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THE COUNTY RECORD. Published Erery Thursday ? AT ? tlKQSTBEE. SOUTH CAROLINA ?BY ? C. W. WPLFE . Editor and Proprietor. Tlie Naval Annual, an anthoritative English publication, asserts that Great Britain's naval strength is greater than France's and Germany's combined. One man connected with the Philadelphia zoo has crossed the Atluntic fifty times in charge of animals. He has sold many huge American frogf at $2.50 each to owners of Germat eetates to be used for "decorativo purposes'' in the ponds and lakes. The basso profnno of our bullfrogs is high ly valued abroad. It is estimated that there are twenty thousand persons of both sexes in the United States who write for publication, that is to say, authors; and it is probably safe to venture the as sertion that at least nineteen thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine of them have at various times and places expressed opinions not wholly complimentary to the editors to whom they have submitted their manuscripts. Of these writers, the great majority are either not successful, or 'only aggra atingly so. The Hartford Telegram discusses the proposed adoption of the metric system by this country at some length and says: "The United States now have a decimal system of money, and its market convenience should teach Americans the value of the decimal system wheiever numbers enter or calculation is involved." The Telegram ventures the prediction that "before the expiration of many decades the United States Congress will prescribe the use of the metric system throughout the United States." The Chief of the United States Weather Bureau contemplates the establishment of a hydrcgraphic division. A system of water forecasts is to be accomplished by means of man^ stations in different localities, the object being the study of all rivers in the country, and observations relating to nrecipation and the height of river waters. The stage of water in all rivers is to be reported daily and from data so obtained forecasts for the following twenty-four hours are deduced and telegraphed to the central office at Washington. The farmers who own their farms and pay as they go are the most independent people on earth. If the rising generation ot farm boys could gee the things as they really are, they might be willing to start on a small gcale and extend their borders as they ire able, thinks the Farmer's Guide. The boy should not expect to start in 'ife as "well fixed" as his father i?, ifter working for a lifetime. Farm ife lias more sunshine, balmy breezes, jood health,bird songs,lnseioas fruits, Dure water and air, wholesome food, ;han any other,*an l if the farmer is jut of debt and has a clear conscience, fie has less anxiety than people of any other calling. The announcement that a line of automobiles is to go into service in competition with the street railways naturally gives rise to much speculation as to the effect of this form of local transit service on the street .railway business, says the Chicago .Record. There are those bold enough to predict that the car designated to ran on rails laid in the streets win in time give way entirely to self-propelled vehicles, that require no other street foundation than the ordinary pavement. If this should prove to be the case the street railway problem wiil be much simplified. It will only be necessary for the authorities to provide lirst-class pavements throughout the city, when all who desire to engage in the business of carrying passengers can do so. Thus cost and quality of service could be left to regulation by competition, which now is out of the question, because but u single corporation can be permitted to lay tracks and to operate cars in any given street. [platform in full I i Ac Rt- ih? Hpmnr''stir r\o .ivj. 4mwu u? iiiw l/wiiiuviuiiv .iu lional Convention. "IMPERIALISM" A LEADING ISSL'E. The 16 to i Piank Endorsee] Without M ditication ? The R;pub!icao Foreign Policy Denounc.d. Following is the official text of the platform as agreed upon by the committee on resolutions and presented to the convention: We. the representatives of the Democratic party of the United States, assembled in national convention, on the anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, do >caffirm our faith in that immortal proclamation of the inalienable rights of man and our allegiance to the constitution framed in harmony therewith by the fathers of the republic. We hold with the United States Supreme Court, that the Declaration of Independence is the spirit of our government, of which the constitution is the fnrm nnri totter. \Ve declare again that all governments instituted among men derive their just powers from the consent of the governed; that any gov- j ernment not based upon the consent of the governed is a tyranny; and that to impose upon any people a government of force is to substitute the methods of imperialism for those cf a I republic. We hold that the constitu- j tion ollows the flag and denounce the ; doctrine that an executive or ConI gress, deriving their existence and j their powers from the constitution. I van exercise lawful authority beyond j It. or in violation 01 it. We assert that no nation can long endure half rcpub| lie and half empire, and we warn the American people that imperialism abroad will lead quickly and inevitably to despotism qt home. Dnbm nifiv r.AW DENOUNCED. j Believing in these fundamental prin| eiples, we denounce the Porto Rican ; law enacted by a Republican Congress, against the pretest and opposition of the Democratic minority, as a bold and open violation of the nation's organic i law, and a flagrant breach of the national good faith. It imposes upon the j people of Porto Rico a government without their consent, and taxation | without representation. It dishonors i the American people by repudiating a selemn pledge made in their behalf by the commanding general of our army. : which the Porto Rieans welcot>-I as TI peaceful and unresisted occupation of i thrir land. It dooms to poverty and distress a people whose helplessness ! appeals with peculiar force to our justice and magnanimity. In this the first act of its imperalistic programme, the Republican party seeks to commit the UniteCStates to a colonial policy, in| consistent with Republican ins.itu. i tions and condemned by the Supreme Court in numerous decisions. ' FULFILMENT OF OUR PLEDGE TO THE CUBANS, j We t*rmand the prompt and honest fulfillment of our pledge to the Cuban ' people and the world that the United States has no disposition nor intention to exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction or | control over the isTanu of Cuba, except for its pacification. The war ended nearly two years ago. profound peace reigns over all the island, still the adnfinistratiou keeps the government of ' - * ' - - - - ?- ...UiU t/A i the island irom us peopie, nunc uc1 publican carpet-bag officials plunder its revenues and exploit the colonial theory to'the disgrace of the American i people. PHILIPPINE POLICY CONDEMNED. We condemn and denounce the Phil; ippine policy of the present adminisj tration. It has involved the republic j in unnecessary war, sacrificing the : lives of many of our noblest rons. and i placed the I'nited States, previously i known and applauded throughout the world as the champion of fieedom. in i the false and un-American position of ' auch as has been given for nearly a j century to the republics of Central ! and South America. ! TRADE AT THE EXPENSE OF LIBERTY. The greedy commercialism which dictated the Philippine policy of the Republican administration attempts to ! justify it with the plea that It will pay, i but even this sordid and unworthy j plea falls when brought to the test of ! facts. The war of criminal aggression i against the Filipinos, entailing an anj nual expense of many millions, has alI ready cost more than any possible profit that could accrue from the entire Philippine trade for years to come. Furthermore, when trade is extended at the expense of liberty, the price is always too high. We are not opposed to territorial expansion when crushing with military force the efforts of former allies to achieve liber? ty and self-government. The Fillj picos cannot be citizens without endangering our civilization, they cannot I be subjects without imperilling our ' form of government and as we are not i willing to surrender our civilization, or | to convert the republic Into an empire we favor an immediate declaration, ] first, for a stable form of government; , second, Independence, and third, pro' tectlon frcni outsida interference, it takes in desirable territory which ! can be erected into Statec in the Union, and whoeT oeople are willing and fit to become American citizens. EXPANSION NOT BY FORCE BUT BY PEACE. We favor expansion by every peaceful and legitimate means. But we are unalterably opposed to seizing or purchasing distant islands to be governed I outside the com uinioii una wnuse people can never become citizens. We are in favcr of extending the republic's influence among the nations, but believe that influence should be extended not by force and violence but through the persuasive power of a high and honorable example. IMPERIALISM THE PARAMOUNT ISSUE. The importance of old questions now 1 pending before the American people is in no wise diminishing and the Democratic party takes no backward step from its position on them, bnt the burning issue of imperialism growing ! out of the Spanish war, involves the very existence of the republic and the , destruction of our free Institutions. We regard it as the paramount Issue of the campaign. The declaration in the Republican platform adopted at the Philadelphia convention held in June 1900 that the Republican party "steadfastly adheres to the policy announced in the : Monroe doctrine," is manifestly inaini cere and deceptive. This profession is ! j contradicted by the avowed policy of . | that pa>ty In opposition to the spirit of the Monroe doctrine to acquire and j uold sovereignty over large areas of territory and large numbers of people in tne x^aeieru urmiapuurt:. ??c tusiaw cn the strict maintenance of the Mon- [ roe doctrine in all its integrity, both in letter and in spirit, as necessary ; to prevent the extension of European 1 authority on this continent and as es-. \ sential to our supremacy in Americanl , affairs. At the same time, we declare | that no American people shall ever bd 1 held by force in unwilling subjection' ; : to European authority. We oppose militarism. It means | or.quest abroad and intimidation and ( i oppression at home. It means the j means the strong arm which has ever ( : been fatal to fro institutions. It is , what millions of < ir citizens have fled from in Europe, .t will impose upon , I our peace-loving people e large stand ing army and unnecessary burden of 1 taxation and constant menace tc their ' liberties. A s.-nall standing army and i a well-disciplihed State militia are araj ply sufficient in time of peace. Tlris Hepublic has no place for a vast mill- < j tary service and conscription i When the nation is in danger the volunteer soldier is his country's best i defender. The National Guard of the | T'nited States should ever be cherished | In the patriotic r.oarcs ci a iree peopie. Such organizations are ever an element of strength and safcey. For the first time in our history and coeval with | the Philippine conquest, there has been | an unwholesome departure from the ! time-hcnored and approved systems of | volunteer organization. We denounce | it as un-Ainerican. undemocratic and : nnrepubllcan and as a subversion of ; the ancient and fixed principles of a free people. ! UEPL'BLICAXS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TRt'STS. Private monopolies are indefensible and intolerable. They destroy competition, control the price of raw materi- ; als and finished product, thus robbing f I both producer and consumer. They I lessen the employment of labor and ar bitrarily fix the terms and conditions ; thereof, and deprive individual energy ahd small capital 01 mei I UppUl V14UIWJ | i for betterment. They are the most efficient mean3 yet devised for appropri; ating the fruits of industry to the beni efit of the few at the expense of the many and unless their Insatiate greed ; is checked all wealth will be aggrogatcd in a few hands and the requblic de! stroyed. The dishonest paltering with ! the trust evils by the Republican party | in State and National platforms is couj elusive proof of the truth of the charge I that trusts are legitimate product of | Republican policies, that they are fos. , tered by Republican laws and that they are protected by th? Republican admin; istration in return for campaign sub' scriptions and political support. ! WAR DECLARED ON MONOPOLIES We pledge the Democratic party tc an unceasing warfare in nation, Stau | and city against private monopoly it * Qorainsf i every iorzn. Lxunuf, iun- UDU.~.. tnists must be enforced and more sthfingent ones must be enacted providing publicity of affairs of corporations engaged in intjrstate commerce and requiring all corporations to sbow before doing business outside of the State of tbeir origin, that they have no water in their stock, and that they have not attempted and are not attempting to monopolize any bhanclies of business,or the production of any articles of merchandise, and the wIuH nmt'itiiCnnal nnwer of ItcncreSS 1 interstate commerce, the mails and a LI modes of interstate communication shall be exercised by the enactment of comprehensive laws upon the subject of trusts. Tariff laws should be amended by putting the products of trusu upon the free list to prevent raonopolj under the plea of protection. The failure of the present Republican administration with an absolute control over the branches of the national government r.o enact any legislation designed to prevent or curtail the absorbing power of trusts and illegal combinations. or to enforce the anti-trust laws already on the statute books, prove the Insincerity of the high sounding phrases. Corporations should be protected in all their rights and their legitimate interests should be respected, but ar.v attempt by corporations to intorfere tempt impossible. such penalties as will make such at DINGLEY TARIFF CONDEMNED. We condemn the Dingley tarin as a trust breeding measure,skillfully devised to give few favors which they do not deserve, and to place upon the many burdens which they should not bear. We favor such an enlargement of the scope of the inter-state commerce law as will enable the commission to protect individuals and communities from discriminations and the public from unjust and unfair transportation rates. 16 TO 1. We reaffirm and endorse the principles of the national Democratic platform adopted at Chicago in 1896, and we reiterate the demand of that platform for an American financial system made by the American people for themselves which shall restore and maintain a bimetallic price level and as part of 6uch system the immediate reBtaration of the free and unlimited coinage of silver and gold at tbfe present ratio of 16 to 1 without" waiting for the aid or consent of any other nation. We denounce the currency bill enacted at the last session of Congress i as a step forward in the Republican policy whieh aims to discredit the sovereign right of the national govern, ment to issue all money. ? hether coin or paper, and bestow upon national banks the power to issue and control the volume of paper money for their own benefit A permament national bank currency, secured bv government bonds, must have a permanent debt to rest upon, and .the bank currency is to Increase with population' and business the debt must also increase. The Republican currency scheme is therefore a scheme for fastening upon the taxpayers a perpetual and growing debt for the benefit of the bankers. We ar? opposed to this private corporation paper circulated as money, but with?a. i?-' s,,.. 1 iHoc anH rlomnnd JUL legal IVUUGI the retirement of the national bank ) notes as fast as thia government's paper or silver certificates can be substituted for them. SENATORS BY DIRECT VOTE. ETC. We favor an amendment to the Federal constitution providing for the election of United States Senators by a direct vote of the people and direct legislaticmwherever practicable. We are opposed to government by injunction; we denounce th* blacklist and lavor arbitration as a means of settling disputes between corporations and their employes. In the interest of American labor and the uplifting of the workingmen, as the corner-stone of the prosperity of our country, we recommend that Congress create a Department of Labor in charge of a Secretary, with a seat in the cabinet, believing that the elevation of the American laborer will bring increased prosperity to our country at home and our commerce abroad, we are prouu of the courage and fidelity of the American soldiers and sailors in all our wars; we favor liberal pensions, and we reiterate the positio^,i,aken in the Chicago platform in 1896. that the fact of enlistment and service shall be deemed conclusive evidence against disease and disability before enlistment. NICARAGUAN CANAL. We favor the immediate construction, ownership and control of the Nlcaraguan Canal by the Cnited States and we denounce the insincerity of the plank in the national Republican platform for an isthmian canal in the face of the failure of the Republican majority to pass the bill pending in Congress. We condemn the HayPauncefote treaty as a surrender of American rights and interests not to be tolerated by the American people. IMMEDIATE STATEHOOD PROM ISED. We denounce the failure of the Republican party to carry out Its pledges to grant statehood to the Territories ?! Arizona, New Mexico and Oklahoma, and we promise the people of hese Territories immediate statehood ind hon>v rule and a territorial form jf government for Alaska and Porto Rico. We favor an intelligent system of improving the arid lands of the West, storing the waters for purposes >f irregation and the holding of such >ands for ar.ial settlers. NO ENTANGLING ALLIANCES. We favor the continuance and strict ?nforceraent of the Chinese exclusion iaw and its application to the same classes of all Asiatic races. Jefferson said: "Peace, commerce and honest friendship with all nations; entangling alliancesf with none." We approve this wholesome doctrine and earnestly protest against the Republican departure which has involved us In so-caJled world politics, including the diplomacy | nf Knrone and the intrigues and land- J grabbing of Asia, and we especially condemn the ill-concealed Republican alliance with England, which mirst mean discrimination against other j friendly nations, and which has already stifled the nation's voice, while liberty is being strangled in Africa. Relieving in the principles of self-government. and rejecting, as did our forefathers, the claim of monarchy, we view wPh Indignation the purpose of England to overwhelm with force the South African republic. SYMPATHY EOR THE BOERRS. Speaking as we do for the entire American nation, except its Republican office-holders, and for all free men everywhere, we extend our sympathies to the heroic burghers in their unequal struggle to maintain their liberty and Independence. We denounce the lavish appropriations of recent nopublican Congresses which have kept taxes high and which threaten the oppressive war levies. We oppose the accumulation of a surplus to be squandered in such barefaced fradus upon the tax-payers, as the shipping subsidy bill, which under the false pretense of prospeTingAmerican shipping, put unearned raillions into the pockets of favorite contributions to the Republican campaign fund. KEirjiJAL. ur wau lAAEa. We favor the reduction and speedy repeal of the war taxes and a return to the time-honored Democratic policy of strict economy in government expenditures. AN APPEAL TO LIBERTY-LOVING AMERICANS. ^ Believing that our most cherished^ institutions are in great peril; that the very existence of our constitutional republic is at stake and that the decision now to be rendered will determine whether or not our children are to enjoy those blessed privileges of free government which have made the United States grea?. prosperous and honored, we earnestly ask for the foregoing declaration of principles the hearty support of the liberty-loving America* people regardless o- previous party affiliations. THE MARKETS. Current Price* of Cotton, Grain and Produce. BALTIMORE PRODUCE. Flour quiet; family $3.75 to $4.10; winter wheat steady at decline. Spot and month 78% to 79. August 8V t*> 8%; Southern by sample 68 to 8L' Corn.?Dull; mixed, epot and the month 47 to 47 1-8; August 46% to 47; Southern white 49 asked. Oats.?Dull; No. 2 white 31 asked; No. 2 mixed 28 to 28 &. CHARLOTTE COTTON. These figures represeut prices paid to wagons; Strict good middling 9 3-16 Good middling 9% Strict middling 9 3-16 Middling 9 l-s Tinges to :? Stains 6 to '."4 Market steady. Not a Foreigner Alive. London, by Cable.?"Not a single foreigner is alive in Pekin," is the lateit Chinese report which has reached Shanghai. Other Shanghai report* de-? scribe the condition of the British legation as awful. It is said that the rooms of the legation were filled with sick and wounded, the killed lying un. buried in heaps. It is believed that many members and officials of the Tsung Li Yamen perished when the German guard, maddened by the mur der of Baron ivetteicr, tne uerman minister, set fir? to the building. That, the foreigners at the Chinese capital have been abandoned to their horrible fate no longer seems open to doubt. Government Finances. Washington, D. C., Special.?Government receipts for the 12 months of the fiscal year 1300 just closed amount to 1568,988,948, and the expenditures $487,759,171, making a surplus for the year of $81,229,777. The receipts for the fiscal year have been derived from the following sources: Customs, $233,857,958, an increase over the fiscal year 1899 of $28,729,577; internal revenue $296,299,388, an increase as compared with the former fiscal year of $22,862,227; miscellaneous $38,831,601, an increase over the year ending June 30, 1899, of $2,400,000. The expenditures for the lost fiscal year were $11S,213,00S less than for the fiscal year of 1S99. The expenditures of the year by items are given as follows: Civil and miscellaneous $105,790,753, as against $119,191,255 for 1S99; was $131,653,998, as against $229,841,254; navy $56,089,892, as against $63,942,104; Indians $10,166,132, as against $12,805,711; pensions $140,875,992, as against $139,394.920; "interest $40,176,213, as against $39,946,9V). Brevities. Union Democratic papers in Havana are opposed to a Cuban constitutional convention next September. The appeal which was taken to the Treasury Department in the case of Fitxharris and Mullet, who are under orders in New York for deportation, has been decided against them and they will be deported. Capt. George W. Kirkman, whom General Otis dismissed at major and whom Congress reinstated, has beee assigned to the Twelfth Infantry, and will return to the Philippines. Resolutions have been prepared by the American Institute of Homeopathy requesting the President to appoint a board of physicians to secure uniform medical legislation throughout the United States. It is improbable that any special session of the Hawaiian Territorial Legislature will be held. Three men were killed by a landslide on the- Louisvile and Nashville Railroad at Hartsell Hill, Ala. The Bell Isand mines, at St. John's, N. F.. havo shut down, and the companies will open mines in Canada. The union cigarmakers of Chicago, 111., will contribute $1 .SCO a week to the striking cigar-makers at New York.