Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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VOL VII. MANNING, S. C., WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 1891. NO. 28. AT T11E TABERNACLE. DR. TALMAGE PREACHESON VARIOUS KINDS OF PRODIGALS. The Crew That We .Aluobt Saved-The Pardoacd Crimitai-The Godly Sorrow That Leadeth to iepteutance. BROOKLY.N. June 21.-I)r. Talmage's sermon this mormuin was an appeat to young men. Numbers of these come to the Tabernacle services, many of them from country homes, where they re ceived Christian training, which, in the temptations of city life, has been cast off. Dr. Talmage called .his ser ion "The Homesick Soul," and his text was from the parable of the prodigal son, Luke xv, 18, "I will arise and go to my father." gThere is nothing like hunger to take the energy out of a man. A hungry man can toil neither with pen, nor band, nor foot. There has been many an army de feated, not so much Jor lack of ammuni tion as for lack of bread. It was that fact that took the fire out of this young man of the text. Storm and exposure will wear out any man's life in time, but hunger maxes quick work. The most awful cry ever heard on earth is the cry for bread. A traveler tells us that in Asia Minor there are trees which bear fruit looking very much like the long bean of our time. It is called the carab. Once in a while the peorle reduced to destitution would eat these carabs, but geierally, the carabs, the beans spoken of herein the text. were thrown ouly to the swine, and they crunched them with great avidity. But this young man of my ttxt could not even get them with ou stealing them. So one day amid the swne troughs he begins to soliloquize. He says: "These are no clothes for a rich man's son to wear; this is no kind of business for a Jew to be engaged in feeding swine; I'll go home, I'll go ho:ne; I will arise and go to my father." I know there are a great many people who try to throw a fascination, a ro mance, a halo about sin; but notwith standing all that Lord Byron and George Sand have said in regard to it it is a mean, low, contemptible business, and putting food and fodder into the troughs of a herd of iniquities that root and i allow in the soul of man is a very poor business for men and women in tended to be sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty. And when this young man resolved to go home it was a very wise thing for him to do, and the only question is whether we will follow him. Satan promises large wages if we will serve him, but he clothes his victims with rags, and he pin..hes them with hunger, and when they start out to do better he sets after them all the blood hounds of 1.erdiuon. -Satan comes to us today and he promises all luxuries, all emoluments if we will only serve him. Liar, down with thee to the pit! "The wages of sin is death." Oh, the young man of the text was wise when he ut tered the resolution, "I will arise and go to my father." In the time of Mary the Persecutor, a persecutor came to a Christion woman who had hidden in her house for the Lord's sake one of Christ's servants, and the persecutor said, -Where is that heretic?" The Christian woman said, "You open that trunk, and you will. see the heretic." The persecutor opened the trunk, and cn the top of the linen of the trunk he saw a glass. He said, "There is no heretic here." "Ah," she said, "you look in the glass, and you iWill see the heretic!" As I take up the mirror of God's word today would that mnstead of seeing the prodigal son of the text we might see ourselves-our want, our wandering, our sin, our lost condi tion-so that we might be as wise as .this young man was, and say, "I will arise and go to my father." IN SOBEOW ONE LONGS FOR A-FATHER. The resolution of this text was formed in disgust at his present circumstances. If this young man had been by his em ployer aet to culturing flowers or train ing vines over an arbor or keeping ac count of the pork market or overseeing otherlaborers he would not have thought of going home. If he had had his pock ets full of money, if he had been able to say, "I have a thousand dollars now of my own; what's the use of my going back to my father's house? do y ou think I am go'ag back to apologize to the old man? why he would put me on the lim its; he would not have going on around the old place such conduct as I have been engaged in; I won't go home; there is no reason' why I should go bomne; I have plenty of money, plenty of pleas ant surroundings, why should I go home?" Ah! it was his pauperism, it was his beggary. He had to go home. Some man comes and says to me: -'Why do you talk about the ruined state of the human soul? why don't you speak about the progress of the Nineteenth century, and talk of something more ex hilaratinig?" It is for this reason: A man nev'er wants the aospel until he realizes he is in a famine struck state. Suppose I should c ime to you in your home and you are in good, sotud. ro bust health; and I should begin to talk about ruedicines, and about how much better this medicine is than that, and some other med'clne than some other medicine, and talk about this p~hy sician and that physician. After a while you get tired, and you would say: "I don't want to hear about medicines. Why do you talk to me of physicians? I never have a doctor." But suppose I, come into your house and I find you severely sick, ar~d I know the medicines that will cure you, and I know the physician who is skillful enoulgh to meet your case. You say: "Brina on that medicine; brmgi on that physician. I am terribly sick, and I want help." If I came to you and 3 ou feel you are all right in body, and all right in mind, and all right in soul you have need of nothing; but s'uppose I have persuaded you that the leprosy of sin is upon you, the worst of all sickness; oh, then you say: "Bring nae that balm of the gospel; bring me that dime med icament; bring me Jesus Christ." But says some one in the audience, "How do you prove that we are in a ruined condition by sin?" Well, I can prove it in two ways. and you may have your choice. I can prove it by the statements of men or by the statement of God. Which shall it be? You all say, "Letus have the statement ofGod." Well, he says in one place, "The heart Is deceitful above all things and desper ately wickea." He says in another place, "What is man that be should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?" He says in another place, "There is none that doeth good, no, not one." He says in another place, '"As by one man sin en treth into the world, and death by sin, end so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." "Well," you say, "I am willing to acknowledge that, but why should I take the particular rescue that you propose?" This is the reason, "Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." This is the reason. "There is one name given under heaven among men whereby they may be saved." Then there are athous and voices here ready to say, "Well, I am ready to accept this help of the Gos pel; I would like to have this divine cure; how shall I go to work?" Let me say that a mere whim, an undefined longing amounts to nothing. You must have a stout, tremendous reso:ution like this young man of the text when he said, "I will arise and Zo to my father." THE ABOUNDING MERCY OF GOD. "Oh!" says some man, "how do I know my father wants me? How do I know, if I go back, I would be received?" "Oh!" says some man, "you don't know where I have been, you don't know how far I have wandered; you wouldn't talk that way to me if you knew all the in iquities I have. committed." What is that flutter among the angels of God? It is news, it is newt! ,Christhas found the lost. Nor angels can their joy contain, But kindle with new fire: The sinner lost, is found, they sing. And strike the sounding lyre. When Napoleon talked of going into Italy, they said: "You can't get there. If you knew what the Alps were you wouldn't talk about it or think of it. You can't get your ammunition wagons over the Alps." Then Napoleon rose in his stirrups and waving his hand to ward the mnuntains. he said, "There shall be no Alps." That wonderful pass was laid out which has been the won derment of all the years since-the won derment of all engineers. And you tell me there are such mountains of sin be tween your soul and God, there is no merev. Then I see Christ waving his hand toward the mountains. I hear him say, "1 will come over the mountains of thy sin and the hills of thy iniquity." There shall be no Pyrenees; there shall be no Alps. Again, I notice that this resolution of the young man of the text was founded in sorrow at his misbehavior. It was not mere physical plight. It was grief that he had so maltreated his father. It is a sad thing after a father has done everything for a child to have that child be ungrateful. How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is, To have a thankless child. That is Shakespeare. "A foolish son is the heaviness of his mother." That is the Bible. Well my friends, haye not some of us been cruel prodigals? Have we not maltreated our Father? And such a Father! So loving, so kind. If he had been a stranger, if he had for saken us, it he had pounded us and turned us out of doors on the commons, it would not have been so wonderful our treatment of him; but he is a Father so loving, so kind, and yet how many of us for our wanderings have never apolo gized. We apologize for wrongs done to our fellows, but some of us perhaps have committed ten thousand times ten thousand wrongs against God and never apologized. I remark still farther that this resolu tion of the text was founded in a feeling of homesickness. I don't know how long this young man, how many months, how many years he had been away from his father's house; but there is something in the reading of my text that makes me think he was homesick. Some of you know what that feeling is. Far away from home sometimes, surrounded by everything bright and pleasant-plenty of friends-you have said, "I would give the world to be home tonight." Well, this young man wa homesick for his father's house. I have no doubt when he though, of his father's house he said, "Now,'perhaps, father may not be liv ing." WAS THE PRODIGAL'S MOTHER DEAD? We read nothing in this story-this parable founded on everyday life-we read nothing about the mother. It says noth ig about going home to her. I think she was dead. I think she had died of a broken heart at his -wanderings. A man never gets over having lost his mother. Nothing said about her here. But he is homesick for his father's house. He thought he would just like to go and walk around the old place. He thought he would just like to go and see if things were as they used to be. Many a man af ter .having been oi a long while has gone home and knocked at the door, and a stranger has come. Ii is the old home stead, but a stranger comes to the door. He finds out father is gone and mother is gone, and brothers and sisters all gone. I think this young man of the text said to himself, "Perhaps father may be dead." Still he starts to find out. He is htmesick. Are there any here today homesick for God, homesick for heaven? A sailor, having been long on the sea, returned to his father's house, and his mother tried to persuade him not to go away again. She said: "Now you had better stay at home. Don't go away; we don't want you to go. You will have it a great deal better here." B it it made him angry. The night before he went away again to sea lie heard his mother praying in the next room, and that made him more angry. lie went far out on the sea aad a storm came up, and he was ordered to very perilous duty, and lie ran up the ratlines, and amid the shroud~s of the ship he heard the voice that he had heard in the next room. He tried to rally his couraae, but he could not silence that voice he had heard in the next room, and there in the storm and the darkness he said: 0 Lord! what a wretch I have been; what a wretch I am. Help me just now, Lord God." And I thought in this assemblage today there may be some who may have the memory of a father's petition or a mother's prayer pressing mightily upon the soul, and that this hour they may make the same resolution I find in my text, saying, "I will arise and go to my father." ILLUSTRATION OF THLE RESCUED BOY. A lad at Liverpool went out to bathe, went out into the sea, went out too far, got beyond his depth and he floated far away. A ship bound for Dublin came along and took him on board. Sailors are generally very generous fellows, and one gave him a cap and another gave him a jacket, and another gave him shoes. A gentleman passIng along on 1he beach at Liverpool found the lad's clothes and took them home, and the father was heartbroken, the mother was heart-broken at the loss of their child. They had heard nothing ficm him day after day, and they ordered the usual mourning for the sad event. But the lad took ship from Dubhan and arrived in Liverpool the very day the garments arrived. He knocked at the door and the farther was overjoyed, and the moth er was overjoe at the return of their lost son. Oh, my friends, have you waded out too deep? Have you waded down into sin? Have you waded from the shore? Will you come back? When you come back; will you come in the rags of your sin, or will you come robed lieve the latter. Go home to your God today. lie is waiting for you. Go home! But I remark concerning this resolu tion, it was immediasely put into excu-, tion. The context says, "le arose and came to his father." The trouble in nine hundred and ninety-nine times out of a thousand is that our resolutions amount to nothing because we make them for some distant time. If I resolve to be come a Christian next year. that amounts to nothing at all. If I resolve to become a Christian tomorrow. that I amounts to nothing at all. If I resolve at the service tonight to become a Chris tian, that amounts to nothing at all. If I resolve after I go home today to yield my heart to God, that amovnts to [noth ing at all. The only kind of resolution that amounts to anything is resoultion that is immediately put into exebution. There is a man who had the typhoid fever. He said: "Oh! if I could get over this terrible distress! If this fever should depart, if I could be restored to health, I would all the rest of my life serve God." The fever departed. le got well enough to walk around the block. He got well enough to go over o New York and attend to business. le is well to-day-as well as he ever was. Where is the broken vow? There is a man who said long ago, "If I could live to the year 1891, by that time I willhave my business matters arranged, and I will have time to attend to re ligfon, and I will be a good, thorough, r consecrated Christian." r The year 1891 has come. January, a February. March, April, May, June-al- I most half of the year gone. Where is i your broken vow? "Oh," says some man: "I'll attend to that when I can get my character fixed up. When I v can get over my evil habits. I am now g given to strong drink," or, says the d man, "I am given to uncleanness." or, says the man, "I am given to dishones- i: ty. When I get over my present habits, a then I'll be a thorough Christian." My v brother, you will get worse and worse, s until Christ takes you in hand. "Not : the righteous; sinners, Jesus came to b call." S DANGER OF PROCRASTINATION. 0 t Oh! but you say, -- agree with you on all that, but I must put it off a little longer." Do you know there were t many who came just as near as you are b to the kingdom of God and never en tered it? I was at East Hampton and I went into the cemetery to look around, and in that cemetery there are twelve graves side by side-the graves 5 of sailors. This crew, some years ago, j in a ship went into the breakers at Amagansett, about three miles away. a My brother, then preaching at East h Hampton, had been at the burial. k These men of the crew came very near being saved. The people from Amagansett saw the e vessel, and they shot rockets, and they t sent ropes from the shore, and these n poor fellows got into the boat, and they pulled mightily for the shore, but just e before they got to the shore the rope , snapped and the boat capsized and they F were lost, their bodies afterward washed up on the b3ach. Oh, what a solemn day it was-I have been told of it by my brother-when these twelve men T lay at the foot of the pulpit and he read over them the funeral service! They came very near shore-within shout ing distance of the shore-yet did not arrive on solid land. There are some men who come almust to the shore of God's mercy, but not quite, not quite. c To be only almost saved is not to be a saved at all. a I will tell you of two prodigals, the E one that got back and the other that P did not get back. in Virginia there is it a very prosperous and beautiful home c in many respects. A young man wan- V ered off from that home. He wan- rt ered very far into sin. They heard of. a im often, but he was always on the n~ wrong track. He would not go home. n At the door of that beautiful home one n ight there was a great outcry. The a oung man of the house ran. down and t pened the door to see what was the c atter. It was midnight. The rest of ti he family were asleep. There were s he wife and tne children of this prodi- ri gal young man. The tact was he had c ome home and driven them out. He t] said: "Out of this house. Away with r hese children; I will dash their brains Ii >at. Out into the storm!" f The mother gathered them up and 3 led. The next morning the brother, ty he young man who had stayed at home, t~ went out to find this prodigal brother h and son, and he came where he was, and saw the young man wandering up 1 and down in front of the place where l e had been staying, and the young sI an who had kept his integrity said to &' he older brother: "Here, what does is ll this mean? What is the matter g with you? Why do you act in this " ay ?" The prodigal looked at him ei ad said: "Who am I? Who do you ake me to be ?" Hie said, "You are my a rother." "No, I am not, I am a brute. ~ HIve you seen anything of my wife S nd children? Are they dead? I drove L hem out last night in the storm. I Pi m a brute. John, do you think there tl s any help for me ? D.o you think I t ill ever get over talg life of dissipa- - ion ?" lie said, "Brother, there is just al oe thing that will stop this." The E rodigal ran his tinger across his g4 hroat an'J said: "That will stop it. ~ nd ill stop it betore night. Oh! mya rain; I can stand it no longer." That fa rodigal never got home. But I will Li tell you of a prodigal that did get it ome. o1 wO RAN AWAY. BUT ONE RETURNED. el In England two young men started C' rom their fathei's house and wvent ci own to Portsmouth. The father SI ould not pursue his children; for some d eason he could not leave home, and so d e wrote a letter down to Mr. Griflin, aing: "Mr. Griffin, I wish you would " o and see my two sons. They have ar-E rived in Portsmouth, and they are 1 oing to take ship and going away ~ from home. 1 wish you would persuade e~s hem back." Mr. Griffin went and he ti< tried to persuade them back. He per uaded one to go. He wvent with very easy persuasion because he was very T: omesick already. The other young re an said: "I will not go. I have had of nough of home. I'll never go home." til Well," said Mr. Griffin, "then if you in on't go home I'll a get you respectab'e gi osition on a respectable ship." "No you won't," said the prodigal. "No Tj' you won't. 1 am going as a common sailor; that wiliplague my father most, o ad what will do most to tantalize and y orry him will please me best." p Years passed on, and Mr. Grillin was ar seated in his study one day when a mes- tv lage came to him that there was a th young man in irons on a ship at the at: ock-a young man condemned to to eath-who wished to see this clergy- b( aan. Mr. Griffin wvent down to the lock and went on shipboard. The young man said to him, "You don't now me, do you ?'' "No," he said: "I ion't know you." "Why, don't you re- st: ember that young man you tried to 1pa persuade to go home~, and lie wouldn't th o ?" "Oh, yes," said Mr. Griflin. "Are at you that man?" "Yes, I am that man," da iaid the other. "1 would like to have M you pray for me. I have committed I urder,' and 1 must die, but 1 don't cd wan't to go out of this world until some en ne prays for me. You are my father's re ~riend, and I would like to have you th r.y for me." d Mr. Griffin went from judicial au :hority to judicial authority to get the Foung man s pardon. Ile slept no aight nor day. Ile went from influen: Aal person to influential person unti. some way he got the young man's par: l-n. Ile came down on the dock, anc x3 he arrived on the deck with the par ion the father came. Ile had hearc hat his son, under a disguised name 1ad been committing crime and wa: roing to be put to death. So Mr. Grif in a?uL the father went on the ship', leck, and at the very moment Mr 3ritlin offered the pardon to the young nan. the old father threvr his arm. tround the son's neck and the son said: 'Father, I have done very wrong and I Lin very sorry. I wish I had never )roken your heart. I am very sorry.' 'Oh!" said the father, "don't mention t; it don't make any difference now. Et is all over. I forgive you, my son,' tnd he kissed him and kissed and kissed 11n. To-day I offer you the pardon of the rospel-full pardon, free pardon. I .di lot care what your sin has been. [hough you say you have committed a rime against God, against your own on), against your fellowman, against 'our family, against the day of judg nent, against the cross of Christ vhatever your crime has been, here is >ardon, full pardon, and the very - o unt that you take that pardon your Leavenly father throws his arms around bout you and says: "My son. I for ive you. It is all right. You are as nuch in my favor now as if you had ever sinned." 0! there is joy on earth nd joy in heaven. Who will take the ather's embrace? RE MANIAC, TIE CRIMINAL AND TlE BRIDE. There was a gentleman in a rail car rho saw in that same car three passen ers of very different circumstances. rst was a maniac. le was carefully uarded by his attendants. Iis mind, ike a ship dismasted, was beating gainst a dark, desolate coast, from rhich no help could come. The train topped, and the man was taken out ato the asylum to waste away, per Iips, through years of gloom. The econd passenger was a culprit. The utraged law had seized on him. As he cars jolted the chains rattled. On is face were crime, depravity and des air. The train halted and he was aken out to the penitentiary, to which e had been condemned. There was he third passenger, under far different ircurnstances. She was a bride. Every our was gay as a marriage bell. Life littered and beckoned, Ier compan )m was taking her to his father's nouse. 'he train halted. The old man was bere to welcome her to her new home, ad his white locks snowed down upon er as he sealed his word with a father's iss. Quickly we fly toward eternity. We rill soon be there. Some leave this life nderned. Oh, may it be with us, 2at, leaving this fleeting life for the ext, we may find our Father ready to reet us to our new home with him for ver. That will be a marriage banquet! 'ather's welcome! Father's bosom! 'ather's kiss! Heaven! Heaven! A WARNING. he New York Herald on the Third Party . ovement. NEW YofiK, June 22.-The New 'ork Herald says that the National nion conference held recently in Cin nnati, is not to be poh-hoohed away 5 an insignificant gathering of cranks rid soreheads. Following this the [erald continues: "Party leaders, Re ublican or Democrat, who look upon with indifference or treat it with ridi ile, fail to see its significance and its arning. Ad mit that the interests rep ~sented are diverse, even incongrous ad discordant; that visionary schemes ay be favored and extreme demands ade. It may be that no practical agree ient will be reached, no platform iopted, no third party formed. All is signifies nothing. The real signiti mece of the event is rather in its origin ian in what may be its immediate re ilts, in the causes which have led to it ther than the effects which inay now >me from it. From this point of view le gathering on the banks of the Ohio, spresenting as it does the Farmers' Al ance and the Knights of Labor to say othing of other organizations, is more gniicant than any so-called third par ' movement we have had in this coun 'y for years. The greenback, the pro tbition, the woman'ssuffrage and even ue labor cause have appealed to spec 1 classes of limited numbers. They cked the elements of national rength, and consequently of national ~hievement. Different from all these the movement now looming up with ~owing importance especially in the est. We have said that its signiti mece is in its origin, its cause. That mse is party politics, it is a deep seat I grievance felt by the farmers and e wage earners of the country in con quence of the shameful disregard of eir interests and welfare shown by the ~rty in power. The organization of e aggrieved classes is a practical pro st against such party management. s the grievance effects agricultural id industry the scope of the move ent may be as broad as the nation, as ~neral as the masses. The Farmers' liance joined with the forces of labor id other organizations may prove a ctor in coming politics more potent Lan many effect to believe. Of course is not expected that a third party, if ue should be formed next year, would ect its candidates. 1t might, how 'er, carry enough States.to throw the Loice into the house, which would in re the election or a democratic presi >nt. But whatever may be the immne ate effect of this new uprising, the ovement is not going to disappear he the cause wvhich started it exists. ither party in power must look to the terests of the farmers, workingmen id the masses generally, or these class will combine for their own protec n. Another Onficiag Decapitation. COLU31BIA, S. C., June 21.-Governor liman decided yesterday morningto move T. D. McElroy from the otlice Supervisor of Registration, and no ied him of his removal in the follow g letter, which will fully explain the 'ounds of his action: COLUMIA, S. C., June 20, 1891. >T. 1). MC ELR:OY, Goodgions, S. C. Sin: Charges of habitual drunken ~ss and of neglecting to attend to ur ollice according to law have been eferred against you by the Senator d two Representatives of your Coun .You are thierefore removed from e office of Supervisor or Registration, td will turn over the books belonging said oflice to W m. Wright, who has .ems appointed your successor. B. RI. TILL31AN, Governor. Four Men Killed. RlenaroxD. Ky., June 23.-A con ruction train belonging to the comn ny which is building the road from is place to Beattyville left the track Million, five miles from here yester ,y, and killed four men, Abner Hiagen, at West, Joseph Swopes and William aWitt, all colored. Six were wound , one los:ug an arm. Conductor Stev s was severely hurt. The men who mained in the cars were not hurt, but ose who jumped out were caught un the enr as it turnerd oer. A MARE'S NEST. THE CHARLESTON WORLD MAKES A WONDERFUL REVELATION. The Administration Said to Be Opposed to Dr. Stokes and The Cotton Plant-The Tale as Told Published Below for What it Is Worth. CHARLESTON, S. C., June 25.-The World publishes this morning a very sensational article in which it is claimed that the State Administration is trying to shake off Dr. Stokes and The Cotton Plant. The following is the World's story which you can read for yourself: One of the most puzzling caucuses of leaders of a very puzzling adminis tration met in Columbia recently-June 3, at 8.30 p. m., to be particular as to time and place. It was a very exclu sive affair. Only bidden guests were welcome; in fact only those who bore stylographic invites, and had the shib boleth of the clan, could gain admit tance. And one of the most puzzling features of this erstwhile sphynx of composite mold was that some people who might be expected to stand nearest the throne were not hidden at all! There were present: Benjamin RZ. Tillman, Governor of South Carolina. James E. Tindal, Secretary of State. Hugh L. Farley, Adjutant General. John L. M. Irby, United States Sena tor-elect. E. T. Stackhouse, Congressman from the Sixth District. George V. Shell, Congressman from the Second District. W. H1. Ellerbe, Comptroller General. James Norton; Chief Clerk to the Comptroller General. D. W. Townsend, Assistant Attorney General. James P. Bean, Governor's Private Secretary. W. J. Talbert, Superintendent of the Peniientiary. 'apt. T. V. Daggett, Representative from Horry County. W. H. Timmerman, Senator-elect from Edgefield County. W. T. C. Bates, Treasurer of the State. H. A. Meetze, Senator from Lexing ton. Stanyarne Wilson, Member of the Legislature. ,John G. Williams. Member of the Legislature. Dr. Sampson Pope, Clerk of the Sen ate, L. S. Bigham, Senator from Florence County, C. W. Kinard. J. W. Anderson, editor Anderson Ad vocate. - Stark. R1. C. Watts, one of the editors of the Laurensville Herald, and Irby's succes sor in the Legislature. .J. Elmore Martin, of Charleston. There were others present-passibly half a dozen more. But that don't matter; enough has been given. But there was one conspicuously absent. Who was it? Dr. William Stokes, edi tor of The Cftton Plant, President of State Alliance, defender of Alliance principles, and the Sub-Treasury plan in particular, which plan is just now booming up as a rock upon which the "dominant element" may split into a thousand pieces! Why wasn't Dr. Stoks there? Not invited! Wasn't wanted! A "leader" in each county which means a public officer of some kind-except Dr. Stokes-received a stylographic letter like this: CoLUMBIA, S. C., May 18''91. DiAR SIR: At this time there is no daily paper in South Carolina which can be said to be in full sympathyv with the dominant element in the state. The News and Cou rier is less bitter in opposition and is com ing round apparently; the Register is friend ly but weak-The World is opposed, and the others are avowediy antagonisti'. or bitter partisans, like The State. This be ing the case all the acts and policy of the administration and its friends are misrep resented Cr colored so as to mislead the people and educate them against us. We need a daily paper to counteract this state of things, and after consultation with some of our leaders, it has been deemed wise to have a conference of some of our best men to take the matter under consideration to see what can be done and what is best to be done. This conference will meet in Columbia in the Agricultural hail, Wednesday, June 3d, at S p. in., and you are requested to at tend as representative from your county, or to send some good man in your place. Please signify your acceptance and con sider this matter as strictly confidential. Respectful, B. R. TILLMANr. The meeting was called to order in rather informal style. Representative Daggett, of IHorry, was requested to take the chair, and did so with grace. He then asked for a secretary. "Oh, what's the use of a secretary ?" remarked a voice. "This is only a con ference." But the chair insisted that business was business; that the meeting had been called for business, and busi ness methods must prevail. He carried his point. Stanyarne Wilson, Esq., was appoint ed secretary, and did the work cleverly. The governor took a prominent seat, which he sometimes occupied; also a leading part in the proceedings. The roll of counties was called, and, as the calling proceeded, Governor Till. man would state what replies to his irculars had been received, what each county ought to do to "educate the people" up to full sympathy with "the dominant element." Then caine discussions. Thme gov ernor's letter furnished the text, and the preachers stuck to it. The Dominant Element, (with a big 1) and a big E,) spoke first. IIe laid particular stress on the idea of educa ing the people. But inlslsted they must be educated the right way. Of course that way was his way; there were statistics to prove it. Now, there was no daily paper that could be de gended on to do this kind of educating. The Fence Straddler [The News and ourier) was coining 'round. That r ad teen anticipated; but no dependence ould be placed in it. Besides it was losing ground under spirited opposi ion. The World was clearly opposed to the Dominant Element. It had done good service to the Reform movement; but now was taking the other side, be ause The News and Courier had be- 1 ome more friendly. But, past bless ngs do not suflice for presenit needs, so -The World must go." There was The Register; the spirit was willing, but the tiesh was weak. It as not far-reaching enough, but might be worked up. At present it had a bona ide circulation of about 600; the big apers had that many thousands, or ore, so The Rlegister's efforts would be ike blowing beans against a gale. All hat might be improved, though, and ihe Register's influence wvorked up." There were three propositions offered s to the manner in which control of The< egister could be obtained, as follows: First, by advancing a sufficienti amount of money to raise certain mort ages on the plant. Second, the daily edition of The Reg-i ster could be bought, without the ex ense of taking the other branches of he business. Third, the whole business of The Reistr was for sale book and job i plants, and all the publications of the office. It was stated that it had been ascer tained that $35,000 to 640,OCO could be raised from the dominant element; that would be sufficient to carry out either scheme in regard to The Register. Then came a little storm. Col. Taluert objected to any such business as this. It was a scheme against The Cotton Plant, the organ of the Al liance principles, and consequently against the Alliance itself. Why was not Dr. Stokes here? Why should The Cotton Plant be ignored? Was it not because Dr. Stokes and The Cot ton Plant advocated the sub-treasury plan, which some people object to? Was it not because some people wanted to shake off Dr. Stokes, and The Cotton Plant and the Alliance, all together? Why had friends of the past been ignor ed ? It was all very plain, that personal advancement was at the bottom of this desire for a paper as an organ for the dominantelement, at the expense of the Alliance. It was a warm speech. No attempt has been made to reproduce the words of the speaker literally; but the substance is embedied above. Col. I. C. Watts made a talk, too. But it was not so heated. Ile was in favor of an administration organ, a new one; one without a record to be pointed at. lIe wanted to put on a new plant from the ground up, and have the Dominaut Element savor. His address was logical, and the conclusion deduced was that the people demanded to be educated in the special manner suggest ed. Dr. Sampson Pope took strong ground in opposition to Col. Watts's proposi tion. Ile favored the purchase or prac tical subsidizing of The Register. He did not say "subsidize," but it's all the same. Dr. Pope made a characteristic address, "strong" and more or less to the point. But he was in a measure "sat upon," and left Columbia with his nose badly out of joint, and declaring that he was "out of it," and would not return until the next meeting of the senate. Dr. Pope was apparently very mad, but would not talk. He has, it is reported, lost his temper on one or two previous occasions, so the people of the state need not be alarmed. Other dis cussion followed Dr. Pope's speech. Some members advocated the planting of ar organ in every county, in the shape of a weekly paper, in addition to the organ at headquarters in Columbia. It was argued that all the public printing-advertisements and other wise could be given these papers. Then, being made the official papers of each county, the public would be obliged to subscribe in order to be informed as to taxes, land sales, foreclosures, and the like. Another member wanted to know if the assemblage had ever heard of Jose phus Woodruff, and the Republican printing company of immortal memory. The Republican printing company had an arrangement something on'that or der, but more comprehensive as to per quisites. That would never do. Then the Cotton Plant came up again. Why had not that paper been taken better care of by those who professed Alliance doctrines? Finally it was decided to appoint a committee of three to take the matter under advisement to consider the ad visability of establishing a paper or pa pers, ana the ways and means, and re port to a meeting to be called by the chairman. The committee consists of Benjamin R. Tillman, chairman: Col. R. C. Watts and Mr. Stark. Then the meeting aajourned. What Dr. Stokes Says. Dr. Stokes was interviewed by the World correspondent at this place in reference to the above. The following is what he said: He did not know why he had been so unceremoniously left out, and that he has not yet received, and does not expect an explanation of the why and wherefore of the Ioatter. Any explanktion along this line would have to come irom other sources, as he certainly had none, nor knew of any to give.] In answer to other questions, Dr. Stokes said: "I had some intimation of this gathering, but did not-know when it would come off. I really expected to be notified, but no notification ever came, and I did not know that the meet ing had been held until I saw some men tion of it in one or more of the daily papers. "The views of those who discussed the matter of the establishment of an out and out administration paper with - me, beforehand, seemed to recognize the difference between the Farmers'3 movement and the Alliance. They drew the same distinction between the( State Alliance organ and a paper de- I signed to defend the Reform adminis. t tration. It was recognized as very desi rable that there should be a daily paper in Columbia, fully isympathizing with the administration and capable as well I as willing to defend its actions-or at any rate, to, see that its actions were fairly presented to the public. This function The Cotton Plant was not in position to perform, even if it were within the scope of its purposes. Its t field is the advocacy of Alliance prin- i liples along lines of political economy -not the defense of any party or fac- I bion. It is at liberty to comment upon 3urrent events, and does so, whenever i sees proper: but that is no p irt of its luty except as its duty is to do the righit and see that the right is done, 2onsequently there could be no conflict a jet ween The Cotton Plant and such a paper as I understood was under con emplation. "I certainly think that such a paper is I have indicated- above would be very desirable, and in fact, almost ne ~essary to the fair presentation of the ictions and purposes of the Reformers u otice." t "'Do you not think, Doctor Stokes, Lhat the fact or the Cotton Plant advo- ~ a ~ating the demands of the Ocala plat-I orm, and especially the sub-treasurj de-a, while Governor Tillman and otth ~rs of the dominant element oppose the ~ub-treaeury scheme, absolutely pre 'ents the realization of any hope that he Cotton Plant could ever become the rgan of the present Administration ?"C Dr. stokes replied that he did not hi~k so, though The Cotton Plant had ~ lever aspired to that position. I think, aid he, "that there would be no morer mipropriety in our occupyiug that rela- C ion than there would be in an anti-r ilver Democratic paper occupying thee ame relation, for the great majority of he Democratic party are pronounced a favor of free silver. In my judg nent a sub-treasury Democrat is as tbout aa good a Democrat as an anti- e ilver Democrat." ri "Is it not somewhat more than proba- y ile," I asked, "that the cheif fun':tion Fj >f the proposed organ, by the June con- d 'erence, would be to boom certain men t or future political .preferment ?" p "Well, while such a paper might be f< ised in that way, in my judgemnent the d ontrolling motive in the minds of those n it the conference, in its establishment d vas to secure for the friends of reform ii fair statement of what was being ti Lone by the exponents of reform in 0o1- tl imbia." n "What, in your opinion, will be the t: flect of the present 'factional fight is moong the leaders of the Reform ele- n nent; for do you not regard this con- n erncn asn naht else hnt a throwing of hi the guage of battle to the advocates of the subtreasury plan by those opposed to it?" "I do not construe this newspaperen terprise as a challenge to the sub-treas ury element of the Democracy. I have never considered the d :erence between tue sub-treasury Den crats and other Democrats as at all likely to be serious. These differences, I ha ve no doubt, will be happilly composed, so far as the Al liance is con:erned, by agreement, at the Spartanburg meeting of the state Alliance in Jnly. ANTI-FOREING RIOTS IN CHINA. The Fialht of :he British Consul at Wuhu fu Defence of the Missionaries. SAN FRA NCISCO, June 23.-The North China Daily News In its account of the Wuhu riots, says: It has been reported !or several days that a mob'of Chineses had determined to loot aLd burn the property of the Jesuits at Wuhu. It was rumored that children had been killed and their eyes taken out to make medicine for the Jesuit tathers. On the afternoon of Tuesday, May 12, a mob of Chinese gathered about the premises of the priests and broke through the walls, eventually set 'ting fire to the Cathedral and other build ings, after driving out the missionaries and pillaging the palace. The mob then proceeled to the English cons-ulate and destroyed considerable property by throwing stones. The ar rival of Toatai, the local magistrate. and the coolness of the British consul saved the buildings from being set on fire. The consul and his wife escaped from the mob by dressing in Chinese costumes and hurrying to the custom house, where they embarked with other foreign resi dents in the China Navigation Company's receiving ship. A number of foreigness, headed by the consul, armed themselves and pass ed the time at the custom house, and, assisted by Toatai, repelled the mob, who twice during the night made an at tempt to loot and set on fire the custom house and residences of foreign officials. The next morning an immense crowd again set fire to the custom house and surrounding buildings but the customes staff, fully armed, charged the natives and again put out the fires. In the af ternoon three Chinese gunboats, which were escorting Shen Ping Cheng, Gov ernor of Anhul, up the river, arrived on the scene, and learning of the riot began to fire blank cartridges, which had the effect of frightening the mob. Some two hundred soldiers arrived from Taiping Fu, and this lent addition al protection to the foreign residents. The mob did not make any further de monstration againstthe Methodist Epis copal (America) Mission, but, advised by the British consul, the missionaries from that point also embarked on the Tensing, which brought them, together with the ladies and children of Wuhu, to Shanghai. At Chain King the priests. who es :aped from Wuhu in a boat, were picked ap. There was only one British man of-war on the north China station at the time of the riot, and the gunboat Linnett was near Wu Sung, but it was sent for nd proceeded to Wuhu. On the 16Lh )f May, four days after the Wuhu riots., the natives of Nganking made an attack )n the Roman Catholic mission there. The priests succeeded in keeping the mob off and one of the assailants was ar ested and punished. The Catholic ission was not the only one attacked, .or a crowd equally large made a de icent on an inland mission near the 2rth gate, but the Chinese authorities rrived in time to prevent any serious amage. Placards had been posted by the riot srs announcing that the mission build ngs would be totally destroyed on Fri lay, May 22. Placards also had been osted in the French quarter of Shang 1ai threatening foreigners. Brave Fred Brokaw. ASBURY PARK, June 24.-Fred Bro aw, the el~iest son of Isaac V. Bro raw, the prominent New York clothier, was drowned while attempting to res :ue the servants of Mrs. Hess, at Elber mn, this afternoon. Annie Donohue, me of the servants, was also drowned. dfiss Annie Donohue, Miss Maggie 3irsh and Miss Julia Torpis had gone >athing. They were carried out be pond their depth. Their cries wvere ieard by Brokaw, who, with Dr, Ferris, >f Philadelphia, was sitting on the awn of the Browaw cottage. The two brew off their outer garments and eaped into the sea. Brolraw seized diss Donohue and Dr. Ferris caught old of Miss Blrsh. Brokaw made a allant struggle to reach the shore with is burden. The girl completely lost er head, several times breaking from is grasp. He woul:1 not desert her, nd struggled to bring her to the shore. ~inaly his efforts to retain his hold on he girl exhausted him, and he sank rom view, with the girl, to whom he :lung to the end. Mr. and Mrs. Bro :aw witnessed the sad accident from he beach, and are almost frantic with rief. Miss Torpis and Miss Birsh vere saved. Dr, Fernis was completely xhausted when rescued, and was taken o the Brokaw cottage where he lies in , critical condition. Probably Murdered. COLLDIBIA, June 20.-Jane Merritt, a rhite woman, was found on a rail road rack here this morning with her head ashed off and ground to pieces. She gas seen lying on the track as the train pproached. Before it could be stopped be engine passed over her. From the act that the body was cold and stiff nd blood was not lowing when ex mined a minute or two later it is be eyed she was dead long before the en ie passed. This added to the fact that along the ank there are evidences of a body be ag dragged, together with footsteps reates the suspicion that she was mur ered. A coroner's jury rendered a erdict of death by the hands of a per on or persons unknown. The theory f suicide is also advanced as the wo ian was a poor creature recently dis arged from the alms house and last ight she was heard to say she would ather be dead and with the devil rath r than to live such a life. several Persons Drowned. WATERLOO, Ia., June 24.-Reports rere received this morning by the lii ois Central offices in this city of a ter ble wind and rain storm which pre ailed last night along that company's nes from Storm Lake to Lemars, at istance of fifty-six miles, All the. >wns are considerably damaged. Four ersons were drowned at Cherokee and ur at Correctionville. The railroad epot at Calumet was blown down and uch damage to the town property was one. The wires are aldown and it is npossible to obtain accurate informa on except the reports transmitted irough the railroad officials. The lli is Central train No. 2, the passenger -ain which left here last night at 10.50 f still at Storm Lake, and the train- s aster here says there is no prospect of oving it in the next twenty-four g THACKSTON'S REPLY TO HIS NEWSPAPER CRITICS WHO CHARGE HIM WITH JOBBERY. His Action in beeking Contributors Among School Trustees Intended to Promote the Efficiency of those Officers -Does Not Fear Any Investigation. COLUMBIA, S. C., June 23.-The fol lowing article from Mr. W. J. Thacks ton o1 the State Superi.tendent of Edu cation's office vill appear in the next number of the Pa .metto School Journal. The publication of this number has been delayed because of the fact that Profes sor Thackston was waiting the arrival a circular giving information abcut the Teachers' Association which meets in Chattanooga next month: The editor and owner of the Palmetto School Journal has been made the.target for some sharp shooting by a number of newspapers, many of whom have attempted to attribute to him the lowest and meanest of motives, and have labor ed painfully to show that not only this journal and its editor, but also others, have attempted a high-handed game of treason and robbery, and are guilty of jobbery and incipient rottenness. The acts of the publication and its owner and edi'tor are always amenable to a just and fair public sentiment. Nothing has been done in the dark. There h:s never been any attempt to conceal anything. The Journal came into possession of its present owner some time last March. Some nezotiations were made with a gentleman who is a printer in Columbia looking towards the printing ot the Journal and becoming interested in Its pultlication in order to advertise his goods to teachers. No agreement was reach ed. Since that time no one but myself has in any manner been interested in die Journal financially or otherwise. No one has ever been solicited in any manner, directly or indirectly, to become interested financially or otherwise. It was with a profound conviction that such a publication could be.made a great power for good in the improve ment of the administration of theaf fairs of the public schools of the State that induced me to assume the publica tion of this same Journal. This belief was strengthened by the experience of other States. The Pennsylvania School Jcurnal, now about 60 years old, is the most notable instance, and is the official' means of communication between'the department of education and school offi cers. At one time in Virginia the State'su-. perintendent of education made direct contribution from State funds to the support of the school publication of that State. I am not positive, but think that the amount was something like one-third of the total expenses. The State superintendent ot education of Arkansas is associate editor of the Journal of Education of that State. A former State superintendent of ed ucation of Alabama was joint editor of the educational Exchange and con ducted an official department in the. same. He still retains his interest and edits the publication in question, while an official department is conducted by the present superintendent of education of that State. A careful study of the schools and school system of the State as well as an experience of six or more years has led to the belief that a better administration of the affairs of the common schools, under present circumstances, can only be had by giving the trustees more light and more assistance in the discharge of their duties. The only question was how to reach them. Some 2,100, according to the report of the Superintendent for 1390. After a good deal of thought the plan which has brought so much wrath upon my head was deemed feasible by me, and a proposition to that effect was made to the State Board of Examinars. The result of this was announced in a double-leaded page in the April numiber of the Journal (p. 263) which wras pub lished about the last of Apnil or first'of May. This announcement was follofred later by a circular letter which has been published. That plan was one I con ceived to be the best to effect the ends desired. It was not in any manner con cealed or hidden. to filc There was no scheme toflhmoney from the taxpayers, to get somethm~g~ for nothing. In no way were trustees forced to take the Journal. The mat ter was entirely voluntary, first with the dommissioners, then with the trus tees. If anly person or newspapers de sire to impugn the authority of the State Board of Examiners, the courtsoare open. T'he Jourdal has never contained one item that zould in any manner be con strued as political or partisan. Nothing has been printed that cc..uld be constrdted to be an attempt to "boom" politically or otherwise any person. The aim is openly and avowedly for the promotion ot the educational interest ot the State. The most searching investigation is :ordially invited. The results will show that in no thought or acts have any but thp purest motives for the best interests >t the common schools of the State rompted my action as an individual or >therwise. The above is a plain, simple statement >f the facts, and, with these noted. I am luite willing to be judged by a faiir ninded and discriminating public. W. J. THACKsTON. Dashed to Death. ST. PETERSBURG, June 22.--While ,. large balloon belonning to Count Apraxine was being inflated with gas resterday, it escaped from the attend ints who were holding it to the ground mnd carried unward four workmen who ~vere in the car when the balloon broke iway. After it had ascended to a great ieight the onlookers were horrified to iee the balloon burst and the hodies of ~he unfortunate workmnen dashed to the ~arth, where they were smashed almost ,eyond recognition. A Jealous Divorced Husband. AUGUSTA, Ga.. June 20.-This morn ng about 2 o'clock, as Mr. Leo, Schwartz .nd Mrs. Ed. Burnett were returning from a ball at the Schuetzenplatz, Mr. chwartz was attasked-by Mr.nett, rvho felled him to the ron wt reight, fracturinL '%'skull. His con .ition is now 4uite serious, and it is honghit the wound will be fatal. Mr. tnd Mrs. Burnett have not been living ogether for sonie months, a divorce 1aving been secured by her, but he ob ects to her receiving attention from~ ther men. The would-be murderer is till at large, but the poliee think they ill catch him as he is hiding some vhere in the city.--State. JONEs, the family exterminator, gets ff light, Hie goes to the penitentiary or twenty-one years. which is just even years each for the three men he oirdered. He ought to have been iven the longest term under the law, niity years.