar gave a complimentary
dinner to Judge Witherspoon
on Saturday night. The dinner was served
at the Charleston Hotel and was attended
by most of the leading lawyers of the local
Bar and a few invited guests. The Hon.
Henry Buist, who presided at the feast,
voiced the sentiment of the profession
when, after the removal of the cloth, he
rose and said:
"Brethren of the Bar: It affords me
great pleasure, as your representative, to
welcome our esteemed guest, Judge With
erspoon. His first session in our circuit was I
appointed for a season when a large number
of us were absent on legislative and
professional duties at the capital of the
State, and this is the first opportunity afforded
us of tendering him a warm greeting.
We now extend to him a "hearty welcome
in the commencement of his judicial
career. He has proved himself eminently
patient in the discharge of his duties, and
will, as we are well assured, faithfully and
conscientiously maintain in the coming
years the dignity of the high calling of a
just and pure Judge. I present as a sentiment:
"Our honored guest?a worthy successor
of the Judges who in the past years of
South Carolina have maintained its judicial
honor and integrity."
In responding to the words of welcome I
which wereso heartily shared by all present,'
Judge Witherspoon spoke very eloquently I
and feelingly, closing his remarks with the j
following sentiment:
"The Charleston Bar?Distinguished for j
ability, composed of honorable gentlemen
learned in the law, may its members ever
continue to adorn their profession and may
they realize its highest rewards.?Xews and
Courier, Monday.
? The situation among the Indians in the ;
Northwest is alarming, and the threat of:
an uprising comes at a time when the mil- J
itary authorities are but poorly prepared
to deal with it. The continuation of the
Apache troubles in Arizona and New Mex- <
ico is giving active employment to the j
troops best qualified for Indian fighting,!
and an outbreak among the the warlike
tribes of the northwest would endanger the j
lives and properties of settlers in a vast and
isolated region. The spirit of restlessness j
extends among tribes who range from the 1
Western border of Wyoming Territory
along the northern boundary of Minnesota,
and in the event of any concerted movement
of which there are intimations already,
it would require a larger and more
energetic military expedition than we have
seen in recent years to suppress it.
? A Fort Worth, Texas, dispatch of Thursday
says: All day yesterday wagons loaded
with families and their effects, from the
western counties, were streaming through
the city. They are fleeing from the
drought prevalent in the western counties,
and have come here in qest of work. They
give most gloomy accounts of the condition
of the crops and the lack of water for stock.
Hundreds of families are abandoning their ;
cattle and homes and going eastward to
keep from starving to death. The situation
is critical. Kain seldom falls in that district
during August, and by the time it
comes there will be, it is feared, nothing l
left in the country.
? In the forks of Edisto river, Barnwell
county, on Tuesday, Mr. Thomas Williams
and several friends assaulted a school teach- j
er named King, and dragged him from his
buggy to thrash him. King fatally shot
Williams. The two had heretofore had a j
difficulty, and it is stated that the shooting ;
was done in self-defence.
Correspondenre of the Yorkrille Enquirer.
LETTER FROM FORT MILL.
Fort Mill, July 2G, 188G.?We have at j
i last had a solid week's work; but the I
: ground was rather too hard for effective j
working. The weather is now getting j
warm enough for cotton; but the small I
, quantity of plants on the ground will make j
I the yield very light. The threshers have
' been at work and the small grain crops
have nearly all been threshed. The ltipj
ley wheat yielded about eleven or twelve
; to one?other kinds about four or five to one.
Oats are very light. In some instances the
stock that have been fed only on oats, have
been broken down, and others have died.
Day laborers are about winding up their
engagements in the crops and they have
little or no money to circulate, rendering
that article scarce.
Some parties are canvassing the question
of building a good bridge across Sugar Creek
between Barber's and Doby's, and abolishing
those two. It is claimed that a bridge
can be made to stand at a point between
them, and the distance will not be materially
increased. If this can be done satisfacto
rily, the project has the leaiure 01 economy
to recommend it.
The artifical incubator, spoken of last
week in this correspondence, beats a natural
one which has come under the writer's observation.
This is an old hen, belonging to
a neighbor, which sat on a nest of eggs from
last Christmas until the first part of this
month, at which time she left the nest in
utter disgust in failing to hatch a brood of
chicks. It is supposed that the eggs got
frozen last winter and were unavailable
for hatching purposes.
General Law was around on last Friday
shaking hands with his numerous friends.
He did not stay long, but hastened on to
other preci n ts.
Not a great deal of interest was manifested
at the primary election on Saturday.
The notice was so short that many voters
did not hear of the election at all. Only 80
votes were polled. Axox.
Correspondence of the Yorkville Enquirer.
LETTER FROM ROCK HILL.
Rock Hill, July 26.?After so much rain
during the last two months, it seems rather
strange for me to write that we, in this
section, are again in need of it. Nevertheless,
such is the fact, and our farmers would
like to see a good rain soon. For the past
week the weather has been very warm, and
the hot sun has taken the- moisture from
the soil.
For the size of our town, I will wager
it has more money in its treasury than any
other town in the State. The balance on
hand as per treasurer's report, July 1st,
was ?002.74.
The town council, at its last meeting,
refused to relieve Messrs. J. J. Hagins &
Co., of the fine imposed upon them tor
filling irregular prescriptions for whisky.
I Dr. W. .T. White, who wrote most of the ir
regular prescriptions filled by Messrs. Hagins
& Co., app.eared before the council and
stated that he was not posted as to the town
law, having but recently moved here; that
he gave the prescriptions in good faith, and
that they had all been issued for medical pur
poses. A petition is now being circulated
and has received the signatures of a large
number of our best citizens and largest property
holders, asking that the fines of Messrs.
Plagins & Co. be reduced from ?91 to ?20,
and that of Hope & Son from ?10 to ?3. The
signers believe that the law was violated
unintentionally.
Considerable interest is being taken in the ,
approaching Sunday-school convention of J
Bethel Presbytery, which assembles at thjs (
place on Wednesday. A large number of (
visitors are expected to attend.
The ice-cream festival given by the ladies
of the Baptist church, at this place, on last
Friday night, was quite a success.
Rev. J. E. Covington, of Yorkville, ,
preached in the Baptist church at this ,
place yesterday morning and again at 1
night. J
Ben Grimes, a colored man, residing on
the plantation of Mr. James II. Matthews, J
near Ebenezer, was seriously shot on Saturday
night last by a mob of colored men,
? i- ? -ix
wno aiieuipieu iu cxiier ins uuunc. ncu
Anderson, Hy. Gray and several others were
arrested charged with the crime. At a preliminary
examination to-day before Trial j
Justice Fewell, Fred Anderson was bound "j
in a bond of &300 for his appearance at the ,
next term of the Sessions Court. All the j
others were discharged. Hal.
Correspondence of the Yorkville Enquirer.
LETTER FROM CHESTER.
Chester, July 2G.?A competitive exam- j
ination was held at this place on last Thursday
for the West Point cadetship from this j
Congressional District. Messrs. T. E. Mc- (
Lure, S. B. Lathan and Dr. 8. M. Davega
were the examiners. The following applicants
were examined : J. II. Hardin, J. R.
Culp, Jr., T. C. Howze, 8. A. Hood and J.
O. Williams. Hardin, Culp, and Howze (
are iroin mis couuiy, iiuuu j?irum uui u,
and Williams is from Lancaster. J. H. '
Hardin was the successful competitor, raak- j
ing an average of 81.G out of a possible 100.
J. It. Culp passed the next best examination,
making an average of 73. Hardin is
required to report at West Point next June^
Chester is happy in the possession of a 1
beautiful postoffice. Mr. A. H. Davega,
who is the owner of the building in which
the office is located, has purchased a splendid
postoffice outfit, embracing all the appointments
of a city postoffice. It presents 1
a fine appearance and Chester, of course,
indulges in a few crows over her sister
towns who are not so blessed.
Thejury of inquest that examined the body
of the late Jeff Williams, decided that he ,
came to his death from gastritis, aggravated
by injuries received in a difficulty with
T. W. McCollum on the 24th of May, 188G.
At the inquest there was sworn testimony ,
to the.effect that when they seized each '
other they fell over a wagon tongue, that ,
McCollum fell on top, and struck Williams :
three blows in the face. After the difficulty
the latter always complained of some inter- ,
nal injury, which may or may not have ,
been caused by McCollum.
Mr. Banks Thompson, who has for a long j
time been in charge of the Blackstocks |
school, has been elected principal of the ,
graded school at this place, and has accepted .
the position. Mr. J. G. Baird, who has
been an assistant in the Chester graded ,
school, goes to Leesville, Lexington county, ,
to take charge of a school. .
Mr. John Flenniken, of this county, has
two little boys who last winter received
from the Agricultural Department at Washington
six quarts of a fine variety of seed
wheat. They planted it and the result was .
a yield of four bushels. The example of .
fliooo??wlnetrimis little hnvs nnVht be nrofit
ably followed by other boys.
The County Convention is assembled here
to-day. Col. W. It. Davie was elected president,
and Mr. T. E. McLure secretary.
The following delegates were elected to the ,
State Democratic Convention : It. T. Mock- ;
bee, Wade Osborne, B. A. Itagsdale, J. H. !
McDaniel, W. It. Davie, O. Barber, J. L.
Glenn and J. D. Sanders. The same num- ,
her of alternates were also elected. The ,
following delegates were elected to the (
Congressional Convention: II. C. Brawley,
J. B. Corn well, J. O. Hardin, G. W. Gage, ,
Alex. Wise, W. B. Itobison, S. J. Lewis and
C. W. McFadden. Alternates were also
elected. The following were elected mem- (
hers of the County Democratic Executive ,
Committee: E. M. Shannon, G. W. Gage,
J. II. McDaniel, P. L. Hardin, It. II. Ferguson,
W. It. Davie, J. M.Saye, L. S. Wise,
E. M. Atkinson, Dr. J. A. Wade, B. A.
Itagsdale and T. E. McLure. The Conven- (
tion recommended Senator Patterson for
Governor, Treasurer McFadden for State
Treasurer, favored the renomination of Congressman
Hemphill, and endorsed the administration
of President Cleveland. m. <
? Adolphus Brown and Henry Peden were
committed to the Spartanburg jail last
Thursday by Trial Justice Harrison, near J
lteidville. Brown and his wife quarreled
and she went to the house of her brother,
who lived in the neighborhood. Brown fol- '
lowed her to the said house, carrying his !
gun with him. Here the prisoners and the
deceased engaged in a scuttle, during which
the gun was discharged. Alice Brock man j
received the charge in her breast and died
instantly. Jealousy, the "green-eyed monster,"
was the prime cause of the tragedy. 1
The defendants claim that the shooting was ]
accidental. All the parties are colored.
^
? Col. J. P. Thomas is spoken of as an acceptable
man for the nomination of State
Treasurer.
For the Yorkville Enquirer.
VOTERS OF THE 5TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
LOOK TO YOUR INTEREST.
Mr. Editor: The time is drawing nigh
when the Convention shall meet in this
District to nominate a candidate for Congress.
The present Representative, Hon.
John J. Hemphill, is not, the man for the
place. He has lost sight of the interests
of the people, and has joined hands with
the bondholders and National banks in
their crusade against silver money?Democratic
money. He would put the people
again at the mercy of the "Goldbugs"?in
other words, he has aligned himself with
the corporations against the people. He
has not stopped here. The Democratic party,
in convention assembled, pledged itself
to a tariff to meet the expenses of the Government
economically administered. Mr.
Hemphill has joined the impractieables,
known in this State as "Free Traders." He
is willing to trample the platform of the
Democratic party under foot and go for a
myth.
Again, he favors "Civil Service Reform,"
so called, a Republican measure which was
passed to keep Republicans in office, and
which is contrary to a people's government,
excluding, as the act does, every Confederate
soldier from the postal service, and all
who were twentv one vears of ace. at the
beginning of the late war, from the customs
and departmental service. Let us have a
man for Congress who will not be afraid to
meet his opponent on the stump, even if
that opponent is Col. Cash. Let us have a
man who will stand with the people and
not with the bondholders and "Goldbugs."
A man who recognizes the Government as
a government of the people and for the
people, and recognizing it as such, will
favor such laws as will, tend to the happiness
and prosperity of the whole people.
Chesterfield.
For ttie YorUvlIle Enquirer.
WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH THE GRAM) JURY ?
On Thursday last I was frequently asked
the above question, which sprang from
a communication signed "Grand Juror."
If "Grand Juror" desired the information
he seeks in the card published in your last
issue, why not address his grievance to me,
as my name was signed to the presentinentof
which he complains, and which he,
for some sinister motive, published in the
two newspapers of the county. Had he
been controlled by the conduct of a gentleman,
his card would never have appeared
in print. He asserts that the "published
report of the grand jury is not the report
of that body." If "Grand Juror" means
that a paper read in the grand jury room by
W. IT. Stewart, is the proper report of that
body, he is mistaken. My remarks, when
that paper was presented, cannot be forgotten,
"That it wasan officious meddling with
nf tVio fni-oivion onfl T M'nulrl tnl'P
LIIV, UUU V/A iVIVUlUU, M W? ?
it as a personal matter." W. H. Stewart's
explanation I accepted, but stated, as I had
previously done, that I would sign no documents
that were the composition of another,
and that there was no use lor an
"assistant foreman." On leaving the grand
jury room, this so-called presentment was
pinned to a report of the committee on the
condition of the public offices, of which
committee \V. H. Stewart was chairman.
His presentment was never signed by him,
and hence never published. When we entered
the court room, the usual question was
asked: "Have you any presentments?" I
answered, "Only a synopsis of a report, the
report of the committee on public offices,
also an unsigned presentment of a member
of the grand jury." He writes: "It is changed;
by what authority was that report
changed, and who did it?" His last is a
superfluous question and unworthy of notice.
He saw the name of the undersigned
to the published presentment, "and by
what authority." I answer, by the inherent
right of every man who will not consent
to barter his birthright for a mess of
pottage, by signing public documents, other
Kici r\m iiaiy> r?/\o! ti An onrl f hof O rD CI1.
limit mo u?'ii luiiipuoiiiuii) auu muv uiv vju
perflous and frivolous and tending to stultify
the signer before an intelligent public.
He also states that the subject matter
r>l the report is changed. This is either the
result of egotistical predjutlice, or a wilful
perversion of the facts. The phraseology of
the published report is mine, the subject
matter is that of various members of
the grand jury, which was read in court in
\ synoptical form, and the sense not changed
by the language in the published presentment.
For prudential reasons, I omitted,
in the published presentments, two items by
some members of the grand jury, against
persons for peddling and retailingspirituous
liquors in the western part of the county.
Also for parties living in adultery, to publish
which would be to defeat the purpose
af the presentments. John T. Lowky.
Rock Hill Herald please copy.
MERE-MENTION.
Six members of the Missouri house of delegates
have been indicted for drunkenness
in office and three for bribery. Mexican
government troops were attacked on Tuesday
of last week by a body of revolutionists
who underestimated their strength. Many
revolutionists were killed and Gonzales and
two more leaders were captured. All bandits
found with the revolutionists are shot
without ceremony. At Bangor, Maine,
an Tuesday, a tifteen-year-old boy playfully
pointed a gun at his thirteen-year-old sister
and killed her. Theo Schumann,
druggist, and three liquor dealers of Atlanta,
have been fined $500 and costs for violating
the prohibition law. The first bale of
new crop cotton was soia in luempnis on
last Wednesday and brought twenty-five
rents per pound. The first Dale of new crop
Texas cotton was reported at Galveston on
the 10th, and shipped last week by express
lo the New York Cotton Exchange. The
Vermont prohibitionists have nominated a
full State ticket with Prof. Seeley for Governor.
On Tuesday at St. Louis three
little girls were playing in a sand pit when
it caved in, smothering one to death. In
Montgomery county, Arkansas, on Monday
night, seven horse thieves murdered Joseph
C. Cook and Fred Gerhardy. The Augusta
manufactories have organized for mutual
protection against the Knights of Labor.
The Graniteville, Vaueluse and Langley
Mills in South Carolina have joined
them. The bill to remove the political
Usabilities of W. H. F. Lee, of Virginia,
lias passed both houses of Congress. Spontaneous
combustion among flour dust caused
the destruction of the Dubuque company's
3at meal mill, at Dubuque, Iowa, Friday
night.' Loss, $1110,000. The health of
?x-President Arthur is improving. The
committee on ways and means has agreed
to Morrison's resolution providing for
the adjournment of Congress sine die tolay.
An. Armador county, Colorado,
man has applied for a patent on a process for
making butter by boiling the cream. A
pangor, Me., man has constructed a canvas
.noe in which he intends to place a small
- -i - ? 11? i : ~?
steam engine anu a propeiier. ujucuui
jpote and Calvin James, the latter a negro,
were hanged at Fort Smith, Ark., last Friday
for murders committed in the Indian
Territory. Only two centuries ago the
white races were estimated to be one-tenth
[)f the world's population. Now it is
Maimed they are fully one-third. A
nugget weighing thirty-seven pounds and
valued at $ 7,000 was found in a drift mine
near Sierra City, Cal., recently. This is
one of the largest specimens ever found in
the State.
A Blast From Barnwell.?''The Barnwell
People of July 22, says in a leading
editorial:
"The Republican party in South Carolina
is dead beyond the reviving reach of resurrection.
"But the danger of division in the ranks
of the Democracy remains and grows as the
possibility of antagonism from its late enemy
becomes more and more remote.
"The Democrats of the up country have
renewed the war against the low country
which tortured the Commonwealth for years
before the recent outbreak of the great
struggle between the States. They are
sending their best troops to the front and
mean to make the southern counties satrapies
of the Piedmont autocracy. At such
a crisis as the present our ablest men should
be called into service and personal ambitions,
if in conflict with the public good,
should be mercilessly murdered. The Peonle,
with noaxe to grind, urges the Convention
to send men who will be worthy of
this great county. Local pride as well as
the public good demands this and failure
will be a sin and a crime that will bring reproach
and bitter punishment."
I
LOCAL AFFAIRS
NEW ADVERTISEMENTS.
James R. Kennedy?Candidate for Judge of Pro- i
bate.
T. M. Dobson & Co.?"Listen to the Mocking
Bird."
W.B.Wilson, Jr.?For House of Representatives.
James W. Black?For County Commissioner.
J. N. Sutherland, Belton, S. C.?Fire, Fire, Fire?
<iin Saw Filing Machine?Tf You Want to
Buy.
W. E. Stoney, Comptroller-General?Insurance
License.
Withers Adickes?The Sunshine Lately.
M. Strauss?Great Inducements.
George T. Sehorb?Here's What You Want.
John C. Kuykendal?A Wonderful Statement.
Lowry <fe Starr?Our Tobacco. ;
John F. Speck?For Sale Cheap.
I)r. C'iias. Manly, President, Greenville, S. C.?
Furnian University.
J. T. RobortsyYork Institute, 188G-87.
W. N. HUleiys^or School Commissioner.
/ FINE FRUIT.
Messrs. Samuel Blair and R. T. Riggins have ,
our thanks for a liberal supply of fine fruit,
consisting of peaches, apples and pears, with *
which they favored us last Monday.
-* r ~r * *'*r ? T1 ir -4 -i QCi*?
t.MIU ilAnUAlVl 1| 1001.
We will furnish the Enquirer from this date
until January 1, 1887, for $1.00; or for one year
to two names paid for at the same time, $4.00.
Single subscription $2.50 per annum.
"7^ PETIT LARCENY.
John Self, a white man, was committed to
jail last Monday for petit larceny committed
at Clover. We learn that there are other and
and graver charges to be preferred against him.
PICNIC AT THE BATTLE GROUND. *
We have been requested to state that there
will be a picnic at the King's Mountain battle
ground on next Saturdi$,-to which the public
is invited. Music will be furnished for the
occasion by the Clark's Fork string band.
FINE CLOVER.
Mr. John R^Aslie exhibited in our office last
Saturday a/ounch of clover, of his second crop,
the stems of which were 45 inches high. The
lirst mowing of his crop yielded three tons to the
acre, and the second mowing, which was made
last week, yielded the same quantity. And
3*et there are persons who seem to think that
clover will not grow in York county.
REV. A. J. AVITHERSPOON.
This gentleman, Chaplain of the Seaman's
Bethel in New Orleans, and who atone time was
a resident of Yorkville, arrived here on yesterday
afternoon. To-night at 8.30 o'clock, he will
deliver an address in the Presbyterian Church
in behalf of the institution he represents. A
cordial invitation is extended to our people to
be present on the occasion.
CHURCH NOTICES.
Presbyterian?Rev. T. R. English, Pastor.
No services next Sunday.
Baptist?Rev. J. E. Covington, Pastor. Services
at Union next Sunday at 11 A. M. Sunday-school
at 4.30 P. M. Prayer-meeting to-'
morrow evening at 8.30 P. M.
Associate Reformed Presbyterian?Rev. J. C.
Galloway, Pastor. Services Friday at8.30 P. M.,
Saturday morning at 10.30, Saturday evening at
8.30, and on Sunday at 10.30 A. M. The sacrament
of the Lord's Supper will be administered
in connection with the services on Sunday.
The pastor expects to be assisted by Rev. J. T.
Chalmers, of Winnsboro.
Episcopal.?Sunday-school at 5 P. M.?bell
ringing at 4.30. Evening service at 5.30, and a
congregational meeting at 0 P. M.
n / personal mention.
Mis^fclna V. Griste, of Louisville, Ky., is visiting
Jlrs. L. Geo. Grist.
Mr. J. L. Mimnaugh, of Columbia, is visiting
the family of Sheriff Glenn.
Miss Belle Kennedy, of Yorkville, has taken
charge of a school near Clover.
Miss Mamie Hughson, of Sumter, is visiting
Miss Annie Steele of this place.
Messrs. John A. Darwin and Win. D. Glenn
are rusticating in the "Land of the Sky."
Mrs. J. 0. Walker and child, and Miss Sallie
Ingold and Miss Fannie Parish are at Cleveland
Mineral Springs.
Mrs. S. A. McElwee, Miss Grace McElwee and
and Miss Jennie C. Cody, of Yorkville, are visiting
Mrs. McD. Arledgeof Charlotte.
Rev. J. Q. Adams, pastor of the Rock Hill
Baptist Church, preached in the Baptist Church,
at this place, on last Sunday morning and again 1
at night. Both sermons were listened to with
deep interest by all who attended.
l_ the jenkins rifles.
At tlje last regular meeting of the Jenkins
Rifles, Rev. J. C. Galloway was elected Chaplain,
and Gen. E. M. Law, ex-captain of the
company, was elected an honorary member.
On the 30th instant, the company will have
a target shooting, the prize for the best shot
being a silver medal.
On Monday night, August 0th, they will have
a contest drill in the Court House, the prize for
the best drilled soldier being a silver medal.
This contest will be public, and a general invitation
is extended to all who may desire, to be
present.
On the following day, August 10th, the Catawhn
nf ttnek Hill, will be the eruests in
Yorkvilleof the Jenkins Rifles, and after partaking
of a dinner at the Parish House, the two '
companies will leave for All-IIealing Springs, |
where they will go in camp for a week or ten !
days under military regulations.
^ COLORED BA8EBALLISTS. J
The"Union Stars," of Rock Hill, and the "Red
Stockings," of, Yorkville both colored, crossed '
hats on the grounds of the latter in this place on
last Friday afternoon. The game lasted about '
two hours and resulted in a victory for the "Red 1
Stockings," who beat their opponents two runs 1
without going to the bat in the last inning. The 1
following are the names of the players with the 1
number of runs made by each : 1
"Union Stars."?R. J. Youngblood 3, J. ('. 1
Douglass 3, R. W. Steele 3, R. 11. Henry 2, W. '
C. Steele 2, W. B. Wallace 3, R. G. Jones 2, !
John Campbell 3, T. W. Archie, 2, G. W. Carwell
2.-25. '
"Red Stockings."?S. L. King4, W. M. Wheeler
3, T. S. McKnight 4, G. K. Adams 5, P. E. |
King, 3, S.Wright 3, J. A. McKnight 2, W. M. <
Adams 1, C. W. Miller 1, J. H. Herndon 2.?27<^ j
Mr. S. B. Keesler, of Rock Hill, umpired the J
game. All of his decisions were so eminently
correct and impartial that both sides were per- <
fectly satisfied, and not a single dispute was ;
raised throughout the contest. ]
We understand that the "Mohawks," of this J
place, have accepted a challenge by theGastonia ,
club, and the game is to take place in Yorkville, <
on next Friday afternoon. The "Mohawks" re- 1
cently played the "Brick-Bats," of Rock Hill, '
and were defeated by a score of 15 to 10.
YORK DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION'. i
The Democratic Convention of York met in !
the Court House on Monday last, every precinct 1
in the county being represented by complete
delegations except Buffalo, which was unrepresented.
Promptly at 11 o'clock A. M? R. H. Glenn,
County Chairman, called the Convention to >
order and explained the object of its meeting to <
be to elect ten delegates and the same number of 1
alternates to the State Convention, to meet in j
Columbia on the 4th of August next; to elect ten (
delegates and the same number of alternates to (
a Congressional nominating Convention for the '
Fifth Congressional district, to be called hero- '
* - -1?4 -- ri' 4? Sanrahi. I ,
auer; 10 eieci a vuuiiLy vauum?u ......
ry, and Precinct Chairmen for the ensuing two
years; to provide for the election of a Precinct
chairman for the precinct of Thompson's Mill,
created at the last session of the Legislature ; to
take steps for the revising of the Constitution of
the party, adopted in 1878, and which now expires
by limitation; and any other business that
may properly come before the Convention.
Mr. W. 15. MeCaw, Secretary, then read the
lists of delegates, by precincts, as returned to
him; when
Mr. J. C. Chambers moved that a committee,
to consist of one from each precinct, be appointed
to verify the credentials and report on the
same.
The motion carried and the chair appointed the
following as the committee:
Black's, A. 15. Crosby; Bethel, G. L. Riddle;
Bethany, J. L. Bavies: Clay Hill, K. 1). Thompson;
Bullock's Creek, S. M. McXeel; Clover,
W. 15. Smith; Coatos' Tavern, II. M. Lineberger;
Port Mill, A. K. Banks; Hickory Grove,
I)r. J. W. Allison ; Blairsville, J. L. Rainey ;
Clark's Fork, J. C. McGill; McC'onnellsville,
John S. Bratton; Yorkville, J. F. Hart; Rock
Hill, W. B. Wilson, Jr.; McElwee's Mill, B. F.
Rawlinson.
The committee retired and elected Mr. Hart
chairman and Mr. Wilson secretary, and returned
with their report, which was presented by
the chairman, and read as follows by the secretary
:
Black's?A. B. Crosby, Dr. T. B. Whitesides,
J. W. McKeown, W. D. Johnson, A. (J. Smith,
J. II. Surratt, J. T. Howe.
Bethel?J. C. Patrick. S. D. Stowe, X. B. Campbell,
Geo. L. Riddle, W. R. J. Stanton.
Bethany?L. A. McGill, W. F. Smith, K. B.
Faulkner, J. L. Davies.
Clay Hill?D. A. A. Watson, B. C. Pressley,
K. D. Thompson.
Bullock's Creek?J. M. Sims, S. M. McNeel,
W. L. Hood.
Clover?W. B. Smith, J. Randolph Wallace,
J. W. Lawrence, D. J. Jackson.
C'oates Tavern?II. M. Lineberger. J. T. Spencer,
Dr. R. T. M. Hall.
Fort Mill?B. D. Springs, J. M. Armstrong,
A. R. Banks, W. K.Griffith, J. II. Sutton, W. H.
Stewart.
Hickory Grove?Dr. J. W. Allison, J. C. Chambers,
J. K. Leech, R. G. Whitesides, R. M.
Allison.
Blairsville?R. T. Riggins, J. L. Rainey, J. P.
Blair, W. A. Robinson.
Clark's Fork?J. C. McGill.
McElwee's Mill?W. S. Wilson, B. F. Rawlinson,
W. S. Adams.
McConnellsville?John S. Bratton, W. X". Elder,
D. (J. Crawford, G. L. Sanders, E. P. Love.
Rock Hill?Peter Garrison, R. A. Steele, Fred.
ii. i-ionuon, ? . n. \> usou, .ir., 1. v. uecjvii.uw,
Win. Wherrv, Dr. W. J. White, John Rataree,
W. S. May, I>. 15. Finley.
Yorkville?J. C'. Gwln, J. 11. Hell, John J.
Hunter, II. C. Strauss, John A. Latta, James F.
Hart, W. J. Stephenson, Erwin Gordon, J. C.
Jackson, Maj. J. II. Harry.
The report of the committee was adopted.
On motion of Maj. Hart, all alternates present
were invited to seats on the lloor of the Convention,
but not as members thereof.
Mr. Stephenson moved, and it was adopted,
that the Convention be held with open doors.
The next business announced was the election
of a County Chairman and a Secretary of,the
Executive Committee. For County Chairman
R. II. Glenn was nominated for re-election, and
unanimously elected. For Secretary, W. B.
McCaw was nominated for re-election and unanimously
elected.
The following precinct chairmen, constituting
the County Executive Committee, were then
elected:
Black's Joseph Black.
Bethel W. E. Campbell.
Bethany T. P. Whitesides.
Butlalo W. I). Camp.
Bullock's Creek I. 1). Hamilton.
Clay Hill I). A. A. Watson.
Clover D. J. Jackson.
C'oates' Tavern W. C. Abernathy.
Fort Mill J. R. Haile.
Hickory Grove I. C. Chambers.
Blairsville R. T. Riggins.
Clark's Fork R.J. Love.
McElwee's Mill W. S. Wilson.
McConnellsville Dr. W. G. Campbell.
Rock Hill Iredell Jones.
Thompson's Mill E. I). Thompson, Jr.
Yorkyille John A. Latta.
Delegates to the State Convention were next
placed in nomination, and the following, with
their alternates, were elected :
T) KL EG AXES. AI.T E RN AXES.
B. D. Springs, J. J. Hull,
A. It. Banks, Allen Jones,
J. F. Hart, J. C. Witherspoon,
John S. Bratton, J. C. Chambers,
J. L. Rainey, \V. I). Johnston,
B. H. Glenn, It. G. Whitesides,
G. L. Riddle, G. W. S. Hart,
C. E. Spencer, J. W. Allison,
W. B. Smith, J. 0. Patrick,
L. M. Grist, ~~Z- R. G. McC'aw.
Delegates to the Congressional nominating
Convention were next placed in nomination,
and the following, with their alternates, were
elected:
I?E LEG A X ES. A LT E U NAT US.
J. C. Patrick, James F. Hart,
W. B. McCaw, J. C. Gwin,
E. A. Crawford, T. II. Whitesides,
R. T. Riggins, J. D. Hamilton,
S. E. White, W. II. Stewart,
T. C. Beckham, 1). E. Finley,
A. B.Crosby. J. W. Allison,
R. E. Guthrie, * J. L. Moore,
J. P. Blair, G. W. S. Hart,
R. G. Whitesides. S. S. Smith.
Mr. Chambers offered the following resolutions,
which were unanimously adopted :
1. That it is the sense of this Convention that
the nominee to represent the Fifth Congressional
district in the L nited States Congress be made
by the primary plan in each county comprising
said district.
2. That the delegation from York county to
the State Convention be, and is hereby, instructed
to endeavor to carry out the foregoing resolution,
so far as the same may be practicable.
Mr. Springs offered the following resolution,
which, after some discussion, was adopted:
That it is the sense of this Convention that
York county is entitled to the next representative
in Congress from this district, and that our
delegates to the Congressional Convention bo
and are hereby requested so to vote.
Major Hart moved that the Chairman appoint
a committee of three to revise the Constitution
and report upon the same at an adjourned meeting
of this Convention on the first Monday of
September next.
The motion was adopted, and the chairman
appointed as said committee, J. F. Ilart, W. B.
McCaw, W. B. Wilson, Jr.
The Convention was then adjoined until the
first Monday of September.
THK TOWNSHIP BONDS.
On Saturday last, the County Commissioners
of York county forwarded, through the South
?? 1I.A
tsrii xvxpruss x/uimraiiv, iu wd uvoiuu ..><**?
posit and Trust Company, trustee, the bonds of
the townships of Cherokee, York, Ebenezer and
Catawba, voted in aid of the Charleston, Cincinnati
and Chicago Railroad Company. The bonds
aggregate ono hundred and ninety-three thousand
dollars in amount, as follows: Cherokoo,
$25,000; York, $7">,0<)0; Ebenezer, 818,000; Catawba,
$75,000. Herewith is appended a copy of the
letter from the Trust Company to the County
Commissioners, agreeing to the plan proposed
by the County Commissioners for transmitting
the bonds to Boston, as also the indenture of
trust between the Trust Company and the County
Commissioners as regards the bonds of York
township. The indentures between the Trust
Company aiid the County Commissioners, as
agents of the townships of Cherokee, Ebenezer
and Catawba, are the same as that of York, except
that the several indentures vary as to the
conditions upon which the bonds are to be delivered
to the Massachusetts and Southern Construction
Company:
Boston, Mass., July, 14, 1881).? To the Board
3/ County Commissioner*, Yorkville, York county,
?. C. Gentlemen : We hold the trust indentures
of Catawba, Ebenezer, York and Cherokee
townships, County of York, executed in duplicate
by your Board, and as these are very
much interlined, we send to you to-day freshly
written copies, in duplicate, of each of the said
trust indentures.
We should like each of these now duplicate
copies signed, sealed, and properly executed by
pour Board, to be used as substitutes for the originals,
and we hereby certify that these new
copies sent herewith are true copies of the originals,
one of which we hold, and one of which
we return to you ; and upon the receipt by us
cf the township bonds, snecilied in 'each of them,
from the Southern or Aaams Express Company,
together with these duplicate copies of trust indentures
sent to-day, properlv executed by your
Board we hereby agree to deliver to the "said
Southern or Adams Express Company, one of the
new copies of said trust indentures properly
executed by us, together with the orgitial trust
indenture which we now hold.
Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Company.
By F. M. Stone, President.
indkntl'hk of trust.
\\ nereas, me iowiisui|i 111 luin. m ihuuiuuu
if York, State of South Carolina, on the 13th day
if March A. I). 1880, voted a subscription of
ieventy-live thousand (75,000) dollars in seven
per cent, coupon bonds to the capital stock of
,ho Charleston, Cincinnati and Chicago Railroad
L'omnany, formerly the Georgetown and North
Carolina Narrow Gauge Railroad Company, in
iccordance with the provisions of sections 11, 12,
13 and 14 of the amendment to the charter of the
ieorgetown and North Carolina Narrow Gauge
Railroad Company, granted and ratified by the
jieneral Assembly of the State of South Carolina
in the 19th day of December, A. D. 1883, and approved
December 21st, 1883, and an "Amenda;ory
Act," ratified December 21st, 1885, changing
die name of said railroad company to "the
Charleston, Cincinnati and Chicago Railroad
Company," said subscription being recorded
jy order of the board of County Commissioners
ipon the records of said county.
Now, therefore, this argreement made and enered
into on this 28th day of April A. I). 1888,
iy and between the board of Commissioners for
ho county of York, agents, and the Hoston Safe
Deposit and '1 rust Company of the city of Boston,
mil State of Massachusetts,
Witnesseth: For the purpose of more fully
mil satisfactorily carrying out the votes and
inderstandings horeinbefore set forth and referred
to, the Board of Commissioners for the counv
of York, agents, in consideration of one ($1)
lollar to them paid by the Boston Safe Deposit
md Trust Company, "of Boston, State of Massadmsetts,
the receipt whereof is hereby acknowlidged,
does hereby agree to transfer, assign and
leliver to the said Boston Safe Deposit and Trust
Company, trustee, their successors and assigns,
he within described seventy-live thousand (75,K)0)
dollars of sevon per cent, coupon bonds of
he township of York, bearing interest at the
ate of seven per cent, per annum, to bo paid
itinually at the office of the Treasurer of York
:ounty, upon the following trust, to-wit:
Upon the presentation to the said Boston Safe
Deposit and Trust Company, trustee, of acertif
ioate signed by the engineer of the Massachusetts
and Southern Construction Company, endorsed
by the chairman of the board of County |
Commissioners for the county of York, whose
signature shall be attested by the clerk of said j
board, that the road is completed with track laid
between Black's Station and the town of Yorkville,
according to the course indicated in the
notice of election, lifty thousand (f>(),()UO) dollars
at par value of said bonds shall, upon order of the
said Charleston, Cincinnati and Chicago Railroad
Company, be delivered by said Trust Company
to the Massachusetts and Southern Construction
Company. And upon the presentation to the j
said trustee of a certificate signed by the engineer
of the Massachusetts and Southern Construction
Company, endorsed as above, that the road is j
completed with track laid to or beyond the line j
of said township going southward, "the said trus- j
tee shall, upon like order,aforesaid immediately ;
pay to the Massachusets and Southern Construction
Company, the remaining twenty-live thousand
(2f?,0(X?) dollars of said bonds; provided that
all matured coupons attached to said bonds bo i
detached before delivery as aforesaid, and returned
to the said board for cancellation; and
interest upon any partially matured coupons
shall be adjusted "to the date of said engineer's
certificate.
Provided, that the Massachusetts and Southern
Construction Company, upon receiving any
of the said seven per cent, coupon bonds, shall
issue certificates "endorsed by the Charleston,
Cincinnati and Chicago Railroad Company aforesaid,
entitling said township to an amount of
capital stock at par value, equal in amount to
said bonds so delivered, in the Charleston, Cincinnati
and Chicago Railroad Company.
In consideration of the abovo premises, the
said Boston Safe Repost and Trust Company
does hereby accept the said trust, and agrees to
and with the board of Commissioners of the
county of York, South Carolina, agents, to perform
all and singular the duties appertaining to
the said trust with all ordinary care and diligence,
and further agrees to be responsible for
the safety of all said bonds while they remain in
its possession; and if for any cause the Massachusetts
and Southern-Construction Company
has not completed said Railroad by the lirst day
January A. D. 1&S9, said trustee further agrees
to then\leliver all of said bonds then remaining
in its possession to the Commissioners of York '
county, or to such parties as they may name,
free and clear of the provisions of this trust.
In witness wherof, the board of Commissioners
for the county of York, South Carolina,
agents, have caused these presents to be signed
and its corporate seal to be hereto affixed, and
the said Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Company
has also hereunto affixed its name and seal on
this 2Sth day of April A. D. iSS<>.
THE TIRZAH MEETING.
The meeting at Massey's Store, in this county,
yesterday, under the auspices ofTirzah Farmers'
Club, was a grand success, far exceeding any
public gathering of the people since the memorable
days of 1S7<>. Every section of the county,
except possibly the north-western, was represented,
and In addition to the manhood and yeomanry
of old York, the occasion was graced by
the radiant presence of a goodly number of her
fair daughters. It was estimated that at least
2,500 persons were on the grounds, and the estimate
was not unreasonable.
Of course, the great attraction was Capt. It. R.
Tillman, of Edgefield, who had accepted an invitation
to address the people, and the immense
gathering to greet him was certainly a very flattering
recognition of his efforts in behalf of the
agricultural element of the State.
Capt. Tillman arrived at Tirzah on Monday
evening, and was the guest of Mr. llenrv Massey.
Early yesterday morning the people commenced
to gather on the grounds", and until the
appointed hour for the speaking to commence, a
constant stream of ladies and gentlemen poured
through Mr. Massev's house, each desirous of
taking by the hand the agricultural Moses ol
South Carolina, whose staff' is to prove a guide
and comforter, and its magic influence a deliverer
from the Egyptian darkness now clouding the
farming interests of the State.
Capt. Tillman is a gentleman of clear cut
features, pleasing address, affable disposition,
easily approached, and while he has a pleasant
word for every one, his manners are entirely
free from the guile of the politician, readily impressing
one that he is honest and sincere in
what he says and does. By an accident when
a boy he lost one eye, but he makes good use of
his remaining optic. As a public speaker he is
free and unconstrained, and though at times a
little brusque, lie has the happy faculty of interesting
his hearers and making himself understood.
The speaker's stand, erected in Dr. Hope's
1 11., tlnnftwitwl Ilmrnra
gruvu9 wua UCUUUIUIIJ wt'tunutu ivibu Iivo v?o
and evergreens, and streamers bore the legends,
"We heed Tillman"Farmers to the Front."
The meeting was called to order at 11 o'clock
A. M., by Mr. Frank II. Brown, Chairman of
Tirzah Farmers' Club, who requested Itev. D.
Harrison to open the exercises with prayer.
After prayer, in a few well chosen remarks
laudatory of the farmers' movement, of which
Capt. B. R. Tillman, of Kdgetield, is the originator
and acknowledged leader, Capt. Iredell
Jones introduced that gentleman, who was received
with cheers and applause.
Capt. Tillman, said he did not think it necessary
to express his surprise at the magnitude of
the crowd there present, and after complimenting
the intelligence and beauty before him,
thanked the large audience for their attendance,
whether prompted by curiosity to see what sort
of a looking animal he is, or whether they came
to learn something. He hoped he might t>e able
to learn his hearers something, and even if he is
the crank that some pretend to believe he is, he
is thankful to know that he is honest. Hesaid he
is but a plain farmer, unused to public speaking,
and had never made a public speech previous to
i..af a mriiaf of Jinnnpft?vi 1 le. when lie snoke on
the resolutions then introduced by him,and which
was the origin of what has since become known
as the farmers' movement. The history of that
meeting it is unnecessary to repeat; but he went
there conscious that the agricultural affairs of the
State were in a deplorable condition and proposed
a scheme which he thought would be beneficial
to the farmers of the State." Although
that meeting was composed of representative
farmers, his resolutions were voted down, and it
was then that he went home and resolved to renew
the fight and persevere in it until he gained
the victory. The contest was renewed by a
series of letters in the public press, and about
the time of the meeting of the last session of the
Legislature, he was astonished at the eil'ect the
letters had produced, fie discovered that he
had struck a responsive chord, which encouraged
him to prosecute the fight.
The gentlemen who control the Democratic
party have been unjust, impugning his motives
and charging that the movement was inaugurated
for the purpose of splitting the Democratic
party. As to that, he could only say that he
was endorsed bv the Democracy of Edgefield,
which was sufficient endorsement for any Democrat.
He said he was present by invitation of the
Tirzah Club, and was alone responsible for what
he said. He could only go along in the ranks
and give advice.
The main object of this movement is to organize
farmers into societies for the purpose of
educating them. We do not know how to farm.
If we do, why are we growing-poorer every day,
and why do so many of our farmers go with hat
in hand'and beg some merchant or factor to run
them for a year ?
You live in a county beautiful by nature, but
like old Edgefield,marked and scarred by gullies,
ghastly skeletons of once fertile fields. * Why is
this? Ignorance, which is also the root of our
poverty. For our condition to-day we may justly
blame ignorance, extravagance and laziness.
Hut while I make this charge to others, I may say
that I need educating too. One solution of the
deplorable condition of our farms is the fact that
so many of our people have moved to the fertile
fields of the West. After having exhausted the
fields of South Carolina they went West, and we
of the South are now in competition with those
people west of the Mississippi river?a competition
that we cannot stand. The people of the
Northern States have made this discovery, and
they have intelligently gone to work to improve
their lands and meet the competition of western
agriculture, while with the blindness of an idiot
we are following in the old ruts that have ruined
our farming lands.
It is now the fashion to lecture the poor
farmer. Not long since a Judge even was guilty
of dragging his ermine in the mire to explain
their condition to a grand jury. Every little
editor in the State is telling us what to uo?auvising
us to make our own supplies, to keep our
smoke-houses and corn cribs at home. This is
all good advice ; but you must also learn how to
recover your old fields and reclaim the land
that has gone to waste. It is not intelligence to
follow a plan that attaches no value to the lands
you cultivate.
These remarks brought the speaker up to the
three agencies in our State intended l'or the benefit
of farmers; these are the State Agricultural
Department, the Agricultural department of the
South Carolina College, and the State Agricultural
Society. All these are said to be l'or the benefit
of the'fanning community, and yet all three
are under the management of separate boards
with no concert of action, and to cap the climax,
there are no farmers on either of the boards!
Seven of them, elected by the Legislature, are
lawyers. After the college was reorganized with
the so-called agricultural department, the Legislature
was bamboozeled into voting an appropriation,
and two political farmers were placed
on the board. There are about 700 lawyers in
this State and about fio.ooo white farmers; yet
the Legislature could not find one bona fide farmer
to put on the board of trustees. And yet it ,
is said that the farmers have a majority in the
Legislature and that they will look after the in
terest of the farmers. I fear that too many of
them sold their votes for a mere how d'ye do
to such men as Izlar and Simonton, and other i
Charleston and Columbia lawyers who ruu the
Legislature to suit themselves.
The Speaker then dwelled on the land scrip
granted the States in ISfi'J for educational purposes,
and showed how South Carolina's apportion- :
inent had been wasted on the South Carolina
College.
The great question is, will an agricultural
college^ properly conducted, be beneficial to the
people? I do not mean a literary college with
Creek and Latin chairs, and an agricultural college
only in name. 1 do not decry our college.
I am proud that we have one, but it does not
come up to the old days of Dr. Thornwell, even
as a literary college, and I tell you in all candor
you cannot educate a boy there to agriculture.
The inducements to work are not offered, nor are
the facilities there. At the last examination it
was developed that only two students took agricultural
chemistry in theirs, while all the rest
devoted their time to other studies.
Has thestudy of Latin and Greek made any of
you better farmers ? I was not benefitted as a
farmer bv the study of Latin and Greek, though
I devoted three years to these studies. What I
advoeato is, give a boy a practical education.
Literarv institutions will not afford the relief demanded.
There is a dread in the minds of some
farmers that an agricultural collegewill increase
taxation, but if you will send the right kind of
men to the Legislature we can have such a college
and yet reduce taxation.
The Department of Agriculture has been in
existence six years, and how is it sustained?
Who pays the expenses of it? To raise money
for this purpose the Legislature levies a tax of
twenty-five cents on each ton of guano mined
in the State; but who pays this tax? It comes
out of the pockets of the farmers of the State;
and yet no farmers were elected by the Legislature
to manage this fund?the board consisting
of two political farmers and one a betwixt-anubetween
farmer, who is really the best one of the
three.
Men of this class have governed the State and
will continue to govern it unless the farmers organize
and pull together. To effect this let each
county organize an agricultural society, hold
agricultural fairs, at stated meetings read essays
on subjects calculated to improve the minds of
the fanners; and above all, take the State Fair
out or tue nanus 01 mo politicians anu lawyers.
This may lie called class legislation, but it is* not,
nor do I advocate any such doctrine. It is to the
interest of the lawyers and the merchants to see
the farmers prosper. A lawyer knows he cannot
obtain a big fee from a farmer on his way
to the poor house, and the merchant will not
give credit to a farmer who has no means of
paying his contracts.
How it is in York county I have no means of
knowing, but in the State at large it is estimated
that one-tifth of the agricultural land is tied up
in mortgages. Merchants, bankers, and foreign
capitalists have mortgages on this property,
and those making the debt will be serfs when
they ought to be lords. But it the lawyers join
the fanners, where is the ostracism ? The doctors
are with us, as they always have been, and
if all professional classes join us, where is the
ostracism? But we don't want them to get on
with us through the Legislature.
Looking at the faces of those before me, I see
intelligent men and beautiful women, but I fear
as farmers you are not progressive. You do not
use your he*ads. Organize an agricultural society
in York and come to Columbia next November
and discuss questions affecting your interests
and present your claims to the Legislature, and
put backbone in your representatives. The
members of the Legislature do not include the
brains of the State. If you will organize you
can control, but without organization you are a
mere mob without power or influence.
He next discussed at length the subject of farmers'
institutes, and read from published reports
the plan adopted in the conduct of these colleges
by Ohio and other States. After showing the interest
taken in the work by the superintendent
of the Ohio institute, he asked if there is any official
in South Carolina faking similar interest
in the agricultural department of her college.
He then spoke of having cited, in a conversation
recently with agentleman of this State, the Michigan
Agricultural College, by which the Mississinni
Collesre is modeled, as a line institution,
when the gentleman replied, "Yes, but State
pride forbids our copying from a northern State.
South Carolina don't follow; we lead." Then,
continued Capt. Tjllman, in the name of God !
what do we lead ? South Carolina did lead to .
Secession, but in point of fact, as a progressive
State, we are at the rear end of the column. One
Southern State?Mississippi?is copying from
Michigan, and such an institution in our State
as the Mississippi Agricultural College, would be
of more benefit to the State than in any other way
the money could be invested.
He then read extracts from reports showing
the manner of conducting the Mississippi College
and the beneficial results of the institution.
He also claimed that forty-six agricultural institutes
in Ohio, conducted' with a view of imparting
agricultural knowledge to the students,
cost less money than the South Carolina College.
As as an item of the thoughtless extravagance
of our Legislature, he mentioned the fact that at
the last session the sum of ?1,800 was appropriated
for the purpose of experimenting with tobacco,
when every child in the State knows
from tradition that it has been successfully raised
in every county except the coast counties,
and was once a staple crop. The scheme is another
blood-letter, just as cotton now is, and
while we can raise tobacco, yet, if it too is to be
a staple crop, it will open another vein to bleed
our State. But why spend money to teach
us what we all know, and not spend any to teach
us something that wo do not know?
In Mississippi they do not teach farming in
the house, but in the field, where practical lessons
can be given, and where the boys are
taught that it is not a disgrace to work at manual
labor. The student is required to work in
the field three hours each day, for which he is
paid eight cents per hour, and on Saturdays he
may work all day at the same rate. By this
means some of them pay their way through the
college at a cost of not inore than *?<>0 over their
earnings, while in Columbia it costs a student
?175.
Farmers are all poor. It is estimated that not
more than five per cent, of the graduates of literary
colleges turn their attention to farming. In *
the literary colleges they get a distaste for work
and return home lazy drones. How many graduates
before the war are to-day in York county
too lazy to work and expect to be kept up by
their relatives?
My Democracy needs 110 further endorsement
than I have given, but being a Democrat, my
mouth is not barred against abuses in the party.
There is no danger of the Democratic party of
South Carolina dismembering. There is an
earthquake beneath our feet in the shape of 100,CH)0
negro voters that must keep lis together.
But we must have wise laws. We need a new
Constitution. How did we obtain our present
Constitution ? In 1S76 we went into the State
government at the window, but going that way
we got there all the same, and took the Radical
legislation and Radical rascality as we found
them. Did wo have a house-cleaning ? The old
cumbersome Constitution has been permitted to
stand, and bond-holders are afraid to speak of
having it changed for fear of opening the debt
question. But it needs amending in many particulars
nevertheless.
Where do your salaries go ? It requires one
million to run the State government. Salaries
are too high. But when you talk about reducing
salaries what a howl is raised! A clerk for
two hours' service per day gets $1,">00, while his
big boss, for doing nothing except to sign his
name occasionally to papers, gets $2,000 per
year. Would not competent farmers do this
same work for less pay?
There are several useless offices that ought to
be abolished?the County Commissioners, the
County Auditor, the County School Commissioner*
and the superintendent o'f Registration.
As to the poor County Commissioners, they do
get but little pay, but it is no less true that they
do but little work. This office in Edgefield has
paralyzed public spirit. Our County Commissioners
get poor pay to do no work. Everybody
depends upon them to look after everything
because they are paid for doing it; nothing is
done, and the consequence is we travel in gullies
instead of roads from one side of the county
to the other. We go down a long stretch of hill
in a gully, cross the creek and go up another hill
in a gully. The pay of a County Commissioner
is so small that no body even wants tiie omee.
Let us abolish the County Commissioners and go
to the old plan. We have no use for a County
School Commissioner or a County Auditor, and
in Edgeiield the Trial Justices are another nuisance,
keeping the dockets of the Sessions Court
tilled with trivial eases of negro tights and litigation,
which they industriously look up, summoning
all the witnesses they can find, whether
they know anything about the ease or not.
As to the free schools, from the Savannah to the
Saluda, in Edgefield, I will say that they are all a
humbug. I am not opposed to education. I
want the schools, but I want them made better
than they now are. I would have the school districts
made square, instead of the present irregular
shape, and the school house located im the
centre. And I would have the school triiiiees
elected by white tax-payers and not appointed.
I am opposed to the white people of the State
paying any more of their hard-earned dollars to
educate negroes. When you educate a negro
you educate a candidate for the penitentiary or
spoil a good field hand. Jlut if by his own exertions
a negro can acquire an education, let him
do so.
Another objection to the Constitution is the
appointing power vested in the Governor. The
Executive patronage is a stepping stone to the
organization of little rings who think they own
the State. Let us have a Constitutional Convention
and correct these evils.
In conclusion he said, the people now have
their eyes open. You must vote for measures,
not men. Because a candidate kisses your baby
mid thitters votir wife, if von vote for him you
will lie left in the woods a long time. As to the
farmers' clubs springing up all over the State,
do not let them subside. Keep up your regular
meetings at least once a month; but don't expect
too much; don't hope that we can get out
of the difliculties surrounding us in one year, or
even rive years. Hut if we start out with honest
determination, we will at last touch bottom anil
go up grade. It remains with each man at last,
by his own energy, to build up his own fortune.
At the conclusion of Capt. Tillman's speech,
and after music, the chairman announced an adjournment
to partake of a basket picnic prepared
by the ladies of that section, and to which everybody
was invited. The modest announcement
that the collation was a basket picnic, and the apparently
rash invitation to fully two thousand
persons to partake of it, seemed incongruous ;
but on repairing to the tables, one of which was
spread in the residence of Dr. \V. 1>. llope, and