Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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I — 'oi m. BAR] SOUTH-CAROLINA. THURSDAY; JUNE 18. ALLEGED HISTORY OF THE SOUTH CARO LINA REFUNDING. tbo »J — hArian ** SPECIFIC SENATOR TILLMAN, GOVKRNOR EVANS AND STATE TREASURER < BATES. Baltimore, June B.^Sepator Till man of South Carolina has been very free with his criticisms of the national administration for its manher of con ducting bond operations, and in the recklessness of his rhetorical frenzy has not hesitated to impute improper motives to the President and Secre tary Carlisle. In view of these facts a little history of one of his own bond deals is instructive and interesting. About $5,250,000 of South Carolina 6 per cent, bonds fell due July 1, 1893. -Tillman -waA (governor of the State then. John Gary Evans, the Senator’s closest political und personal friend, and saia to be sli.U'das his colleague, in the Senate, was administration lead er in the Legislature, and Dn. Bates was State Treasurer. The Legislature, at its session in 189!. adopted a refunding bill, sug gested by Governor Tillman. This provided for an issue of $6,000,000 4 per cent, bonds to fund the outstanding 6 per cents., and Treasurer Bains and the Governor was appointed Commis- sione-s to manage the matter In behalf of the State. The acts of Messrs Tillman, Bates and Evans are outlined In the evidence in a suit developed in this city for the division of the commissions involved in the transaction, the brokers and the syndicate which took the bonds having ^barreled. The action was brought bore because tbs funds In- ‘ were held by n Baltimore trust ipany evidence shows that one of the steps taken by the Commissioners to give a monopoly of the entire transect toe to a Mr. itblad, a broker of Augusta. Ga , whose name does not even appear in tbe commercial reports Mr. Rbied teeufled that early la IMS he was approached by Mr. Ernes, now Oevoraoi, aad asked to place tbe ttoeth Caro lias 4 per seats Be ob tained the eacleeive option oe the en tire transect me from Governor TUI- man lake la May. the contract being that be was to receive a com mission n ' t per ceal oe the $6,000.01* a ms of $jm m*i Mr. Khlsd failed to make the tr however, and to October ra hie option Thao Governor Tt aad Treasurer Hates took a tern el It- They v Lai ted New York end roamed throng k Weil street. On reteraiag heme, they declared that e 4 oar cent hoeth Care!lee kuod eoaid not nail even at th. attrtbetiag the Mate s poor credit to tho eoereo of l f.a/.a*u>e haokors end other poiitloei oppowooto of tho Plato edmlolstratioe • Mr Khlsd again was colled ia Vo take the Joh ie November iSgg He managed to iotorwet a MowJjjj^H broker ia it, after having an oil bis jwa • ffurts end ledeeooe. A here the cartoon kart may that Mr. Khled t sot Usd that he ai •ret did not approach thin broker m the mbyeet. eitbnugb making bead geerter* la bsa sA is. oagardiag hi as too smell aa operator to eedertakv ad Mg a trade Yet this broker to rated ktgh ia tho reports while Mr 'u r.l, e ho controlled the opt loo, assi as trying to aok it, In oot rated at ait With the assist sane of tho Now York mao a ay ad)cate wan termed, headed by tho late t- O. French of the Mao batten Tract Company, which to take h'. iiO uoO of 44 per t. Soetb Carol lea boada ua a aomt- aai bosks of par lat. This arrange meat foil through whoa Mr. French died. Tbo Now York broker tbea oa listed the aid of a Richmond broker, aad the two again west to work, tbe imgiaia- ture having met ia tbe meeatlnM* aad started its machinery to peso a new re funding bill, which. It now appears, by tbe ovideoce of the perooas Inter ested. was suggested by the brokers, through ithind, to I ill man and Evans. Mr. Evans was not only the administra tion representative and leader in the Legislature, but be was at the same time the attorney of Rhind, having been engaged in that capacity, accord ing to hla own sworn statement, when Rhind was appointed fiscal agent. It is, therefore, established by un doubted and unchallenged testimony that Governor Tillman not only let out the job of selling the bonds of his own State exclusively to one mau months before the time of sal^, but permitted brokers in Wall street and elsewhere to dictate legislation to his Legislature and allowed a paid attorney of the pur chasing parties to construct and steer through the Legislature the Act under which the bonds were to be issued. The Act protlded for $5,250,000 44 r cent, bonds, to run twenty and brty years. These bonds were to be dated and issued July 1, 1893, but they were to begini to bear interest from January 1, 1893. In other words, a bo nus of six months’ interest, or 24 per cent., amounting to $118,000, was offered to whoever would take the bonds and pay dollar for dollar for them. The syndicate organized by the New York and Richmond brokers agreed to take the bonds at par and to accept three-fourths of 1 per cent, of the bonus, amounting to $39,000, making the net cept of the bonds to its mem bers about 99 1-4. The remaining 1 1-2 r cent., or $78,000. ostensibly went to r. Rhind, the man who had been chosen by Mr. Evans, the administra tion leader in the Legislature; the man who had employed Mr. Evans and Major W. T. Gary, Mr. Evan’s uncle, as his attorneys, and who had the op tion on the entire bond issue before it had been provided for by the Legisla ture. It does not appear that Mr. Rhind took any active part In the organ isa- ttoo of the syndicate. It ie ia evidence that he borrowed 1600 from the New York broker, With which to meet hie traveliag expenses: There is nothing ia the testimony to show what services Major Gary, who i$ a citixeo of Geor gia, performed, bat the sworn state- meats show that he was paid $1,000. Governor Evans, who was sappoaed by people in South Carolina to be acting in the interest of the State, testifies that he came North in Mr. Rbind’s behalf, and, after the squabble over the division of the commission arose, urged on the members of the syndicate thp propriety and justice of allowing Mr. Rhind to receive his share, then tied up in the Baltimore Trust Company by litigation. The expense account of the syndicate shows that Governor Evans was paid $100 Attorney’s fee, and that Treasurer Bates was paid by the syndicate $2,330.88 for “ services. ’ Mr. Rhind testified that he had not yet, so far as his part of it was con cerned, paid Governor Evan’s fee or learned what it would be. It appears on the record that at least two of the three State officials actively engaged in tbe negotation of the bonds were employed and paid by the purchasers. The impression given to the persons most actively engaged in behalf of the syndicate at the time is clearly set forth In the testimony. Certain mem bers of the syndicate expressed curi osity and interest, natural, perhaps, in the circumstances. They inquired why' H was that of kthMlOO bonus of fered by tbe State to purchasers of the bonds, only $39,390 was available for the actual purchasers who were to fur nish the money, while $78,700 was to go to Mr. Rhind, who was furnishing no money and apparently taking no active part in the dicker. The Rich- mood broker told them he understood— presumably from Mr. Rhind—that the bulk of that sum was to ” be divided among parties in South Carolina who bad political Influence.” Tbe New York broker, who was in cloee associa tion with Mr. Rhind, and whoee oppor tunities for knowledge werobestof all, replied that they ’’would better not Investigate that; that It was to go to people who would better not be knowa.” It reads that way la the testimony as taken. When Mr. Rhlad was on the stand, he was not pressed regarding his use of his part of lha bonus, aad offered no explanation. It la not la avldeaos ia this ease, bat it in a fact rapehle of easy aad direct proof, that Mr. Rhtaff. While holding tbe option oe tbe hood issue aad en deavor tag to iaduee tbs formallua of a syndicate to take It, stated that be would not gst more Ibaa enough from It to pay for bis time aad si peases. It is also tree that members •f tbe eradi cate ebo were wtiling to deal directly with tbe Htats aad take tbe boada for a com mission of three-foe nbs of oae per oeat were ofbeiaily Informed that no propositions eoaid be coaside red ealaaa they ween seal through Mr. Rhlad—that not even aa offer of par itbnet nay eamaUaetea, would be rery time Mr Khied was dsmaadlag a S 14 per nounce* with horror the idea of Attor neys or members of trusts, corpora tions, and syndicates sitting in gress.—New York Times. Ml KPLMION FROI DR. RITES. HE ADMITS TAKING A FEE FOR ‘ SERVICES. * . ' ' tji Tbe Baltimore Syndicate Employed Him After the Contract Was Made —He Claims that His Duties as Slate Treasurer Did Not Conflict. v oemmimsea, aidsred. although at that Khled was demanding i A oommlssioa m or las. aad wbe was per for When tbe Urns the buses of IT* man took fck* uuu mas fl$,$ua, lor < si pens»I Mr. Kbl Major Gary $1 perhaps s^gnilsaat that Mr Khlad aa# draft aa tbe Baltimore Trent Com ■ paay. bet ia three separate draft*, ail payable the tame day —one hw ty.wa. oae lor tb.OUU, aad eae lor $14.hOD. To earn ep, aoeordlag la the sworn eeldaaae aa roaard: O Mr. Khlad. who has aa special prom lag la beet aeon c.r awl a eiUaaa or lb Qyeilaa. was ap by tbe Kvaas tbea the reeagalsed admlale- Iratioa leader la the Lag is late re Ha wan given by Gaveraor Tillmaa aad Treasurer itales aa sndoslvs ep Uoa to plane |A,hn,iBh 4 par neats at a eommiaeioa of $ per cant, fovi moaths before the time for the to be leaned. He tailed to effect this, aad Governor Tillmaa declared that, after a vU i lo New York, be been viaoed that a 4 per coat bond oould not be placed Tbe Governor again gave aa exclusive -option to Khlsd to nkpsa a 4 1-2 per oeat. loan. Tbe syndicate formed to take this fall to pieces For . tbe third Ha*# Mr. Kb I ad was given tbe exclusiveoptlee. Tbe men who composed tbe syall- cato got $39,000, or U>ree-quarte*e of I per cent. Tbe men who organised tbe syndicate got from Kb tad $26,000, or leee tbaa one-half of I per cent. Mr. Rhlad realised $49,000, or near I r 1 per cent., on the option given him long la advance of the time for placing tbe loan. So far as that part of it it con cerned, it appears to have been a free gift from the State of South Carolina to a chosen citisen of Georgia, who employed tbe present Governor Evans and his uncle as his attorneys. The $2,000 aad odd paid Treasurer Bates by the syndicate is said here to ha^e been for services in removing the money sent by ftle syndicate from Charleston to Columbia. Governor Tillman dorr .inded that the syndicate pay for its b inds in cur rency in Columbia. That was in June. 1893, about the time of the panic, and it was represented to him that the cur rency could not be obtained, except in silver, which would load six freight cars. He replied with the declaration that the six cars should be delivered to him at the State line, and that he would order out the troops to escort it to Columbia. he exclaimed to the banker ^ho was negotiating with him, “ you can’t scare me by threatening to pay in silver.” But he was finally pacified and induced to accept exchange on Charleston. It is possible that the continued em ployment ef Mr. Rhind and the re newals of the exclusive option to him were the results of the confidence he inspired in his ability, and that his forty-nine-thousand-dollpr commission is his exclusively, not to be shared ^with anybody. It is also possible that the duties of Mr. Evans, now Gover nor, as attorney for Mr. Rhind did not interfere with or affect his actions and course in the Legislature, and that he oould and did separate his private in terests and his public duties entirely. It la further possible that State Treas urer Bates earned the $2,000 paid him !y and N fully. In Aj “all honorable men.” It is not possible, however, for Till man and hui followers, In view of this transaction, with aby consistency to continue to accuse the President and Seeratary Carlisle of mUmanagffknent, wants, favoritism, or worse, or to de- Last week it was promised .by Gov ernor Evans that a statement in regard to the bond deal would be made by himself and State Treasurer Bates on the 10th Inst. The Governor was away on official business, and when Dr. Bates was asked about the statement by the newspaper reporters, he gave the following statement for publica tion, which refers alone to his own connection with the matter, and ac counts for the sufiT of $2,031.25 him for special work by the syndicate. His defense is as follows: “ Yes, it is true that I received from the syndicate the sum of $2,031.25. This was for acting as their represent ative in making settlementslwith their subscribers, collecting and remitting thf»ir premiumu and ailenUing to their expense account for instalments. There were subacribers la Charleston for two million of the new issue which the syndicate had contracted to deliv er in Charleston. These were to be paid for mostly in Brown consols, but the holders of the consols naturally would require the syndicate to deliver to them tbe new issue of bonds before they would part with the possession of their consols. Two courses were therefore opee to th^syndlento. Gee was to pay tbe Stole Treasurer $2,000 la cash, receive tbe new hoods nod thee exebaage tbea will the Char lee- toe subscribers; the other way was lo secure some repressatolivs here in Columbia whom tho Charleston sub scribing bondholders were wilt tag to with their bonds aad sxehaage for bonds of tho now lasees. I suggested to the eradicate the employ •eat of o Columbia beaker aa tkalr representative, bat they preferred that I should do the work, aad at the urgent request of tho Baltimore Trust aau Guaraatoo Compaay. through the agt at of the syadleato on or shoot tho list of March. IMS, 1 ooaosatad to act for thorn aa tho hood hold* rs la Chorios- toa nod slaauhoes worn wilting to p'aos their hoed# lo mj heads tar exchaafe *" Tbe pebito will joderetaod that there to a vast difference hetweast First, my eaaoptlag money as a oaoatd- srattne lor making a eoatraat (or the Mia of Stole bonds, aad imnod. h* my mpiamilno isaOsrsJ by sy ad tools lor extra eervtoas as thoir si representative .ueg after tho rad had boon mode Tho first Id have heaa offered, of scooptod prior to tho euaid hove deserved severs criticism , ■ as tendered loaf after tract hod been mode amt ess lor extra eervteae that I eoaid not have heee expected or rvqsired to Tbo work asoeesttales tho keeplog of o special, dlflkrult aad extensive ar count aad tavuived mark rsapooelhiltty trouble A good porttee of the 4 reeeived weet to pas lor Oltrfi aad spaclnl slartoal work I am sere a ruaaaaahla public will agree that the work 1 did eaa eaodtotel. aad did not ooafitet witk my duties as Btato Trues I 111 I bo osoactod to rooder | ibi« aad valoaato service# tor a syadleato ofwmHtkseept tel tote with < tally as the compsesolloo was not by the Stair Outside of tho t: udl r> 1 did oot receive oae oeat from tho syadleato or nay oae else oa nccuunt of my connection with thr to- faadlag of the bonds. “tSigned) W. T. C Bam, State Treasurer " A/tor Dr. Bales hod given to ths prom tbe above statement he received the follow lag letter from tbe president of tbo Baltimore Trust nod Guarantee Company, tbe former mayor of Balti more, which he also gave for pablloa- itiE^OUO SOUTH IS BROKEN. n ' * 1 FREE SILVER AGITATION AL LEGED TO BE THE CAUSE Tbe Race Line Eradicated and New Adjustments Formed by Class Feel ing—The Result Likely to be a Republican South. A. B. Williams in the New York Tribune After an existence of nearly twenty years the “Solid South” has ffikap peared from political conditions and i^ 0Q ^j e ground and suck substance n pol calculations, and become only a mfem ory. The indications are that it will never be restored, but if there is a solid South again it will probably be a solid Republican South. These statements are not based on the Republican victo ries two years ago in Kentucky, North Carolina, Maryland and other South ern States. Toe year 1894 was a tidal wave year, and an “off” year, and local and temporary causes might have brought many of its astonishing politi cal results. The solid South was not tbroken when Mahon© Carried Virginia and If there were not other and deeper reasons that are found in the returns of the last election, the destruction of the most formidable, the most danger ous and remarkable and the most ap parently impregnable combination of Americae political history might be vet regsrdod as only a remote possi bility. THE BREAK COMES SUDDENLY. As it is, however, every observpat man who studies conditions in this part of the Union Intelligently and careful ly must know that the break is a fact. ft has come strangely aad suddenly. Tha causes are old, but tbe effects aie new and unexpected. Five rears ago nobody would have predicted or Imag ined that It would be brought about as It has been. There have been no real K ty lines ia ths South since the war. e lines have been drawn between lha races. A white man was a Demo crat, a aegto was a Republican, with the exceptioos oe both sides unimpor tant. it seems that that division, wide ee the dlffereebe between black aad while, founded deeply la Inherited, la- prejudlces aad lastiacto. coeld be lost, forgottou or Ignored The political posiUoe of the eegro the Repebilcaa at tbe South to be topeleen Tbe eoatdes • hit# man U hto own power of at eoatla el bto absolute be beilt ea a oertotofig. Yet Ike eegro has heee wtoe without see porting u aad tbe DsmorvaUc party la tbe South bee committed setrtffe without kaowlag It, has elaborately aad deliberately aad wltk mailt palae viageaelty d itself, with tbe dele its strength a lav tact We aad Its rule tre he tog lag a beautifel 111 e»- I gf tbe oaerattoae ef tbe tome la mernto and la poiiUee which he considers to be held undul. offensively and injuriously high, may have little hope—little real tong- ing, even—to get from between the plough handles himself, or to rescue his family from the hoe and the field, but he thinks he would enjoy seeing some men he knows dismounted from high horses, forced from what he re gards as easy and luxurious enjoyment* * h him share with him the and the backaches and required to heat of July suns acquired by picking out bumblebeecot- ton—a variety-, of the plant so named because gf tbe traditional sarcasm that the insect referred to can comfortably ilvJfBen of defload character and position, HdTls not encouraging to managers ex pected to do “fine work” or to “the boys’’ who, in more favorable oiroum- ■ lance*, might do some shooting and shouting on the outside. Tbe combination is being forced and formed and hardened in every part of the South every day—the combination of white business men and wage work ers with the negro vote. And that combination moans in the course of a little time, a South as solidli Repub lican as it has been Democratic. New York, June 2, 1896. COTTON la £ from the top blooms—during October and November. He thinks he would enjoy it, but probably be wouldn’t, for he is generally a good fellow at heart without real malice. But be has his prejudices. Physical perspiration and sunburn are the only badges of a toller he Is willing to ac cept as genuine—the only symbols of inaustry really blown in the bottle. White hands and laundered linen are to him tokens and evidences of oppres sion and Jyranny, whether they are worn by a clerk working fourteen trour* a day for $35 a month or a corporation president, who woos sudden death and cultivates insomnia for $15,000 a year. Against untanned complexions and bleached shirt fronts he has declared war, and against them he is marching under the banner of the free and un limited coinage of sliver at the ratio ef 16 to 1. Re is being carefully drilled and urgently Incited by politicians and local leaders, who probably realise at faintly as be what they mean and what they are doing. COMING OUT OF CHAOS. Among them they are tearing the Democratic party in tbe South Into splinters, and bursting aad reading the solid South. With the “black rule’’ spook cast away, with fidelity to tbs Democratic organization no more a re quirement for respectability, with all political ties rent, all political tradi tions forsaken, there to canoe aad doubt. Yet reeults are beglaelag to take shape amid the uoefustoe, liaee are being draws and rack* formed The cratic party Mrdly exlato (a tbe to-dey. Ills merely a aame, a shell Unices there to some wonderful or reaction la the next four man the tbe whole thing will emmbie to No4 WEEKLY CROP BULLETIN la South aad gto. AL kite North Carol!aa, aad Virginia,! ■Ill ufl | A Market! and General Improve ment la the Condition of the Grow ing Crops. This bulletin covers the weather and crop conditions for the week ending Saturday, J une 6, and iq its prepara tion were used reports frtfm one or more correspondents in each county of the State. , The past week was the second one for the current crop season that had a mean temperature below ma), the deficiency having averaged one degree per day, and it averaged five degrees per day lower than dur ing tbe preceding week, due to lower day and night temperatures, but more particularly the former cloudy weather having kept the maxima generally below 80and.on the :w below Ho. The average of 37 mean tempera ture reports was 74 degrees, ranging from 70 at Greenville and Trial to 77 at seven different stations. The nor mal for ths week is 76. The maximum temperature for the week was 101 on the 1st at Gllltooo- villa, aad the minimum was 68 oa tha 2d aad 5th at Looper’s and Groan wood, respectively. There were light scattered showers oa Sunday aad Monday, aad oa Tues day a general ralo set la that con tinued throughout Wednesday, aadiag with showers oa Thursday. Tb* rain was wall distributed aad a places si- ossslve. It effectually relieved the drought over the entire 8tote la a of counties lands were badly aad im-ally small areas «t ends were flooded. The foi low lag places reported excessive rains Betasourg 4 10; Gres George (two rs purls) Kilores 4 2D. Beeatm Hill 4Jk s Trial 1.44 .very whIte maa .!n isi. ? D. ^ m a lAemucmi, cut loose wno say mey taxiuats between one and two will veto tbe Dsmoeratlc aetioesJ Uek- 4#0 - at | M ^ * Xkmm *• overage ef $7 rneerta to 111 t dlmletoblag Twelve MltMoa Lionel Treasar vale Cltlseaa, 1 Twelve million dollars are la the treasury awaiting tbe claim* of right ful owners—men whoee cotton was seized after the war. The proseentiow of these claims is barred by a statute of limitations specially passed, aad one of the measures that was prepared but not pressed at tbe present sseel on of Congress was a bill for the repeal of the limitation act. Three New York- ' era, one said to bo the lafgefit cotton broker in the world, ire bMk of tbe scheme, and will press it at the next session of Congress- After tbe cloee of actual hostilities in 1865 cotton was Mixed throuTbout tbe South and sold. Secretory Qhaee was doubtful of the right of tbe govern ment to do this, and tbe si me doubt rankled in the mind of William S. Chandler, at that time acting secre tory of the treasury*and now n Senator from New Hampshire. Tbe doubt was so strong in Mr. Chandler's mind that he would not um the proceeds of the the nor-1 sale, but organised n division in tha treasury department which be oalied the “ Division of Abandoned Property and Lands,” which to itill ia extotoaoe. He then turned all of the proceeds of Mixed property consisting of aboet 35,000 bale* of oottoo, great quantities of tobacco, sugar aad rise, together with some turjx otioe, Ur and rosins, over to William I* Noerr, chief of thm new division. (, la 1874 Gazaway B. Lamar, a high official la the New York Bank of Com merce, a Georgian by birth aad a oom- mlMtoa merchant, retained tbe tote General Benjamin F. Butler aad ex- Attorney-General George H. Williams as hto counsel la a suit against tbe United States to recover khoo.uoo, the proceeds of tbe sale of ooitoa token by United States troops. When Lamar secured bto verdict of $600,000, Hobart G. Scbenck. of Ohio, tote Minister to the Court of BL Jam* of tbe ooto ml ties oa ways am He Having that a raid would oe tbe treasury by I introduced a Mil c _ limltgBam, thus barring t tloo of this class of claims. la thto way tbe money to ia tbe treaeary. It bee been iaveatod to tbe United Bute# boada. Mi no* tltoooio 10 SiutomUr or*five Southern Beaatora, tt to fleabtfal If ‘fbe iagtotoltoa which tbe New York wwood 3 42: Bl S fiS end $00; 114; Poverty twelve other two ■of them to Thr free siivrrlHHH m^rbey vociferate that tbe* vets ter the Damcevatto nemt- ■tng seito, wrong dot eg fleveteps pestehi lor the wrong-deer aa tor tbe eroeged The bM eel*niton In ebilteraUea. tor tbe bto vote was eboppen dew a, tbe etote bto dl rJu.. way eeid If a free etlv 11 anted at Chteagw h the HopoMtoan Iteket If is try maey ef tbe I wbe have I It. say ie by tbe syndicate fairly the language of Marc atony, they are “ Baltimore, Md., June 9.1896. “ Hon. W. T. C. Bates, State Treas urer, Columbia, 8. C.: “ Dear Sir—I understand that some question has ariMn 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 thae fair to state that under the rigorous terms Imposed by your then Governor, tbe Hon. B. K. Tillman, it would have been exceed ingly difficult for a syndierte to have carried out the terms of purchase with out the constant presence in Columbia of some competent and trustworthy person charged with the duty of per forming the various acts of necessary clerical labor which were incessantly required. It was not convenUnt for this company as the agent of the syn dicate, to have such a representative continually on the spot and you were asked to so act and the compensation paid you was only fair and said pay ment c^me from the syndicate alone and in no wise even remotely affectsd the interests of your State nor the in terests of the most insignificant of you’r tax-payeoRv The payment for your service was made upon the voli tion and. by the sanction of tbe com mittee of tbe syndicate. It -was en tirely proper and the engagement of *you in such capacity really proved to be a safeguard to your people, bepause in the execution of the clerical duties which the syndicate required you in valuably manifested an unalterable zeal for the protection of the interests of your State, and in tbe exerctoe of this quality we think you often im posed upon the syndicate conditions which would have been quite unnec essary in the conduct of any matters pertaining to private business. The conditions, however, were accepted in a cordial spirit, becauM we thought we recognized in you an officer whose crowning ambition appeared to be directed only in the channel of exer-' rising every scruple of prudence in the conservation of the duties involved y hto official capacity. Yours respectfully, Robert C. Davidson, President. Ivtotaas stung tee wkltas As Danger fret eltboat tosanaeff tbe itoiwni wttbto toceeasaff. TUX SACR LINK Bl’MUtO OCT. Tbe wbttos iheteelvt destroy ad lb# raps Baa by creak lag tbe negrw oet ef polities. ee4 tbe eegro aided la tbe work by gertililag • kites!f to he urMbH Tbe it* tae rat Is leafier* r-p%-*■-'* tbeir own eafi favorite spook — "nigger rule'’—witk wktek tbey an ioeg terrified tbe “ealerrlfiefi Uetoc- rocj’ eefi belfi Its reeks sabrokaw. So tbe race llae was mbbsfi oot, eefi it tefilakaly an older, stronger, deeper llae b«* bees firawa-between tbe whites tbe mss Ives this tint* It to tbe llae of class, of costs, of social aad business differ*news. Tbe great free silver tovsteal to tbe South to only the fort, tbe Bate, of It. Tbo teb- • tanc« of It, tbe reality of It, to to tbe jealousies, the enie«f"n.»ma, of riat. I have studied tbe ooedlttooa la mv era! Southern States very carefully during the iMt few weeks. My oppor- tunitlss have been atpis, aad mv con clusions are deliberate 1 hare beard men aad women of all shadM of opinion talk In varied surtoundlngs and cir cumstances. Half ths men who are shouting for free silver do not know what tt means and do not care. They shout for it because It to tbe shout of their claM, tbe battle cry of th« poor and obMure moving to war against the rich men and the “aristocracy,” the pitchfork with which the farmer may prod and disfigure and punish the mer chant, lawyer and banker and all affil iated and associated interests and indi viduals. GROWTH OF CLASS FEELING. The class feeling has long been latent in the South, but it has been smothered by n.any conditions, and there baa been nobody to, develop it. Men who roM frqm tbe ranks of “the common peo ple” by power of intellect and energy were so few and scattered that they were quickly and easily absorbed by’ tbeir new surroundings, and tbe feroc ity of any resentments they might hold against tbe “upper classes” was soon melted to genial conservatism. But it is different now. Class hatred has be come a passion, its bitterness made more intense by long repression, its expression and development luxuries because they are new experiences. The South is prosperous. Nobody is suffering, and comparatively few are in debt. Take man for man, tbe propor tion of independence and prosperity is greater among the farmers than in the towns and cities. The demand for free silver coinage in this section is not the result of a deliberate desire to repudi ate debts, nor is there apparent any general belief that it will make any body rieh or improve the condition of the country. The average 16 to 1 man will tell you he to for it becauM he longs for “relief,” but he cannot or will not say what kind of relief it to or from what he hopes to be “relieved.” THE FREE SILVER MAN’S MOTIVE. If you will study him carefully you will find that the cauM of his sweetest satisfaction, the result to which he looks most joyously, from the adoption of hto schedule to tbe pulling of body down, the humbling of some head toll*, aafi the wk to l it the past the first oae fiertag bat had aa saesas ef Lssia I prevail fag * ty fiertag the n -A.OJ half the e I rv ’Do »• p-r cent jwefi but !Hy refvalaaff Ikes# esklto- the party tbea they *1 f tbea ear*full froai taking aby part la la teed in Mafi tkaaiMlvM to aap tha Chisago ticket TMK NEGRO'S POWER And there to ebere the negro ooetee la. la eight Boetbera IMakee—iaelefi leg six cotloa Stale* be eaa give victory to the eulifi moaey mea by cast lag hto vote witk them. He kotos the kalaace of power between tho two ola- oteate of the o hi tee, split far aad wide neuafier. Whatever the Hapablieaa party to the negro to. As a rule, he kaowe noth tag of correecy or tariff, aad carve lea* He to Reaabitoaa, as eolldly so M be eaa ia 1870. The Democrat* have made ao effort to ooaelltoto or ooovert him. Thoir skill and aaorglM bare been devoted to humiliate aad subvert him. Tho Democratic new* paper# have fallen Into the haMt of reporting M foot notes to their local election re turns that “the negroes took no inter est. ” or “many colored men voted the straight Democratic ticket," but that is merely e politely conventional form ef words to explain abnormal Demo cratic majorities and to polish and smooth rough and rocky appearances. Ths truth to a negro who ia not eager to put himself to anv trouble and ex- pense and loss of time that may be necessary that may enable him to vote a Republican ticket is as Infrequent m a white crow. All over Sduth Carolina negroM are traveling from fifteen to thirty miles, and puzzling over tbe rig ora of the new registration law that they may be ready to vote in Novem ber. I hear of cases of negroes from 40 to 60 years old who have deliberately gone to work to try to learn to read the constitution afad are toiling patiently over that task every night. A gleam of hope that they will be allowed to vote and that their votes will be count ed will lead every negro voter to the polls as a light in a Mississippi swamp at night gathers bugs, and every one of them will carry a Republican ballot. CONSOLIDATION UNDER PRESSURE. The white and tbe black are being forced together under tbe pressure which bears against them both, by tbe aggression of a common enemy. Tbe free silver people in the South are do ing tbeir best to construct a combina tion of tremendous strength against themselves. The “aristocracy,” the oonMrvatlve and busineks element, the bleached skins and laundered shirt fronts, and the workers for fixed wages of all grades, will vote the Republican ticket, becauM it will represent sound money, which they believe their inter ests demand. With this force of respectability, oT social and commercial influence and intelligence behind it the negro vote will be cast and counted, Election tricks on negroes are safe and easy while all white men are on the other side working together and playing into each other’s hands to the very end of the game. But the prospect of prose cutions in tha United Slates Courts, where juries may favor fair election*, with the prosMutlag wttneaaes white leee* la ttoe we As grewIegi rale duriaff | that witk tke < wm a marked •eat la tketr part week. terfersfi witk tk karvssL, ■eefi of ■■Mrvt'ir raiee. kewaver, ie a wb**t eefi eale • kick i ef a five lies u ( .mil to tfie Ualmfi TUB FAMOUS DAM DAY. qcotfisfiarkAnf. eefi tfie air elaaa,’ taaflsll i ef tfiafil I Km 'leg. bet little el field* lee eefi fir. ore well eeiuvetefi ■to sprlaatag ap aafi aoofi to far *r killlag ilsg Tfie to ia > I r silks eefi tasetto, iff by" !a excel lee l ly. Jaee core to to eeaslag aa la geaff » looks very Complaint of lioe oa cotloa to very crrel, aad la piacM tfie ptoal seems to have bees n, jr«u Cottoe to "limb ing " well, aed la some places to la with squares forming freely, report* indicate a sappy ooedi- tioa aad a tendency to grow too muck to weed On tbe whole, tbe plaet to in good condition but need* eunehloe. Gree# three lens some fields. Bee ts land cotton in poor oonf itioa. Peas are being extensively sown on etubble lands and with corn. This work being considerably in advance of the usual time for doing It. Tobacco to reported small and sickly In Florence, and the best reports on its condition Indicate that it to doing only " (airly well.” Rice to still being sown and tbe crops to growing well generally, ex cept upland, in which a marked im provement is expected on account of the rains. Irish *00101068 on tbe coast eere not materially helped by tbe rains, but eiMwhere seem to have started a new growth. Melons have made excellent ad vance, as also has cane, both of which are Very promising. Peaches, plums and apples continue to drop freely, and the outlook to for a small fruit crop of rather poor quality. Blackberries and huckle berries improved and continue plenti ful. Sweet potatoes slips extensively set out under very favorable condi tions. 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 to at this time very reported the best .a number of cor respondents, particularly in the north- eMtern counties. J. W. Bauer, Director. away to enatwan^ i iflgyM great lfia» peagla witk lighted B' It must be try at thto time, 1780, through great peril. Tb quainted witk A met remember that t! War wm la skill tfie taUCfcfi encouraging, being for many years by —The State of KansM lays claim to the smallest man in existence. His name is William Piper and he resides In-Summer county in that state. He is twenty-two yearn old, measures less than three feet high and weighs onl forty-eight pounds. Mentally he i quite as eound as ordinary men ef hto age. He lives with hto widowed mother aad avoids the public M much a* pos sible. of •you am i history will Revolutionary War wm la prograM, aad thoM un decided la opinion regarding separa tion of the ooloalM from the British Government believed that the terrible darkness wm a oommun'oatioa from ths Lord, a warning tha sbouMSfft take plaoe. Cattle feeding la pastures jumped fences to get home. Fowls roosted thinking that night was upon them. Children went to school, but ran home groping tbeir way In tha strange Neither science nor superstition has read tbe mystery. Heraohel says: “ The dark day In Northern America wm one of the remarkable phenomena of nature that will ever be read with interest, but which philosophy to at a loss to explain.” But all passed away ; for never did the sun shine more brightly than on the morning of May 20. The birds sang; all-nature rejoiced. Cattle re turned to the pMtures, men to their Ittbon, and many were tbe thanksgiv ings offered that the Lord in hto good ness had spared the people. Astounding Adverbs.—One even* log a‘ gentleman came home with a budget of news. An acquaintance had failed in buslneM. He spoke of the incident as “deliriously sad.” He had ridden up-town In a oar with a noted wit, whom he described m “ horribly entertaining,” and to clap the climax, be spoke of the butter which had been Mt before him at a country hotel ee “divinely rancid.^ The young people stared, aad the oldest daughter said. “ 'Why, papa, I should think you were out of yoor head.” “ Not ia tha leaet, my dear,” he said, pleasantly. “I’m merely trying to follow tbe fMhion. I worked out ‘divinely rancid’ with a food deal of labor. - It seems to me rather more effective than ‘awfully sweat.’ I maaa to keep up with the refit of yea here after. Aad me hel now,” he ‘let p you to a piece of thto exquisite ly tough beef.” Adverbs, be says, are i able m they were la hto family. I *> w crviewr.