The Manning times. (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, January 09, 1895, Image 4

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THE ISLE'OF PALMS. WORK OF CHRISTIAN M;SSIONARIES - IN CEYL:ON. Nature. Luxurianice Add- Weig1ht to tile Belief that it I- the site of thw Gzarden of Eden-christianity 3niat Triumph' Over Hilto superstitiion. .BROOKLYN. .Jan. 13.-Iln continuing his series of round the world sermons tirough the press the Rev. Dr. Tal mage today choosef or his subject"Cey lon,. the Isle of Palms," the text se lected being. "The ships of Tarshish first," (Isaiah 1x. 9.) The Tarshish of my text by many commentators is supposed to be the island of Ceylon. upon which the seventh sermon of the round the world series lands us. Ceylon was called by the Romans Taprobane. John Milton called it "Golden Cher senese." Moderns have called Ceylon "the isle of palms." "the isle of flow ers," "the pearl drop on the brow of India," "the ile of jewels," "the is land of spice," "the show place of the universe," "the land of hyacinth and ruby. In my eyes, for scenerv it ap peared to be a mixture of Yosemite and Yellowstone park. All Christian people want to know more of Ceylon. for ther have a long while been con tributing for its evanzelization. As our ship from Australia approached this island there hovered over it clouds thick and black as the superstitions which have hovered here for centu ries, but the morning sun was break inz through like the gospel light wiich is to scatter the last cloud of moral gloom. The sea lay along the coast calm as the eternal purposes of God toward all islands and continents. We swing into theharbor of Colombo. which is made by a breakwater built at vast expense. As we floated into it the water is black with boats of all sizes and manned b, pe e of all col ors, but chiefly Tamils " Cingalese. Many scholars have supposed that this island of Ceylon was the original garden of Eden where the snake first appeared on reptilian mission. There are.reasons for belief that this was the site where the first homestead was opened and destroyed. It is so near the equator that there are not more than 12 degrees of Fahrenheit ditfer ence all the year round. Perpetual foilae, perpetual fruit and all styles of animal life prosper. What luxuri ance and abundance and superabund ance of life! What styles of plumage do not the birds sport: What styles of scale do not the fishes reveal!What styles of song do not the groves have in their libretto: - Here on the roadside andI clear out on the beach of the sea stands the cocoanut tree, saving: 'Take my leares for shade. ;I'ake the juice of myfruit foi- delecable drink. Take my' saccharine for sugar. Take my fiber for the cordage of your ships. Take my ol to kindle your lamps. Take my wood to fashion your cups and pitchers. Take my leaves to thatch your roofs. Take my smooth surface on which to print your books: Take my 30,000,000 trees covering 500,000 acres, and with the exporta tion enrich the world. I will wave in youir fans and spread abroad in your umbrellas. 'I will vibrate in your musical instruments. I will be the scrub in brushes on your floors." Here also stands the palm tree. sayig: "I am at your disposal. With these arms I fed your andestors 150 years ago~and with these same arms I feed your des cendapitp 150.ears from now. I defy the enintriese" Here also stands the nutmeg'tree',sayirng: "I am ready to spice your beverages and enrich y-our -=pedins,- '-and-with my sweet dust make insipid things pltble." Here also-ttands te.coffee plant, syn, "With the liquid boiled from my bryI afimrulate the nations mo ' b morning." Here stands , t,5saying, "With the li q :.''m my leaflIsoothe the & ~ nerves and stimulate the 'a conversation evening by even Here stands the cinchona, sav ing: "I am the foe of malaria. In a1 cli mates my bitterness is the slaughter of fevers." -What miracles of productiveness on these islands! Enough sugar to sweet en all the world's beverages. Enough banannai to pile all the world's fruit basketK ;Enough rice to: mix all the wol'spddings. Enough cocoanut to powder all the world's cakes. Enough flowers to garland all the world's beauty. But in the evening, riding' throug'h a cinnamon grove, I first tasted the leaves and bark of that condiment so valuable and delicate that, transport ed on ships, the aroma of the cinna mon is dispelled if placed near a rival bark. ..Of such great value is the cin namon shrub that years ago those who injured it in Ceylon were put to death. But that which once was a jungle of cinnamon is now a park of -gentlemen's, residences. The long, white dwelling- houses are bounde~d with this shrub, and all other styles of growth congregated there make a botanical garden. Doves called cini mon doves hop among the branches. and crows, more poetically styled ravens, which never could sing, but thkthey can4 fly across the road - iigfull-test of their vocables. Brswhich learned their chanting under the very eaves of heaven over power all with their grrand march of the tropics. The hibiscus dapples the scene with its scarlet clusters. All shades of brown and emerald and saf fron and brilliance: melons, limes. bmagnosteens, custard apples. guavas, pineapples,jasmine so laden with aro ma they have to hold fast to the wall. and begonias, gloriosas on fire and orchids so delicate other lands must keep them under conservatory, but here defiant of all weather, and flow ers more or less akin to azales, and hone ckles and floxes and fuchsias, anc chysanthemums and rhododen drons and foxgloves and pansies, which dye the plains and mountains of Ceylon with heaven. Two processions I saw in Celon witnin one hour, the first led by a Hindoo priest, a huge pot of fiovers onhis head, his face disfigured with holv lacerations and his unwashed fol lowers'beating as many discords from' what are supposed to be musical instru ments as at one time can be induced to enter the human ear. The procession hia*r at the door'of the huts. The oc &upits cme dut and made obeisance and presented sall1 contributions. In return therefor' the priest sprinkled .ishes u n the children who) ea:wiw ward, 'evidently a form ui bened iction. . Then the procession, led on bf. the priest, started again-more more - ashes, .more noise genu flection. However keen one's sense of the Iudicrous, he could find nothing to excite even a smile in the movements of' such a procession meaningless, oppressive, squalid, filthy, sad. Returning to our carriage, we road - on for i fe'w momients, and we camne bn another.prodession, a kindly lady ~ledng ,oriups of native children, all clea, bAght,.happy, laughing. They - -iereaChristian school out for exercisei .There seemed as much intelligence. refinement and happiness in that re giment of youna' Cingales as fou would fina in the ranks arvn Wem ap ite on teir aft(-rjo()n walk tlhrought (en'taral park. Ntev York. or I Iyde park. London. The lHindoo procession illustrated on a -SUall seale somethillg of what Hinl dooism cani do o(ri- the world. The Christian procession illustrated ' a siall s sulo enictiiiig of what Chris tianitv canl do for the world. But those two processions were only fragiments of two great processions ever nairch ing across our world-the procession blasted of superstition and the proces sion blessed of gospel light. I saw them in one afternoon in Ceylon. They are to be seen in all nations. No!thing is of more thrilling inter est than the Christian achievements. im this land. The Episcopal church wtis here tie national church. but disestab lishment has taken place, and since, Mr. Gladstone's accomplish of that fact.in 1SS0 all denoinations are on equal platform. and all are doing mightv work. America is second to no othernation in what has been done for Ceylon. Since IS16 she has had her religious agents in the Jat'na pen insula of Ceylon. The Spauldings. the Howlands, the Drs. Poor, the Sainders and others just as good and strong have been ightitg back monsters of superstition and cruelty greater than any that ever swng the tusk or roar ed in the jungles. The American missionaries in Cey lon have given special attention to medical .instructioin and are doing wonders in driving back the horrors of heathen surgery. Cases of suffering were formerly given over to the devil worshiphers and such trotures intlict ed as may not be described. The pa tient was trampled by the feet of the medical attendants. It is only of God's merev that there is a living mother in Cevlon. Ohi, how much Cevlon needs, doctors and the medical classes of native students under the care of those who follow the example of the late Samuel Fish Green are providing them, so that all the alleviations, and kindly ministries, and scientific acu men that can be found in American and English hospitals will soon bless all Cevlon. In that island are 32 Am erican'schools, 2lOCliurch of England schools, 234 Weslevan schools. 234 Roman Catholic schools. Ah. the schools decide most everything: How suggestive the incident that cnie to me in Ceylon: In a school und'er the care of the Episcopal church two boys were converted to Christ and were to be babtized. An intelligent Buddist boy said in the school, "Let all the bovs on Ruddha's side come to this part of the room and all the bovs on Christ's side go to the other part of the room." -All the boys except. twto went on Buddha's side, and when the two boys who were to be bapized were scoffed at and derided - one of them vielded and retired to Buddha's side. But afterward that boy was very sorry that he had vielded te the presecution and when tie day : of baptism came stood up beside tle b6y who remained firm. Some one said to the boy who had vacllated in his choice between Buddha.and Christ, "You are a coward and not fit for either side," but he re plied, "I was overcome of temptation, .bu I repent and believe." Then both 'he 'vs were baptized, and from that iiiie the Anglican mission moved on more and more vigorously. I will not say which of all the deno'minations of Cfiristians is doing the Most for the evangelization of that island, but know this-Ceylon will be taken for Christ: Sing Bishogeber's hymn: What though te 'Aicy breezes B;ow soft over. C lon's isle. Among' the first places I visited was a Buddhi~st college, about 100) men studying to become priesfs, gathered around the teachers. Stepping- into the building where the high priest was instructing the class, we were apolo getic and told them we were Amen cans and would like to see his mode'of teaching if he had no objections, where upon he began, doubled up as he was on a lounge, with his right hand play inG' with hisfoot. In his left hand he behd a package of bamboo leaves, on which were written the words of the lesson, each student holding a similar package of bamboo leaves. The high priest first read, and then one his stu dents read. A group of as finely for med young men as I ever saw sur rounded thie venerable instructor. The. last word of each senience was intoned. There was in the whole scene an ear nestness which impressed me. Not able to understand a word of what was said, there is a look of language and. intonation that is the same among all' races. That the Buddhists have full faith in their religion no one can, doubt. That is, in their opinion, the. way to heaven.* What Mohammed is. to the Mohammedan and what Christ is to the Christian Buddha is to the' Buddhist. We waited for a pause in the recitation, and then, expressing our thanks, retired. Near -by is a Buddhist temple, on: the altar of which before the image of: Buddha are offerings of flowers. As: night was comino' on we came up to a: Hindoo temple. ~'irst we were prohib ited going farther than the ouatside steps, .but we.gradually advanced un til wve could see all that was going on inside. The worshipers were makingf obeisance. The tomtoms were wildly~ beaten, and shrill pipes were blown,i and several other instruments were in full bang and blare, and there was an indescribable hubbub and the mosti laborious style of worship I had d'er seen or heard. The dim lights. and. the jargon, and the olbooms afi&fthe flitting-figures mingle for eye and ear ahorror which it is difficult to shake off. All this was only suggestive of what would there transpire after the toilers of the day had ceased work and had ti'me to appearat the temple. That such thing's should be supposed . to please the Lord or have any powver to console or help the worshipers is only another mystery in this world of mvs teries. But we'came away saddeded with the spectacle, a sadness which did not leave us until we arrived at a place where a Christian missionary was preaching in the street to a group of natives. I had that morning expressed a wish to witness such a scene, and here it was. Standing' on an elevation, the good man was addressing the crowd. All was attention and silence and rev-. erence. A religion of relief and joy was being commended and the dusky faces were illumined with the senti ments of pacification and re-enforce ment. It was the Rose of Sharon af ter walking among nettles. It was the morning light aftei' a thick darkness. It was the gospel after Hintooismi. But passing up and down the streets of Ceylon you f ind all styles of people within five minutes-Afghans, Kailirs. Portug~uese, Moormien, Dutch, Eng lish, Scoten, kL.a,Anierican-all clas ses, all dialects, all manners and cus toms, all styles of salaam. The most interesting thing on earth is the human race, and specimens of all branches of it confront you in Ceylon. The island of the present is a quiet and inconspicu ous affair compared with what it once was. The dead cities of Ceylon were larger and niore imnposing thman are the living cities. On this island ai'e dead New Yorks, and dead Pekings,. and (ead Edinburghs, and dead Londons. Ever and anion at the stroke of-the archxologist's hammer the tomb of some great imnicipality flies open, and there are other buried cities that will yet respond to the explorer's pick ax. The Pompeii and Herculaneum underneath Italy are small compared underneath C'vlmI. \onder is.1n ex huIed city which was; founided :,n Years lforie Christ. st:niding in pwmjp and splendor for 1,'100 Veairs. Stair ways up whichi 5)) men mighlt pass side by side: carved pillars. soI (,I theml fallenl. somle of themIt aslanlt. soie of thei (eet: Phidlases an! Christopher Wrens nlever heamrd of here performed the marvels of scullp ture anid architecture: aisles through which royal nrocessiois IImarhIed arche l ier- which kings were cairried: city with reservoir 21 iI iles in circumi ference: extemporized hakes that did their coolin aid refreshing for 12 centuries: us more suggestive thiani Melrose ail Keiilworth: Ceylonian Karnaks and Luxors: ruins retaining much of grandeur, though wars hoI barded them and time put his chisel on every bloek, and, mtiore thai all. vegetation put its anchors and pries ani wrenches in all the crevices. Dagobas, or places where relics of saints or deities are kept-dagobas 400 feet high. and their fallen material burving precious things for the sight of which modern curiosity has di ged and blasted in vain. Procession of elephaits in imitation, wrought into lustrous marble. Troops of horses il full run. Shrines, chapels, cathedrals wrecked in the mountain side. Stairs of moonstone. Exquisite scrolls roll ing up more mysteries than will eve' be unrolled-. Over 16 square imiles, the ruins of one city strewn. Throne rooms on which at' different times sat 165 kings, reigning in authorit y thev inherited. ails that witnessed coro nations, assassinations. subjugations. triumphs. Altars at which mnilliome bowed ages before theorchestras '-eles tial wokethe shepherds with midiiight overture. When Lieutenan'l Skinner in 183* discovered the site of some of these ci ties. lie found congregated in them in disturbed asseniblIages of leopards. porcupines. flaiingoes and pelicans: reptiles sunning themselves on the al tars: prima donnas renderii g orn itio logical chant from deserted music halls. One king restored much of the grandeur: rebuilt 1.500 residences, but ruin soon resumed its scepter. But all is down, the spires down, the pillars down, the tablets down, the glory of splendid arches down. What killed those cities? Who slew the New Yorl and London of the year 500 B. C. Was it unhealihed with a host of plagues? Was it foreign armies lay; ing seige ? Was it whole generations weakened by their own vices? Mys terv its ami'd the monoliths and brick% dust. finger on lip in eternal silence, while the centuries guess and guess in vain. We simply know that gen ius planned those cities, and immense populations inhabited them. An em inent writer estimates that a pile of bricks in one ruin of Ceylon would be enough to build a wall ten feet high from Edinburgh to London. Sixteen thousand pillars. with carved capitals are standing sentinel for ten miles. You can judge somewhat of the size of the cities by the reservoirs that were required to slake their thirst. judging the size of the city from tlh size of the cup out of which it drank. Cities crowded with inhabitants, not like American or English cities, but packed together as only barbaric tribes can pack them. But their knell was sounded. Their light went out. Giant trees are the only royal family now occupying those palaces. The ro.wl of wild beasts where once the ouffaw of. wassail ascended. Anura' ahpttra ajid Pollonarna will never bc rebuilded. Let allthe living cities of theeathtakIwarning.. Cities arc hu' man, having a time to be born and a time to die. 'No- nore certainly .have they a cradle than a grave. A last judgment is appointed forindividuals, but cities have their last judgment mi this world. They bless, they curse. they worship, they blaspheme, they suffer, they are rewarded, they are overthrown. Preposterous, says some one. to think that any of 'our American or European cities which have stood sc long can ever come through vice to extinction. But New York and Lon' don have not stood as long as those Ceylonese cities stood. 'Where is the throne outside of Ceylon on which 165 successive kings reioned for alitetime? Cities and nationstriat have lived far longer tiian our present cities or na tion have been sepulchered. -Let all the great munici'palities of this and other lands ponder. It is as true now as when the psalmist wvrote it 'and as true of cities and nations as of individ~ uals, "The Lord knoweth the way of the righteous, but the way of the un* godly shall perish." A Prophet's Prediction. NEw YoRK, Jan. 15.-For a num bei' of years past, Samuel Bennes lias issued annually a prophecy in regard to various markets during the ensuing year. His -prophecies..have been right in a sutficint number of cases to have created curiosity yearly as to what he would say. -His forecast for 1894, declared that there .would be coutinued embarrassed business, bankr'uptcies, u nemiploycd laboliand 'ruined firmers. Foi .S95he says: There is no prom ise or'sign of better times for the comn ing.year. We may look in vain for ay permanent improvement in gen el business. IWheat at 54 cents a bushel at Clii .ago; cotton 51 cents per pound at Cini einnati; and pig iron at $10 a ton at Pittsburg denote impoverisinnent for farmers, cotton planters and fui'nace men. The increase last year of $100, 000000 in the bonded debt of the gov ernent, dloes vot signify that the peo ~le are contented, keeping out of deblt, and making money. Ever since 1873, values have been shriiking in consequence of the estab lishment of the single gold standard and no one can fathomi the depths to which prices will fall. An average cr'op of grain in this country this yeai', with fair crops abroad, will seind the price of wheat at Chicago after the next harvest down to 40 cents per bushel. Priices for cor'n next fall will decline to 25 cents a bushel. Fat hogs will be ~3per hundred pounds gross for next winter's packing season. Prices for wool, cotton, iron. cattle and horses will be on the down grade during the present year. Comi mon sheen after the wool is taken oH' next year'will sell for what the 1)elt will then bring, 25 cents. To the anxious inquire. 1895.. will be the prop~er time to make inves: ments in property oir to engage exten siely in enterprises. Stabbed to Death. . - Rom, Jan. 17.-Signor Cell ate nery general of the Province of.Milun, was stabbed to death ini his othice to da. The assassin. who was captured bya policemain on guard at the door, [is an anarchist. The doorkeeper says that hegained admission by professing to have legal business with the attor' ne grenierl. The motive of the assaw siiain is clear. This whole district has been for a year a hot bed of anar' chistic aind socialist conspiracy, and there has been no end1( of trials for sedition. Many r'evolult ionists are how awaitiino' trial. Anmong thle agita tors Celli isT-nowni as the "Aniarchist Kiler." At the opening of the judicial year, lie delivered an address deidounc in the anarchists and pledging him self to bring as many as possible to justice. After making this speech, lhe l1li!L AS A PROl'I!ET. HOW HE READ THE POLITICAL STARS !N JULY, 1893. .1 !4orce:I=( 1 ( consider:tble Meri (; iven inl aL i'rIVate Letter it) (lark Ioei-Wa On state Itank Tax Itf-R:al. N :w YonK.Ja1n. 1G. -The New York Rco()rder and otheIr papers will pub lish tonorrow a letter froiii Seniator Da4'id B. Hill, of New York, written nearly two years ago( to Mr. Clai-k Howell. of the Atlanta Constitution, to) w Io Senator lill authorized its pication some. time ago. The letter was writtell just prior toie assei bliig of thie extra sessloii of the pres ent Congress inl the summer of 1S9:9, aid beadig directly upon the next -National campaigrn and the develop ments of the past t wo years.becoies a docunient of n ationlm ilterest. It is as follows: AuuN. N. Y., July 13, IS93. r. IDear Howell 'Absece fromi liome tid professiol al engagemielnts have prevented an earlieir reply to your recent letter, ask in~ c((oitid(entially', iv views oa cer tai questions. First: As to theapproachiig session of ("onigress. I was one of those who believed that the extra session of Con gres should have been called in April last, and I so advised the President in the first and only interview I have had with hiii. le seemed bent on lavinti one in Sept ember, which I thougit was a mistake. I believed theno i hat whatever policy in regard to the currency and traif that was de sired to be adopted, could better be doie in the spring, before the patroin age had been distributed and before party ditierences should augment. The Presiden t thought di tferentlv. but has finally yielded to outside pressure; and has called the session for August. I fear that it is a mistake. I fear that we shall be in session . until Decem ber. I do not like the prospect of having a Democratic Congress in ses sion during the fall elections. I an ticipate many differences and much bitterness will be developed. All of vhich will tend to distract the party a give us a set back in the fall. I hope I am mistaken in all this but fear I may not be. So long as Congress must meet. I hope it will only be in session thirty days and adjourn. The extreme silver men can prevent it: the Republicans can prevent it: and gen era l cussedness can prevent it. All the chances are that we shall be'i. session until December. I would not take up any other Legislation than fi nancial. if I could have my way. Second-As to the repeal of. the Sherman law, I favor the uncondi tional repeal of that law. I have al ways be6n opposed to it. The true friends of silver make a mistake in at tempting to defend it. It should be aban doned by general consent. 31y views were partially expressed in my recent Tamniany letter which you undoubt edly have seen. Personaily, I should prefer not to repeal the law until an acceptable substitute was provided in order to render more probable the adoption of such substitute and not because I approve at all of the Sher man silver law. But from a party point of view, the wisest course is un conditional repeal. The country ex pects it and the party will be found fairly well united in favor of it. Therefore it is unwise while agreeing upon. a substitute pending the repeal. Let the repeal be made at once and let us differ as to other financial matters. I am in -favor of binietalism as the is sue of the future. We should seek to Ikeep that issue to the front; we should not strive for temporary success or compromise measures. We should-be for free coinageunder an internation al agreement if it is possible to procure one, and for .which every exertion should be made-and if not possible, then for . independent bimetalism. This is the great goal for which we should struggle. 1t cannot .be done at once. Our friends must not be im patient. The country must be educa ted. The unexp~ected action of India and general sentiment of the. money ed classes conspire against us .at this time. I do not believe in the Bland bill, or any other measure which guarantees anything less than unre stricted coiniage for gold and silver alike, as pledged in the Democratic National plat fomi." Let us prepare. not for resent victory, but for'yictory upon that issuo iri I896. The repeal of the Shermnan law will not give the] relief which is anticipated. It will aid: business temporarily, but -i-n a year, times wvill be hard and the demand for~ permanent Rnancial relief will be ir resistable. We should continue to hold out free coinage as the goal which the country must ultimately reach. The triumph of the nionome talists will be but temporary. Third-As to the repeal of the 10 per cent. tax on State banks. That tax cannot be well defended. It is an un democratic tax. Ostensibly it is im p)osedl for revenue, but it does not, in fact, bringr in any -revenue and wvas never intended for that purpose. Fr onm a Democratic standpoint its im p~ositionl is an abuse of the taxing pow er. I should niot like to go upon record ini favor of such a tax, nor do I desire to refuse a repeal of it. I re gard tihe tax question es an independ ent one; w hich has little bearing upon the main great question of the free coiin e of silver, and they- should~ be kept apart as much as p)ossible. While that tax cannot be approved from a Democratic stathdpoint, I fear the con sequences of a rep~eal. As I tinder stand it. it has been held that Gon gress has not powe-r, directly to pro hibit State banks from issuing their notes which circulate as money, al though they cannot be made legal tender and are not moneyv, in fact. I do not like- such wild cat currency and never did. I do not think we ought to become thie champions of it. *While perhiaps we shotuld take the ground that the Senate should be at liberty to issue such notes if ther- de sired to do so, yet such issue shiould not he* encouraged. WVe should not be switche~d off from-thie gold and silver issuei uponi any suchl sidetrack. I fear the e.xper.imnent of wild cat State bank curiiency wili not b~e a relie~f. it may be temoraryU relief. but in the end willi be d1isstrons. The bank notes of so) ml~i v 'tates would be so worthless that w il in New YorWk or Georgia thiey ighlt bet perfietly'good always. yet ini~ no mn other States thoey would or so bad tnait the' whole circu ationi~ wdald be discredited. You will obrerve fr om whait I have stated that I advise. we shiould move cautiouslyI in tregard to the State bank tax anid not mnix it up. with the legal tender cenlcy question. Fourth: As to the tariff reform. 1 (10 mnot apprehlend'any serious dillicul ty ini this matt.er. There will be a geneIral uniml.iity a-s to the bills which pased the. last D)emocratic IIouse an wil~v~hi weire refuised conl sider'ation mn the Sednate. Whatever illhs the Tmreas'ury departmient may re conunend . tink are likely to he pass-ed. \ We. must inake a little tariff reoformu go a gr'.- ways. The conidi tioni of the Treasuryi ' will not adnmit of much reduc tion, excep~t ini those cases where a reduction is likely to produce miore needled revenu". I (ho not thfink we neced lie awak~e inight~s at all antici patimng trouble from the tariff quesC tion. I1 dloub~t the policy of restoring (;OES FO l T ,E fUNG. CONCRESSMAN MCLAURIN OPENS THE CAMPAIGN. He Writ-, :a 1 4.1ter1 In Whicb Ile niddeles the ninglesrs. -:ad S:Iy they .31t:,t be wlhipped4 He Expresises some M1:usly "'l at i ieltS WASHINGTON, 1). C., .lan. 13, 1895I. To the Editor of the Register: Dear Si r: As there seemts to be a ]uli in State politics, atid without a posi tive knowledge of what is doing or goillr to be done. I subitit herewith MY owI peculiarl opintionts of the sit uantion. The time for action, it seemts to me. has arrived, and thus believing, I shall not longer stille my convictions. but shall speak frankly and unreserv edly as I think the necessities of the situatioi require. and abide the conse quences, whatever they may be: The general poverty and depression in the country at large is intensified by local conditions. No one expected the "movement" of 1890 to divide our people into two absolutely hostile camps. And the whole thing can be largely traced to the abandonment of the primary elec tion principles last summer to pro mote the interests of certain individ uals. The Constitutional convention is upon us. and, with it and our inter necine strife, the "uigger in the wood pile- is reviving. "Not dead. but sleepeth," is written over the attenuated corpse of the De mocratic party north of Mason and Dixon's line, and even in our own section and among our own people signs of decay are visible- Our old allies will not help us and can no longer be relied upon. Let us help ourselves. The interests of ninety-nine out of every one hun dred of our ci izens are identical. A convention of a faction, no mat ter how able its membership or good its work, will be disastrous and drive us firther apart. Everyone admits that, but unfortunately we have be come such astute politicians that each of us is afraid to ~move for fear of in juring his chances of securing some oflice. fco. that of county coroner to President of the United States. We are breeding tyrants and political co xards in South Carolina. Too much policy and not enough of patriotism. WhVy. my dear sir, f came within an ace of ruining my flattering political prospects last summer by a few inno cent and kind oiservations made to "My Dear Appelt." But whatever the result. I have the satisfaction of knowing that I coined at least one or two apt words and phrases, which, if they did not enrich the English lan guage, will live for some time des criptio personae. Ever since I wrote that letter (in which, God knows. I was honest) I have been magnified. misrepresented and misquoted. Every time I opened my nmouth I was charged with being in league with "Butler,- but that can be done no longer, as Gen Butler is out of politics and will soon be a pri vate citizen: while we differ on some things nolitically, he will carry with him my undying friendship and ies pect. 'HA d it not been for the miscon struction which true friends, whose opinion I value. would have placed upon my conduct, I would have died a thousand political deaths before sub mitting to what I did. The~ people have honored me, I love them, and have studied hard and tried to give them value received. I have come to the conclusion that I do not care whether I ever hold an other oflice or not, if it involves the least sacrifice of dignity, honor or principle, and I do not propose to oc cupy any equivocal or uncertain posi tion. I am in favor or harmonizing the factions, if such a thinghbe possible but in order to do that we must destroy a "Ring" more autocratic, more un scrupulous than ever dominated the State or controlled the destinies of a free people-I defy them! Let them take the oftice I hold, if they can, They cannot muzzle my tongue nor stifle my manhood or independence. They are now making prepration to control the Constitutional convention and thereby lperpetuate themselves in power, and if necessary to accomplish this, white men, as well as the negro, will be ruthlessly disfranchised. The "Antis.'' one part are cowed and whipped. the other part too mad to have any sense, andw wile a part of the "Reformers" who want fair play have been silent, an arrogant minority held together by the cohesive powver of spoils, runs rouah-shod over all. Of fices are multip ied by the thousand to prevent "kicking,"~while the hands of the executive are strengthened by unlimited patronage and the towns in timidated by the threat of deprivin them of the precious heritage of local self-government. The Alliance has been destroyed or simply coverted into an adljunct of the political machine by methods that would make the stripes of the Tammiany tiger pale with envy. Men are afraid to speak, or speak with bated breath. Pretended salary reduc tions, on the principle of cutting every body else's salary except their own. Whilhe the patient.'toiling~ masses are in debt and straining e' ery nerve to keep the "wolf fronm the door,- their attention is led my and centered up on personal and local issues, that no matter which way they are decided will benefit no one except a few in dividuals. What in the name of hieari en can the people expect from such purilblind statesmanship ? Where do they conic in? Every muan, woman and child in South Carolina knows that I amt telling the truth and many good Reformers see in the ugly picture the finale to the beautiful dream of 1890. Our only hope is to get together in this convenition., anid it possible. prle vnt the ''Ring" fronm controlling it, and frame a Constitution whi:-h will commnd the respect and confidence of the whole peopleC, thereby uniting and placing us in a position in 1S96 where we can avail oturselves of the nost favor'able oppor'tunity that Na tional politics mxay then offer. It is useless to temporize: if we be men, let us act, and, at least purchase an hion orblek defeat. For wha; I have already said and (one along this line I have been the subject of vituperation, slander and abuse anid I shrink muo one knows how mnuch)i from off'ering my'self as a further target to the foul pen of hire lings and slaves. If doing my duty mian fully and con scientioutsly rele~rates me to private life, I welcome it, Let the phialanx put all of its spear's into my body, if tereby the cause of liberty is coni ered. It was the expressed hope of many trat thte 'For'tv' ere this would have akenl such actionl as would htave made heir influence felt on thte line indi ated by thieml. which mi et with such eeralapproval throughout the State. I hope and believe the matter' will o0on consmxumnate in definite action, ad thereby unite all those who sinl :erely wantt ''peace and unity." Me'n who p~ossess the courage of hei' convictions must conifer in tile eair future and adopt such a line of rctioni as wvill subserve the best inter ~sts of the State. It is a fight against ''bossismn anid ring rule," w-hichi seeks to prosttt evere nrincin~le of nopu to regard sugar as one of the necessi ties aind Comforts of life. _a4l the c want it as cheap as possible. Let the tariff be ret i on those :rticles which collie il oipetitiol with oiir own workiien if it is necessarv to se cure More revelie. These are ny views hiaistily eXpress ed aiid, of cou'se, alwavs subject to modification after consiiultation with :'. friends. While I ike to adher1 to niv ow, views as well as aniv oneo. in party affairs. I believe in tihe old doctrine: "In essentials. unity: in non-essentials. liberty: and inl all things, charity." I renain, very truly vours. DAVID B. HILL. To Mr. Cl ark Howell, Atlanta. a THE WOMAN'S COLLEGE. Iow Supt. Neal IntenI to Conplete the l.nilding. COLUMIIA .Jan. 17.-Evervbody in the State is now very much ijiterested in the completion 'of the Winthrop Normal ar.d Industrial Collegeat Rock Hill. and are anxious to see its doors thrown open to the young women of the State by next September. As all know, at the last session of the Legis lature an act was passed providing for the economical completion of the build ings. Only a short time ago the board decided to have the work completed by Superintendent Neal of the penit entiarv with convict labor. And on Monday last the trustees formally turned over the buildings and all mat erials on hand to Col. Neal. A brief report of this meeting was published vesterday. However, the following 'details of Col. Neal's plans taken from the Rock Hill Herald, will be read with interest. and indicates that Col. Neal is starting out with the determina tion to complete the buildings on time. The Rock Hill Herald says: "We had some difficulty in ascer taining what the committee did during the day and it seems that it really did nothing but go over the grounds and buildings on an inspecting tour with Superintendent Neal of the peniten tiary, who, under the law, if he under takes to complete the buildings, is re quired to assure the State Treasurer that he can finish the work now in hand. i. e., the main building, the north side dormitory. the power house. kitchen and laundry. with the $20.000 appro )riated for that. purpose, before any part of the appropriation will be available. "From in f a-ation in his possess ion Col. Neal felt that he could make such a guaraitee to the State Treasurer and so stated to the committee. when the work of completion was turned over to him and he is now in control. Col. Neal was : before the committee for several hours. 'After the adjournment of the com ifttee'td 1:30 o'clock Monday night we-h'iirialy interviewed Col. Neal as to-hispTHfns. He informed us that he had eppointed Messrs. W. H1. Stewart aid -Jires- Smith to take charge of the work and had given them instructions wlhat to do. He also stated that an effort would be made to resume work next week, and preparatory to this he would send up Saturday from the pen itentiarv 22 convict carpenters. brick masons, and piasterers, some of whom are excellent workmen. At the same time he would remove 45 of the present convict force to Columbia and leave 40 at the stockade. 'Mr. 'Mendenhall and his force of guards, will be con tinued here. The convict force will be boarded and the guards paid out of penitentiary savings. That has not been dent heretofore. "Col. Neal believes he will be able to cornplete thbe buildings designed, by September, but in order to do tl.is he will employ a small force of skilled workmen, at greatly reduced wages. however. 3Mr. H. A. Brown is to be bontinued as heretofore. "Col. Neal's plar~s do not look to the continuance of Mr. T. C. Thornson as superintendent nor Mr. W. W. Dunlap as secretary and treasurer-in fact none of the present "bosses' ex cept Messrs. Smith. and Brown, who will have charge of the brick work andpainting. respectively, as we uni derstand the arrangements. The work of M1r. Dunlap's office will be done in the office of the penitentiary at Colum bia, whence all orders will come. ."Mr. Thompson who has had chlarge of construction. claims a contract with the board until the first of Marcha and is not disposed to permit Col. >eal or the committee to annul that con tract. HIe will report for work every day un til the first of M1arch, and if his ser vices are nc-t accepted, he will th~en at tempt to collect his salary, neverthe less. 'A number of skilled carpenters, plasterers and bricklayers who came here from. other States'and have been at work on the buildings for months, after waiting two weeks for work to be resumed. left last night for their homes, as they saw iio prospect for further employment.-"-State. .Share of the South. \XASHING~TON, Jan. 15.-The sundi'y civil appropriation bill, as reported 'to the House, cai'ries an aggregate of $38,540,721, being $7.84:3.793 les.s than the estimates on which it is based anud $4. 2S6.245 above the ai1ount cairried by the bill for the year 1895. Aniong thie few public buildings which are authiorized to be placed in port oi' ini whole under contract within the pro scr ibed limit of cost is the court house at Savannah, Ga. Among the appr'opriations for public buildings in the South carried in the bill are the following: Clarksville. Ten n.. $15,000: Fort Worth, Tex.. $40. 000: Little Roc'k. Ai'k.. addition to cour-t house, $58. 000: Norfolk. Va.. 60,000: Savannah, Ga., $10)0.000. For additional lights in MIobile ship channel $30,000 is provided. Riveir and hiarborimipr'ovements uin der' the contract system: Galveston' harbor, Texas-Cc ntinu - ing improvemnit. $1,).(0,000, of which $100,000) may be use'd for dr'edglng. Charleston,. S. C.-Continuin g im provemnent. $500.000I. Savannah. Ga. -To complllete im provments, $8563,25(t, MIobile, Ala.-To compllete improve mnts. $201 ,.300. U nderi 31ississipni ri ver comisiioni 31isisippi river, from the heac of the passes to the Ohio river, 82, I5.000: 31isissippi river, from the (Ohio) riv er to thle ,Iissouri r-iver. $758.-33 from11 the 3Iissouri river' to Iiin neaipol is 8:W The bill appropriates $875.000 foi' the Chickuaanga and~ Chattanoog;a Na tionail Park I 1,40,000~f for tice life av ing serv~ice $2.00'4.000 for the~ ligh t house es~tablishmnent and $t25. JuG) for' the quaranttine service. No1) ppoition1 was madeam to i nor'po rte in the bi llthe 80j.000 asked o by the TLouisiana delegation for the paynienit of b)ounty oin the crop of 1894. D)ovEa, N. 1I.. ,Jan. 14.--Cashier' Isaac F. Abbott, of the Dover national ank, conunitted suicide this after noon, therehy conifirning the rumnors which have b)een circulating all day that a very serious dlefal'ationi ini his recount-s had beeni discov-em'ed. Thei lak exa1miners have been at worik oni te bank all day but refuse to make any disclosures and the ollicers of the nstitutin are equally reticent. The eneral impression is that the banik frill lose from $60.000 to 90,000. A otice of suspensien was posted on lar rilios to sf lfi , urp t es Le-t theez whoI .believe pace canL~ bx Aubt:tinIedt ., wit'c:: an omt deieivet. neCVer beenl pmc::dwthu1 tr battle to seetiits -sb .J\ ). L..\ is . THE WILDCAT CiRCUIT. ttblished It. Ratik weetd..4 grew about the only r mal1tiing hichttrl ont Wildcatcirinit and over the door thie -revgre a green saw brier. Wild hogs slept in the old log holse. aid the screech owl. with his nerve stirt liig treitilo. roosted uider the eaves. Conferele after colfer ence had attempted to reclaim the old1 church. for the Vinis of imy fond memories were clinging about it. but each attempt was a failure. There had been a time when the glad shout of the regenerated and the thank ful prayer of the sanctified called forth a hivmnt of joy from the devout congregation, but that time was long ago, for boys who had then, clinging to the skirts of their excited mothers, wondered what the commotion meant. had become fathers. the religious system, and consequently the social coiplexlon of the neighbor hood. had been chan'ged by the war. The saintly brother, harrassed by guer rihas and robbed by marauders that be longed to both armies, moved away: many of them. and those who remain ed forgot their church relations and fi nally became rough sneerers at the creed of which they had once been strong, but gentle supporters: so, many years later, the uncouth men of the Wildcat circuit laughed at the efforts of conference. and actually mistreated the preachers who came among them. Several weeks ago a newlv made preacher, concerning whom there had been considerable discussion relative to the circuit to which he should be sent arose in conference and said: "Brethern, it appears that someibody want for himself or for a friend every place that is suggested for ine. Now. all I want is a chance to work. I am not looking out for a place where tley feed a preacher on fried chicken and at night tumble him intoa feather bed. I have gone into this preaching busi ness with the expectation of having a pretty t'ough time, but I am prepared for it-I was graduated with honors from the college of Toughness, hav'e been the editor of a country paper dur ing a campaign for sheriff. -Now. brethren. I am very sorry to see why there should be any controversy on my account, and to show you that I shall be satisfied-yea, even pleased with my assignment, I will announce my determination of re-establishing the Wildcat circuit." The young preachers, given to ievi tv began to laugh. but the older ones, several of whom had hoed the row of experience, shook their heads gravely and were serious. "Brother Gregory." said an old man. "do we understand you to inean that you will face a gang of ruflians and attempt to plant the Gospel im a soil 'where it once flourished. but from which it was violently torn up by the roots ? "That is what I mean. -Those men may be rutffians.but they will not dare to 1use violence. "They may not use positive vio lence, Brothier Gregory~but they know how to apply a thousand annoyances. They make a preacher ridiculous, then laugh at him. 1 went there somec time ago, but I will never go again." "They niay make me ridiculous." Brother Gregory responded. "but I shall not allowvan imaginative picture to turn ine aside from my purpose." A number of the brethren strove to dissuade Brother Gregory from carry out the plans of -his ras~h determina tion, but the next day the headstrong evangelist set out on a journey to the Wildcat circuit. Without telling the object of his visit to the neighborhood he engaged board at a house situated near the church, and the next moirn ing after his arrival he gave himself over to the work of clearing'anvy the weeds that grew about the sacred old pile of logs. He pulled downt the green-brier that grew over- the door, washed with soapsuds the inside of the house, and after completing his work, announced to a niiber of cu 'ious spectators, that there would. in that house, be preaching the follow ing Sunday. When the time artived, the house was well filled with "snickerers' and scofers, but* Brother Gregory, un daunted in the contemplation of so cheerless prospect, stepped up into the slab pulpit and declared that lie had come to preach, and that the privilege of retiring was granted to anyone who did not care to hear hinm. " I caine as a friend to per'suade and not as an enemy to coerce." said he. 'I have come here to join vou in all of your sympathies. in all of y'our' sorts and pastimes." "Glad to hear it." Nick Dacy spoke up. "M1ight'ly pleased to know that you air gomn ter jine us. an' as this is jest about our time uv day ter caper a little, w'y. you can fall in right at once. . . Benches had been removed fi'om the center of the roomi, leaving, an open space. Nick step)ped into the " clearing" and standing on his head. eracked his heels together. The con gregation shouted with laughter. The preacher came down out of the pulpilt, stood en his head and' cracked his heels together. Old1 Nick got down on all fours, galloped about the open1 space and yelped like a dog. "(Junk. ounk. ounk:" lhe barked. The preacher got down on his a!! fo-s and gallopc'd with high-keyed 'ounk. ounk, ounk:" Old Nick lay down and grumetcd like a hog. So did Br'other Gregory. The peole exchanged many glances of amazemeint. " Sav." said Nick. " Well." the preachier aniswer. ''You are sortei' cne of the boys ain't v-ou: I told y ou I had comie ti.joini you in younr spor'ts andl pastimtes. I thou-lit you camelt to pre'acli. "o i did. lut I do not iten'd to pec notii vou are ready to listn." 'Do v-on rekon we need pr'ea'in'i ter so nicchtv bad ?" "Not ifalf'so muich ats do theC ieople ~ho live in the towns." " Then why don't you gc and prteac'h to them: "B'heautse I do not wish to dlestroyc n natural manhood by talking tc le'ole whose everyv aim is to be uno aatral. "'Iow are vont cn a ratssle ?" i ti ot'aniexpert Ont wrestiing: but if the congregation will it. l will tv vou ont a fewv falls.' 'ie contgregation,. with a yell. ex >tessedl and enthusiastie will ingtnc-ss. 'he wresting took place outside. ais the mnteeoni floor' wats ratheri har'd, Old Nick threw the In-eac-heri: butt hrotherj Gregory. still wvillingi to eter': inito the vnmaties and to) take part int all the 'prtts and3( pastimtes. de-clare'd his tead mess for anoitheri 'thirst."- The congr'e gatiotn chteered this evide'nce oft nervei' nd the two men intetlaced thcemtselves t acobination ktnowt as the '"Ala UAKilN' POWDER Absolutely Pure. A melt-am "I tartar zaing powder. Hidlies.t of all in leavening -trength.-L-1 e nited Z Sates G vern'ent Food Re poit. hoyal Baking Powder Companyi 106 Wall St.. N Y. "(ut your capers." said old Nick. 'Lead oil with your fancy steps,' the preacher remarked. This time Nick went down. "Throw olf tne tie." a justice of the peace shouted. "Give us another fall." "No. let ine make a suggestion," said Brother Gregory. *I have entered into your sympathies. now you enter into mine: I have joined your sports and pastimes. now you join iine." *Tl:t ain't no more than fair," old Nick exclaimed. 'That's fair:" the congregation shouted. Well. then. cone inside now and listen quietly to what I have to say." They went in and sat down, and n6w a hush fell upon the crowd that a few' moments before had been so noisy. "My dear friends." said the preacher, "I want to tell you of a 3an whose life was tender and beautiful,- who shared the sorrows of all humanity. He poured faith and love into hearts. that were broken: He plucked'the evil -litter from the eye of human wicked 1ess, and in its place set the warm. low of trust and affection. Do you want.to year about this 31an " --Yes,. tell us," the congregation shouted. Then the preacher in words as sim ple as the prattle story of a child, told them of the Saviour of mankind. It, was a story that many of them had heard and forgotten and the recollec tion came back t6 them like a warm whisper of love. When the story had been finished, when a hymn had-b6sh suIg, the people sileatly disperse1 The next day 100 axes rang in the woods. The men were getting out logs ~to be used in the construction of a new church. A Deplorable Tragedy. BALTIMORE, Md., Jan. 1.-Thomas 'Whitridge and his young wife were -almost instantly killed this' morning at their home in West Biddle street, while fleeing from flames which en veloped the structure. They were awakcned about 4 o'clock by aTpolice. man who discovered fire. in the rear' part of the house. 3r. and' 21rs. Whitridge were on the second floor and tried to escape by the stairway-but 'snioke and flames drove them bac'lIU With flames- approaching them ..with* ~awful rapidit tthe stoodat'the froiit window watching the efforts ,of.,.,fire-, nun to raise a ladder for their rescue. ITheir cries could be heard, altho'ngh hidden most of the time bed~nse volume'of sinoke that rolled <iustofth'e' window.- A fireman worked frantidal lv 'and run up the ladder whiIe others began to stretch rope..ents across the sidewalk. Scorched anid -blinded, Whitridge caught his. wife abougt the, wasgras'ped the ]adds' wvith the. ote adbefore the' Iiremnencul mount to the window., ,. . -In his'excitement, or .because- he. could not sus~tairi the combined 'weighT' of both. Whiteridge ?eleased -his hold: on. the ladder, and the. two forms plunged to the pavement, twenty feet below, striking on their heads. Mrs. Whiteridge was intantlf killed;' and Whiteridge died half an'our latei'' without regaining consciousness. Whiteridge was a son of John .A. Whiteridge.- and was associated ..with. his father in the banging and'.bi-oker buisiness. Mrs. Whiteridge was - for mnerly Miss Bessie Shoemaker.' The were married not quite a year aa'.' Mr. Whiteridge was Consur' of Cfiili and Vice Consul of Deunark iii Berlin. .He was a miember of the- =Baltimore Club r nd one of the most prominent and popular umen in Baltimore, society He was a governor of the Bahelors' ICotillion Club. - ' Ruslan Cott'on. : Russia is determined to r'dise hoe own "ottoni and .supply some to the wold al so. Immediately upon acquir= ing possession of the fertile plains of thei Trns-Caspian r'egio'n, she set aboXut conxverting' it into a cto-p-o duin co untry. She sent- agents to thiis countr P'to study our svsteiuof' cottonl gr owing'. and they- lear'ned- and "pplied thefr' lesson -:so xvell that 600, Ut0) bales ' year' are now produ~ced on wha*t wa- 38 yecrs ago thle roaming 'grounid of the r'obbjer Turcomans. This dotton is i nferior to om-is i- tiber. but superi*or in solor'. owing ' its' being r'ai-ted on irrigated lands. 1?ov; uruch fa rther this production cani be i'ncrease~d is a disputed c uestion. mn v~ clixmitg thait t.ie limit'has been nearly. reachg~d' owing to the impossility of. extena ing the irrigation system. The. State Department has~ just received informa-. tion. that Russa- Las -imp~osed. a duty~ equivalent to fou 'nd a half- cents a poun~id 'on all impor'ted cotton. The duty hlas lit.cofO'ore ee one cent.a nou'ndi. Shie has g-one1 farther, and glran1ted( a1 bo-'nty on' manufactured co'ttoni exported fr.o~in the country. I 189 we sent nearly) 11)00).0.00 pounds of cotton. valiued at '0.000).00.0, .tb Ruassia. In 18S:2 this had fallen to C7.~ 1)4)1. UUO ounds. - Tue iDo; shul I Die. SAV.'.:nNI. Ga, Jaun. 14.-A Morn ing News special from Kissimee. Fla~ sayvs: Yeste'rday at Buckles Mills, live miles south of here.- George Hav~ white. shot and fatally wounded George Hardy. colored. whom he chargres with a1 ciin~ial aissaults on his se'Clveya-l aghe.Hywl surrenderlCI. H ardy is still alive, but will die. Ex-SE;'m-:T:-.a\ of State Foster, on his5 way' to (China to aidvise' theC Chf.. nese4 as to~ thle be. way' of' coming off thteir pe''Crch eforec it is ('ut beneath themi. is reall he.L)Ci attorner of China in this counat'ry so Chim''s of'er~ of ry wa': more~ (or less as a matter of rors. It ,i" nin the less one of'tlie hanldsomeist fees ever received by au American lawyer .Hel~ received an advance paymnt Ibefoie laaving for China. Jn'Im-: Watt hasI the svnmpathy of all ini thle sudndeni and terible bereave mettnt thr'oughi which he is passing by the de'athi of his wife: 3-s-. Watts was thle (:idest daughter of the lat-e (ol. E. B. C.' Caish. and was about thirty-six years oif ag'e. She leaves ive childr'en. t wo boys auid threegiris. She was quite a t-iented woman, and was greatly be'loved by all who-knew le.