Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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_ I Hie ^wctm %htxt\ut, VOL. XIII_LAURENS. S C, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1897. No WHY SHED EACH OTHER'S BLOOD? THE PREVALENCE OK IIOMICTDK AT TUB SOUTH. A Cnlm and Philosophical Discus* slon or a tJroat KvM that Casts its Blight iii><>? Southern Civilization ?Thun Now for our l'eoplo to Kman? olpateThemselves from the Tyranny of a Iiloody Custom. [The following contribution to the Sun day News is from tho pen of Col l?dward McCrady, of Charleston, and merits a care ful perusal from oil of our citizens.?Eu.J Every law-abiding citizen must stand appalled at tho frequency of homicide in tho State. There is scarcely an issue of a paper whioh does not chronicle or comment upon some affray or "ditliculty," as it is euphemis tically tormod, involving tho life of sumo eitizon. It, is verily true that our brothers' blood crios out from tho ground against us. Some years ago?1880?thoro ap peared a work entitled " Homicide, North and South," in which Mr. Red iiold, tho author, in no unkindly spirit examined and discussed this subjoot. Tho result uf his investigation was fearful! First. >Ho found that from tho re ports of our own nowspupors it ap peared that the number of homicides in our Southorn States wore propor tionately greater than in any country on oarth tho population of which is rated as civili'/.od. Second. Ho found that the number of homicides iu tho Southern States in tho fifteen years heforo ho wrote reached tho enormous aggregato of 40,000. in theso investigations Mr. Red field solccted tho States of Texas, Ken tucky and South Carolina for tigurea upon which to baso his estimates, because in oach of theso States there was published a newspaper covering local affairs in tho entire Statu with a degree of thoroughness that enabled at least an approximate collection of cases of homicides for a given period. Tho year 1878 was taken as an average year. The result presented some amazing contrasts and brought out the differences in this respect between Southern and Northern civilization in fearful colors. It is painful aud morti fying for a Southern man?for a South Carollniun?to toll oven to his own pooplo what was thu-. shown. But a recognition of ovil must come before any effectual effort to amendment. If with Bhamo, at least with frankness, lot us look at the condemning facts. In Texas during the year there wore more homicides than iu tho ten States of Maino, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, llhodo Island, Con necticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Minnesota, with an ag gregate population of nearly, if uot quite, seventeen millions. Iu Kontucky that year there were more homicides than in tho eight States of Maine, Now Hampshire, Ver mont, Massachusetts, Ithodo Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Min nesota, with an aggregate population of nearly ten millions. In South Carolina that year there woro moro homicides than in the eight States of Maino, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode island, Connecticut, Michigan and Minnesota, with an aggrcgato population of about six millions. In this old State of South Carolina, with a civilization dating buck two centuries, there uro moro than twice as many men killed annually than In all tho six Now Kngland States, with more than (our millions of inhabitants. Manslaughter in the old State of South Carolina was twolvo or fourteen times more frequont than in tho old Stale of Massachusetts. Mr. lledliold's work was published in 1880, seventeen years ago. Is it not a fact that tho crimo of homicide has rather increased than decreased since ho wrote ? Wo fear that it has. Texas was long a frontier Stato. It had had but a loose Government, us an independent Republic, and its immense area rendered it but a sparsely populated community. It still retains much of frontler lifo. Kontucky, too, had borno tho same relation to tho colonlos and tho old thirteen States, and tho bloody im pression of those early times it seems fioid points out, there is nothing in tho early history of our community to havo given such a turn to tho people of South Carolina, it is an old com munity, with conuorvatlvo mannors and ways, and, as between tho whites, without the friction of varying nation alities, and without the lowor foreign population, In which mcst of tho crime of violence in tho Northern States is found. Thero Is no reason why tioml clde among tho whites of South Caro lina should bo moro frequent than among too American horn citizens of Now England. And yot, measured by relative population, Mr. lledtiold finds manslaughter among tho whito people of South Carolina to bo moro than ton times moro frequent than among American born citi/.ons of Now Eng land. It Is true, I helievo, that this terrible proportion iu cnnlined to homl oide, and does not include murdor. Our people do not kill from raallco or for plundor, but in hot blood for fancied wrongs. Murdor Is tvorywhoro, but tho fact that homicides aro so much moro frequent in tho Southorn States than elsewhoro should put tho South ern people upon Inquiry as to tho causo and tho remedy. Now what is tho cause of this ? These figures show that we aro a bloodgullty people. Are wo a blood thirsty poeplo V I do not bellevo that we are Cno cause whioh is commonly al leged Mr. Hcdtlold demonstrates lo bo unfounded, viz, that tho whites ol South Carolina carry pistols because ol apprehension of danger from negroes. For if this wero true wo would suroly tlnd that tbo whiter uao their pistols moro frequently against blucka than against thoso of tholr own color. Tbo reverse is the oaso. Mr. Itodfield found in South Carolina 100 oases of homicide during tho year 1877, in whioh the color of the perpetrators was ascertained. Of these -15 whites iell by the hands of whites and 24 blacks by tho hands of whltcB, making 61) homicides committed by whites out of an ascortained total of 100. The blacks killed 35 of their own color and 6 white. The proportion is, indeed, greater thau at first appoars by these figures, for if we take Into considera tion the relative number of the two races, as Mr. Rodfleld argues, tbo homicides by whites of whltus Is muoh greater In proportion than the number of homicides of blacks by blacks. We may keep arms, guns and pis tols, at homo for the protootlon of our property and of our families, though this of itself argues a deplorable con dition of society. We *>ai /y them upon our persons not for fear o! negroes, but to resent Insults by our equals?white inet). Wo go armed not for fear, but for resentment. Another point to which Mr. ltedfiold Gttl ? attention is tho fact that while in tho Northern States tho highest bomloidal rate is found in tho eitles, where it is furnished by tho lowest foreign population which congrogato tbt re, in the South generally, and in South Carolina particularly, whore there aro no large cities, no violent clubbings of interests between labor and capital, no largo Importation of foreigners, with tbeir often peculiar habits and associations, but instead of tie so, all tho conditions for an ideal, law-abiding community it is tho rural districts in which the manslayor most abounds. And this ho found to be especially the ease In the upper tior of COU ntios. Again he pointed out that while there had not boon as many political fa'al encounters in South Carolina sirco tho reconstruction Govornmont were overthrown, tho number of homi cides growing out of "personal difficul ties " and street alTrays has continued ?indeed, has increased. Thcro was as much or more ( rime against the person In South Carolina under Hamp ton and Simpson as there bad been under Chamberlain and Scott. If Mr. Red field woro writing to-day bo would add that they have so continued under liugood, Thompson, Richardson, Till man, ESvans and cHlerbe, Kor alas! mo far from improving in tho seventeen years sinco Mr. Redtiuld wrote, in 1880, in this respect matters havo grown worse. Th's homicidal mania of our people is dut altogether, therefore, to noithor race nor political cause. To what is it then due? Mr. Reuliold. llko mnat Northern writers, attempts to eonneet it with tho habits engendered by the institution of slavery. The short and decisive answer to this, at least as far as this State is coucornod, is that thero was no such homicidal habit during the existence of that institution. Our gentlemen then fought duols; out as many men are killed in personal en counters in almost any s'nglo year since tho war as wero killed in duels in all tho previous history of tho Siato. indeod,80 truo is this that thoro are not wanting thoso who attributo the Increase of homicide in tbo Stuto to the suppression of the duelling code. I cannot myself doubt that all the manifestationsuf this crime have their origin in tho one great cause, to-wit; to habits engendered by our lato war, and more especially with as by the aotusl. if suppressed war of reconstruc tion which followed. What aro tho manifestations of this homioidal spirit? Aro they not these: 1. The habitual disregard of the eacredness of human life. 2. Tho military impress upon civil govc rnruont. .'1 The contempt of civil govern ment. 4. And growing out of these tho habit of carrying weapons on tho per son. 1. U A RITUAL DISREGARD OF THE SA REDNESS OF HUMAN LIFE. Scarcely less than tho calamity of the actual loss of human lifo in our late war was the disregard of its sacrcdness engendered by our long familiarity with bloodshed. Just as a jOUng physician or nurse will at first faint at the sight of blood, aud then become callous to its shedding, our people during the long war became indurated to tbo matter of wounds aud sudden death. Other wars of modorn days havo been short, sharp and decisive. The result bus been obtained on the one side or tho other within a year, or nearly so. Tho Gorman army swept over Austria and France within a few months respectively. Tho battles wero lost and won by professional soldiers and regular armies. Neither tho people of Austria nor of France had time,to become familiar with the cruelties of war. Hut our war lasted for four long years. Tho wholo South ern country was overrun. Armies marched, advanced and retreated again and again over tho same ground. There was scarcely a houso in which thero had not been a dead or wounded soldier ?friend or foe. Tho sensibilities of men becamo blunted, and tho tender ness even of women was strained. In facing death for four years men bo camo accustomed to live in Immodlate apprehension, and the constant strain weakened and deadened aliko tho fear and horror of its intliction. Thoro can bo no doubt uf the lasting effect of this unfortunato experience. 2. THE MILITARY IMPRESS IH'ON GOV ERNMENT. It will surpriso many of tho present day to 1)0 told that tho arming of con stables and policemen was nover known before the war. Pollceraon carried " billies," small clubs, and rattles to call assistance, but no pistols. Tho arming of tho police and tho indis criminate use of iiroarms by them is altogether foreign to tho English com mon law under which wo livo. Tho habit has grown out of tho customs of war. It is a relic of camp lifo. No one, policoman or constable, has a right to tako tho life of a porson at tempting to escape, unless the person has boen arrested as a felon, and ovon then the taking of life can only bo justlliod upon tho ground of necessity. Tho law en this subject, as laid down by Mr. Bishop, is, In substunco, that an otlleor having a prisoner in custody for felony who attempts to escape will bo excused for killing him if ho cannot bo othorwiso retaken, but if ho can be otherwise retaken, in any case, with out rcBort to such harsh measures, it will bo at lea it manslaughter to kill him. I Jut In cases whore tho person sluin is arrested or held in custody for a misdoraeanor and ho ily or attempt eBcapo It will bo murder in the otflcer to kill him, although ho cannot he Otherwise overtaken. 2 I Me hop Crimi nal Law, Auctions 648 -6-i?. As said in thtl caao of Iteneau v. State, 2 Lea, 720, it la considered better to allo^ one guilty of a mlsdomcunor to escape altogether than to take his lifo. Yot how constantly now do we see pollce mon and eonstablos shooting down men charged only with > mall offences. This custom is the survival of tho babltB ol army life?constables and policemen act as If they were guards on outpesls or : c i,t ii. Is lu war, with the duty and authority to shoot and kill If ono re fuses to halt when ordered. 3. 'aMIK CONTEMPT OF civil. GOVERN* mknt. Tho war, and the Fedoral military government which succeeded it In tho South, habituated tho people to tho Idea of the Absolutism of military rule. The generation which grew up im mediately after peace was nominally established wltnessod the rule of the sword. Thoy saw the olvil Court?, whloh opened and attompted to ad minister justice, olosed by military satraps. Judges arrosted and shoriffs removed at the mure will of com manders of military dlstriots. Then followod the Reconstruction Era, when thoy, and the generation follow ing thorn, beheld mon of the lowest character, and of tho grossest igno ranee, strangers, Governors, Judges and law-makers. They alioiiB and negroes, set up over thorn us saw this government, su, portod us It was by military powor, subservient to mili tary rule. They hold it in contompt ! This Injury to tho rovoroneo and regard for civil government has boon Incalculable. Whlto mon would not bring themselves to appeal for justleo to nogro JudgcB and negro jurlcB. Thoy disdained to speak oven to a Moses or to ask a par don of Scott. Thoy learned to tako tho law Into thoir own hands, and to protect thoir persons and rights by the strength of thoir own right arms. 4. THE HABIT OP CARRYING WEAPONS ON THE PERSON. Prom and out of tho causes to which wo havo but briclly roforred grow th.. habit of carrying weapons on tho por aon. Lot mo assort here what I think I can safely do, that there was no such habit boforo the war. I think I can dothl8, fori had oxcoptlonal oppor tunity of observation in this matter. It happened that I was reared upon a farm some three miles distant from tho City of Charloston, and was ac customed in my youth to ho riding in and out of tho city through our suburbs at all times of tho nights on horso hack or In a buggy, through tho woods which then cxtondod down bolow tho present city limits, and neither my brothers nor myself, nor our neighbors, over went armed. I cannot recall that in all my youth I over saw a gentlo man with a pistol upon his person. There wero no hip pockets in those days for carry lug pistols. Though ac customed from my boyhood to tho ubu of gun and rillo 1 nover saw a pistol in my father's house, exoopt an old singlo barrol?a relic of former times?which waa novor loadod. Pistole were, no doubt, worn during tho Nullification oxoltement, but that was in a time of political turmoil, a timo not unlike tho days of 1870, when our people roso and overthrow tho Radical Government with which we haJ been cursed. 1 am not now discussing tho carrying of pistols in such emergencies, though I did not carry ono myself except while on duty in tho rifle clubs during actual riots. But is it not time now for our people to leavo them off? Tho resolutions adopted by the State Press Association, at New berry, lu May last, strike tho keynoto of this matter when thoy say : Resolved, That this Association re cognizes that it is not the unfortunate individuals who became Involved in tho fatal aIVrays, so common, who are so much to blame us public opinion which not only sunctions acts of violence, but is in a great measure re sponsible for tboir commission. It is public opinion that is responsi ble for tho prevalence of this crime. It permits tho carrying of concealed weapons, and justifies, if it does not demand, their uso in resentment of insult. If wo would eradicate tho crime of manslaughter we must first attack this wretched custom. IS SANTA OLiAVUS TO GO 7 A Protest Against the Aholisliiiicnt of Christ um? Jb'cHtivltict*. Atlanta Constitution. Is that genial old divinity, worshiped under tho name of Santa Glaus destined to go tho way of all the earth, Just at present there seems to bo something of a crusado taking shape in New YorK city against the time.-lion ored custom of observing Christmas now in vogue ; but whether this crus ade springs from a feeling of hostility toward that mythological old hero who has boon tho author of so much genuine happiness in this world, or whether it owes its existence merely to tho love of notoriety which is characteristic of the big metropolis, does not appear from tho meager information which has come to baud. More than likely the dull season of quietude which has fol lowed upon tho recent fight for mayor explains tho present agitation. Now York is novor at a loas for something to amuso hor. As a pretext for routing old Santa Claus from tho world It is claimed that tho obsorvnnco of Christmas according to tbo immemorial custom which bat1 como down to us from tbo firesides of our German ancestors, is not in keeping with tho religious r>pirit of the day, and should, thoreforo, bo abandoned. As tho season commomoratOS tho advent of tho world's Messiah, it is claimed that religious feelings solely should dominate tho Christmostido. Is this * objection tenable ? When tho angels announced the bil'tb of Christ to tbo shepherds who wero tending their llocks on tho hills of Bethlehem, did they not oxelalm that tho message which thoy brought was ono of glad tidings? Such boing tho caso, it suoms to be wholly inconsistent with tho char acter of this angelic mosaago that mirth and joy should be oxoluded from tbo Christmas season. Rut tho argu ment doos not rest solely upon this fact. Oa tho day of tho nativity, according to thogospol narratlvo, wlso men from tho east brought presents of gold and fran kinconso and myrrh and laid tlrnn at tho foot of tho infant Suvlor. This con stitutes tho warrant for tho custom of giving proscnts to tho young at Christ mas time ; and, in connection with the prusont crusudo which is boing mnde against it, spoclal emphasis should be laid upon tho faut that tho custom was instituted by wlso mon. Moreover, since the. Saviour Himself, bulb in His lifo and de' . BUbllmely exemplified tho graco ving, what rational ob jection c: * offorod to tho custom of bestowing gifts upon tho young in commemoration of tho Saviour's birth? Of course, Santa Claus himself is a myth ; but If no groutor fraud thantnb Is ever perpetrated upon tho world, there will bo little to disturb its faith, and nothing whateve r to inar Its hap P'l.CH?. Of all tho Sou-.ons of tho calen dar, tho one most precious to tho heart and memory of childhood is tho ono as dociatcd v/ith tho yearly visits of old Santa Glaus. This world is prosy enough already in the heartaches and tribulations which besoarn it; and why rob It of tho few well springs which gladdon Its wasto places? What tho heart of man yearns for Is more of tho genial warmtn and oheor which comes with the Christinas season, molting the I0I0I08 whioh havo found their way Into hlB life and making him young again. Tho present method of observ ing Christmas Is deeply rooted in tho world's affection ; around it olustor memories of the purest leaf and fra grance ; and though coup lud with Inno cent decoit in the harmloss supersti tion of old Santa Claus, it is destined to triumph over all tho crusades whioh can possibly bo wagod against it. Tho New York movoment 6avors more of purltanism than of wholesome piety, and 1b not apt to survive tho Ohrlst j mas season whioh is now approaching. There .s a flywheel In ??:::..any made of stoel wlro. Tho wheel Is 20 feet in diameter, and 250 milos of wlro was usod in its construction. Ono hundred roaes are required to make ono drop of the famous attar of i roses, the periumo of tho east, BILL ARP ON HIS LECTURE TOUR. TUN THIAIiS OF A TUAVKL.KK. II? Heads KpiiiipiiH in nn old Ceme tery?Missed a I'asHOiiKcr Train anil Had lo Hoard a H low Freight. Charlotte, N. C. Id a growing city of 20,000 people. Charlotte has tho host advertising sketchbook! evor saw. It is beautifully printed and illustrated and Boenis to bo founded on facts. Thoy aro distributed from all tho hotels and aro pleasant reading on the train, it tells about tho health and climate and altitude and business and resources and public morals, but whut amazed and impressed mo most was tho circle map that shows the number of cotton mills within a radius of 100 miles from Char lotto. On this map are black dots num bering tho mills at every town and the aggregate is 210. or about 02 per cent of all tho mills in the South, These nulls operate 1,021,000 spindles and 11,00 looms and are capitalized at $50, 0t)(),(i00. This little book contains a tabular statement of all these mills by name and capacity. Charlotte has oloven of her owu. Now, 1 vas ruminating about this in connootlon with live cent cotton. And tkero is some comfort In it, for we keep at homo all tho profit thoro is in man ufacturing and we ivo employment to thousand., of our poor and dependent people. Suppose that every township In Georgia had a cotton mill and that all its earnings were spent and scatter ed in tho community, then wo would ent feel so bad over tho low prico of tho great staple. Wo would indirect ly share In tho profits of manufactur ing. Once again I visited tho oil thne honored cemotery?tho Qrst graveyard of old Mecklenburg county. 1 was sor ry to seo that it has of lato boon no gleotcd and has grown up in briars and weeds. I took noto of some of tho old inscriptions and this one especially at tracted my attention : "Oh, Crux?avo spes union. "Sacred to the Memory of Patrick Harty, Who was born in Tlporrary, Ireland. "It is a holy and a wholsome thought to pray for tho dead that they may hi: loosed from their sins. ? II Maccabees 12, Hi." There lies a good Roman Catholic, thought I. Ho went to purgatory and tho priest prayed for him. Then 1 ruminated about Maccabees not being in tho sacred canon, but was in tho A poerypha,and the Apocrypha was ruled out of the King James version In 1820. Then I turned to an old Hildo that had the Apocrypha and found that tho 12th chapter of 11 Maccabees had only forty live verses, hut the last three had tho samo Injunction to pray for them who are dead, and furthermore, that .Indus Maccabees raised among his soldiers 2,OUt) drachma as a sin offering for those who wcro slain. I make no comment on this. Martin Luther translated the Bible and left in it theso two hooks, as he said, for human consideration. There is another tombstone at Cho raw that interested me, for it marks tho grave of no man or woman now known. It reads as follows : "My name?my country?what are they to theo What?whether high or low my pedi gree ; Perhaps I far surpassed all other men, Perhaps I fell below them all?what then ? Sullico It, stranger, that thou socst a tomb, Thou kuowtst its use?It hides no mat ter whom." The other morning about daybreak I loft Charlotte for Iaimbcrton, on tho Wilinlugton road. The break fast house was seventy miles away at Hamlet, and when wo get there I hoard tho con ductor 6av : "Twenty minutes for breakfast.1' Hut 1 dldent hear him say change cars for Wilmington and points this side. You see 1 am gotting qulto deaf in ono oar and can't hear at all out of tho other, hut my wife says It is astonishing how ouiekly I boar the broakfast hell. We had a splondid meal, and 1 regained my seat in tho samo car. When about a milo from town tho conductor called for my ticket, and recognized mo as bound for Lumbortcn. Ho frantically pulled tho bell cord and told mo to get off and hurry back, for maybe I could catch tho Wilmington train. Right thon I wae distressed, for l know there was no other train that day, and I was bill ed to lecturo that night. Tho tand was shoe-mouth deep, but I gripped my baggage and foxtrotted about 200 yards and suddenly discovered that I would bavo to put on brakes for my wind was giving out. Another hun dred yards and I had to stop and blow for my heart was thumping like a bass drum, and thoro is so much heart fail ure nowadays that I got alarmud and put down my valiso and sat on it. Just then I saw my truin steaming away liko a s.*>ako in tho grass, and I invol untarily oxclaimcd, "Farcwoll, vain world, I'm going homo." So 1 took my time and mado haste slowly, and when I reached tho station was tho picture of disappointment and despair. "What can an old man do hut dio ?" 1 mur murod. Wish now I had my photo graph as I was foxtrotting through that sand, and thon another as I saw that train Btoaming away without mo. But all's woll that ends well. I found a freight train that wa-< going to loavo for Lumber ton at 11 o'clock, but tho conductor couldn't say when It would get thore. I wired my .friend that I was loft, but to hold tho fort, for 1 was coming?und ho did. It was only forty-four miles, but it took us over oight loug hours to got thoro. I had only time to wash up und brush up and oat supper, but I found a good house full awaiting me. My subjoct was "Tho Cracker and tho Cavalier"' and my frlond Introduced mo by saying "f.idles and gontlomon, I lavo tho pleasure of introdueing to you the dis tinguished Georgia cavalier, who will now proceed to address tho North Caro lina crackers." Well, this brought down tho bouse to start on, and put every body in a good humor, especially whon I apologized for ray dolav und nor trayed my trials and tribulations. Lumborton is a good old twn, and has tho bust wa* r vorks I nave seen any where. They havo four blowing arto Isian wolls for public uso, and many moro prlvato ones. Thcso pubilo oucb, inducing pipes and everything, cost loss than $1,000 and I know of many a town that would givo $10,000 for simi lar prlvilogos. Lumborton docs not realize what a treasuro that water is, for it is cold and pure. The next stop was at Weldon, in Halifax County. I don't know what thoso pcoplo havo done to McKinley, but ho has already appointed olght nogro postmastors in tho county and six of them havo accepted and are in ofiloo. Tbo poople are hot, I tell you, for tho negroes outnumber tho whltos and brag that "thoir time has oomo at last, thank the Lord." It used to be that when a man wasn't if rover ont enough to toll a man to "go : to hell" ho would toll hiua to go to "iialifax." 1 understand now what he ineunt. It has boon nearly fifty years since 1 stopped ut Woldouand tho town hasn't changed much. Tho people are high-toned and have good man ier*, for thoy live close to the Virginia line and como from aribtecratic s ock. From Weldon I journeyed to Was dog ton, on PamllcO sound, a lively city of ti.OUU people. I was escorted t the Kicks House, where all the drummers congregate, for Mrs. Kicks Is a mother to them all and thoy love her. 1 found her house full of thorn. They come and thoy go on ovory train. 1 like the drummers and sympathize with them, for thoy aro far from homo and many of them have famlles and have to leave them, as I do, to make a living. I am a drumir er myself, hut I don't like tho name. It Is slung, and does not lit such a respeotahle class of gentlemen. It originated from tho old miltia musters where drum and life when used to call up tho hoys and got them in lino. Tho sergeant would cry out: "Uh, yos; oh, yes; all who belong to Captain Jones's company parade here." Then tho drum would rattle and the life would whistle aud tho boys would gather and fall into lino. Drumming now means come right here and buy my goods and tho drummer rattles his tongue with earnest alacrity. I feol sorry for them now, for 5'cent cotton has nearly ruined their business. But they keep going. They aro overywhoro. Thoy get on and oil" at every station by night and by day. Thoy keep up tho hotels and largely help out the railroads. They are smart and good looking and well behaved and know more about every thing than any other class. They are continually rubbing against the world and absorbing knowledge. Well, this is tho historic region, where Sir Walter Italoltrh's lost colonv was planted and where Virginia Dare was born. 1 saw Virginia. Ilor name was on a beautiful steamer that was loading at the wharf. A sweot little girl laughed at me for r.ot knowing all about Virginia Dare a long time ago. ilor father taysthat Mr. McMillan, of Ued Springs, has written a ln>ok about the lest colony and that the Croatans now have free schools that are. separate from both white and black races. The lost colony amalgamated and mis ccgcneratcd with theso Oroatana and no doubt but that Virginia Dare's blood 11 jws in some or their veins. bYom hero I am homeward bound and am happy on the way. BILL ARP. TII10 MAJESTY Ol-' THE LAW. A Circuit Judge Exalts Local Solf Governmenl and Oontloinns"Htjrlicr Law11 Known iin Lynching. JudgO Aldrich, of Aiken, had the honor to be the fi rot to charge a jury in a court of general sessions /er Green? wood County. The county has boon at tached to the Seventh circuit, and con sequently Solicitor Set'.so and Steno grapher Campbell of that circuit wore in attendance. When court was called to order Judge Aldrich took the occasion as a proper one for some remarks of a more than usually general and extended nature to be made to the grand jury. He spoke U that body in substance as as follows : To-day a now leaf in tho history of your section has been turned. This is in keeping with tho ontiro history of that masterful ruco to which you bo long?a raco which has controlled largely tho thought and actioti of the world and has greatly advanced the interests of civilization. The record of tho whlto race has been a constant aspiration for homo rulo. Our forefathers, leaving the Oppressive monarchy of Bogland, came to tbo wilds to establish hou-u rule. Various colonies wero formed out of tho territory thus secured and theso colonies became States. Theso bless ing woro achieved at groat sacrifice. Acting on this vital Anglo-Saxon prin ciple of homo rulo, tho people in various sections of the States parceled themselves Into districts, tho better to provide for local so!' government, for the orderly administration of law and tho promotion of order generally. South Carolina, at first divided into largo districts, gradually became sub divided into counties that tho general welfare might bo bettor promoted. Mark you theso results were not reaohed by violenco, but through peac able and orderly channels. In pursuance of theso principles, thereforo, tho poeple of this section asked tho pooplo of other counties to holr- them obtain this boon of local self govornment. Possessing tho requisite population, tho proporty, tho uitolli genco, tho advanced civilization to entitle thoin to bo made a separate division of this glorious common wealth, you woro granted tho county. Having achieved this happy result by compliance with law, you are entitled to all its advantages. Tho rest of tho pooplo of the State bid you Cod speed. Tho tirst loaf in tho judicial his'.ory of Greenwood county has b..on turned. Segregated from two great old coun ties, counties with illustrious records, counties that have produced illustrious mon, counties whoso sons havo made glorious records on tho held of battle, on tho forum, at tho bar, on tho bench, in tho halls of legislation. Tho whole country rovores tho moiuurios of many sons of Abbovlllo and Kdgefleld. 1 am satis lied that on the soil now constituting Greenwood county great men havo boon born?men whom it is a privilege to honor, whom it is treason to fotgot. Remember their glorious rooords und mak ^ Greenwood county worthy of it. Tho future lie*, boforo you. I am satitdiod you will develop your great natural resourc 8, Ah in traveling through this up-country I fcce your school housos and churches, farms and towns, I am suro your futuro will bo groat. 1 note your faces aro stamped with tho resolution to do your whole duty wherever God may call you. Giti/.onship is tho highest trust man is called on to oxorciso. Tho cornor stono of soeioty is law. Without law your school houses and churches are vain. Liberty without law is chaos Tho most unbcarablo tyranny is the tyranny of a multitude One tyrant will rulo in somo fashion, but tho mob Is composed of numerous tyrants, euch ono a luw unto himself. Mobs mean misrule, misory and blood-shod. Society is doomed when the mob gains sway ; but as long as we respoct and onforco the law .v. uro safe. It is adboranco to law and lovo of order that makes this nation of ours great, makos it tho ginnt of tho Wost. With tho lntogrity of tho law prosorv ed this giant can live without tho rest of tho world. Tho durablo greatness of England is duo to this lovo of law. Whorovor the Knglleh tonguo is spokon you find the school houso, tho church and tho court houao. Tho throo go togother throughout tho olvlll/.od wuri.l. Whllo tbo mobs of Franco and the disorganized armies of Gormany have destroyed their government, Eng havoc with poaoe and land has stood lirm in tho iutoglty 0 orderly administration of justice. Admln'stor law in your county as a sacred trust. It is not tho scvority of punishment, hut tho certainty of it that prevents crimo and promotes peace. Sometimes, I regret to say, peoplo in portions of our State set themselves up as administrators of "higher law"? surely an absurd claim. When you indict a man for crimo the whole power of tho State of South Carolina, If necessary, Is behind you to onforco the claims of justice. This claim of a "higher law" is foolish. Tho members of juries uro your neighbors. Tho judges uro of your own selection. Tho courts ure open to all. But a littlo mob, under cover of darkness, nshumed of duy light, In tho oxorciso of tho "higher law" make groat protentlons. Lynching is wrong entirely. Lot not this i ilsrulo gain a foothold in your county. The whito man has it.horited the re sults of tho labors of Lis forefathers. Lot not sollish citizenship prevail. Wo have derived great blessings from our ancebtry: do wo not owe something to posterity? Let us at least not im pair this fair heritage. Wo should make it hotter. 1 have spoken of the power of the law. I must spoak also of its tendor ness. Next to tho religion of Jesus Christ, I love this law tho best; it is fair to all. The strong cannot oppress tho weak. Tho lamo and helpless, the weak and Buffering, tho meek victim of insolence may all find redress hero Undor this law, lynching is murdor. REPLIES TO IIIS CRITICS. Governor BUerbe Denies that Ho Ad vlsed Newbold to Avoid Arrest?Ho Favors tho Dispensary Without Profits?IlO Will Ho a Candidate Tor Ro*Elootioil. Governor EUerbo invited the uews paper reporters to interview him. and expressed himself on various topic* of publio Interest. The Columbia cor respondent of tho News and Courier makes the following report of tho in terview: Governor KUerbo haB given tho peo ple as a Thanksgiving offering Iiis an nouncement that he would bo a candi date for re-election, and further that ho proposes to stand for an amended dispensary law, while regretting that tho system has to Buffer changes. It is tho first important and conclusive an nouncement on tho part of Governor KUerbo. To-night Governor Kllerbo telephoned for me to come to tho Man sion, and gavo out the following inter view: "I see in the News and Courier of Tuesday an editorial commenting on tho report from its Chester correspon dent, which, while not directly doing so, may by insinuation lead people to believo that the Governor advised Nowbold not to surrender. Tho langu age used by the Chester correspondent roads: 'lie was instructed by tho Stato authorities not to surrender un til to day or until the Court of General Sessions of Spartanburg County had adjourned.' 1 wish to denounce ihe Btatomentas absolutely and unqualified ly false. 1 sent Mr. New bold no mes sage, gavo hiui no advice and made no torms with anyone for his surrender. 1 am getting heartly tired of such dirty llings and insinuations. It seems to mc that a gentleman has no protection, hut has to submit to such slanderous insinuations. 1 havo also been harshly criticised for pardoning May and Bulcc for killing Sims. Sims was a desperate moonshiner who was openly violating tho laws of tho State, and when May and Bulco attempted to soi/.o the liquor Sims started to liro on the Officers, and had they not killed him in the discharge of their duty would have been killed. Moreover, Mr. Crawford, who was present, testified that the killing was in self-defence. This is en tirely aside from the petitions and the endorsement of seven of tho jurors. There were in addition to other peti tions, one signed by many of tho very best of Spartanburg's men. There seems to he a common understanding on the part of certain people to destroy the dispensary law, and they take ad vantage of all theso unfortunate occur rences to Use them against tho law. Since I have boon Governor I havo tried fearlessly to perform my otlieial duties, and will not he swerved by idlo clamor or senseless criticism. "Several days ago an interview was printed from the Kev. Carroll, in which I was reported to havo said that rather than join tho liquor nion I would go to-. A great many havo asked me to fill out that blank. What I baid was: 'Before I would 'urn this Stato over to tho liquor element 1 would go homo and go to ploughing." The most dillioult problem that confronts us to day Is that of the liquor tralllc. The dispensary, I think, is tho best solution of the question, but as the Courts havo decided 'that the dispensary is not a polico regulation 1 am in favor of amending the dispensary law, so as to make It u polico regulation by elimi nating the profit featuro, and, if neces sary, not to sell It as a bovorago, but only for medicinal and sacramental purposes. Those who advocato high license havo surely not read carefully the decision of the Courts, for in tho ease of Scott vs. Donald tho Court ad vanced tho viows that tho Stato could prohibit, they could inspect, but could do no more If tho dispensary Is not a police regulation, and tho Stato can not control tho liquor under tho dis pensary law, it certainly cannot do so under high license. Besides, under a high lieenso system it would in a few months degenerate into tho open bar room. As a rule, mon who would buy a lieenso to soil whiskey would have no moral character, and would be alto gether irresponsible and pofeetly ir> dilVoront to the welfare of tho State j?nd of the pcoplo. Their only object would be to miiko money, and tho con stitutional restrictions would be disre garded. This liquor light is not a factional issue. It is a light between I tho moral elements of our pcoplo and the Mquor mon." "Do you propose to mako a light on thiB next year?" "I propose to go boforo tho people on my record, and, if nocossary, to advo cate tho policy just outlined. Somo of | my onemies havo said I might bo re elected bocauso of tho unwritten law to givo a Governor two terms. I want it understood that no ono need koop out of tho race on this account, and 1 would not havo it as a moro matter of prccedont if my effort did not wnrant an endorsement. If I cannt rofnto tho numerous charges that have been mado against me and I cannot show to tho pcoplo that I havo honostly and faithfully trlod to disohargo tho duties of tho olllec, I do not care to bo re oloctod. Somo people may think it is a vory fino thlnr* to bo Governor, but there aro othet ?hlngs I value moro highly, and hoforo I would saorlfice my manliness or any principle I would bo defeated a thousand times. While I like to please, I bad rather havo tho consciousness of having done my duty than the applause of the world." MAJOR 8. P. HAMILTON. A Distinguished Artillery Oftloor I'hhhch Away?An Abi? Lawyer ami a Graceful^ Writer. Tho death of Maj. S. P, Hamilton, a prominent ottlzen of Chester, took placo on tho 22ud lu&t., after a liugor Ing illuos8 of livo months. Only two days before his physician was vory innoh oncouragod by what was con sidered a change for tho hotter, and, therefore, death came very unex pectedly. Ho would havo been 72 years of ago in.lanuary. Major Hamil ton was a mom her of ono of the most illustrious and distinguished families of South Carolina. His father was Governor .lames Hamilton, and his great grandfather signed tho Declara tion of Independence. Samuel Prioleau Hamilton, tho sixth son of James and Elizabeth Hamilton, was born in tho city of Washington, 1). 0., on tho 'Jlth day of January, 1 sil?i whilo Iiis father was in Congress, re presenting that district composed of tho present counties of Beaufort, Colic ton, Barn well and Orangoburg, In his early lifo ho attended tho schools of ChristopJier Co.es ai d Samuel Burns, iu tho City o' Charleston, an 1 also the aoadomy ./ I 'cudloton, S. C, and the High School at New London, Conn. At II years of age, in tho City of Charleston, ho had tho misfortune to loso his right arm by the bursting of u powder llask in his hands, tho arm having to bo amputated and the opera tion being performed by Dr. Wagner, assisted by Dr. T. L. Ogler and eleven other surgeons. After this ho was placed at the celebrated school of the Uev. lt. T. Huddart, located first at Blooming/dale, N. Y., and then at June streot, Aoingdou equarc, in tho city of Now York, and In Bleeoker street, next to Depau How. Hero ho remain* ed near live years and received a most excellont classical education, and was thoroughly instructed in all depart ments of literature. In the fall of 1812 he returned home, and entered tho sophomore class, rising junior, of Charleston College. As ho often said himself, ho was so far ahead of classmates in tho classics and other fctudies that he became a very carolosB and inattentive Btudent. Ife stayed throughout tho course, but never returned to take his di, Ionia. From college his father put him with tho great cotton house of Dick & Hill, in Now Orleans. Ho lived in that city two years, but in tho fall of 1840 re turned to Charleston and spent one season in the counting house of Louis Traproann. Commerce, however, not being the bent of his genius, ho retired to ?he cotton plantation of his father ut the Oswiohee Bend, Russell County, Alabama. Here ho remained near two years engaged in the sports of the lieltl, and in the study of Knglish litera ture in all of its branches in an ex cellent library belonging to his father, and ho was accustomed to say that they wore tho most agreeable and valuable years of his life. In the fall of 1840 ho commenced the study of law in tho ollice of Messrs Cohen St Grifllu, at Savannah, Ga., and was admitted to tho Bar in llio spring of 1861. in tho fall of that year he was married to Miss Emma Lovy, daughter of Mr. J. C. Levy, formerly ol Charleston, S. C, a beautiful and ac complished lady. Ho practiced hit. profession inr Savannah, and to> k an active part in politics. During the summer of isr>(i he edited, as Ubsooiate editor witii R. B. Hilton, tho Savannah Georgian and Journal, tho leading Democratic organ, in tin very heated campaign of that year, and his services were rewarded with tho appointment of naval ollicer of the port of Savannah, hi January, 1881, Governor Brown gavo his order that tho military of Savannah should take possession of Fort I'ulaski, at tin mouth of tho Savannah River. Mr. Hamilton at onco resigned his office under tho Lluitod States Government antl tendered his services to Col. A. It. Lawton, in command at Km-! i'ulaski. In a few days ho received the appoint ment of quartermaster and commis sary of tho lit regiment of Georgia Volunteers, and served thoro until some time in February, when ho was appointed by Governor Brow n ono of tho captains in tho 1st regiment of Georgia Regulars upon the recommen dation of Gens. Hardeo at d Lawton, without his knowledge He recruited his company at tho barracks in Sa vannah and returned to Foi '? I'ulaski in command of two companies, antl had oharge of tho defence of that fortress until relioved by tho colonel of the regiment, Charles J. Williams. On tho 10th July, 1801 the regiment was ordered to Virginia, and was on tho railroad going thero the day tho first battle of Manassas was fought. Arrived at Riohmond ho was ordered by President Davis, upon the recommendation of Col. Williams, (but without tho knowledge of Capt. Hamil ton),1 to proceed to Manassas and re ceive four guns c ptured >t ti e battle His company was mounted then and thoro as held artillery. As BU3h be was ordered to report to Gen. Robert Toombs, and was attached to his brigade until tho fall, when ho was transferred to tho rosorvo artillery, under tho command of Col. W. S. Pen dleton. Whon tho artillery was or ganized into battalions be was pro moted to a majority, and was junior hold officer of ono of those battalions in tho corps of Gon. Longstrcot, and thoro served throughout the war. The surrender left him at Chester, In this State, and us soon as tho courts were opon ho commenced the practice of his profession. Ho took an aotive part in polities, and was appointed hy tho democratic convontion of 1808 a mom* bor of its executive committoo. Ho was earnestly enlisted in tho de fence of tho Kuklux prisoners beforo packed juries In tho circuit court of the United States, and in April, 1S72, defended Robert Biggins, of York, for murder beforo Judgo Bond and a packed jury, and cleared him of the charge. In 1871 ho was a member of tho Tax payers' Convention, antl on his roturn homo made a spoeeh in tho court house at Chostor, in which ho advised that tho whito people of South Carolina as a wholo should rofrain cntlroly from paying taxes to tho Republican govern ment, and advocated such action as a poacoablo and Irrosietlhlo remedy against tho ills wo woro subjected to, which speech was also published In full. In 1875 ho attomplcd tho Impeach* mont of Judgo T. J. Mackey, which failed mainly becauso ho could not obtain tho unanimous support of the Democrats in tho houso. In Fobruary, 187(1, aftor tho futllo attempts at tho fusion tickots of Greon and Dolanoy and Tomlinson, to tho policy of both of which ho wae opposed, tho Stato Domocratlc oxooutlvo com mltteo mot in Columbia and callod tho May Convontion. Major Hamilton was ono of tho four mombors originally for a straight Democratic nomination, Gen. Butler, chairman, Gon. Gary and Mr. Sollora, of Marion, being tho othor three. A majority of tho oomralttoo was at last, after a long session, won ?-??- ? ovo;?, and tho call for tho Convontioa issued. He returned homo and mudo a speech at Chester in the court house advocating euch a policy, and naming Wade Hampton as our leader Ho took a very active part in tho campaign of 1870, and there was no more happy man in South Carolina at tho result than he. In 188? he was elected to tho House of Representatives, and served two years. His record as a lawyer may ho found iu numberless cases in tho reports of our supreme court for more than twenty years. Ho was an occasional writer on politics and the social and linaneial affairs of tho Slate. In polities during Iiis whole life be was of the straightest sect of JoiToreonian State rights and free trade Democracy, and be died in that faith. He whs the author 01 two literary papers In The Sunday News, in 188&J "A Bachelor's Christinas Party," and in 188?, "Sullivan's Island Korty-aix Vears Ago." For eighteen months prior to his being taken sick be was busily engaged in proparing his book on tbe life and times of James Bain ill ton, and it is to be hoped that this valuable hook will yet be published, as it is now ready for publication. TIIdiMAN IN COLUMBIA, His Health Huh Improved ami He i'h lieftalnlng Lost flesh lie Ho Iloves Congress Will l'ass HIh Dis pensary Hill. The Columbia corrrcspondent of the News and Courier writes as folllows about Tillman's recent visit to tho capital : Senator Till man was in the city this morning for a few hours. Ho spent most of the morning at tbe Stato House and the Exooutlvo Mansiou. At tho State House many of bis friends paid their respects to him, and Senator Till man walked over to tho Supremo > ou *t wnere in; paid his respects to the membersol th.it body. Senator Tin man was in high spirits. Ho said that he felt as line as ever and that he was rapidly regaining his strength. He said that he bad been glvon R yellow blanket for a while, but that ho bad gotten rid of it. Ho said that ho had lest about twoaty-llvo pounds a day by his Blokuoss, but that he has been gaining about a pound a day until he bad gotten nearly up to bis old standard of about two hundred pounds. Ho laughed heartily at little jokes, some of them at his own oxpense. lie told a story about himself at the Choraw Pair as to a statement that come ono made about his speech. It was re marked that Iiis speech was " the samo old thing/ Tothogonth man who made the remark it was suggested that it was " the same old BUbji ft,'* and Sona tor Til!man added that it;was "tho same old crowd and the same Old man mak ing the speech." lie says that he did not throw any vitrol Into his speech, but gave it just enough salt, to show that he knew how to talk as he has done. Senator TilIraan had no formal Inter view for the press, but he talked pleas antly abiait many muttors. in tho course Of J conversation he said that he now had stron;.' hopes of the passage of the dispensary bill he has before Congross. lie said that ho felt practically certain that if the Ked rul Supreme Court con firmed Judge Simonton's opinion tho bill would b.: passed, llesaid that the fact that tho question was now before the Courts was about the only thing in the way of the lie.al passage of the bill, as some member.! of CongrOi a thought it useless to pass the. bill i s loug as the matter was pending in the Courts, and the decision was that of a circuit J ml go. He says that Ualloy and McMillan.of tho committee to which the bill bus been referred favor it. and he rSally expects but little opposition to it. Ho has not heard of over live or six Demo cratic mombers opposing tho measure, and that would not amount to much. In any ovent Senator Tillraan Is satis fied the bill will pas.-;. Senator Til I man asked for copies of the Vandorcook decision, and when bo got them be saiil that his reason for asking for them was to find out what were the legal objections to the law by the Federal Courts, so that thoy might be remedied. From the lone of Sena tor Tlllman's conversation he is as ar dent a dispensary advocate as ever, and he added that if the law was not all right now it could bo made so, and that all he wanted to know was where in It was not a police regulation, so ho could help to make it so. CUBA AND CUHItKNCY, President McKinley Will Discuss These Topics in His Aainu&l Men sane. The New York Tribune has the fol lowing dispatch from Washington about the coming message : Cuba and the currency will be tho leading topics In the president's mes sage. It is understood that the discus sion of the Cuban situation will bo comprehensive. It has already been explained that the state department has prepared a reply to tho Spanish government's note, regarding filibuster ing. Hither the president will incor porate the substance of this in his mes sage or leave it to go In its part to tho regular diplomatic correspondence, may bo determined later, but themes sage will doUne the Cuban policy of tho administration allirmatlvoly. Members of Congress with whom the president has talked fr< oly on tho sub ject ha/o almost without exception urged that this be dor.. , ai Mr. Mc Kinley has apparontlj agreed with them. The reason given for this course is apparent. While a Incoro hope is entertained that tho Saga *a ministry may end the war at an early date, the " possibility ol its failure cannot bo over looked. In that event, it is desirable, for tho policy of this country to bo known. A strong intimation la glvon that In tho event of failure of Spain to end the trouble in Cuba at an early dato no hesitation will be shown In the United States making known Its posi tion of ultimate intervention. Human ity and com me COO may be both made the grounds for this action. The belief is that the Cuban problem will be solved without, dan;', r of war between Spain and tho United States and will bo solved through the good Offices of this country, but the " expectation is that those go< will bo exerted within a re I able time after Cor.gress moots and aftor tho prospecti of tho insurgents a, u ing or rejecting autonomy aro knOWl beyond a doubt. With Cuba a ctuallj paolfled and industry and trade ti that condition is expected to speak for Itself. The refusal of a few insurgent leaders to lay down their arms and the f continuance of a sort of bandit warfare . would not be Interpreted by tho admin istration as tho failure of autonomy. On tho other hand the continuanoe of present conditions would hardly bo ac cepted ns ovidonco that the Island is pacified. A Dakota artesian well can spout 1, 200 gallons u mlnuto, and Is used for i farm irrigation.