Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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I VOL. VIII. THK KIOTO KM CONVENTION. A Vn-j I.lvely ConToronw?Prohubilillon ?>r No Convention hi All?Primaries to Nominate tlie CJovemor. A meeting of the Lie form leaders was hold in Washington last week and the indications arc that it was not marked hv till4 L?T <???. est. i mn iri tui ).1.\ liiiiM.wmir The reports seem to show that the re* suit of the conference will be to take the nominat ion of our next Governor out of the hands of a convention and leave it to the primaries to do so. Some of the particulars of the meeting, s ? far as they have become public, are given below and will be read with interest : Washington, .Ian. 124.?The decis ion announced in the Associated lVess that there shall he no Reform convention prior to the general primary is said to have been reached late this eveninir by Tillman and Irby, with but little consultation with the other leaders. The Kllerbo-Rowden faction have not yet decided whether to accept this plan: hut will probably do so. It is said that John Gary Kvans believes that if he can get on the stump beforo the people he can wipe out the opposition. Governor Tillman, of South Cam Una. arrived in the city yesterday for the purpose of transacting some business in connection with the dispensary of his State. Incidental to that business. there was held in the committee room of Senator Irby at the capitol a conference attended by Governor Tillman, Senator Irby, Representatives Strait. Talhcrt. Ratiiner and McLaurin and Col. Neal, superintendent of the Stato penitentiary. This conference was for the purpose M.t t b? 1. ? .. -is ??i vuiioiurnil^ ? Mill ? 11 ."j lilt* ijusi | K11 I i' \ for the Democrats to pursue in tho i coming election in South Carolina and resulted, (iovernor Tillman said, in a practically unanimous agreement. Senator lrby is chairman of the State j Democrat committee, and Governor Tillman is tho leader of what is known as Deform Democrats, and the representatives present represent districts that were carried by the same wing of the party. There are two factions in ! the State advocating different policies, the one favoring a convention in the spring for the purpose of nominating candidates to go before the primaries, and tho other favoring a free-for-all race by the primaries to be hold during the month of August. The members of tlie caucus agreed that it would he better not to hold the convention, for the reason that it would look as if the attempt, was being made to forestall tho people in their choice, and the primary form of selecting candidut.OK will hi> i-i?i'omn\i?n<l,><l It is'understood that this result was not reached without a heated discussion, and it was said that Representative McLaurin. because of an aUuslon to one of bis friends, who belonged to the Third party, withdrew from the conference before any conclusion was reached, not, however, until be bad replied to the statements made by Mr. Irby, who is credited with having made the speech at which Mr. McLaurin took olTence. cciul to the C'o'uinbin Register. Washington, .Ian. 23.?A portion of the South Carolina delegation bad a very stormy meeting to-day. There were present Governor Tillman Senator Irby, Congressmen McLaurin, Latimer, Strait, Talbert and Colonel Neal. The question of holding a spring convention came up. In the course of his remarks, Senator Irby animadverted very seriously upon Mr. liowuon us u third 1'arty i to, ami said he would no sooner alliliatc with him than ho would with .1. lleudrix McLano. or with any hlaok Republican. Mr. MeLaurin resented this and said that ho was Bowdon's friend and would not submit to his bolng spoken of in this way; that Bowden was as good a Democrat as Irby, and that if ho had boon called to conference to hear his friends abused ho would withdraw. Senator Irby repeated his offensive remarks and MeLaurin withdrew. Several conferences were held , before from which MeLaurin and Shell . t. > were excluded, and it was reported that all had been fixed before Mc.Laurin was sent for. Senator John G. Kvans. gubernatorial candidate, was in Senator Irhy's room in conference, but left when MeLaurin came in. ?pec'nl to the News and Courier. Washington, January 2J1.?Governor Tillman is not a success as a restorer of harmony. The Governor and his Reform friends from South Carolina who are in Congress held another conference to-day, which broke up in a row. Messrs. Irby, Latimer, Strait and Talbert and Governor Tillman hold a meeting yesterday in Senator Irhy's committee room at the Capitol. Representatives Shell and MeLaurin were excluded from yesterday's conference, the proceedings of which were supposed to be sacred to thoso who par ticipatod. To-day those gentlemen met in the committee room, but there was one additional participant, Representative MeLaurin. Capt. Shell was a^ain ignored on the ground that Senator Irby looks upon the shrewd Captain as a "suspicious political character." It is apparent from to-day's revelations that the peace conference of yesterday must have had something back of it, for as soon km Messrs. Shell and Mel.anrin heard that thoro was a disposition on the part of tho Governor to assume a neutral attitude, but at tho same time to lean toward Senator Irby as against Capt. Shell, thoro was blood on the face of the Shell moon. The conference yesterday had cut and dried a plan of fe future action and then invited Mr. McLaurln to come into their camp. The latter was not supposed to know anything about yesterday's conference, and tho plan outlined in tho Nows and Courier this morning was to bo unfolded to him under the head of " now business." Mr. McLaurih was cocked and primed for tho conference, and naturally he was on his guard, and perhaps ho was a triflo suspicious. Soon after tho conference assembled thero arose a spirited controversy between Senator Irby and Representative McLaurin. growing out of certain reflections upon Capt. Shell and Mr. Bowden by Senator Irby. It is understood that high words passed between Sonator Irby and Ropreeemtative McLaurln, and there is no tolling what thb revolt might have boon hud not Mr. McLaurin declared that ho would not romain to hoar his frionds ahusod. Ho thereupon withdrew from tho oonforonoo boforo any progress towards adjusting tho difforonoos hotwoon tho two faotions had hoon made. All of tho parties to tho oonforonoo arc reticent on tho subject, and in tho absenoo of further details theroaro the i wildest kind of rumors ulloat in Congressional circles. \Vakhin<;t<)n. .Ian. ill.?Anothorconference of tlie South Carolina Reformers was held to-day, and it is under I stood that Governor Tillman was authorized to make a statement in the line with the conclusions reached at the Monday consultation in Senator Irby'a committee room. It appears that Representative .Mel.aurin was induced to attend another conference, at which the differences between Senator Irby and himself were amicably adjusted and the personalities of yesterday were "blotted out." This docs not mean that Mr. McLaurin retracted what he said yesterday in defence of Capt. Shell and Mr. Bowden, but it simply means that a t ruce has been declared and the question of culling the J convention is to be left to the rcpreseni tatives of the 14 Reform " movement in I the various counties in the State. It remains to he seen whether the Gover; nor will name the men who are to be ! recognized as the representative men ! in the " Reform" movement: The pi oeeedings of to-day's confer' ctice were conducted in a more orderly i manner, and while the impression has been given out that peace has been ro1 stored among the Irby and Shell factions, it is said by those who are on thr inside that it means that the Governor does not approve of the course taken by Senator Irby. Capt. Shell is still 44 outside of the breastworks," as he was not at the conference to-day. The latter is still full of light, and while tho olive branch is worn by the Governor and those who were in consuuauon wiin lilin to-day. several of the participants are supposed to have " knives up thoir sleeves" ready for use should Senator Irby insist upon making' himself too conspicuous in the organization of the convention. Governor Tillman indicated his friendly feeling towards Representative McLaurin by accepting the latter's hospitality ait dinner to-night. It is whispered arotyid in the South Carolina colony that the outcome of : the conference between the (Jovernor and his friends in Congress will be the retirement of Senator 1 rby from the chairmanship of the Democratic party in the State. lie does not admit such a contingency, lint theio seems to be an impression hero that ho will either retire before his term as chairman expires or he will not be given a re-election. lie is not happy over the present c< ndition of all'airs. hut he is endeavoring to "smile and look pleasant.'' As the matter now stands it looks as though both Senator Irby and ('apt. Shell wil be deprived of the privilege of calling the convention. If the Governor's advice is followed the whole question of naming the next Governor of South Carolina will he referred to the primaries, and the result will be a grand scramble for the nomination. Mr. Bowden left for homo feeling confident that lie had gained a slight advantage over Senator Irby by the decision of Governor Tillman. Speeia' to l'he State. Washington, Jan. 24.?Governor Tillman will leave hero for home tonight. It is evident that he has dropped squarely on the Irby side of the fence. Before he left ho expressed himself as being strongly against any convention of Reformers, and in favor of a free-for-all primary. Thistwill j prooamy no accepted by the Elerbe element, and wo may begin to clear the fort for a battle royal in South Carolina. T1IE PRESIDES'r EN'DOUSED. The House Committee's K<>|iort on Hawaii (Viisiiith SlcpliriiS. Washington, January 25.?The house committee on foreign affairs today, by a strict party vote, authorized Mr. MeCrcary. of Kentucky, to report favorably liis resolution defining the attitude, of congress towards Hawaii. Tho resolution reads as follows, and will probably be reported to the house to-morrow : " Resolved first, That it is the sense of this house that the action of tho United States minister in employing United States naval forces and in illegally aiding in overthrowing the constitutional government of the Hawaiian Islands iff January, 181)3, and in setting up in its place a provisional government, not republican in form and in opposition to j the will of tho majority of tho people, | was contrary to the traditions of our republic and the spirit of our eonstitu tlon, and should be and is condemned. " Second. 'I'hnt. wr? hnm>t.ilu i the principle announced l>y the prosi- j dent of the United States that inter ferenco with the domestic a flairs of an independent nation is contrary to the ! spirit of the American constitution ; j and it is further tho sense of this house i that tho annexation of tho Hawaiian , islands to our country or the assumption of a protectorate over them by our government is uncalled for and is in- | expedient: that the people of tho coun- ; try should have absolute freedom and \ independence in pursuing their own lino of policy, and that foreign intervention in the political affairs of the I islands will not be regarded with indifforenco by the government of tho United Statos." The resolution respresents the scnti- j i ments of nine Democratic members of thocommitttoo, and will form tho bnsis of a discussion of tho Hawaiian matter in tho house. Chairman MoCreary ex- ! pecte to bring the matter to tho atten- j ticn of tho house as soon as tho tariff bill is disposed of, Tuesday or I 1 ? I ifcuuosuay next. ' The republican members of tho cominitteo spoke and voted against the resolution and will file a minority roport. and substitute for tho MeCreary resolution. Mr. Ilitt, of Illinois, tho leading Republican On the ! committee, was unable to attend today on aeeount of sickness. Ho will probably draw the minority report and substitute for tho MeCreary resolution Tho nature of tin* report and substitute oaunot be pscortainced until Mr. Hitt is coryfulted by his re'pfublilftn colleagues. I. . k/ CONWAY, 8. C. i THK IXCOMK T<\\. Favorable Claims dm 11??* I'ai t nl' its I'i IimiiIs?I hcj Think it Will I'nss Ihillt IIoiincs. Friends of tin* income tux on the ways and tueuna committee express j thcinsolves with threat continence that j 11 whs oe 111 mil* a pari 01 Hie Wilson I bill, despite predictions to tlio contrary. it will pass tho IIouso anil will, also, thoy say, pass tho Senuto. Thoy luivo made somo careful inquiries into tho subject and count upon forty-live votes in the Senate. This would easily insure its passage, whether tho finance committee should make a favorable report or not. This poll includes a considerable number of Republicans, and among that number thoy name Senators Teller. Stewart. I'ettigrew, Hunsbrough, and others. As Mr. Tel'or is understood to favor this tax. they conclude by inference that Senator Walcott also my be included in the list, although his position has not been sounded to justify a reliable prodiction. in tho House, said one of tho members last night, the entire opposition among tho Democrats to an income tax is conlincd to fifteen. This information has been obtained as tho result of a careful investigation by the friends of the measure. The calculation is made with reference solely to the result that will be shown when the members are called upon to face tho ordeal of a yea and nay vote. This takes into account only what is likely to take place if the measure is made an independent issue before the House and does not come before it. as a part of the Wilson bill. The expressed opposition, as evidenced by talk in the cloak rooms, is estimated to be conlincd to i iiinv-iivc i /einorrais. vSiion111 t he iiicomo tax be attached to tho tariff bill as an amendment, doubt on tho subject in the minds of nearly itlI these Demo- i cratie members will be resolved in favor of the pending' measure, and the actual opposition will probably not exceed five. To offset the most liberal estimate which the fMends of the income tax have formed of the strength of the opposition, they say they can rely upon ten Populist votes for the i Wilson bill if the income tax is incor- | porated with it, but that in either case the Democratic vote is strong enough to carry both propositions unaided. Representative Sibley, of Pennsylvania, takes another view of the j chances which the income tax has of | becoming a law. '"This opposition." ho said, in his j picturesque way, " to the income tax i comes from less, much less, than 1 per cent. of the population of this country, who from their abundance would be asked to pay taxes proportioned to their prosperity. Can Eastern members, in compliance with the demands of less than 1 per cent, of the people by threats of defeat of the tariff bill. force an abandonment of tlio income tax. and lie called pood Democrats? "And if members of Congress here," contintinued Mr. Sibley, "responsive to t he demands of over t>!) per cent, of of the people, insist that this shall be j made a feature of the bill and wo say that unless the demands of !)!) per cent, of the peo])le are heeded, wo will not I support the bill, are we to be road out of the party ? Which is the Democratic end of this quest ion ? Is it the j end backed by NO per cent, of the wealth and 1 per cent, of the population. or the end which has L'o per cent. ! of the wealth and over bfi per cent, of the populat ion ? My conception of Democracy impels me to believe that pure Democracy is represented by the ! wishes and the welfare of the masses. 1 Are tho bowlings of syneophatie politicians, and the adverse criticism of a subsidized press, controlled by a money- i ed aristocracy, perforce to fix our status Democrats? No; the fire,! sweeping from the pates of boll, re- j presented by the press of tho modern Babylon founded near the pates there- j of. shall never reach the feet of those who stand on the mountain tops of Democratic truth. But farewell income tax for this year. Your friends are not lackimr. but vmir f.nomiou have the fortress and all the ammunition." The opponents of tho income tax have heen stirred t?? renewed activity since the details of the measure have become known. Mr. Sporry says the : committee lias not overcome the main ; objection, that an income tax is inquisitorial. They do not pry into the ; incomes of citizens, but leave it for the I citizens having an income of over j $:{,:?(Hi to voluntarily 'make a report as to whether his income exceeds $-1,00(1! This "voluntary" provision gives no protection to the citizen. Tho Govern- i mcnt assessors will select such citizens ' who have not made a voluntary state- | mcnt, and will pry into their affairs. Mr. Sporry says that the voluntary I system "puts a premium on liars." Business men who are in the habit of giving credit at from four to six months cannot toll the amount of their income, he says, if tho boos accounts are paid, it represents income, otherwise it represents loss. Mr. Spcrry says there is no practical means of obviating this difficulty. Tho plan to have the disbursing officer of. firms or corporations nay tbo tax on salaries of employees, Mr. Sporry says, is manifestly unjust. A salary is easily ascertainable, and is not like the uncertain orofits of il hnsini'M* firm Mr. Ilall, of Missouri, who is looked upon as tho originator of the income tax proposition, has this to say in reply to some of tho objections to an income tax : " Ono of the objections urged against the income tax is that it is inquisitorial in its character. So is the customhouse tax inquisitorial. Does not the custom-house oftloor not only ransack and go through every trunk and box that you have, but take you into a j separato room and strip you naked and examine every crevice of your clothing? Is not tho internal revenue tax on in its character. So is tho customswhiskey and tobacco inquisitorial ? Is not personal property taxation, which is rosorted to by thirty-nine out of forty-four States of the Union, inquisitorial when it requires a man to make an affidavit to every dollurs's worth of personal property that ho has. notes, bonds and property of every kind and character, and allows an officer to go into his wife's wardrobe and drag out her watch and jewelry and all her finery ? And yot tho same men who tyave suocee^ed iu pa^ug ijieqq law* in the States now come forward and , THURSDAY, FEBRU : oppose an income tax on the ground that it is inquisitorial. "Some of the enemies of this i meusuro proposed to defeat it on tho ground that it would iiumr groat ox- i ponse. Tho recordsshow that tho cost of oollectin# taxes in the custom-houses is .'Ml per cent.: on whiskey, tobacco and eleomargarino, 2.8, and only l.tl under this hill. u Another of their silly arguments is that tho income tax is a reward for [ perjury. Instead of this measure ho- : in# a reward to perjury, if we refuse to pass it because this claim s made then the refusal to pass from such an ! argument will he a reward to a threat cued perjury. "One of the most inexpl cable things to me is the opposition by the wealthy classes of the I'nited States. This 1 bill might have been entitled ' A Bill ! to Suppress Doinairoirrv and t.h?? : ( rowth of Anarchy undSocialism.' In ; conversation with one of tho ablest ' lawyers of this country, ho made this < remark : ' Woro 1 the local advisor of i the consolidated wealth of the United States I should advise them to ? advocate just such an income tax hill i t as this, because it shows a willingness I "< upon tho part of wealth to bear some j ' of the burdens of governmental taxa- ? tion and relieves the poor from that 1 burden. If this bill is defeated the i demagogue can then well go upon the t stump and say that tho wealth of this j v (tovernment. while it receives tho pro- teetion and defense of all other classes, j I refuses to bear any of the burdens for t its support.' " A very able lawyer from the South t was making an address in tho city of i i Boston to a number of business men of I that city. He was their friend and ? told them that the only way to keep i down the agitation of the income tax ? was to take their children out of the I t colleges and universities f this coun-I I try. That is true, became it is very 1 n safe to say that 1)11 per < out. of the i t greatest economic writers of this coun- , n try or any ot her country have advocat- j | ed an income tax." I TAIiMIti.SKiNATION. a c Monetary Troubles in Ills Church Ac- h touted the ltesignation. (l New York World. ( The Kev. T. l)e Witt Tiitinago start- I led his larce eoneroirnt.inn in tin. ( lyn Tabernacle Sunday week by 1 I announcing his resignation of liis of- j I lieo us pastor of tho church. Ho hud u just preached a Hcrinon of unusual ' v eloquence, through which lunl run a f sorrowful vein. It was one of trouble. b 11 is text was from Revolutions : " And r God shall wipe away all tours frotn thoir eyes." After ho had finished C tho sermon proper he said : "This coming Spring I will have a been pastor of this church twenty-live \ t yours, tincl u quurtor of a century is f< louo enough for any minister to preach ! n in one place. At that anniversary ' v will resiyn this pulpit, and it will uo li occupied by such persons us you may a select. ii " Though the work has been urdu c ous, because of the unpurulled necessity 1; of building three yreat churches, two (I of them beinjy destroyed bv lire, the v field has been delightful and blessed of i v God. e " No other conyrejfuti( n has ever h been called to build thro - churches, e and I hope no other pastor will ever be t called to such u fearful undertaking. J h My plans after resi^nin r have not o been developed, but I s tall preach | f< both by voice and newspaper press so C lonjc as my life and health ire continu- i c (Ml. I " From first to lust wo have boon a united peoplo, and my forvont thanks are to all the boards of triiitecs and el- : dors, whether of the present or past, i and to all tho congregation and to I Brooklyn. ' I have no vocabulary whoreby j to express my gratitude to the news- j paper press of these cities for tho | generous manner in which they have treated me and advanced my work for i this quarter of a century. ' After such a long pastorate it is a painful thing to break the ties of affection, but I hope our friendship will ho ronowod in heaven." Tho announcement was as sudden as < it was startling. I)r. Talniago gave no warning of it in his discourse, and when it came the vast audience was as if stunned. There was a deathlike stillness through tho church while ho was speaking, and nearly a minute 1 passed after the doctor had finished before it was broken. Tnon subdued ; murmurs wore heard, which were taken j up in every pew, and most widespread comment was begun. Tho closing ! hymn was sung in mclat. 'holy tones, i the congregation filed out md Dr. Talmago left. j The Tabernacle, dosnite the, fact. that. < it represents the largest congregation ! a in either Brooklyn or New York, has e had a hard and rough road to travel, > t and is now,far from the quiet harbor ; t of prosperity. Dr. Talmago has been v its guiding star through n any a storm, i His managing power, tact and elo- t quenco l.ave drawn thousands to the ji church. His energy and love of the s cause for which he labored have aided t him in solving intricate problems of i how to carry his church over daily in- a creasing obstacles whero others would s have failed. H is untiring perseverance 11 has gained a name for himself and his church, and now, when twenty-five a years of labor should have brought him to the goal ho has fought for, ho has resigned, and his people ask why. v A probable reason is that after this e last year, when a whole-souled response s j to a call for help was Imperative and I when the strain was more pressing by f an immediate demand for some of its | indebtedness, the congregation was s weighed and found wanting. t i ?A New Yeur's dance at Cedar, c | Texas, was interrupted by tho killing i of throe of tho dancers, tho fatal j t wounding of a fourth, tho serious ' i wounding of two others and the dis-U abling of half a dozen moro by pistol 1 i and rifle bullets. One girl was shot'' dead, another received a bullet in tho t face, another was wounded In tho mid- \ Idle of the forehead j nd another j i \ through tho right arm It was all J j over in a few minutes, bi t it broke up 1 j tho dance. ! 1 Wt? ? | (Jen. Henry If. Jackson is the only < .living member of tho rish Jasper i j Greens, a company of nil oty-four men i whp went out from Savutrtfa'h id tVd 1 | Mexican war. 1 ? :.. _L:J rrrzrz ..rzi. wc AllY 1, 1894 XDVOC.VTKS A OKNKItAI. I'KI MA IIV. (hivernor Tillman Spruits Wl? li Weill to Washington llis \ .i??vh oi Stale Polities (Mllco Scckri'N ar r.nViveselnu. Columbia Ik'^isler, IWlli inst. Governor Tillman returned to tlv I'ity yesterday from Washington and in view of tho faet that all eyes ii the States have heon turned in tha direction of Into by reason of the din patches and letters from Senator Irlr ami others, which have been sent fron there, thero is a deep interest felt ii the State as to the object and result o his visit. The reporters swarmed around tin Kxoeutive Mansion as soon as thoj learned that Governor Tillman luu rone lied the city, and his Kxcellencj submitted to an interview with as goot grace as possible. "In the lirst place," said he, "I lesire to state that my visit to Washington hud nothing to do with the pre valent discussion on the subject of n convention. I had intended to go t? that city before the Legislature met md have been arranging my businesskvith a view to that visit. I desired, md took occasion while there, to investigate the delay in refunding tin nterest and penalties on the direct ax because I felt that now, if ever, vhen our people along" the coast art i ? > , > W MvnvivilbV, IIH-V SIKMIUI IUIVO XI1C jenefit of this pittance in their tlinress. " Another purpose of my visit was o appear before the .lutlieiary Cone nittee of the House in support ol egislation looking to relief from the isurpation of the I'nited States .I utiles n the matter of receiverships, taxes ui railroads, ,Ve. 1 also had a pleasant onTerence with the Commissioner ol ntcrnul Kevonue, Mr. Miller, with a iew to explaining the situation in ho State among the small distillers mil I made an effort to enlist the suplort of the Commissioner in a project have for establishing a bonded wareiouso at Columbia where all of the mull distillers could store their liquor ifter purchase by the State so that we ould ago it before entering' into conumption and before paying the tax in it. 1 directed the attention of the commissioner to this matter with the lope of having him given authority bv congress to do this, (for he does not aissess it now as 1 am informed) and io took very kindly to the idea, specially when I assured him that if tro could tind steady and quick sale or all the liquor that is made in the itato, it would largely increase the ovenue of the National government." "Hut. (fovcrnor, what about South curolina politics V" " Well, as the impression has gone broad from our enemies that I went here solely with a view to have a cotluren CO with Senator l r)>v mill numbers 011 this all absorbing topic, I .'ill bo very frank with you. In the rst pinoo. speaking for myself and for II of those who represent us in VVashngton and who participated in the onferenee, we desire it to ho distinety understood that we do not assume to 0 more than give expression to our iews and offer advice to the people .'bom we represent as to the best ourse to pursue. I found that there .as been a desperate effort by our ncinies to sow seeds of discord among Ik; leaders of the Ueform Movement oth here and in Washington. Those f us who were present in the conerenee that was held, after a full disussion of existing conditions and onsidoration of the question in all Is bearings, arrived at the conclusion hat the agitation for an early condition and the calling of one are un1 iso." " Hut, Governor, I thought it was ndorstood that you favored a convonion ?" "No; there you are mistaken. I avo given the matter serious thought ml have always doubted the propriety nd wisdom of a convention. There re strong arguments in its favor inking from a certain standpoint, but hero are stronger arguments against t when we consider the situation as a diolo. I dislike to discuss this (plosion in any spirit other than from a isintorosted and impartial standto int. and my only excuse to the peo>le for obtruding my opinion upon hem (and I will say here that it is the pinion, after deliberation among all f our friends in Washington) is that , iia me acKnowiodged leader and exonent of the Koform Movement, could /ith 11101*0 property assume to advise lie people than any other one man. 11 the llrst place, it must bo romom* icrod that the fundamental principle ndcrlying the Farmers' Movement in iouth Carolina and the issue I made lore prominent than any othr r in the ampuign of I8IH), was the demand for primary election at which each and very voter would have the opportuniy of voicing his own wishes as to hose who should he put in oilico ; and ,'c went so far in that direction as to neorporate in the March platform ho demand for such primary and 11 uint canvass by those who sought the ulTrages of the people. I consider hat that issue alone was paramount u the minds of the people in the unnimity with which they rallied to my upport and that all others wore ol 11 i nor importance. " Now this demand for a convention .niong Reformers arises from a desire -an honest ono, I am ready to admit -on the part of many, to prevent wrangling in our own ranks and to oncentrato our forces in support ol omo one candidate. Hut what then incomes of the grand principles of ti reo, fair, Open tight before the pooile and discussion by the candidates il iuch convention l>e hold V In 18IM), iftor being1 dofeatod in the campaigns >f '80 and '88 by reason of our disirganized condition, the lie form I)onocrata decided to moet in convotv don, in order to pit organization iguinst organization and to forco a dis suasion of the issues beeauao nearly ill the newspapers wero against us rho ring at that time had full posses don of all tho party machinery. Thoj vero entrenohod in tho State Houao ind it was folt nocossary to formulate t plat form and put forth exponents o die principles declared In that plat form to canvass the State and to aroust die people to carry those principles t< victory. Tho conditions are entirely jhanged now. Tho Reformers are ii absolute possession of tho government both ip $Uato land dounty. exwont ij half a cfcMyt) cdunVfoV Wb ha\m ttr I- entire party machinery in our possession and if we hold a convention without a campaign in which all thoeune didatcs shall have a hearing, we It Stultify ourselves, forestall the will of ** the people, assume to dictate who shall he candidates for the offices and, ' hi truth, such a convention would bo 1 0 in the lijjht of facts a convention of , ! Reformers against Reformers. The a i machine which wo fought in IS!H) is t ; dead : it no I on (fer exists." " Well, Governor, what alxmt the Y argument in favor of a eonvontioti ?" 1 " There is only one argument, and i that is this: With say half a dozen I f men prominent in the Reform movement liml ulliiwl uit 1. if ..II .............. r? I ....x. n (Via at/, (III I lllllltllfg HIT | ? tho otllco of Governor It might bo possible for our opponents to give their i I strength to some one of those who; ; would l)o least ohjeetionahlo and most j I inclined to trade with thorn or make1 concessions if elected ; and thereby I tlie l 'onscrvatives in some of tho counties, and possibly in tho State eonven- j - tion, might hold tho balance of power, i This is tlie only argument that has ? ever prosonted itself to mo, and I think t, it is tho only one to anyone: but I ? think the pooole are sutlleiontly edu, catcd and can be relied upon to watch the words and remember the records of i tho various candidates so as to choose wisely who shall bo Governor and who shall till the other otlicers." ) "On the other hand, if we hold a i convention the trouble is that a largo contingent of our people, a majority probub'y. would take no hand in it. for i it is very early, and there are no signs of any perturbation anions tho masses, although there is a vast deal of otTor* i vesting in the minds of those who want I i to got ollice. In due t ime, after the crops are laid by or at least after | ' they an? well under way, the issues of ' the coming campaign, which f take to I he tin dispensary law and the holding of a constitutional convention, will he I thoroughly discussed by Reformersanil | antis ; uiul the people will no doubt 1 elect Hueb much men as will earrv out | 1 their wishos." "If after four years' discussion and agitation and another canvass our people shall not have become sufficiently educated to make a wise selection and see that only good men are put on < guard 1 fail to see how t he holding of a convention and forestalling their notion will better our condition. The danger of some weak men, who are | lacking in backbone nerve to continue and perfect the reforms which have been inaugurated during my incumbency, being o'reted is as nothing com- i pared to the danger of the people feel- j ing that they have been betrayed and that office is the paramount object j rather than the welfare of the commonwealth." " To return to the convention system, j after proclaiming our belief in the ability ami right of the people to gov- , ern themselves, is like a dog returning to his vomit, and I would he ashamed to go on the stump as the nominee of such a convention. Lot the men who desire to rule South Carolina win their spurs, as I won mine, by open discus- | siou and a fair light, and all will be woll. Lot any self-constituted leaders ; undertake to call a convention and ; nominate a ticket and the order to the | army of He formers toadvanco will only be obeyed by a small contingent. Do- ' nfffpnli'/n t u?n ? '11 .................... ...... I PL! I III I Hill. I< >11 Will ' surely follow nnd, whilotho .'l0,0(M)Conscrvativos aro ranged in serried j' phalanx, moving as one man, the lie- , form forces will bo scattered and divided. If we cannot trust the poo- , pie, they should not trust us; and, if my advico has any weight, they will absolutely rofflso to countenance any attempt to cheat them of the right of 1 sooing the aspirants for ofiico face to I face and judging them on their | merits." " I do not wish to say more and in j justico to myself and those who iiave trusted mo I cannot say loss. Of courso if the people want to hold a . convention it is their rigiit and they will do so anyway. No one can object, i 1 least, of all the candidates." How Old is tiik Potato??The j potato was introduced into Kuropo! from the Western Hemisphere. History has it that Christopher Columbus was the llrst Kuropeau who ever tasted 1 a potato, it iH doubtful if ho ever en- j joyed eating our favorite tul>or. At all events the vegetable that he ate In j , Cuba in 1192 and brought homo to j Genoa was a sweet potato. The first | potato grown Past of the Atlantic 1 , Ocoan wus planted by Claudius in the botanical gardens of Vienna in 1">88. ( As is well known, Sir Walter Raleigh found the potato in Virginia and took specimens back to England. The original home of tho popular tuber is Chili. It was brought North by tho Span- , iards. For many years tho potato in England was looked upon as being poison ous and unwholesomo. This perhaps > iH not to b(j wondered at, as it was commonly eaten raw. the method of ' cooking it not being known. Gradually its usefulnosH as a palatable vegota. bio beeatno known. A committee of > tho Royal Society urged in 1<?.">2 that , ' all tho fellows who possessed land > should plant potatoes and persuade their friend to do tho same, in order to alleviate the distress that would ac' company the scarcity of food." In 1718 the first field of potatoes was i planted in the lowlands of Scotland. > As soon as the people of Ireland i know how to cook the potato it quickly ' became the one leading vegetable of ? tho land. Its cheapness of cultivation, ' large yields and nutritive qualities i made it liecomo immensely popular, t and it was tho chief particle of food. It ore long obtained its present common f name?Irsh potato, it is not only of , valuo as a food plant; the Irish wore tho first to discover that whiskey could be made from it. Starch is made from it for tho laundry and for the manu facturo of farina. The driod pulp from 1 which tho starch hn* v t I a used for making boxes. From tho | ' stem and leaven a narcotic is extract- , . od. In somo places cakes and pud-1 dings aro made from tho potato flour. . , ?A boat containing six whit? men > > loft Sullivan's Island on January 22nd f for tho life savings station on Morris - Island. On tho 24th tho bodies of two > of thorn wero found on tho Morris > Island beach. One of thorn. H. R. [ / Oanipson, is a mombor of tho life savi ing crow of Morris Island. Tho other, i named Millor. was a rosid,qnt of Sulli* i mWo NO 29. THKV IilKK CONVKNTION'S. Alliance Kolorinfra Hay there w ill he u March Con vcnl ion ?The I'eoplo MiimI Ittilc. It appears that, despite tho declarations and ideas of many of the leading Reformers in tho State to tho effect that a convention should l>o dispensed Mim, mu recoru is going to t>e main* tained, iitid the historic* March Convention " is Htill to characteri/.o the political history of thoState. Alliancemen seem determined to " keep the ball moving," as appears from the subjoined extract from the Columbia State of libth inst: Well, that March convention is going to be called by the Alliance faction of the Kofawmera and it Is going to las held, despite any and everything thut the many conference held by Governor Tillman and Irby and the leaders have done and said. I'ho men whoare leading the opposition come out openly and say the convention is going to be, and that Irbv and his followers are afraid of an early convention of any kind, and will not dare to touch it if they jan help it. They say also that they want tliin convention, that they are lighting for it and that they intend to have it. ( L3 I 11 I * <.tiiiKiuiQiiiuii .-juuii ku|)i uiuui irum me conference in Washington, anil those conferences wore not attondod by any of tiio other men who are prominent on the Alliance aide. They say, too, that Governor Tillman, although he evidently does not want to do so, will very soon he obliged to declare himself in favor of one faction or the other. One of the Alliunco loaders said yesterday that he considered (iovernor Tillman's attendance upon the conference's at Washington a practical declaration in favor of the candidacy of John Gary Kvuns. it will bo remembered that a great many of the Alliance Reform leaders were in Washington also last week and now they have all returned. Those of the other side have also returned. The latter evidently believe that they have arranged matters to suit themselves ; that they have cut and dried a plan for the coming campaign, and that they have been successful in reconciling every one. settling all differences ; but from all indications now there is to be a rude awakening for them. The Alliance people seem determined not to submit to any out and dried arrangement, and one of them said yesterday that they expect to begin a " war to the knife, and the knife to the hilt" very soon. These leaders have gone ulsuit the State among the Alliances and visited sundry points a great deal in the past four months. The editor of the Cotton IMant, the Alliunco organ, Mr. .1. W. Bowdon, has just returned from Washington, where he has been during the conferences. When Mr. Bowden was asked yesterday for an interview on the sitution he made the following statement : " I was very well pleased with the results of lUV trio to WilshintrOm hut F was in no conforonco. My trip was principally on business. I did not aticnil u winkle conference of any kind in referenco to State politics. I interviewed the delegation from this State?all of them?and I am well satisfied that a March convention will he hold as 1 suggested?called by the executive committee of the Farmers' Association and the people will rule it. 1 don't believe that the conference of the bosses in Washington will have very much effect on the action of the people in South Carolina. I will simply add that I think that it will pay better for gubernatorial candidates here to do their work at home after instead of .-ponding their time in electioneering with the ring at the national capital. Speaking of the recent conferences in Washington it might be said that a great many of the secrets are now known bore. One is quite amusing. It is to the effect that the first thing that was done at the first conference was the llllsmicn of u Nianlnllnn #? I -r> ^ " * ' WOVIMVIUU WW UHW effect that Senator Irby should under no circumstances write any more open letors and communications. What it Means.? 'There is a misconception regarding tho income tax," said Tarsnoy (Dem.) of Missouri this morning. "Tho hill exempts all incomes of $4,000 and less. In other words, a man who lias an annual iu- * como of $l,ixx) pays no tax. A man with an annual income of $4,100 pays n 2 per cent, tax on $100, which is tho excess above $ 4,000. A member of Congress, for exarnplo, is taxed 2 per cent, an $1,000, tho othor $4,000of his income being exempted by the law. It is woll that the public should understand this, for the impression seems to be general that where one's income exceeds $4,000 r>no is tuxod on the full amount, which Is not correct." Washington, Jan. 24.?Senator Irby laid before tho Senate to-day a very tastefully printed memorial of tho General Assembly of South C arolina in tho matter of receivers of ra lroftd companies und equity jurisdiction of the Court of the United States. The memorial consists of sixty large pages, including an appendix of oxtracts from the message of Governor Tillman. The memorial grows out of the action of Federal judges in arresting ollieers for carrying out tho directions of the State courts, and marks tho renewal of tho conflict between State and United States Courts. :: ?Tho froight engine whieh was wrecked near Dyson's on tho Columbia ftnd Greenville railroad on the night of Jan. 20th, by running over some cows is such a wreck as to bo beyond repair. 1$. UK? Cl ?wl 4 * 1> .. ?o iuiiuu VIIUVJ-VI^UII lOtll Il'UIU HIO wreck. All but one of the nineteen freight earn which the engine had attached to it aro only tit for kindling wood. The damage done can bo seen, and yet not one of the train crew was badly hurt. One of the cows which caused the wreck was buried far beneath tho earth. Her ears were all that remained above ground. ?Senator Hill states very frankly that he intends to defeat the nomination of Mr. Peckham, nominated to be Assistant Justice of tho Supremo Court of the United States, if he can. Ho Is very confident of success, and it is very probable that a number of documents against Peckham will be laid before tho committee at its meeting on the 20tb.