University of South Carolina Libraries
KKTKOSPECT. had disituadttd clieuU fium com ing to us, and even obstacles were A Cummininatlou From Hr. W. K. Clayton In Which ha Ocalu With the Part. Mr. Editor: The elections ar^ over, and we have no regrets at the result, and if political prefer ment were alone the issue, this letter would never have been writ ten. What we havi to say is in no way intended as reflecting upon our opponent or any one who honestly worked or voted against us. We recognize the right of every one to vote as they please, without being questioned therefor afterwards. We have beeu since we located in this town the recip ient of considerable secret and malicious slanders, and some of it emauating from nnu whose con nection with the church of God presupposed a knowledge of the command against bearing false witness against their neighbors. We have been charged with being a drunkard, a Republican, with working against the interest of Florence, and even with having been in the Yankee army. The first two are self refuting false hoods, and we pass them; the third as as it has again been used in this campaign, we propose to disenss after brief notice of the last. We entered the Confederate navy, in Jane of 1861, at Rich mond, Va., and was surrendered at Augusta, Ga., on May 5, 1865, having enjoyed a single leave of absence of ten days during that time. We served at Richmond, Norfolk, Wilmington, Charleston, $M&unah, Plymouth and New- hepn, N- P«0 Dae? 8. C., and Auguste, Ga. We have no desire to parade onr service or magnify ,our action, but if any one wants to investigate our conduct, we refer to Captain John Taylor Wood*, Halifax, N. C., a grand iUQ of Prsiident Taylor, and a nephew df Jfffersou Davis, who commanded th.) expedition to Newberu, where we captured and burned the U. 8. Gunboat “Ln- derwriter” carrying eight guns and 170 men, and he will tsll you that we were not made of the stuff that were detailed as school teach ers, hospital nurses and the like. So much then for slander No. four. Now for the charge that we have worked against the interest of Florence. When we first came to this town Jan. 1893, to practice law, we were assailed by the organ of the clique who ceu».rolled and still controls the political destinies of the town. Finding out who were the instruments in the attack, we spiked that gun by threatening to publish the thrilling romance, ♦‘The robbery of the Witherspoon plantation, or how some men got a start in life.” We found to some extent that we were shunned. We could hear on many occasions the word ♦‘damn Tillmanite” as we passed We heard of reputable men, at leaet apparently reputable, who thrown bj brother members of the bar in our efiiorts to get iuto court; aud we even heard that one party who had shown particular ♦rieudship for us had been warned that a continuance would be to hie injury. These matters are only mentioned to show that we have had sufficient inducement to work against the town if we let our passions control us. We edited the Reform Advocate for three years, our record is public and we defy the production of a single sentence against the true interest of Flor ence. We may not have pleased the “clique,” we never tried; we were looking to the welfare of the large majority of the people of Florence, who are intelligent, honest and upright, and who some day or other will shake off their political shackles and assert their manhood. While we were conducting a newspaper, we attacked wrong and vindicated right, we permitted no consideration of money or popular ity to cause us to pander to im morality and vice, and we were complimented by the Rev. Mr. Sanders from the pulpit of the Baptist church as the one editor who had the manhood to denounce the low down dives, known to ex- iet in our midst and which were al luring our boys to destruction; aud the fact that the liquor and gamb ling vote was cast solidly against us is evidence of our work. When the Back of the Carolina! made its questionable failure, and the directors published to the world that it had ample assets to pay every dollar, when the facts were that it had comparatively no as sets at all, we denounced it as bad faith. When passion was roused to a white heat, and the State’s proper ty was destroyed by a mob, we warned you that such conduct un- uurebuked would drive away in vestment. When one of your policemen openly stated that he was not en forcing the liquor law, because one who had had been discharged and that that his bread depended upon his job, your council discharged him. This we denounced, and the plea that he was discharged be cause he admitted failure to do his duty, is rebutted by the fact that the city not only does not molesc the blind tigers and gamb lers, but prevented Gov. Evans from doing so, by patting the po lice unde r a board, where they would not be afraid to do tbsir duty. We have criticised the reckless expenditure of the people’s money, aud instanced the artesian well which is said to have cost $25,000 when men who claimed to know have put $5,000 as a fair price. We denounced the uee by the city of $3,000 of the sinking fun which is sacredly pledged to re deem the bonds issued, and to sus tain the city’s credit. We con demned the nepotism that would permit four of the five school trus tees, electing their close relatives as teachers, in defiance of law, aud in the face of 45 applicants. We have urged upon our mer chants to deal fairly with the farmer, and we have urged and still urge the farmer to sell and buy in the city of Florence if prices are satisfactory. Wo fought tuition in the graded school until we got it abolished, thereby bringing the school in harmony with law. We denounced the unjust, un fair, discriminating assessment of Florence, until the city petitioned the legislature for another, and added some $93,000 to the tax list. This is our record, and upon it we are willing to be judged. We have said what we had to in an open, frank manner. No man can tiuthfullv say that we have ever slandered, or attempted to injure the business or reputation of any one. In spite of surroundings, we have built'up a large practice and have done to by honesty and bard work. We bear no one ill will, but the time will never come when we will pander to vice or ceaae to de- nounee wrong, in whatever form it may come. W. F. Clayton. How to Find Oat. Fill a bottle or common glass with urine and let it stand twenty-four hours; a sediment or settling indicates an unhealthy condition of the kidneys. When urine stains linen it is evidence of kidney trouble. Too frequent de sire to urinate or pain in the back, is also convincing proof that the kidneys and bladder are out of order. WHAT TO OO. There is comfort in the knowledge so often expressed, that l>r. Kilmer’s Swamp Root, the great kidney remedy fulfills every wish iti relieving pain in the back, kidneys, liver, bladder and every part of the urinary passages. It corrects inability to hold urine and scalding pain in passing it, or bad effects following use of liquor, wine or beer, and overcomes that unpleasant necessity of being compelled to get up many times during the night to urinate. The mild and the extraordinary effect of Swamp Root is soon realized. It stands the highest for its wonderful cures of the most distressing cases. If you need a medicine you should have the best. Sold by druggists, price fifty cents and one dollar. You may have a sample bottle and pamphlet both sent freeby mail. Mention Thnes-Messen- gerand send your address to Dr. Kil im r & Co., Binghamton, Y. The proprietors of this paper guarantee the genuineness of this offer. A Beautiful Skin is one of the chief requisites of an attractive appearance. Rough, dry, scaly patches, little bliatery eruptions, red and unsightly riug- worms-these would spoil the beau ty of a veritable Venus. They are completely and quickly cured by Tetterine. 50 cents a box at drug stores or for 50 cents in stamps from J. T. Shuptrine, Savannah, Ga., or F. U. Lake, Florence. Minorca Chickens. Thoroughbred Black Minorca eggs for sale. $1.00 per setting ot 13. I have the very finest strains. Leave your orders with Geo. Stack ley or call on the undersigned. March 26-tf Chas. Cole. L P. COVINGTON, N. D. Office in PALACE DRUG STORE Kiss Jacobi's Miss Harllee’s School KINDEHGARTE1N. Kindergartner, Mitt G. F. JACOBI, GraduateJ^puniyftky’s Amtlnnt Kindergartnsr, Mitt A DELE JACOBI. Primary and Intermediate Departments. Teacher, Mitt LIZZIE BA RLLEE, of St. Mary’t School, Raleigh, N. C. ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT. Teacher,Mitt G. F. JACOBI, Graduate and Pott Graduate of the Charletton Fe male Seminary. STENOGRAPHY A- TYPEWRITING. For terms apply to any of the above. =-= LOOK! COOK! 50LD BY F. H. Hudson. BURNER, $3.25 BURNERS, $4.75 BURNERS, $6.50 Advantages we claim: It is superior to any gasoline stove, and does not endanger life or property. You can burn any oil that is refined from petroleum. Yours from time to time, s**ie-*t F\ H. HUDSON.