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* I . . . ^ ^ ^" ' ^ ^ . .' ^ * 't L , * * " j?' - n n ? ? ??^???i?<?? i ??? i ???? *?^ ESTABLISHED 1S91, BAMBERG, S. C., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4. ]902. ONE DOLLAR PER YEAR. | , f! 'lit ..... -r { To the Senate and House of Bepresentatives: We still continue in a period ef unbounded prosperity. This fctfosperity is not the creature cf law, but undoubtedly the laws under which we work have been instrumental in creating the conditions Vklch made it possible, and by unwise legislation it would be easy enough to destroy it. There will undoubtedly be periods of depression* The wave will recede, but the tide will advance. This nation is seated On a continent flanked by two great oceane. It is composed of men the descendants of pioneers or, !r> a ser.se, pioneers themselves?cf meti winnowed out from among the nations of the old world by the energy, boldness and love of adventure four.d in their own eager hearts. Such a nation so placed will surely wrest Success from fortune. As a people we have played h large part In the wcrhl, and we ore bent upon making our future eveii larger than the past in particular the events of the last four years have definitely decided that for woe or fob weal ?ur place must be great among the nations. We may either fail greatly pr succeed greatly, but wo cannot avoid the' endeavor from which either great n- ? ~ t--"-. M1IIU 5 *?? 6'Wl OUM.VW IU US'. V.V41JC. ?|TC11 if we would wo cannot play a small part. If we should try, ail that would follow Would be that we should play a large part ignobly and shamefully. But our people, the sons of the men 'of the civil war, the sons of the men who had Iron in their blood, rejoice in the present arul face the future high of heart and resolute of Will. Ours i3 not the creed of the weakling and the coward; ours is the gospel of hope and of triumphant enaeavor. We do not shrink . from the struggle before us. There are tnany problems for us to face at the outset of the twentieth century?grave problems abroad e.nd still grave*4 kt home?but .we know that we can sc. -e them, and solve them well, provided-only that we bring to tho solution the qualities of head hud-heart which were shown by the men Who in the days of Washington founded this government and in the days of Lincoln preserved it. No country has evef occupied a higher plarte of material well being than ours at the present moment.- This well being is due to 410 sudden or accidental "causes, but to tie" play of the economic force? in thiS county r for over a century; to t>ur laws, bur sustained and continuous policies; above .-fill, to the high/individual average of on?. citizenship. ^Gfear fortunes have heen;,:?tfon by those who., have taken the lead fin this phenomenal-industrial develtpmeat, and most of these, fortunes have been; won not-by doing evil, but as an incident .to action which has benefited the comsaaifhty as a whole. Never before has material wslL being been so widely dif-fusetj?*?mdbg our- people. Great fortunes haveisbeoh accumulated, and* yet in the aggregate tiies'e - fortunes are small indeedlwhen compared to the wealth of the fceop^as a whole. The plain people are i bettor; off than they have ever been before?*?:ahe Insurance companies, which fere tactically mutual benefit societies? Especially helpful to men of moderate means?represent accumulations of capital which are among the largest In this bountty. There are more deposits in the ! savings banks, more owners cf farms, tnorefpell paid wageworkers in this coun- I lr/ no* than ever before in our history, j Or cbtorse when- the conditions have fa- 1 vored 'Xhe growth of so much that was gccd.'they have also favored somewhat the gSO'wth of what was evil. It is eml- : hen Unnecessary that we should endeavor to cul out this eviri but let us keep a due senselof proportion; let us net In fixing pur gsxe upon the lesser evil forget the greater good. The evils are real, and some;Of them are menacing, but they are . the outgrowth not of misery or decadence, but pt-prosperity, of the progress of our gigantte industrial development. This In- ' cLustrial development must not be checked, | but aide by side with it should go such progressive regulation as will diminish the evils. We should fail in our duty if"' we diAnot try to remedy the evils, but we shall succeed only if we proceed patient, ly, wtih practical common sense as well as resolution, separating the good from the bad and holding on to the former while?endcavoring to get rid of the latter. In mr message to the present congress at its. nrst session i aiscusseu ai leugui the question of the regulation of those big corporations .commonly doing an in- j terstSkfe business, often with some tendency to monopoly, which are popularly known as trusts. The experience of the past year has emphasized, in my opinion, the gesirahiiity of the ,steps I then proposed A fundamental requisite of social efficiency is a high standard bf individual energy and excellence, but this is in nowise-Inconsistent with power to act In-; combination for aims which cannot so well be achieved by the individual acting alone. A fundamental base of civilization . is the inviolability of property; but this is j In nowise inconsistent with the right of society to regulate the exercise of the artificial powers which it confers upon the owners^)f property under the name of corporate franchises in such a way as to j prevent the misuse of these powers. Corporations. and especially combinations of corporations, should be managed under public regulation. Experience has shown that under our system of government the ! necessary supervision cannot be obtained by state action. It must therefore be | achieved by national action. Our aim is i not to do away with corporations. On the contrary, these big aggregations are an 1 inevitable development of modern industrialism. and the effort to destroy them would be futile unless accomplished in ways that would work the utmost mischief to the entire body politic. We can : do nothing of good in i-he way of regulat- ! ing apd supervising "these corporations until we fix clearly in our minds that we are not attacking the corporations, but endeavoring to do away with any evil in them.- We are not hostile to them. Wo are merely determined that they shall be so handled as to subserve the public good. We draw the line against misconduct, not against wealth. The capitalist who, alone or in conjunction with his fellows, performs some great industrial feat by which ho wins money is a welldoer, not a wrongdoer, provided only he works in proper I and legitimate lines. We wish to favor such a man when he does well. We wish to supervise and control his actions only to prevent him from doing ill. Publicity can do no harm to the honest corporation, and we need not be overteteer about sparing the dishonest corporation. In curbing and regulating the combinations of capital which are or may become injurious to the public we must be care ful not to stop the gTeat enterprises wmcn have legitimately reduced the cost of production. not to abandon the place which our country has won In the leadership of the International Industrial world..not to strike down wealth with the result of closing" factories and mines, of turning ) the wageworker Idle in the streets and leaving the farmer without a market for what he grows. Insistence upon the lm- ! possible means delay In achieving the possible exactly as. on the other hand, the stubborn defense alike of what is good and what is bad in the existing system, the resolute effort to obstruct any at. tempt at betterment, betrays blindness to the historic truth that wise evolution is the sure safeguard against revolution. No more important subject can come before the congress than this of the regulation of interstate business. This country cannot afford to sit supine on the plea that under our peculiar system of government we are helpless in the presence of the new conditions and unable to grapple with them or to cut out whatever of evil has arisen in connection with them. The power of the congress to regulate interstate commerce is an absolute and unqualified grant and without limitations other than those prescribed by the consti XUUOn. ins Congress news Wiisnmuunot authority to make all laws necessary and ^proper for executing this power, and I am j satisfied that this power has not been exhausted by any legislation now on the statute books. It Is evident, therefore, that evils restrictive of commercial free- j Com and entailing restraint upon national commerce fall within the regulative power of the congress and that a wise and reasonable law would be a necessary and proper exercise of congressional authority to the end that such evils should be eradicated. I believe that monopolies, unjust d?s- ] criminations, which prevent or cripple competition, fraudulent overcapitalization and other evils in trust organizations and ] practices which injuriously affect interstate trade can be prevented under the power of the congress to "regulate commerce with foreign nations and among i !the several states" through regulations Mm requirements operating directly upon such commerce, the instrumentalities thereof and those engaged therein. I earnestly recommend this subject to the consideration of the congress with Sl viewto the passage of a law reasonable in Its provisions and effective In Us operations, upon which the questions can be finally adjudicated that now raise doubts as to the necessity of constitutional amendment. If It prove Impossible to accomplish the purposes above set forth by such a law, tnen assuredly we should not shrink from amending the constitution so as to secure beyond peradventure the power sought. The congress has not heretofore made any appropriation for the better enforcement cf the antitrust law as it now Stands. Very much has beep done by the CSparTmetit Of JOStlce IS SWUrhlg (ne'erP ' forcement of this law, but much mor? i could be done if ocmgrci?3 would limlce a . special appropriation for this purpose, to I be expended under the direction of the ' attorney general. One proposition advocated has been the reduction of the tariff as a means of j , reaching the evils of the trusts which fall ! within the category.. T. have .described. \ | Not merely would ibis ds wnoliy lneffecI live, but the diversion of our efforts in . sucn a direction would mean the aban- I donment of all intelligent attempt to do j away with these evils. Many of the largest corporations, many, of Jhcse which should cectainly be ihtluded ih afiy proper , ; sdhbme of regulation, would not be affected In the slightest degree by a change ! in the tariff, save as such change interfered with the general prosperity of tin- ; ! country. The only relation of tne tariff ; to big corporations as a, whr.ie is that the ! tariff makes manufactures profitable, and the tariff remedy proposed would be in { ; effect pimply to make manufactures un- | j profitable. To remove the tariff as a j punitive measure directed against trusts j j would inevitably result in ruin tin the i weaker competitor? who aire struggling j : against then1., our aim should bo not by j | unwise tariff changes to give foreign prod- I : ucts the advantage over domestic prod- 1 ! ucts. but by proper regulation to give do- j j mestic competition a fair chance, and i I this end cannot be reached by any tariff j ; changes which would affect unfavorably i all domestic competitor?. good and bad . j alike. -The .question ct regulation of the i ' trusts stands apart from the question of tariff revision. Stability of economic policy must al- ! ways be the prime economic need of this : | country. This stability should net be fossilization. The country has aeouiesced in the wisdom of the protective tariff ; | principle-. It is exceedingly undesirable i that this system should be destroyed cr | that there should be violent and radical ' changes therein. Our past experience i ehnws tVint 7rc.it nrosneritv in thi3 coun try has always come undera protective tar- i iff and that the country cannot prosper i Under fitful tariff changes at short intcrJ valSv Moreover, if the thrift laws as a : Whole work well and if business has prospered under them and is prospering, it is i better to endure for a time slight inconveniences and inequalities in some sched- ; I ules than to upset business by too quick j and too radical changes. It is most ear ncstly to be wished that we could .treat tft* tariff from the Btandpdiitt solely of our bUsiilesS needs. It is. perhaps, too , mufch to hope that partisanship may be j entirely excluded from consideration of , i the subject, but at least it can be made i secondary to the business interests of the j country?that is. to the interest? bf bur ! Eeople as a whole. Uhqiiestionably these usincse interests will best be served if together with fixity of principle as re: gards the tariff we combine a system I which will permit us from time to time to make the necessary reappiicat.'on of theprinciple to the shifting national needs. . We must take scrupulous carc that the : reapplicatior. shall be tnade in such a way ; that it will hot amount to a dislocation of our system; the mere threat of which, hot to speak of the performance, would produce paralysis in the business energies of the community. The first considers- * tion in making these changes would, of course, be to preserve the principle which ! underlies our whole tariff system?that is, j the principle of putting American busi- I ness interests at least on a full equality i with interests abroad and of always al? lowing a sufficient rate of duty to more than cover the difference between the labor cost here and abroad. The well be ing cf the wageworker. like .the well be- j ing of the tiller of the soil; should ,';be treated as an essential in shaping our j whole eeor.omic policy. There must never i be any change which will jeopardize the j standard of comfort, the standard of j wages, cf the American wageworker. One way in which the readjustment sought can be reached 13 by reciprocity j treaties. It is greatly to be desired that ! such treaties may- be adopted. They can j be used to wioen our marKeca ana 10 give a greater fi?ld fob tho activities of cur { producers on the ohe hand, and on the j other hand to secure In practical shape j the lowering of duties when they are no longer needed for protection among our ! own people or when the minimum of dam- ! age done may be disregarded for the sake j or the maximum Of ecod accomplished, r Jf it prove impossible to ratify tlic pend- j' lng treaties and if there seem to be no i warrant for the endeavor to execute oth- | ers or to amend the pending treaties so ; that they can be ratified, then the same j end-^to secure reciprocity?should be met ! by direct legislation. Wherever the tariff conditions are such that a needed change cannot with advantage be made by the application of the reciprocity Idea, then it can be made outright by a lowering of duties on a given product. If possible, such change should , be made only after the fullest considers- 1 tion by practical experts, who should approach the subject from a business standpoint. having in view both the particular interests affected nnd the commercial well being of the people as a whole. The machinery for providing such careful investigation can readily be supplied. The executive department has already at its disposal methods of collecting facts and figures, and if the congress desires addi- I uonai consiuerauon 10 umi. w iuw win uc given the subject by its own committees, then a commission of business experts can be appointed whose duty it should He to recommend action by the congress after a deliberate and scientific examination of j the various schedules as they are affected by the changed and changing conditions. The unhurried and unbiased report of this commission would show what changes should be made in the various schedules and how far these changes could go without also changing the great prosperity which this country is now enjoying or upsetting its fixed economic policy. The cases in which the tariff can produce a monopoly are so few as to constitute an inconsiderable factor In the question: but, of course, if in any case it be 1 found that a given rate of duty does promote a monopoly which works ill, no pro- j tectionist would object to such reduction of the duty as would equalize competition. In my judgment, the tariff on anthracite coal should be removed and anthracite put actually, where it now is nominally, on the free list. This would have no effect at all save in crises: but in crises it might be of service to the people. Interest rates are a potent factor in business activity, and In order that these rates may be equalized to meet the varying needs of the seasons and of widely separated communities, and to prevent the recurrence of financial stringencies which injuriously affect legitimate business, it is necessary that there should be an element of elasticity in our monetary system. Banks are the natural servants of commerce, and upon them should be placed, as far as practicable, the burden j of furnishing and maintaining a circulation adequate to supply the needs of our diversified industries and of our domestic and foreign commerce, and the issue of this should be so regulated that a sufficient supply should be always available for the business interests of the country. JLl WUUiU ur UUUI UliWAOO C4.41VA Uituvvvwsary at this time to attempt to reconstruct our financial system, which has been the growth of a century, but some additionallegislation is. I think, desirable. The mere outline of any plan sufficiently comprehensive to meet these requirements would transgress the appropriate limits of this communication. It is suggested, i however, that all future legislation on the subject should be with the view of encouraging the use of such instrumentalities as will automatically supply every legitimate demand of productive industries and of commerce, not only in theamount, but in the character of circulation, and of making all kinds of money interchangeable and, at the will of the holder, convertible Into the esfablished gold standard. I again call your attention to the need of passing a proper immigration law. covering the points outlined in my message to you at the first session of the present congress. Substantially such a bill has already pas?ad the house. How to secure fair treatment alike for labor and for capital, how to hold in check the unscrupulous man, whether employer or employee, without weakening Individual Initiative, without hampering and cramping the industrial development of the country, is a problem fraught with great difficulties ana one which it is of the highest importance to solve on llne3 of sanity and farsighted common sense as well as of devotion to the right. This is an era or ieaerauuu uiiu t-uniuiiiuLivn. Exactly as business men find they musi often work fhrough corporations, and as It Is a constant tendency of these corporations to grow larger, so it Is often necessary for laboring men to work in federa- i tlons, and these have become important 1 factors of modern industrial life. Both kinds of federation, capitalistic and labor, can do much good, and as a necessary corollary they can both do evil. Opposition to each kind of organization should take the form of opposition to whatever is bad In the conduct of any given corporation or union, net of attacks upon cor porations as such nor upon unions as such, for some of the most farreaching j beneficent work for our people has been i accomplished through both corporations and unions. Each must refrain from arbitrary or tyrannous lnterf'^fvnce with the rights or others. Organi<Pd capital and organized labor alike should remember that in the long run the interest of each must be brought into harmony with the interest of the general public, and the ' conduct of each must conform to the fundamental rules of obedience to the law, of individual freedom and of justice and fair dealing toward all. Each should remember that in addition to power it must strive after the realization of healthy, lofty and generous ideals. Every employer, every wageworker, must be guaranteed his liberty and his right to do as he likes with his property or his labor so long as he does not infringe upon the j rights of others. It is of the highest im- ; portance thut employer ar.d employee ?TTTce should ehd^SToTTiJ appreciate each f tho viewpoint of the other and tho euro disaster that will come upon both in the ! long run if either grows to take as habit- ! ual an attitude of sour hostility and dis- ) trust toward ".he other. Few people deserve better of the country than those representatives both of capital and labor? and there fire^}any such?who work con- i tinuaily to b:?5s about a good understands ing of this kind, based upon wisdom and upon broad and kindly sympathy between employers and employed. Above all, we need to remember that any kind of class animosity in the political world is, if pos- | ribJe: ?\e!! more wicked, even more destructive to national welfare, thai! Sectional, race or religious animosity. We can get good government only upon condition that we keep true to the principles upon which this nation was founded and Judge.each man not as a part of a class, but bpch lii3 individual fhcriw. All that we have a right to ask of any man, rich or poor, whatever his creed, his occupation, his birthplace or his residence, is that ho shall act well and honorably by his peighbor and by his houotrc. We are neitner lor the rich man as such ror tor the poor man as such; we are fo- the upright man, rich or poor. So f-*.r as tne , constitutional powers of the national government touch these matters of general and vital moment to the nation, they should be exercised in conformity with the principles, above set forth. It id earnestly hoped that a secretary of j commerce may be created, with a scat in the cabinet. The rapid multiplication of j Questions affecting labor and capital, the \ growth and complexity of the organiza- j lions through which both labor and capi- i tal now find expression, the steady tend- j enc5' toward the emoloyment of capital in j huge corporations and the wonderful strides of tills country toward leadership in the international business world justify an urgent demand for the creation of j such a position. Substantially all tho leading commercial bodies In this country have united in requesting its creation. It is desirable that some such measure as j that Wh'ch has Already passed the senate be enacted Into law. The creatioii of fcueli a department would in itself be an advance toward dealing- with and exercising supervision over the whole subject cf the great corporations doi'lg an interstate business, and with this end in view the congress should endow the department { with large powers, which .could be increased aS experience frii&lit Shbw the t need. I hope soon to submit to the senate a j reciprocity treaty with Cuba. On May 20 last the United States kept its promise to the. island by formally vacating Cuban Soil and turning Cuba over to those whom hoi* own people had chosen as the first officials of the new republic. Cuba lies at our doors, and whatever af- j fects her for good or for ill affects us also. So much have our people felt this that in the Piatt amendment we definitely took the ground that Cuba must hereafter have bloser political relations with us thaft with any other power. Thus in a sense Cuba has become a part of our international 1 political system. This makes it necessary that in return she should be given some of ! the benefits of becoming part of our eco- j nomic system. It is, from our own stand}>oint, a shortsighted and mischievous pol- ' ey to fail to recognise this need. Moreover, it is unworthy of a mighty and generous nation, itself the greatest and most successful republic in history, to refuse to stretch out a helping hand to a young and Weak sister republic just entering upon *t_ " 1 -VTT,. ! us career ui ?? w st.uum . ways fearlessly insist upon our rights in the face of the strong, and we should with ungrudging hand do our gerierous duty by the weak. I urge the adoption ot reciprocity with Cuba not only because it is j eminently for our own Interests to control i the Cuban market and by every means to J foster our supremacy in the tropical lands j and waters south or us. but also because we of the giant republic of the north j should make all our sister nations of the ; American continent feel that whenever they will permit it we desire to ShotV our- ' selves disinterestedly and effectively their f ri end. A convention with Great Britain has been concluded, which will be at once laid before the senate for ratification, providing for reciprocal trade arrangements between the United St&tes and Newfound- . land on substantially the lines of. the convention formerly negotiated by the secretary of state, Mr. Elaine. I believe reciprocal trade relations will be greatly to the o/lvsntaco <->f hnth countries. - -As civilization grows warfare becomes less and less the normal condition of foreign relations. The last century has seen a marked diminution of wars between civilized powers. Wars with un- j civilized powers are largely mere matters of international police duty, essential for j the welfare of the world. Wherever possible arbitration or some similar method should be employed in lieu of war to settle difficulties between civilized nations, although as yet the world has not progressed sufficiently to render it possible or necessarily dc-slrable to invoke arbitration in every case. The formation of the international tribunal which sits at The Hague is an event of good omen from which great consequences for the welfare of all mankind may flow. It is far better j where possible to invoke such a perma- ! nent tribunal than to create special arbi- 1 trators for a given purpose. It is a matter of sincere congratulation ( to our country that the United States and ] Mexico should have been the first to use the good offices of The Hague court. This was done last summer with most satisfactory results in the case of a claim at i issue between us and our si3ter republic. It is earnestly to be hoped that this first case will serve as a precedent for others, in which not only the United States but foreign nations may take advantage of the machinery already in existence at The Hague. I commend to the favorable consideration of the congress the Hawaiian fire claims, which were the subject of careful investigation during the last session. The eongress has wisely provided that we shall build at once an isthmian canal, ! if possible at Panama. The attorney gen- j eral reports that we can undoubtedly ac- j quire good title from the French Panama canal company. Negotiations are now j pending with Colombia to secure her as- ; sent to our building the canal. This canal I will be one of the greatest engineering feats of the twentieth century, a greater engineering feat than has yet been ac- j complishefl during tne nistory or manitinu . The work should be carried out as a con- | tinuing policy without regard to change i of administration, and it should bo begun under circumstances which will make it a matter of pride for all administrations to continue the policy. The canal will be of great benefit to America and of importance to all the world. It will be of advantage to us industrially and also as improving our military position. It will be of advantage to the countries of tropical America. It is earnestly to be hoped that all of these countries will do as some of them have | already done with signal success and will invite to their shores commerce and im- j prove their material conditions by recognizing that stability and order are the 1 Srerequisites of successful development. iO independent nation in America need have the slightest fear of aggression from 1 the United States. It behooves each on? 1 to maintain order within its own borders , and to discharge its Just obligations to ! foreigners. When this is done, they can rest assured that, be they strong or weak, j they have nothing to dread from outside Interference. More and more -the increas- ! ing interdependence and complexity of international political and economic relations render it incumbent on all civilized and orderly powers to insist on the proper policing of the world. During the fall of 1901 a communication was addressed to the secretary o'f state asking whether permission would be j granted by the president to a corporation to lay a cable from a point on the California coast to the Philippine Islands by way of Hawaii. A statement of conditions or-terms upon which such corpora- j tion would undertake to lay and operate a cable was volunteered. Inasmuch as the congress was shortly to * convene and Pacific cable legislation had been the subject of consideration by the congress for several years, it seemed to me wise to defer action upon the appllca- L tion until the congress had first an opportunity to act. The congress adjourned ! without taking any action, -leaving the matter in exactly the same condition in which it stood when the congress con- ' vened. Meanwhile it appears that the Commer- 1 cial Pacific Cable company had promptly j proceeded with preparations for laying its [ cable. It also made application to the i president for access to and use of sound ings taken by the United States steamship Nero for the purpose of discovering a ; practicable route for a transpacific cable, ! the company urging that with access to these soundings it could complete its cable much sooner than if it were required to i take soundings upon its own account. ; Pending consideration of this subject il appeared important and desirable to attach certain conditions to the permission to examine and use the soundings if it j should be granted. In consequence of this solicitation of the cable company certain conditions were formulated, upon which the president was willing to allow access to these soundings and to consent to the landing and j laving of the cable, subject to any altera- j tions or additions thereto imposed by the congress. This was deemed proper, espe- i daily as it was clear that a cable con- j nectlon of some kind with China, a for- j eign country, was a part of the company's I plan. This course was, moreover, in accordance with a line of precedents, includ- | lng President Grant's action in the case o? the first French cable, explained to the j congress In his annual message of December, 1875, and the instance occurring i in 1879 of the second French cfcble from j Brest to St. Pierre, with a branch to ! Cape Cod. These conditions prescribed, among oth- j er things, a maximum rate for commercial, ^messages and that the cogiPany I I glieuicr construct a' line" rrcm me r.uitp* pine Islands to China, there being at present, as Is Wei! known, a British line from Manila to Hongkong. The representatives of the cable company kept these conditions long under consideration, continuing in the meantime to prepare for laying the enisle. They have, however, at length acceded to them, and an all American line between our Paeirlc coast add the Chinese empire by way of Honolulu and the Philippine Islands is thus provided for and is expected within a few months to be ready for business. Among the conditions is one reserving ; the power of the congress to modify or rc- \ peal any or all of them. A copy of the conditions is herewith transmitted. Of Porto Rico it la only necessary to say ! that the prosperity of th6 island and tho I wisdom with which it has been governed have been such a3 to make it serve as an example cf all that ia best in insular administration. On July 4 last, on the one. hundred and { twenty sixth anniversary of the declaration of our independence, peace and anri- ! rvesty were promulgated in the Philippine Islands. Some trouble hart .since from ; time to time threatened with the Mohammedan micros, but with the late insurrectionary Filipinos the war has entirely ceased. Civil government has now been i introduced. Not only does each Filipino I enjoy euch rights to life, liberty and the j pursuit of happiness as he has never before khotvn dhring the recorded history of the islands, but the people, taken ae a whole, now enjoy a measure of self gov- j err.ment greater than that granted to Any other orientals by any foreign power and greater than that enjoyed by any other orientals under their own government:; save the Japanese alone. We have not gone ieo far In granting these rights of liberty and self government, but we have certainly gone to the limit that in Ui5 interests o? the Philippine people themselves it was wise or just to go. To hurry matters. to go faster than we are now going, would entail calamity on the people of the islands. No policy ever entered into by the .American people has vindicated itself lit more signal manner than the policy of holding tho Philippines. The triumph of our arms, above all the triumph of our laws and principles, has conic sooner than we had any right to expect. Too much praise cannot be given to the army j for what it has done in the Philippines, both in warfare and from an administra- ! live standpoint, in preparing the way for civil government. And similar credit be- j longs to the civil authorities for the way In which they have planted the seeds pf self government in tho ground thus made' ready for them The courage, the tanflinching endurance, the high soldierly effi- ' ciency arid the jreneral kind heartedness and humanity of our troops haVe been strikingly manifested. There now remain only some 15.000 troops in the Islands. All J told, over 100.000 have been sent there. Of course there have been individual in- j stances of wrongdoing among them. They i Warred under fearful difficulties of cli- I mate and Surroundings, and under the strain of the terrible provocations which ' they continually received from their foes j occasional instances of cruel retaliation j occurred. Every- effort has been made to prevent such cruelties, and finally these efforts have been completely successful. Every effort has also been made to detect and punish the wrongdoers. After making all allowance fop tnese misdeeds it remains true that l'ew indeed have been I the instances in whioh war has been waged by a civilized power against semi- * civilized or barbarous forces where there."' has been so little wrongdoing by the vie- I tors as in the Philippine Islands. On the Other hand, the amount of difficult, important and beneficent work which has beeh dene is well nigh incalculable. Talcing the work of the army and the I civil authorities together, it may be ques- J tioned whether anywhere else in modern [ times the world has seen a better exam- j pie of real constructive statesmanship j than our people have given in the Philip- j pine Islands. High praise should also be | given those Filipinos ? In the aggregate ! very numerous?who have accepted the ; new conditions and joined with our representatives to work with hearty good will j for the welfare of the inlands. The arm j' has been reduced to the mliiB mum allowed by law. It is very small for the size of the nation and most certainly i should be kept at the highest point of efll- j ciency. The Senior officers are given scant chance xmder ordinary conditions to exercise commands commensurate with their 1 rank under circumstances which Woiild fit them to do their duty in time of actual i war. A system of maneuvering our army in bodies of some little size has been begun and should be steadily continued. Without such maneuvers It is folly to ex- i pect that in the event of hostilities with any serious foe even a* small army corps could be handled to advantage. Both our j officers and enlisted men are such that we can take hearty pride in them. No better material can be found. But thev ! must be thoroughly trained, both as indi- j viduals and in the mass. The marksmanship of the men must receive special at- j tention. In the circumstances of modern [ warfare the man must act far more on his own individual responsibility than , ever before, and the high individual efflciency of the unit is of the utmost Importance. Formerly this unit was the regiment. It is now. not the regiment, not , even the troop or com pan y; It is the individual soldier. Every effort must be made to develop every workmanlike and sol- j dierly quality in' both the officer and the enlisted man. I urgently call your attention to the need of passing a bill providing for a gen- 1 eral staff and for the reorganization of the supply departments or. the lines of the bill proposed by the secretary of war last j year. When the young officers enter the ; s?rmv from Wost Point, thev orobably I stand above their compeers in any other military service. Every effort should be made by training:, by reward of merit, by ; scrutiny into their careers and capacity, j to keep them of the same high relative excellence throughout their careers. The measure providing for the reorgan- i Ization of the militia system and for securing the highest efficiency in the nation- ! al guard, which has already passed the , house, should receive prompt attention and action. It Is of great importance that the relation of the national guard to the militia and volunteer forces of the United States should bo defined and that in place of our present obsolete laws a practical and efficient system should be adopted. Provision should be made to enable the 1 secretary of war to keep cavalry and ar- j tillery horses worn out in long perform- ; ance of duty. Such horses fetch but a trifle when sold, and rather than turn j them out to the misery awaiting them when thus disposed of it would be better < to employ them at light work around the ' posts and when necessary to put them painlessly to dea-;h. For the first time in our history naval ) maneuvers on a large scale are being held j under the Immediate command of the ad- ! mlral of the navy. Constantly increasing 1 attention is being paid to the gunnery of the navy, but it is yet far from what it should be. I earnestly urge that the in- j crease asked for by the secretary of the navy in the appropriation for improving the marksmanship be granted. In battle j the only shots that count are the shots j that hit. It is necessary to provide ample ! funds for practice with the great guns in \ time of peace. These funds must provide not only for the purchase of projectiles, but for allowances for prizes to encour- j age the gun crews, and especially the gun pointers, and for perfecting an intelligent system under which alone it is possible to t get good practice. . I There should be no halt in the work of i building up the navy, providing every year additional fighting craft. We are a very rich country, vast in extent of terri- j tory and great in population, a country, moreover, which has an army diminutive indeed when compared with that of any other first class power. We have deliber- J ately made our own certain foreign policies which demand the possession of a first class navy. The isthmian canal will greatly Increase the efficiency of our navy it tne navy is 01 sumcient size, duc 11 we have an Inadequate navy then the building of the canal would be merely giving a ! hostage to any power of superior strength, j The Monroe doctrine should be treated as the cardinal feature of American foreign policy, but It would be worse than idle i to assert it unless we intended to back It up, and It can bo backed up only by a thoroughly good navy. A good navy is not a provocative of war. It Is the surest guaranty of peace. Each Individual unit of our navy should be the most efficient of its kind as regards both material and personnel that is to bo found in the world. I call your special j attention to the need of providing for the j manning of *the ships. Serious .trouble threatens us if we cannot do better than j we are now doing as regards securing the services of a sufficient number of the highest type of sailormen. of sea mechanics, i The veteran seamen of our warships are of as high a type as can be found in any ' navy which rides the waters of tho world. They are unsurpassed in daring, in reso- j lutlon. in readiness, in thorough knowledge of their profession. They deserve every consideration that can be shown them. But there are not enough of them. It is no more possible to improvise a crew than it is possible to improvise a warship. To build the finest ship, with the deadliest battery, and to send It afloat with a raw crew, no matter how brave they were individually, would be to Insure disaster if a foe of average capacity were encountered. Neither shins nor men can be improvised when war has begun. We need a thousand additional office?* in order to properly man the ships now \ provided for and under construction. The classes at the naval school at Annapolis should be greatly enlarged. At the same time that we thus add the officers where we need them, we should facilitate the retirement of those at the head of the list whose usefulness has become impaired. Promotion must be fostered If the service is to be kept efficient. The lamentable scarcity of officers and the large number of recruits and of un skilled- men necessarily put aboard tho . How vessv-'id As CTie?" nave Deeri* JdirirhrsefoRG"! has thrown upon our officers, and especially on the lieutenants and junior grades, unusual labor and fatigue and has gravely, strained their powers of endurance. .Nor is there sign of any immediate letup ffi this strain, it must continue for some time lonyer yntil more officers are graduated from Aribaf/olSs and until the recruits become trained and skillful in their duties. In these difficulties Incident upon the development of our war fleet the Conduct of all our officers has been creditable to the service, and the lieutenants and junior grad-s In particular have dis?>layed an ability and a steadfast cheerulness which entitle them in the ungrudging thanks 01 fill who realize the disheartening trials and faliguc3 to t'.hi' h they are of necessity subjected. ..There is net a cloud on (he htwrzon at present. ThefC teems not the slightest chance <> trouble with a foreign power. We most earnestly hope that 4his state of things may continue, and the way to insure ita continuance is to provide for a thoroughly efficient navy. The refusal to mamtain such a navy would invite trouble, and if trouble came would insure disaster. Fatuous self Complacency or vanity or shortsightedness in refusing to prepare for danger is both foolish and wicked in such a ration as ours, and past experience h?'s shown that such fatuity in refusing to recognize Of prepare for any crista in advance is usually succeeded by ft mad panic cf hysterical fear oiice the crisis has actually arrived. The sinking increase in the revenues of the poatoff.ee department shows clearly the prosperity of our people and the increasing'activity of the business of the country. The receipts of the pcstoffice department for the fiscal year ending June 30 last amounted to $12!,$4.C'',-(M7.2G, an increase of $10,21G,iw3.87 over the preceding year, the largest increase known in the history of the postal service. The magnitude ,L!- , ?? \-nat o-irwirjr from the fact 01 III 18 ;iJlI L-aSC rr Hi ?ve( that the entire postal receipts for the year HCQ I amounted to but $8,513,007. " Ruial free delivery service is no longer in the experimental stage. It has become a fixed policy. The results following its introduction have fully justified the congress in the large appropriations made for its establishment and extension. The average yearly increase in postofflce receipts in the rural districts of the country is about 2 per cent. We are now able, by actual results, to show that where rural free delivery service has been established to such an extent as to enable us to make comparisons the yearly increase has been upward of 10 per cent. Uti Nor. I, 1U02, 11,650 rural free delivery routes bad been established and were in operation, covering about one-third of the territory of the United States available for rural free delivery service. There are now awaiting the action of the department petitions and applications for the establishment cf 10,748 additional routes. This Shows conclusively the want which the establishment Of the service has met and the need of further extending it as rapidly as possible. It is justified Loth by the financial results and by the practical benefits to our rural population; it brings the men who live on the soil into close relation.? with the active business world; it keeps the farmer in daily touch with the markets; it is a potential educational force; it enhances the value cf farm property, makes farm life far pleasanter and less isolated, and will do much to check the undesirable current from country to city. It is to be hoped that the congress will make liberal appropriations for the continuance of the Service already established and for its further extension. Few subjects of more importance have been taken up by the congress In recent years than the inauguration of the systpm of nationally aided irrigation fcr the arid regions of the far west. A good beginning therein has been made. Nowthat this policy of national irrigation has been adopted the need of thorough and scientific forest protection will grow more rapidly than ever throughout the public land stares. I-eglslation should be provided for the protection the game and the wild creatures generally on the forest reserves. The senseless slaughter cf game, which can by Judicious protection be permanently preserved on our national reserves for the people as a whole, should be stopped at once. It is, for instance, a serious count against bur national good sense to permit the present practice of butchering on such a stately and beautiful crcfittme as the elk for its antlers or tusks. So far as they are d tillable /or agriculture and to whatever extent they may to* reclaimed under the national irrigation "law, "the remaining public lands should be held rigidly for the bonvbvii.der, the settler who lives on his land, and for no one else. In their actual use the desert land l*yr. the timber and store law and the cornmutatioft I clause of the homestead law have been so perverted from the intention with which they were enacted as to permit the acquisition of large arca3 of the public domain for other than actual eettlera and the consequent prevention of settlement. Moreover, the approaching exhaustion of the public ranges has of late led to much discussion as to the best manner of using these public lands in the west which are suitable chiefly or only for grazing. The Sound and steady dcvelopBicnt of tl>e west depends upon the building up of homes therein. Much cf our prosperity as a nation has been due to the operation of the homestead law. On the other hand, we> should recognize the fact that in the grazing region the man who corresponds to the homesteader may be unable to settle permanently if only gllowed to use the same amount of pasture land that Jds brother, the homesteader, is allowed to use of arable land. One hundred and sixty acres pf fairly rich and, well watered soil or a much smaller amount of' j irrigated land may keep a family in plenty, when*-' as do one could get a living from 160 acres of dry pasture land capable of supporting at the1 j outside only ore head cf cattle to every ten acres, j In the past great tracts of the public? domain have bean fenced in bv persons Lavirg no title thereto, in direct defiance of the law forbidding the maintenance or construction 01 m;> duv.u , lawful incloeure Cr public land. For various I reasons there has been little interference with 1 6uch inclosures in the past, but ample notice jhag | now been given the trespassers, and all the > sources at the command of the government will j hereafter be used to put a atop to aucli trespaerir.g. J In view of the capital importance of these matters I commend them to the earnest consideration of the congress, and if the congress finds difficulty in dealing with them from ku of thorough knowledge of tne subject I recommend that provision be made for a commission of experts specially to investigate and report upon the complicated questions involved. I especially urge "upon the congress the need pf wise legislation for Alaska. It is not to our credit as a nation that Alaska, which has been ours for thirty-five years, should still have as poor I a system of laws as is the case. No country lms a more valuable possession in mineral wealth, in fisheries, furs, forests and also in land available for certain kinds of farming and stock growing. It is a territory of great size and varied resources, well fitted to support a large permanent population. Alaska needs a good land law and such provisions for homesteads and pre-emptions . as will encourage permanent settlement. Wo should shape legislation with a view not td the exploiting and abandoning of the territory, but to the building up of home* therein. The Jand laws should be liberal in type, eo as to hold out inducements to the actual settler whom we ntost* ; dcrire to see take possession of the country. The. ' forests of Alaska should be protected, ana, as a , secondary but still important matter, the game ' also, and at the same time it is imperative that the settlers should be allowed to cut timber, under proper regulations, for their own use. Law? should ue enacted to. protect the Alaskan salmon . ( fisheries against the greed which would destroy them. They should be preserved as a permanent ' industry and food supply. Their management ! and control should be turned over to the commis- ( sion of fish and fisheries. Alaskk should have a [ delegate in the congress. It would be well if a I congressional committee could visit Alaska and j investigate fttf'needs on the ground. In dealing with the Indians our aim should be [ their ultimate absorption into the body of our people, but in many cases this absorption must and should be very slow. In portions of the Indian Territory the mixture of bdood has gone on at the same time with progre&B In wealth and education, so that there are plenty of men with ' varying degrees of purity of Indian bipod who are absolutely indistinguishable in point of social, anrl economic ability from their white associates. There are other tribes which have as i jet made no perceptible advance toward suclfc equality. To to" to force such tribes too fast is to prevent their going forward at all. Moreover, the tribes live under widely different conditions. Where a tribe has made considerable advance and. lives on fertile farming .soil it i3 possible to allot the members lands in severalty much as is the case with white settlers. There are other tribes where such a course is not desirable. On the arid prairie lands the effbtt should be to induce the Indians to lead pastoral rather than agricultural lives and to permit them to settle in villages rather than to force them into isolation. The large Indian schools situated remote from any Indian reservation do a special and peculiar work of great importance; but, excellent though j these are, an immense amount of additional work i must be done on the reservations themselves among the old, and, above all, among the young Indians. The first and most important step toward the absorption of the Indian is to teach him to eam his living, vet it is not necessarily to be assumed that in each community all Indians must become either tillers of the soil or stock raisers. Their industries may properly be diversify, and those who show special desire or adaptability* for industrial cr even commercial pursuits should be encouraged so far as practicable to follow out each his own bent. Every effort should be made to develop the Indian along the lines of natural aptitude and to encourage the existing native industries peculiar to certain tribes, such as the various kinds of basket weaving, canoe building, smith work and blanket work. Above all, the Indian boys and girls should be given confident command of colloquial English and should ordinarily be prepared for a vigorous struggle with the conditions under which thrir people live rather than for immediate absorption into some more highly developed community. The officials who represent the government in dealing with the Indians work under hard conditions and also under conditions which render it easy to do wrong and very difficult to detect wrong. Consequently they should be amply paid on the one hand, and en" the ether hand a particularly high standard of conduct 6bould be demanded from them, ar.d where misconduct can be proved the punishment should be exemplary. In no department of governmental work in recent years has there been greater success than in that of giving scientific aid to the farming population, thrreby showing them how most efficiently to help themselves. There i3 no need of insisting upon it3 importance, for the woifare of the farmer is fundamentsiiy .necessary to the welfare of the republic as a whole. In addition to such work as quarantine against animal and vegetable plagues, end warring against them when here introduced, much efficient help has been ren- ; dcred to the farmer by the introduction of now plants specially fitted for cultivation under the peculiar conditions existing in different portions of the country. New cereals have been established ia the semiarid west. Fop instance, the practi; __ I caLilftfof proiTucTnp the best Cymes' oTTfiiciro nT wheats In regions of en annual rainfall of only fen incnes or thereabout Las been conclusively dt monstf of ed: Through the introduction of navr rices in Louisiana and Texasi the production of rice in this country has been made to about equal the home demand. In the southwest the possioilr ity of regrassing overstocked range lands has been demonstrated; in the nortiz many new forage crops have been introdueed, while in the east it1 has been shown that some qf our choicest fruits Can be stored and shipped in such a way as to find a profitable market abroad. I again recommend to the favorable consideration of the congress the plans of the Smithsonian institution for making the museum under its charge worthy of the ratfcir and for preserving; at the national capital not only records of the vanishing races of men, bat of th^Spnimals of thitf continent which, like the buffalo, ^viil soon become extinct unless specimens fropi which their representatives may be renewed ar*s8ought in th>ur native regions and maintained there in safety. The District of Columbia is the only part d our territory in which the national government exercises local or municipal functions and where; in consequence the government has a free hand in reference to certain types of social and eco-' nomic legislation which must be essentially local or municipal in their character, nie government, should E.:e to it, for instance, that the hygienic and sanitary legislation affecting Washington is of a high character. The- evils of slum dwellings,1 whether in the shape of crowded and congested! tenement house districts or of the bach alley! trpe, should never be permitted to grow up in Washington. The city should be a model in every respect for ell the cities of the country. Tha charitable and correctional systems of the Disy trict should receive consideration at the hand3 of the congTess to the end that they may embody the results of the most advancod thought in these" fields. Moreover, while Washington is not g great industrial city, there is some industrialiara here,, and our labor legislation, while it would not bej important in itself, might be made a model fori tha rest of the nation. We should pass, for in?| stance, a wise employer's liability act for the District of Columbia, and we neca suclf an act in: our navy yards. Railroad companies in the Dis-j trict ought to be required by law to block their frogs. The safety appliance law, for the better protection of the lives and limbs of railway ehW ployees, Which was passed in 1S93, went into fulT effect on Aug. 1, 1901. It has resulted in averting thousands of casualties. Experience show*, however, the necessity of additional legislation to perfect this law. A bill to provide for this Eassed the senate at the last session. It is to be cped that some such measure may now be enacted into law. There is a growing tendency to provide for the publication of masses of documents for which' there is no public demand and for the printing of; which there is no real necessity. Large numbers! of volumes are turned out by the government printing presses for which there is no justification. Nothing should be printed by any of the depart-, ments unless it contains something of permanent value, and the congress could with advantage cut! down very materially on all the printing which! it has now become customary to provide. Thej excessive cost of government printing is a strong! argument against the position of those who are inclined on abstract grounds to advocate the gov-! ernment's doing any work which can with pro-| prieiy be left in private hands. Gratifying progress has been^made during the year in "the extension of the mem system of mak-i mg appointments in the government service. It! should be extended by law to the District of Go-! lumbia. It is much to be desired that our con-,' sular system be established by law on a basis providing for appointment and promotion only in consequence of proved fitness. Through a wise provision of the congress at its last session the White House, which had become disfigured by incongruous additions and change*, ha3 now been restored to wh*t it was planned to be by Washington. In making the restorations the utmost care has been exercised to come ah near as possible to the early plans and to supplement these plans by a careful study of such buildings as that of the University of Virginia, which was built by Jraerson. The White House 5? th? nronertv of the nation, and 80 far as is compatible with living therein it should b? kept as it originally was, for the same reasons that,' we keep Mount Vernon as it originally was. The stately simplicity of its architecture Is an ex* firession of the character of the period In which' t was built and is in accord with the purposes it was designed to serve. It is a good thing to preserve such buildings as historic monuments which keep alive our sense of continuity wfth the nation's past. The reports of the several executive depart* nents are submitted to the congress with this ommumcation. THEODORE ROOSEVELT, j MRS, GORE LAID TO REST. Funeral In Paris- Over Body of Murdered American Art Student. Consul General Govvdy, at Paris, has received a letter from M. Elsasser, of London, offering to furnish information to the family of Mrs. Gore, the American art student, which will assist, he says, in clearing up the facts in connection with her death in a Paris studio. Mr. Gowdy has written to Elsasses asking him to forward details. The funeral of Mrs. Gore took place at the American church in Paris Wednesday afternoon, and was attended by a large crowd, mainly Americans. "DOOLEY" SOON TO WED. Author Peter F. Dunne Decides to Join Army of Benedicts. According to a Chicago dispatch, "Mr. Dooley" is going to join the army of benedicts. He failed to tell his friend Hennessy about It, but that was hardly to be expected. However, the engagement of Finley Peter Dunne, who has made "Mr. Dooley" famous, to Miss Margaret Abbott, daughter of Mrs. Mary Abbott, has been announced. The bride is a former resident of Chicago, but has made her home in Paris for the past few years. She is described the typical 'American girl. COSTLY BLAZE AT KNOXV1LLE. Big Firm in Tennessee City is Burned Out for Second Time. . Fire at Knoxville, Tenn., Saturday morning destroyed the large stock and handsome Tennessee marble business house of M. L. Ross & Co., wholesale grocers. This firm was totally burned out in the big million and a half dollar fire in Knoxville in 1S97. It at once rebuilt its business house on the same site. ? MILL AND POSTOFFICE ROBBED. Professionals Get in Good Work at Enoree. South Carolina. Burglars dynamited the safe in the office of the Enoree Manufacturing Company at Enoree, South Carolina, at an early hour Thursday morning, securing 53,000 in cash. In addition the same in the postoffice, which was the safe in the postoffice, which was and- $300 in stamps and money secured. The mill authorities offer a reward of $500 for the arrest of the men who were evidently professionals in their line. IMMENSE COASTWISE CARGO. Steamship Carries 10,222 Bales Cotton and 786 Tons Iron. The steamship City of Memphis, of the Ocean Steamship Company, sailed from Savannah for Boston Friday afternoon with 10,222 bales of cotton and 786 tons of pig iron. This is the record coastwise cargo from the port. The cotton is worth, in round figures, $400,000. In number of bales, larger cargoes of cotton have been shipped to foreign ports, but this is the largest and most valuable domestic shipment of cotton that ever left the port. By the recent census the population ?f New Zealand is fixed at 815.820. ? * ' ' : : " "Ir I SOUTH CAROLINA \ J STATE NEWS ITEMS. J 4. Postoffice Safe is Cracxed. Early last Sunday morning the postpffice at Hartsville, -aruncton county, was robbed of about $200. Most of it was government funds. The safe was broken open. No clew to the robpers has been found. * e * New South Carolina industries. The Chattanooga tradesman reports the following new industries in this state for the past week: Paxville, saw mill; Columbia, $50,000 mining company; Chester, $10,000 land and lumber company; Orangeburg, dry kiln; McCall, $1,000,000 cotton mill. V Decapitated by a Train. A. G. Waite, a merchant at Westminster, attempted .to cross the track I Sunday night before the southbound vestibule on the Southern railway. He was struck by the engine, thrown on the track and his head crushed off. He leaves a wife and one child. o * Partridges Not Protected. Partridges are being offered for sale throughout the state, although there is a law against selling any bird killed in this state, and the law is good for five years. Birds brought to South Carolina from other states, can be offered for sale, and it is not known how any officer of the law can distinguish between the South Carolina bird and one from elsewhere. e * Reward Offered for1 Burglars. Burglars dynamited the safe in the office of the Ennoree Manufacturing Company at Enoree, securing $3,000 in cash. In addition the safe in the postomce, which was. in the same building, was also opened and $300 in stamps and money secured. The mill authorities, offer a reward of $500 for the arrest of the men, who were evidently professionals i% their line. * * Fell to instant Death. While working on the addition to the mill of the American Spinning Company at Greenville, Jim Bain, a carpenter, fell from the fourth story, a distance of 55 feet. His head struck the ground floor first, smashing it almost into a jelly Bain was engaged in handling a pile of lumber and backed unconsciously into a well hole used for conveying lumber from the first floor. * * * To Move Railroad Shops. : The Carolina and Northwestern railroad will remove the company shops from Chester, this state, to Gastonia, North Carolina. The buildings at Chester are totally inadequate to the needs of the company, and it is also inconvenient for the headquarters of the road to be located at that end of the line. It has been intimated that if the road is extended across ; the mountain, the location of the shops at Gastonia is only temporary, as it would be advisable to have the company's works either at Lenoir or Hickory. ? * * Two Federal Officials Dead. George I. Cunningham, United States marshal for the district of ^ i s\A in PV>o rl natATl OUULUL uicu 111 vuui iv/uwvm the past week, at the age of 67 years. He was one of the most picturesque characters in South Carolina. He came to this state from East Tennessee when a boy, and from a butcher's apprentice, became a millionaire. He was republican mayor of Charleston two terms during military rule, and was appointed United States marshal in 1869. He served one term as postmaster of -Charleston, and was about two months ago again appointed United States mar hal. Col. C. J. Fuston, clerk o. the Uni- j ted States district court, died at his home in Hampton county a few days ) ago. These two vacancies in promi nent federal offices will be much sought after. New County Proposed. The latest new county scheme is one to be carved out of portions of Abbeville, Edgefield and Greenwood, to be called Calhoun, with McCormick as the county seat. A petition has been presented to the governor asking that an election be held, and it is alleged to have the necessary number of signers to make it constitutional. This and all other constitutional requirements will be vaminaH hv the attornev general of the state, and if found to be in order the governor will order an election. The petition states that it is proposed to cut off 159 square miles from Abbeville, 62 from Greenwood and 185 from Edgefield, making in all 463 square miles?just three more than is required by the constitution. The number of inhabitants in the proposed county will be 15,364 and the taxable property is valued at $1,721,636. Should the scheme go through all the territory that can be taken from Abbeville will have been cue off, and the same may be said of Edgefield; In which case, too. the idea of forming a new country with North Augusta as the county seat will be knocked out. * * * To Investigate Wreck. It is learned that the investigation cf the terrible wreck which occurred at Spartanburg when No. 35, the fast mail from Washington, was wrecked, will be held in Charlotte. The crew who were in charge of the cars which ran away ha7e been suspended from work, if is said, pend* ing the result of the investigation. The engineer and fireman, however, are not being held, as they are in no wise regarded as bearing any responsibility in the matter. It is reported the runaway cars were standing on a side track at the junction, and the main line switch was open. The three cars which caused the wreck had been standing on the siding about an hour before the cars rolled off. The crew, at the junction claim that they did not know when the cars started down the grade toward Spartanburg on the fatal trip NEGRO'S ONLY TRUE FRIEND |? Is the White Man of the South, Say? General Gordon in Lecture at Booker Washington's School. "Standing in the presence and meat* uring well my words, with the fear o? ' God upon me, I declare to yon that the southern white man is the best ||| friend the negro in the south has." Such was the deliverance of Gen-. | eral John B. Gordon under dramatic g circumstances before the teachers rM and students of the Tuskegee (Ala.) 'ipi institute, Booker T. Washington^ school, last Saturday night The general, accompanied by for-1|B mer Congressman James E. Cobb and Hon. C. W. Hare, had but a moment before entered the spacious audita* rium of the school, and had received . ^ a welcome as warm and as hearty as any he has ever received from any"' audience of his own race. With one . accord as he entered the door, the 'Xg 1,800 students from the twon of Tns* :f kegee Jumped to their feet and made the welkin ring with salvos of welcome, interspersed with the college ,* yell of the male students as a huge American flag was hoisted to the raftIn a voice trembling with emotion, ||| the battle-scarred veteran of the civil war,, a commander of confederate ; troops, faced his audience of .black &tu> , dents to deliver his famous lecture, "The Last Days of the Confederacy." *J? He paid an unstinted word of praise to the faithfulness of those of the H negro race who, with so much of faith- ^ fulness,,, befriended and cared for the % wives and sisters of the confederate . * soldiers who went to the front in a war having for its issue the continuation of slavery. "Such a record," said the general, ' "stands to the credit of no other race on the face of the globe." He also paid a beautiful tribute to the old plantatlon songs sung with sucn power and beauty . by these Tuskegee students, ||| and thanked them and the principal of' the school for their preservation. . After the lecture General Gordon re- M marked that he was altogether unpre- .;v|| pared for the heartiness and cordiality and unusualness of the reception tendered him by the students 01 Booker ^ Washington's school. CASTRO YIELDS TO BILL. Hands Kaiser Written Acceptance of claims Aaalnst Venezuela. ?5 A special from Berlin, Germany,-||H says; President Castro, of Venezuela, . handed, probably on last Thursday, to yji the German minister at Caracas a I written acceptance of part of Germany's claims sufficiently comprehen- ; -] sible to delay the presentation of a Jmfl joint ultimaiSm by Germany and Great Britain, if not rendering It altogether unnecessary. It is also- un?-|M derstood that Great Britain's demands ?ksS will be satisfied. Foreign Secretary Von RichUofen and the.British foreign secretary, AiigS Lord Lansdowne, are now in correspondence over .Venezuela's change of ^ front. This government considers % that a peaceful settlement o_ the ques- v ; > tions in dispute is quite probable, and ^|| attributes President Castro's yielding to the fact that he has become aware that the United States would not interpose any obstacle to the forcible collection of the claims of Germany and Great Britain. VALUABLE POUCH MISSING. Mail Sack Containing $23,000 Cannot. be Accounted For. A sack of mail containing $14,000 in drafts and checks from the internal revenue office at Danville, Ky., and,.; /^ $9,000 in bank checks and Grafts be- . eiiioa rpcistpred letters from various parties, was stolen or lost between the . ||fi Danville post office and the depot or. on the Cincinnati mail train ten day* ago. James Hocker, the mail carrier, says he delivered the sack to the mail agent on the train, but the mail agent says Hocker did not. Carlton Bank Burglarised. The bank of Carlton, Ga., was bor- /^| glarized Sunday morning. The safe was blown open with dynamite and / about $89 were secured by the rob- * js bers. There were about $1,000 in the Jgj safe that the robbers missed. WEST WILL NCT SUFFER. ' Secretary of Agriculture so States J?| Anent Foot and Mouth Disease. The west is not to suffer because .of " . the epidemic of hoof and mouth disease of cattle, hogs and sheep in the New England states, says Secretary. * . 1 ?_ jsS of Agriculture wnson, wno arrived i? Chicago Sunday night to attend the International Livestock exposition. "The indications are that we will be successful in stamping out the disease before it reaches this section," said the secretary. .-,V 'y?gfk STRIKE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. Street Car Conductors and Motorjnen Make a Number of Demands. The street car conductors and motormen at Houston, Texas, walked out Monday morning and traffic was stopped. The question of rules submitted by the men is the Keystone of the trouble. The men claim they have been working twelve and thirteen hours a day for less than $2 and they demand $2 for nine hours' work. They also demand recognition of the union and the adoption of certain rule#. _ .