The Manning times. (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, June 17, 1896, Image 1

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T~.- X T MANNING, S. C., WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 19 -ROBERT EDWARD LEE. A TRIBUTE TO THE SOUTH'S GREAT EST GENERAL. An Address Delivered by Professor A. E. ..Strode before Camp Rion. U. C. V.. at Ridgeway. S. C. Mr. Commander, Vcnerable Survi vprs of the War between the States. ladies and gentlemen: When some three months ago 1 was requested by tb* body to speak here of the life of your great leader, I felt the -compli ment of your choice, found in your bidding no less than a command and I then resolved to meri. your confi dence.as best I could. But when I applied myself to the study of the subject ior which you (X pressed a preference, day by day the conviction grew upon me, it is too and I cannot attain unto it, ana ' might have been my portion, I not remembered your generous partiality incalling me from my hum ble station as an instructor of youth to speak in this assemblage of those who have felt the fiery breathof battle, who have "stormed the looming bastions fringed with fire," to win for them selves an undying fame on the pages of heroic history. In such an assemblage Ishould have been well content to sit a silent hearer beholding in every man who wore the gray, my father's brother. But since youhavehcnored me with - the encouragement of your approval, I shall address myself as best I can to the subject your partiality has as signed me, but praying that you will continue to indulge my shortcomings. In the northern part of the good old state of Virginia, there lies. between the Rappahanncck and Potomac riv ers, a section of country some thirty mwes in length with an average width of fifteen miles. Within these narrow conines have been born statesmen, soldiers and patriots whose names il lumne the brightest pages of Ameri ahistory. Here was born the Father 7 of his Country, here James Monroe first saw the light and near the birth place of these two James Madison was ushered into the world. To this section there cameirom Eng land in 1641 the Lees, belonging to one of the oldest families in the moth ar country. And it has been said of this family that it "has perhaps given more statesmen and warriors to their new home than any other of our old colonial progenitors" Tcthis family belonged Col. Henry } ee-of Revolutionary tame, more fa irly-known as "Light Horse Har -y.' barly in the Revolution nomi nated by Patrick Henry, then Gover mnaof Virginia to be aUaptain of cav alry, ne became the we-beloved of - Washington, was commended by Con greass for conspicuous gallantry, and it was said of nim that -he seemed to have come out of his mother's womb aaldier." Having won high nonor in the Revolution he was, after the return of peace, elected Governor of Virginia. Upon the death of Wash S:was-chosen- by. congress to .-theran oiition upon the life of the groanpatriot. This address it was that Slgegdd withthese words, as immor tal as the great subject of his eulogy, Tarnl in war, firstin peace, and first in the hearts of his fellow countrymen." *General.:Henry Lee was wounded while striving to queli a riotin Balti mores and the last years of is life were spent vainly seeking a restora tionoftstrengthminthe WestIdies. Hi. letters to his family during this *period of his affliction are mouaels of chaste and elegant expr-ession, of no .Me diction and lofty precepts. In one :he writes, "Fame in arms or art is nought unless betrothed to virtue." How well his great son illustrated with his life this maxim, all the world knows. General Henry Lee was married twice; the second time to Anmie Hill Carter of an old Virginia family, 'Moted," we are toi3, 'ior their unsel fishness, generosity, purity aan I4aaa :The fourth son by this marriage was . Robert Edward Lee, born January 19, .18Q7, at Stratford, Westmoreiandl Codnuty, Virginia, in the samie room in which twvo signers of the Declara tion of Independence first saw the light. 1Amid such surroundings linked by so many associations to an inspiring pt, Robert Lee grew a noble boy. Weaiking the same wooded aisles that shelteied Washington, he looked upon .the same noble river tnat gleamed for the eyes of that great patriot. .We are told that the ancient Greeks adorned their cities with the noblest . sapecimens of architecturerand sculp ture thtat their youth beholding the beauty of outward form might unem selves incline to the beautiful and the goodin their own development. Ho w much more potent as an inspiration -to noble endeavor must be tne con templation ofj the graceful outlines which mark th~e development of a no ble life. And before the mind of Rob ert Lee a devoted mother ever kept the images of high ideals. After his sev enth year he never saw his father, but that lather still spoke to the son through those faded lette rs written upon-the rack of pain, and around the son, who was ;o her, as she herself bore witness, both son and daughter, were thrown all the tender solicitude and fastening care of a Godly mother, To her then more than to anyone else is due the praise for his nobility of life. Among his fellows he was popular and good. If there was ever a time in his life when he "sowes wild oats," a most diligent search fails to reveal it. "What shall 1 do with my lifer' Is the question that must command the attention of every young man. When this question carne to Robert Lee may we not in r ison believe that having heard from fond though quiv ering lips the story of his sire's bat tle's, he felt that sire's warrior spirit stir within him, and was strengthened in his resolution to be a soldier too by the father's gleaming sword hung high above his home's broad hearthi stone? At 18 y ears of age he becomes a cadet at West Point, there to remain four years with no demerit upon his rec ord, graduating second in a class of forty-six and holding the cadet adju tance the post of honor in the aspira tions of cadet life. Assigned upon graduation to the engineer corps of the army ne !!ads employment at various situns. 11e constructed the .tortiticatious unon hampton Roads which 27 y'ears alter wards he was striving to emolishi. Everywhere cilicient he is upon the opening of the Mexican war appoint ed captain of engineers upon thle per-. snal staE ofGeneral Seott. Three times brevetted in rapid success on this brief six month's campaign crowned the young captain with hon ors and lifted him from obscurity into the light of fame. Gen. Scott at that time wrote of him, "Robert E. Lee is the greatest military genius of Amer ica, the best soldier that he ever saw in the field, and that if opportunity offered itself he would show himself the foremost captain of his time." Assigned to various duties after the Mexican war the hastening events of 18G13 found him in Washington. Of the fifty four years of his life to this time, thirty-two had been spent in honorable service as an officer in the United States army. A master soldier now in the theories of war and ripe in its practice he is called upon to decide to which his service shall be given, to his State or to the Union. That the making of this choice caused him great perplexity, his letters written at the time plainly show. These letters, as well as his subsequent actions, no less plainly show that he was seeking to discover only where the path of duty lay. Surrounded by his wife and family in his beautiful home up on the Virginia hills opposite Wash ington he is called upon to decide this question. His illustrious fathei as Governor of Virginia, when summon ed to a commission under the Federal government, had voiced this senti ment, "No ccnsideration on earth could induce me to act a part, however gratifying to me, which could be con - strued into disregard or faithlessness to this commonwealth." A devotion to Virginia was then his just inherit ance. And Robert Lee knew that the Dec laration of Independence had declared free 13 states-each one free, inde pendent and sovereign. He knew that certain powers only had been delegat ed by these free states to the Federal Government. He knew that no state had done more valiant service in se curing that indeperdeice than VIr ginia. And he knew th:it Virginia in entering the union whin had already been formed by the nine states neces sary, reserved in express terms the rignt to withdraw it at anytime the Federal Government should exercise its powers to the detriment of her in terests and the happiness of her peo ple. These considerations must have been sufficient to satisfy the seeker after with of Virginia's right to se cede. As to slavery he had no love for the institution. He would not have fought for its perpetuation. His own slaves he had freed long before. His father in-law's slaves had been freed by will. On that score his mind was easy. But just across the river his old com mander, Gen. Scott, was pleading with him to remain with the union. "For God's sake, Lee, don't resign," the bluff old General is reported to have said. To the Federal authorities Gen. Scott had said that Robert Lee would be worth titty thousand men to their cause, and President Lincoln di rected his Secretary of War to have an interview with Lee and secure him for the union by tne tempting offer of the chief command in the.army. Here within his grasp was all the full realization of a soldier's fondest dreams-the chief command in the army of his country. Then behold this imperial man as discerning the way of duty to lie in other pains he turns his back upon all the guttering aluremnents of place, profit and pow er, to lay his sword numbly at the feet of is mother state saying to her, "whither thou goest I will go and thy people shall be my people.". His state receiven him with open arms, and he made no complaint be ause obscure and laborious posts were assigned to him. A brief campaign in Western Virginia came to grief through no faulL of his and he had to bear tne shame of his misrepresenta ion and abuse. This he did without murmuring, sustamned as he was by the consciousness of right endeavor. Assigned then to the coast defences of soutnl Caroina, tic completed those works about Charleston harbor which it took a hostile fleet four years to pass. Notwithstanding the spring of 1862 was he summoned by ine wounding of Gen. J. E~. Johnson to take the ield in active command of large bod ies ci Lroops. And from that time when he first drove Mc~lellan from the peninsula and relieved Richmond, the tundyng love cf his soldiers was his, and even when on the fated field of Appomattox that once grand army was out a hungry and footsore corpo ral's guard facing full legions of well fed and well equipped soldiers that spirit of trustful devotion and abiding confidence still stirred the hearts ol his soldiers. They believed in him through all the years of war, in victo ry and in defeat, they believed in him now, and their sons catching the spirit of their reverence will always believe m him, purest, noblest and best of the orave leaders of our people. And now after McGleilan's failure a ne w leader is chosen for the invad ng hosts, anid from the second battle of 24anassas tne boasttul Pope is rout ed and sent with htis flying legions pelmel, headlong into the forunca ons about W astimgt 11aving relieved Virginia of this second invasion General Lee crosses into M1aryland and tights against great ods the drawn battle o1 Annietain. Returning in good order to \irgtmia ie meets tien. Bu~rnside at Fredericks burg and admiinisters to him in one of the Dloodest battles of the war, a crushing defeat. This battle closed the campaign of 1b162. The great battles so lar I-aught had been bouthern vic tories, but the heavy losses of men began to tell upon their armies for they had no ne w supply to draw upon. ine South. might outgenerai but could not ouitnumoner her foes. And just here it is worth noting that eneral Lee was alwvays unstinted in his praise of the private soldier. To tie men ml the ranks he gave the credit of hiS victories, and ior their welare he was at all uimes solicitous. Tneir comfort was al ways near to his thoughts. D~elcacies and ref resh mets sent to him lound their way by his direction to the sick in the hospi tals, while the plainest of fare sufficed r him when a tare acceptance would have tied his table witn every luxury tat nevoted Iriends could proviue. And what a spectacle it was to see rhe invalid wile of the great commander in-chiet with her own hands knitting o s for tae private soldiers under Ms commanid, to wno ii he huuseil carred tthem. Can we wonder that his ruen loved one so regardiuat of their ine apromg of 1&3 opened upon a ,oamerai airmy brave winh hope. 1ti the gloomy wilderness General Lee metets General 11ooker and with old audacity 10110wig the plan o1 flank and inflicts upon Hooker's teem ing army an overwhelming defeat. But alas for that day : Jackson was gone and there was none to take his place. Just one month after Chancel lorsville Genera! Lee again started north with an army of which one of its Generals said that it was in a spirit to undertake anything Gettysburg has been reckoned gen erally as tbe turning point of the war. General Lee never attempted to unload any part of the responsibility for this or for any other defeat upon another's shoulders. But that he lost this battle through no fault of his becomes more and more evident as the years go by. Just the other day General C. A. Bat ile, of North Carolina, speaking at a celebration of Lee's birthday in Peters burg, Va , said that "a court of in quiry appointed by General Lee of which GeneralMahon was president and General C. A. Battle (the speaker) was secretary, met at Culpepper Court House for the purpose of inquir ing into the conduct of the Gettysburg campaign. "The court censured Stuart and Longstreet but General Lee suppressed the report and took the blame upon himself. This report, said General Battle, has never been given to the public ani would not now be but for the fact that General Lee has been at tacked by General Longatreet." From Gettysburg Lee retired to Vir ginia to play at war chess with Gener al Meade for the balance of the cam paign of 1863, at the close of which General Meade retreated and was re placed in command by General Grant. Thien came the death grapple in the wilderness, in which occurred the dra matic incident of the 12th of July, 1864, when Gen. Lee, riding to the iront to reform a broken line, was sent to the rtar by the entreaties of his soldiers who, when they had seen him in a place of safety, led by the gallant Gor don, rushed forward to regain the lost position. Then by Spottsylvauia and bloody Cold Harbor and back to the Chickahominy that valiant army is forced by sheer weight of numbers. Then the thin gray line is forced from Petersburg and finally from Rich mond, but not until in this one cam paign the Soutbern chieftain had killed in the detence of his country's capital more men of the enemy than he had in his own defending army. And now dark days were upon the faithful few. The God of battles had sent forth his fiat that two republics should not be upon this continent in the place of one. Amid all the dark foreshadowings of defeat Robert Lee was calm, reso lute and serene. His men still trusted him. They still believed that "Marse Robert," "Old Uncle Robert," some how, though they knew not how, would yet lead them through. Never did the star of his greatness shine with brighter ray than in those trying hours of his humiliation. To his men crowding about him after the surren der, in loving sympathy he falters, "Men, we have fought through the war together, I have done my best for you, my heart is too full tosay more." Tnen he leaves that sad field poor in all outward seeming yet surpassing rich in taking with him, as he had told his men they might take with them, "the satisfaction that proceeds from the consciousness of duty faith fully performed." How fitting that the end of such a c.ian should be in peace. Accepting in good faith the new order of things, he refrained from every action that might tend to keep alive slumbering animosities, and set with his life au exam ple of dutiful submission to au hority. Refusing positions of high erolument he cnose an humble sta tion as President of Washington Col lege. whicn school under his inspiring adminitration greatly increased in resources. widened its sphere of useful ness, and stands a lasting monument to him who ennobled the calling of the teacher with the bright example of his life. Foremost in all good works his final mmons came, as he would doubtless have had it come, while his head was bent in thanksgiving prayer. Laid to rest by loving hands his body sleeps today upon the bosom of the State he loved and served so well, while his spirit awaiting the resurrection morn :wells with angels around the throne of God. And now I have attempted to por tray in some measure the man our fathers lollowed. If I speak more of the man than of the soldier it is be ause I believe that from the lesson of his lif e as a man we profit most. And even had this been a lit occasion I should not have felt equal to the task of entering upon a criticism of Gener al Lee as a soidier. Such an exposition from me must needs be tame to you who saw him as he went among you, self contained in victory, resolute in defeat, and the incarnate genius of war calm amid the lightnings and the crashing thunders of nattle. Sufficient it is for us to know that he overmnatched many Generals, and that with inferior forces and equip-* ments he for four years successlully repelled his country's foes, and when at last having done all that mortal could do to aeserve success, he was compelled to yield, he did so esth noble dignity, no stain upon his honor, no burdeii upon his conscience. Satisfied then with the verdict that all the world accords him as a soldier of surpassing genius I have turned to the contempla on of his character as a man. Born in the purg ie of an illustrious lineage, nurtured amid scenes vocal with the inspiration of heroic deeds, he chose as rns own his lather's pro fession of arms, lived a leader in event of high import, added to the lus tre of his sire's name, adorned with his deeds the State that gave him birth, won for himseif a commanding place in the alfections of his fellow country men, wore -every Christian grace se rene," illumined with his hte the an nals of our race and dying left as a priceless heritage to posterity a career without blot or stain in its unsellish devotion to high duty- Well has Georgia's gifted dill portrayed him as a foe witnout hate, a friend without treachery, a soldier without cruelty, and a victim without murmuring, lie was a public otlicer without vices, a private citizen without wrong, a neigh br without reproach, a Christian without hypocrisy and a man without guilt, lie was Caesar without his am nion, Frederick without his tyranny, Napoleon without his selfishness, and W ashington without his reward. lie was as ouedient to authority as a king. ie was as gentle as a woman iu lile, pu andi modest as a virgin in thoughlt, wathul as a Romtan vestal, submis ive to law as Sacrttes and grand in Dattle as Achilles." , my countrymen, what an exam pl is liere for our children: Would tion the example of a noble life let us not seek it afar amid the heroes of an cient nations when such a man as Rob ert Lee lived in our time, was subject to such temptations as we are, over came them all and "wearing the white flower of a blameless clharacter" won his way to immortality among the sons of men. Would we teach our children to be strong let us point them to this man who despising every vice husbanded well every resource, bore all hardships and was still sturdy. Would we have them brave and courageous, point them to this leader of our people who stood in conscience's cause unmoved by storms of shot and shell. Would we have them patient and forbearing point them to this man who when he was reviled, reviled not again and is yet exalted. Would we instil in them a pure ambition let them behold in our Lee only that ambition which was ever held subservient to country and to duty. Would we have them dutiful, point them to this man who refusing honors profit and preferment kept duty as his guiding star and emblazoned with his that noblest precept of of his pen, "Duty is the sublimest word in our language." Would we cro wn their lesser virtues with the bright diadem of a christian's faith point them to this Godly man as Christlike in bearing the burdens of others, he reposes his trust in God, becomes in His service as a little child, and meets death as calmly as the babe falls asleep on his mother's bosom Ah! To tell the birthday and the deathday of such a man, to enumer ate the honors won, the promctions gained, to chronicle the mom-ntous events of a noble life-these things are easy. But who can estimate the worth of such a life? What words can tell its mighty in fluence? Risiog above the dust of common lives, pure, se rene, sublime, it mocks at the words of men, studied praise, fulsome eulo gy, or flowery panegyric. Springing amid scenes of sit and sorrow it re stores our faltering faith in human nature, and reaching out to the divine finds an abiding home in the bosom of the eternal God. And new I have almost finished. Trying in such poor way as I could to discharge the trust put into my hands by your favor has been with me a labor of lo-. Dear to me are all the traditions of my people, sacred to me all the precious memories that cluster upcn the pages of their history. And now three decades and more have passed since on that April morn ing our peerless chieftain sheathed his stainless sword. That d ay a nation's hopes were buried, that day the ban ner of the stars and bars was furled in defeat but not in dishonor, and every one of that faithful army,though foot sore, weary and poverty stricken laid down his arms, yet left that ietd in spirit unconquered and unconquera ble, the proud possessor of the noblest treasure that thrills the heart of man, honor unstained and integrity unim peached. Returning to his war stricken home the Confederate soldier compassed again with his energies the arts of peace. Again the Southern hiUside blossomed and bore its bounty of bursting bolls. Once again the radiant valleys smiled with their burden of ;olden grain and gave of their in :rease to willing workers. No more the dread of cruel foe blanched the :heeks of faithful womanhood. Once again the roses bloomed about the cot tage door, the honeysuckle and the morning glory t wined about the lin els. At eve the lowing herds come peacefully h->me to yield their s weet supply of nourishment. And the set Lng sun with its sheen of alory gilds the Southern mother's fair brow as with her little brood clinging about her she comes forth to greet her lord returning from the harvest field. One smile from her compensates for all the day's hard toil. One pressing of her lips charms from him all weariness away. "From toil he wins his spirits light, 'rom busy day the peaceful night, Rich, from the very want of wealth, [n heaven's best treasures, love, home. peace and health." And so from the ashes of war's des olation new homes have arisen. From the depths of despair ne w hopes have been born. Time, the great healer, has dealt kindly with this people and the future is bright with a beauteous prospect. The warrior grown gray gathers about him a new generation, into their keeping transmits a trust faithfully kept and himself reposes in a, well earned peace. Peace in the quiet dales, lade rankly fertile by the blood of men: Peace in the woodland and the lonely glen: Peace in the peopled vales: Peace in the crowded town, Peace in a thousand fields of waving grain. Peace in the highway and the iowery lane, Peace on the wind-swept lawn. Peace on the whirring masts, Peace where the scholar t binks the hunter roams, Peace, God of peace: peace, peace in all our homes, and peace in all our hearts: And in this blessed peace it is yours, my venerable countrymen, to spend the evening of your lives, and yet in the present peace we do not forget the past. Your deeds are graven upon the hearts of this generation. The story of your valor and devotion to duty we will cherish, guard faithfully and transmit to posterity for fond hearts have taught it us. There is one whose approving smile is all the world to me, and whether it be when I hear from her lips the story of him whose name in part I bear, and who fell with Pickett at Gettysburg, or wheth er it be when at the feet of him who gave me my other name I hear how pleasant a thing it was to follow the Southern cross through fond long years of war, whenever and whberever I hear that story of the Confederate soldier's faithful warfare in defence of home and principle, my pulses beat with a gladder bound and my heart swells in gratitude to God for his great goodness in bestLwing upon this generation such a priceless herit age of valor and honor. Ah! I know that even as among the twelve who lived in the loving sun shine of our Saviour's presence there was one who for love of gain betrayed his miiaster, so there may be those of this generattion who likewise in sord id selfishness may deny a just meed of praise to those wno in ful.' self-sacri dc followed the stars and bars. lBut God be praised for the glory of our race the number of such is very smail, and the passir g years bring in their train a growing b:-ief in the right eousness of the Southern cause. Par dn this nersonal allusionn Wherever1 my lot has been cast among the South's young men, whether where the balmy breezess of Mississippi re fresh a brave and generous people, or where Virginia's blue mountains' stand as silent sentinels over the graves of sages and patriots, or wheth er on the sacred soil of our own Caro lina, the home of a proud. and impul sive people, from every quarter of our Southland I have heard the same sweet song of thankfulness and praise that our fathers '-Were ever warriors triel and true, Who bore the lag of a nation's trust, And! fell in a cause, tbough lst. still just, An I died for mue and yuu.' Nor is this spirit of surviving justice confined within the borders of our Southland. God be praised that throughout the length and breadth of our glorious republic are appearing the bfight streamers of golden light betokening the coming of that golden day when as brothers once again in full affection, true men of every clime shall accord to Southern soldiers that full justice which the passions of an hour have hitherto denied them. Know weil then that though the short span of onr days may not witness this acknowledgement of right, yet in the fulness of time your justification must surely come. In the search for truth by the paltry processes of human logic we blunder and ere, stumble and fall as we erope through the blinding mists of prejudice and passion. But we are promised a day in the which we shall not see as in a glass darkly, but when we shall see face to face. And in that great day when the great searcher of hearts shall lay bare the secrets of the human bosom, when the motives of men shall stand forth manifest in the transcendent light of divine truth, then I b~lieve the peer less prince of our people shall stand with his legions in gray acquitted of all evil intent before the judgment bar of eternal justice. Yours then it is, my venerable countrymen, to abide in peaceful faith the coming of that great day. - WE'RE BOUND TO WIN. Consul General Mora' Paper Admits the Power of Siiver's Tidal n ave. INDIANAPOLIS June 12.-The Senti nel, of this city, a strong Cleveland supporter, a few days ago published the following significant editorial: We have never known the R publi can party to be on the "dead run" so early in the season. Their eaders are rattled and panic stricken. They will have no Austerlitz this season. Water loo is at their very doors. Thirty years ago the remarks were common: "-Let the Republicans nomi nate a yellow dog at St. Louis in June and he will win." It is auy body's vic tory." "Anyoody that the Republi cans nomin ite for President will be elected." "It's yellow dog year," and so on. for quantity. Today it is extre mely doubtful if they can elect any body. Whether, good or bad, wise or u'nise, dangerous or the reverse, the silver wave is inundating the cast political fields of the west and south. As journalists we merely record the fact. No one need be deceived. With exceeding great trepidation and nerv ous are the tally keepers of the Republi can party recording the probable out come at St. Louis. The more prominent manipulators are sweating blood and the dreams of ambitious schemers are dissolving into very thin air. The gcld standard men will doubtless have absolute control of the St. Louis convention of monopo lists, trust, managers and plutocrats. They have already served notice that the platform must declare absolutely for a gold standard. Old John Sher man suggested to leave out the word "gold" and make it '"sound money," "honest money," or something of that kind, but they will not have it that way. Sherman is shy and t.unning, and thinks a coon trap platform will be about the sort of thing that ough to be set up at St. Louis. Reports, however, show that the gold men will cotol 651 of the 918 delegates, and they say there is no need for them to pander to the silver interests, which will be represented by $7 delega' es. The other 104 delegates are stradd.ers, or represent nothing very definitecon the currency question. They are put down on the doubtful list, but if adl of them should tiock with tne silver dele gates the entire lot would only num ber 267 against the 651 who are pledged to a gold standard. Thus, we have a clear gold majority of 384. The sil ver men will he powerless, and the probability is that they will bolt. They will not dare to face taeir constituents when a perfect silver hurricane is sweeping the west and south like a tor nado. What sort of a figure will Hanna, McKinley & Co., cut at St. Louis with that old straddling Ohio platform? They will be laughed at. The Indiana crazy quilt woven at the recent Re publican State convention will be or fered, but Russell Sage and other eas tern millionaires say itis not strong enough on the gold deliverance, and Chauncey Depew says: "You can't parse it." Oh, what; a miss. The sound money or gold standards will be so strong that a straddle or a con ession of any kind seems to be impossi ble. There is a scheme, it is intimated, to de.eat McKinley for the nomination, but, according to the, figures, he seems to be certain of receiving 5001 votes. The brightest of the managers must, and douotless do, see that he cannot be elected, even if he secures the nomina Lon, witbout a bolt of the silver dele ates. Therefore, looking over the atire political field, is it any wondr tat the Republicau leaders are wor ried and annoyed at the outlook ? To sm up: They -are panic stricken. They are ratteled. TY-v sre "on the run." Minley will be defeated. Any one nominated at the St. Louis convention of mitlionaires, trusts, plutocrats and magnates is doomed to defmt. WVould Not Accept. G LENwooD SPRINGs, COI. .June 11. Judge Henry C. Caldwvell of the Unit ed States Circuit Court, who is stopp ing here, was asked whether lie would accept a nomination for the lPresiden cy from the Populists and silver con ventions at St. Louis. lie replied emphatically that lie would not, lie stated that he wanted to vote for a sil ver man at the comning election, but h was afraid he might nave to choose between two. He tuoiaght that if all friends of silver could oe brought to gether they could win the greatest victory i or the people since the days of incnn WHICH IS CORRECT! CONFLICTING CLAIMS AS TO CON GRESSIONAL APPROPRIATIONS. Expert .Juggling With Figures-Cannon Defends the Reeord of Expenditures of the Republican Majority of the Fifty Fourth Congress and Sayers Condemns it. WASHINGTON, June 11.-Chairman Cannon of the House appropriations Committee and ex-Chairman Sayers today made public a joint statement concerning the expenditures author ized by this Congress, discussing them from the Republican and Democratic standpoints respectively. The total amcunt of appropriations, for the ses sion, including permanent annual ap priations is $515,759,820.49. Mr. Can non's statement begins: "The appropriations charged to this session include $119,054,160 under permanent laws, of which amount $50,000,000 is for sinking fund and $30,500,000 for interest on public debt, or $3,355,614.40 more than was includ ed at the last session of Congress in the statements of appropriations and is on account of the increase of $162, 315,40') in the bonded indebtednessof the country by the present administra tion to February, 1895, the interest and sinking fund charge on account of the later bond issue of $100,000,000 in February, 1896, amounting to $1. 400,000, not being included in the esti mates of permanent appropriations. "The increase in the principle of the interest-bearing debt of the country under the present administration amounts to $262,315,400, which entails an annual interest charge of $11,492, 613, and to meet the sinking fund ob ligations the further sum of $3,623, 154. During the administration of Mr. Harrison, the principal of the in terest bearing debt was reduced $258, 192,900 and the annual interest charge $10,237,716. The regular annual bills," says Mr. Cannon, "including deficiencies, as passed by the House, made a reduc tion in the estimates submitted by the executive of $26,083,191.67; they were increased by the Senate$22.920,442.30; and as they became laws they appro priate $10,636,624.06 less than as pass ed by tie Senate, $12,283,818 24 more than as they passed the House, and $3,374,373.43 less than the estimated requirements of the administration. -The regularannual appropriations, including deficiencies, made at the last session of Congress amounted to $383, 636,896.97, and included no river and harbor bill. Excluding the river and harbor Act passed at this session, the regular annual bills as passed by the House appropriated only $373,505,082 .25, or more than $l0,000,000 less than was appropriated by the last Demo cratic Congress." Mr. Cannon criticises the Treasury Department because it has "expended $7,377,440 for the present year in col lecting the revenue from customs, es timated at $561,000,000; whereas, for the last fiscal year, 1892, under Presi dent Harrison's administration, there was colected unde.r the McKinley tar iff Act $177,452,000 of customs revenue at a total cost of only $6,607,517." The bill establishing salaries instead of the fee system for officers of the United States Courts, he says, will save $1,000,000 annually and minimize frivolous and malicious prosecutions. Special attention is called to the fact that Congress made no increases of salaries of employees in the govern ment departments. The following table of appropriations is given: Fifty-first Congress, $988,417,183 34. Fitty-second Congress, $1,027,101, 547.92. Fifty-third Congress, $989,239,205 69 Fifty-fourth Congress, first session, $515,759,820.49. Tnle revenues :or the three fiscal years of the Harrison administration ending June 30, 1892, are given as $1,150,631,214, expenditures, $998,132, 501; for the t wo complete fiscal years of .Cleveland's administration, reve nues $611,112,091, expenditnres, $723, 720,573. Mr. Sayers in his statement says of the total appropriations for the ses sion: "The sum excee ds the appropriations made during the last session of the Fif ty-third Congress by $18,751,299.83 and those of the first regular session of that Congress by $23,529,135.46. It is less than the appropriation by the second session of the Fifty-second Congress by only $3,744,538.72, al though at the latter session $39,352.85 more was appropriated for pensions than at this session. It is more than those by the first session of the Fifty fist Congress by $21,303,571.84. and $25,461,040.80 less than the appropria tions at the second session of the FJf ty-first. "The Senate organized this session by a combination of Republicans and Populist votes, placing the control of tile committees in the hands of Re publicans, by its amendments to ap propria tion bills of the House proposed to increase the total by $22,920,442.30. By conferences bet ween the t wo houses this aggregate increases was reduced to $2,283,818 24. The appropriations made at the second session or the Fif ty-first Congress exceeded those made at the nirst session of the same Con gress by $46,767,612.6f4, or nearly 10 per cent. if the same prop~rtionate icrease should be made at the next session, then the approprirtions will not be less than $565,000, 000."' Contracts adthorized by this session he estimates as follows: "River and harbor, $59.616,404. 'Public buildings, light houses and revenue cutters, $1,406,000. '"Defenses and armament, $4,195, "Ne w warships, $12,900,000 . 'District of Columbia, $124,000. '"Total, $78,24 1,480.'' He says that tbe total expenditures in one fiscal year have never been so reat, except during the civil war, and exceeded the assessed valuation of proerty in any one of the South Atlantie States. In conclusion, Mr. Sayers says:.. "If the present Congress haQ rigidly refused authority for additional con tracts and had appropriated only to meet the immediate or fiscal year re quirments under existing ones, the next Congress and administration would have been in a position to largely reduce appropriation and ex penditures and tne administration of the government could easily have re turned to an economical metnod of ex penditure. This, however, has not been done; and the majority in Con - gress must be held responsible for this grave derellitin in nnublic duty." CROP CHANCES CHANGED. The Weekley IBilletin of the CondIition of the Weather and the Crops. CoLMtBIA, S. C.. June 10.-The following weekly bulletin of the con dition of the weather and the crops of the State for the past week was issued yesterday by State Observer Bauer: The past week was thesecond one for the current crop season that had a mean temperature below the normal, the deficiency having averaged one de gree per day, and it averaged five de grees per day lower than during the preceding week, due to lower day and night temperatures, but more particu larly the former, cloudy weather hav ing kept the maxima generally below 90 and on the 3d below 80. The average of 37 mean temperature reports was 74 degrees, ranging from 70 at Greenville and Trial to 77 at seven different stations. The normal for ihe week is 75. The maximum temperature for the week was 101 on the 1s, at Gillison ville. and the minimum was 58 on the 2d and 5th at Looper's and Greenwood respectively. There were light scattered showers on Sunday and Monday, and on Tues day a general rain set in that con tinued throughout Wednesday, end ing with showers on Thursday. The rain was well distributed and in places excessive. It effectually relieved the drought over the entire State: In a number of counties lands were badly washed, and locally small areas of bot tom lands were flooded. The follow ing places reported excessive rains; Batesburg 4 10; Greenwood 3,42; St. George (two reports) 4.63 and 6.00; Elloree 4.20; Beaufort 3.15; Poverty Hill 4 25; Trial 3.44; twelve other places reported amounts between two and three inches; tweuty-five places amounts between one and two inches and two less thanone inch. The aver age of 47 reports is 2 18, and the nor mal for the week is 1.12, the past week having been the first one during this crop season that had an excess of rain fall. Damaging bail fell in Edgeaield and Lexington. The prevailing winds were northeasterly during the rainy period. There was only about half the usual amount of sunshine for the week, the percentage of possible sunshine ranged from 18 to 70, and averaged about 36 per cent. There was most cloudiness over Florence aTd Darlington, and least in the westerr. counties. As growing crops stood inneed of rain during previous weeks, it f3liows that with the copious showers there was a marked and general improve ment in their condition during the past week. The rains, however, inter fered with the wheat and oats harvest, much of which was cut and shocked, and it is thought may be damaged. The rains also interfered with plowing but little having been done. Most fields were well cultivated and clen, but grass is springing up rapidly and the present need is for sunshine and dry weather for killing grass. Early corn is in silks, and tassels, and is being "laid by" in excellent condition generally. June corn is be ing planted and is coming up to good stands. The corn crop looks very promising. Complaint of lice on cotton is very general, and in places the plant seems o have beeninjured. Cotton is "limb ing" well, and in some places is in bloom with squares forming freely. Some reports indicate a sappy condi tion and a tendency to grow too much to weed. On the whole, the plant is in good condition but needs sunshine. Grass threatens some fields. * Sea-Is land cotton in poor condition. Peas are being extensively sown on stubble lands and with corn. This work being considerably in advance of the usual time for doing it. Tobacco is reported small and sickly in Florenee and the best reports on its condition indicate that it is doing only "firly well." Irisii potatoes on the coast were not materially helped by rains, but else where seem to have started a new growth. Rice is still being sown and the crops is growing well generally, except up land, in which a marked improvement is expected on account of the rains. Sweet potatoes slips extensively set outunder very favorable conditions. Melons have made excellent advance as also cane, both of which are very promising. Peaches, plums and apples continue to drop freely, and the outlook is for a small fruit crop of rather poor quality. Blackberries and huckleberries im proved and continue plentiful. ~Gardens have started growing again and the supply of vegetables has materially increased and the quality has improved. Pastures which have been poor up to this time are growing well and are beginning to afford excellent grazing. The crop outlook is at this time very encouraging, being reported the best for many years by a number of cor respondents particularly in the north eastern counties. Eleven Killed. BARCELONA, June 9.-This city is under martial la w and a reign of ter ror is feared on account of the explo sion of a bomb Sunday night, by which 1t persons were killed and about :30 injured. The explosion was the work of anarchists. It was about 9 o'clock Sunday that a reltgious pro cession was passing thbrough the streets. Te captain general of the province of Barcelona acted as standardbearer in the procession. while the civil gover nor and city alcr.lde held the stream ers of the banner. It is thought that the anarchists meant to kill these offi ials. The excitement became so reat as the extent of the outrage be J.ame known that oniyesterday martial law was proclaimed. Thirty-two men have been taken into custody on sus p'cion of having been concerned in the perpetration of the outrage. The prisoners are con ned in the prefecture Yesterday a angry mob gathered around that building and demanded the summary punisumenit of every one of the prisoners whether his gilit be proven or not. It looked as through the mob would attempt to storm tue prefecture to wreak vengeance on the susected men. The civil guards on dut~y at the palac wvere speeddiy rein forced and were frequently compelled to charge upon the crowd to make them keep their distance. NEW YoR, -June 1.-Fire com pletely destroyed i.he building of taie merican Horse Enchange. which oc ~upies nearly the entire block bound d by Broad, Seventh avenue, Fifty frst streets, to-night. It is supposed that 125 valuable horses perished in the flames DR. BATES' STATEMENT. WHY HE RECEIVED TWO THOUSAND COLLARS FROM THE SYNDICATE. It was Long A iter the Contract Had Been Made and it Was for Extra Services which He Performed-All the Facts Given. COLUMBIA, June 11.-Dr. Bates, State Treasurer has come out with a clear and convincing statement of his connection with the bond matter, showing that the insinuation that he had mad'e money out of it officially is untrue. He admits receiving $2,03L25 from the syndicate, but shows that he got it for extra services, longafter the contract had been made, services re quested of him which in no way were connected with his duties as State Treasurer. He asked that another man be selected in his place to do the required work, but the syndicate wanted him. Dr. Bates yesterday gave out the following statement: "Yes it is true that I received from the syndicate the sum of $2,031.25. This was for acting as their representa tive in making-settlements with their subscribers, collecting and remitting their premiums and attending to their express account. "For instance: There were sub scribers in Charleston for $2,000,000 of the new issue which the the syndicate had contracted to deliver in Charles ton. These were to be paid for mostly in Brown Consols. but the holders of the Consols naturally would require the syndicate to deliver to themthenew issue of bonds before they would part with the possession of their Consols. "Two courses were therefore op en to the syndicate. One was to pay the State Treasurer $2,000,000 in cash, receive the new bonds and then exchange them with the Charleston subscribers. The other was to secure some representative here in Columbia whom the Charleston bondholders were willing to entrust with their bonds, and exchange them for bonds of the new issue. I suggested to the syndicate the employment of a Colum bia banker as their representative, but they preferred that I should do the work and, at the urgent request of the Baltimore Trust and Guarantee Com nany, the agent. of the syndicate, on or about the 21st of March 1893, I con sented to act for them as the bond holders in Charleston and elsewhere were willing to place their bonds in my hands for exchange. "The public will understand that there is a vast difference between, first, my accepting money as a consid eration for making a contract for the sale of State bonds, and, second myac cepting compensation tendered by the syndicate for extra services as their representative long after the contract had been made. "The first would have been of of course, and accepted prior to e contract and would have deserved se vere criticism. The second was ten dered long after the contract had been made and was for extra services that I could not have been expected or re quired to render as State Treasurer. The work necessitated the Beeping of a special, difficult and extensive ac count and involved much responsibili ty and trouble. A good portion of the amount received went to pay for extr a and special clerical work. "I am sure a reasonable public will agree that the work did I was unofficial and did not conflict with my duties as State Treasurer. Nor willlIbe ex pected to render responsible and valu able services for a syndicate of wealthy capitalists without some reasonable compensation, especially as the com pensation was not paid by the State. "Outside of the $2,031.25,-I didn't re ceive one cent from the syndicate or any one else, on account of my con nection with the refunding of the bonds. "W. T. C. BATs, State Treasurer." Dr. Bates has received the following letter from the president of the Balti more Trust and Guarantee Company, the former mayor of Baltimore: Baltimore, June 9, 1896. Hon. W. T. C. Bates, State Treasurer, Columbia, S. C. Dear Sir: I understand that some question has arisen as to the propriety of your having accepted compensation from the syndicate which purchased South Carolina bonds in 1893, and 'we think it no more than fair to state that under the rigorous terms imposed by your then governor, the Hon. Bon. R. Tillman, it would have been ex ceedingly difficult to have carried out the terms of purchase without the con stant presence in Columbia of some competent and trustworthy person charged with the duty of perf ' the various acts of necessaryclr labor which were incessantly requJr ed. It was not convenient for this company, as the agent of the syradicate, to have such a representative contin ually on the spot, and you were asked to so act, and the compensation paid you was only fair, and said payment came from the syndicate alone, and in nowise, even remotely, affected the interests of your State nor the interest of t he most insignificant of your tax payers. The payment for your servic es was made upon the volition and by the sanction of the executive com mittee of the syndicate, it was entirely proper ar.d the engagement of your self in such capacity really proved to be a safeguard to your people because, in the execution of the clerical duties which the syndicate required you in variably manifested an unalterable zeal for the protection of the interests of your State, and in the exercise of this quality, we think, you often im posea upon the syndicate ecnditions which would have been quite unnec essary in thle conduct of any matters pertaining to private business. These conditions, however, were accepted in a cordial spirit, because we thought we recognized in you an officer whose crowning ambition appeared to be di rected only in the channel of exercis ing every scruple of prudence in the conservation of the duties involved by his official capacity. Yours respectfully, ROBERT C. DAvmSoN, President. Drowned by a Cloudburst. LEAXVEN wORTH, Kan., June 10. Four~ persons were drowned and con siderable damage to property done by a cloudburst that visited this section. Water fell in torrents, smashing win dows, tearing down signs and flood ing cellars and bottom iands. Dennis and Michael Desmond and Dennis and Eugene Cummings, all under 11 years of age, were drowned by going into a stone culver to escape the storm.