Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Consolidated Aug. 2,1881 SUMTER, S. C., WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 1896. Puolisaed Every Wednesday, IM. Gk Osteen, SUMTER, S. C. TERMS : $1.50 per annum-in advance. ADVERTISEMENT: One Square first insertion.$1 00 Bvery subsequent insertion... 50 Contracts for three months, or longer will be made at reduced rates. All cern "nunications which subserve private ioterests will be charged for as advertisements. Obituaries and tributes of respect will be charged for. The Firmness of Tillman. It is Well Maintained, up to the Present Time The Columbia Register yesterday published the fellowing letter from Senator Tillman : Editor Register : I have just read in your issue of March 20th the edito rial "Stick to the Party," and if I were disposed I could justly com? plain at its tenor Brushing aside any personal feeling as of no concern to the people and desiring only to present to them in as brief space as possible the exact status and the reasons actuating my conduct, as their servant, II ask space. to review the political situation and to answer some of the statements in the -edito? rial in question. I sha!! premise what I shall -say by the remark that I am not accustomed and have never felt it necessary to have my views on public questions reach the people of the State through any other mouth tfoan my own ; and while Mr. Latimer and I are personal and political friends, I have not attempted to make 'him the medium of communicating a change of opinicn, however "commendable" euch a change may appear to the Editor of tke Roister. As a matter of fact, Mr. iLatimer informs me that the correspondent of the News and Courier, with his usual inaccuracy, has done him au injustice He did not speak the words or authorize the statement credited to him. ile had a conversation with the reporter in a private way, which has been distort? ed and grossly misrepresented. As for myself I am only confermed in believing the advice contained in my letter to Mc. Reid to be wise and the best course to follow. WO KEY THE MAIN* STAKE. In the condition of unrest in South Carolina and mid the contentions o? ambitious politicians seeking to gain advantage of one another-'though the Reform movement shail be split in twai? and the people of the State distracted and torn iuto factions-1 feel that it is cay duty to clearly de? fine what I conceive-to be the best policy for our people to pursue. I am not striving to put down any one man or put up another. I have no purpose or intention of attempting the role of a political director ; but as a man whom Ike people have ?hon? ored, and in whose judgment and leadership they tawe reposed a de? gree of confidence and trust, impos? ing a heavy responsibility, I shall speak and speak plainly If my ad? vice is not heeded I shall make no complaint, but it snay as well fee distinctly understood that in this crisis those who may endeavor to divide the Reformers or absolutely surrender to the influence which has destroyed ihe national Democratic party will have to meet the issue on the stump if it becomes necessary. I will not permit the people to be mislead and deceived under pretence of loyalty to Democracy. My duties here are of a character which leave no leisure for campaigu speaking in South Catolina and I have accepted invitations to make addresses in St. Louis, Denver and New York city in the near future, but I can and will go to South Carolina if it be neces sav Now I will endeavor to state, so that nobody can misunderstand or pretend to misunderstand, my own position, and give the reasons why, in my judgment, this policy is the only wise and proper one. Every white Democrat in South Carolina should participate in the election of delegates to the May convention and see that the men trusted to represent them are true and loyal to the prin? ciples we have been contending for. We should send a trusted delegation to Chicago with the platform of prin? ciples clearly laid down by the State convention as a basis for their action. And on the one overpowering and burning question of finance we should demand of the National Dem? ocratic party a clear and unmistaka? ble utterance for free coinage of siver at 16 to 1, the issue o? all ' paper money by the government, in sufficient volum, and a system of banking which will provide against the concentration and congestion of money in the large cities to the detri ment and ruin of the country There are other planks of great im portance, but they are few, and th? platform should be brief and clea cut. The masses never are capabl of studying more than one grea question at a time, and in proportioi as they are distracted by contending ideas just so are they divided and de feat ed THE PARTY" BOUND TO SPLIT. If we fail to get the national con vention to give us a platform of th character outlined and a loyal candi date on it we should withdraw Why ? Because in the present con dition of the Democratic party in thi United States there is absolute an tagon i sm of purpose and feeling ex ?8ting between the two wings. Th* difference is as great as betweei Democracy and Republicanism. I is just as pronounced, as irreconcil able, as bitter as the feeling whicl existed at the Charleston conventioi in 1860. The struggle then was fo the extension of slavery in the tetri tories, and the party split asunder nominating two sets of candidates Now the issue is whether money o the people shall rule. As I see it, i is bouEid to split again when it meet in convention. "Even though,7' ti quote the language falsely attribute< to Mr Latimer, "the goldbugs an disposed to deal fairly with th? silver men and to put up a ticket t< represent both faction8.', This is ai impossibility. No fair dealing cai be expected from the men wh< foisted on us the silver plank in th* last national platform. No fair deal ing can be expected of those Easten Democrats so called who in the fac< of that pledge sustained the Presi dent in repealing the purchasing clause of the Sherman act. No fai dealing can be expected from th? men who defeated Hardin in Ken tucky last fall, and have just prevent ed the election of Blackburn. REBUT.? OF A STRADDLE The differences are irreconcilable the conflict is irrepressible, ?nd al true Democrats must resolve to stan< by the principles of Jefferson an< Jackson, or expect to see the part] utterly dcstioyed and a new part] take its place. Any compromise o straddle will cause the Populists auc silver men to sweep the South an( West and the democratic *party wil be only a name and will become th< third party, ?b?ald it be fortunata enough to carry a single State. Bu those who urge that we stick to tlx party, no matter what may be iti platform, will retort at once that i the silver Democrats bolt at Chicago the same result sri'll follow I gran it so far as the present or^anizatioi ? is concerned acd also as far as th< name is concerned, because there would inevitably be a new partj formed embracing all the elements o the three parties w?ieh sta id for fre< silver and financial reform. But th< principles and the platform of sucl a new party t if it be formed, will b( those of Jefferson and Jackson anc Lincoln ; and if it does not wki th? victory this year, it will be bound tc carry the coutry in 19-00. It will bf the genuine Democratic party. It roust not be forgotten too that thi Republican party ie split and torr over this issue as well as ours. THE SEEDS HE SOWED. Now let us look at our local con? ditions in tiie light of past events and the present surroundings-some tiling The Register seems entirely tc ignore. In 1892 there were not less than thirty thousaed Reformers in the State and possibly more who were j strongly tempted to ?rote for Weaver : and were loath to participate in the national Democratic convention by sending delegates to it. Where do these men stand to-day, after hav ing been deceived and betrayed ? The news comes to me from all parts of the State that they feel just what the Rev. Mr. Reid expressed in his letter, and theyT fell it so strongly that unless they have assurances that participation in the next national convention will not bind their con? sciences and votes if they do not see proper to endorse its action, that they are now gravely considering the question of remaining aloof from the party primary in May, 1 think, however, their numbers sre largely increased, and that they j in fact embrace a great many Con? servatives and a large majority of tue Reformers. There is no analogy in in the comuarison which the Register makes between those Democrats who in the past have run on independent tickets in the State and those of us who now propose to leave the party at Chicago should it be untrue to its principles and its old faith Our one overpowering and over? mastering issue in State affairs has been white supremacy, and this under the conditions existing before the new constitution was adopted made revolt against the white majority nothing loss than a crime. While j those conditions do not exist, and while I am always ready to abide by the will of the majority of the white people of the State, there is nothing which demands such loyalty hi na? tional affairs as is urged by the Register. The party organization in the State will remain intact and those white men who choose to go to the Republicans or to ally themselves with goldburgs of the Cleveland Carlisle stripe, can do so. What I am striving to preveut is the division of the silver Democrats and the de? struction of the Reform movement, just what has occurred in every other Southern State READY TO LEAD OUT. ? know there are some men in thc State who will remain in the party as now organized, and be for whoever may be nominated on any kind of a platform, but it is a poor compliment to the people at large to consider them so blind and so wedded to tbe name Democraoy that they will longer take the shadow for the substance. I have striven with might and main to prevent the disintegration of the Reform Democracy. There are few who will be bold enough to deny that I kept the Alliance from com? mitting the blunder of sloughing off and joining the Populists in '92, which practically destroyed it ;n other States. 1 have pror*;?M e people who have trusted me at . ho have heeded my counsels that I would lead them out when the time came That time is now upon us, either to purify and reorganize the party or leave it, and if my advice has any weight with the people of the State, they will align themselves in solid phalanx for the purpose I have indicated, and by so doing force the retirement of the cowards and sycophants and treacherous leaders now masquerading as Democrats. The party can only be thus rejuven? ated and then press onward in ite glorious mission of emancipating the people and restoring their liberties under the old banners, and always under the time-honored principles of Jefferson and Jackson. It is simply a question of reforming the party and bringing it back or leaving it. If we can reform it we can hold on to the name and the principles. Ii we do not succeed in doing this then we take the principles and seek new allies and a new name. MUST MOVE OS OR SURRENDER TO IRBY. Every consideration of statesman? ship and patriotism demands such action on our part. We cannot stand still, but must move forward or sur render to tractors As South Caro? linians we sh huid move together and towards the light, boldly and bravely. We all w^ant to stay in the party and hold on to the name if we can do sc to retain our self respect. This wil be determined when we get to Chi? cago. The present duty is to turn out at the primaries and select true men to attend the State convention. B. R. TILLMAN Washington, March 22. A Compromise Probable. Washington, March 24.-The man agers on the part of the two houses in charge of the Cuban resolution failed to agree this afternoon and ad? journed to meet again to morrow at i o'clock. Many tentative proposi tions were discussed. It was appa rent, however, that neither house wil adopt the text in toto of the other The opinion is expressed that the senate conferees will agree to the firsi and second clauses of the house res ; olutions, striking cut the third clausc which reads : "Resolved, That the United States has not intervened in struggles between. any European governments and their colonies on this continent, but from the very close relations of the people of the United Stales and those of Cuba in consequence of its proximity and the extent of commerce between the two peoples, the present war is entailing such losses upon the people of the UnitedStates that congress is of tho opinion that the government of the United States should be prepared to protect the legitimate interests of our citizens dy intervention, if neces? sary." This will remove the objec? tionable features discussed during the debate in the seriate and it is thought the house will accept the res? olutions as so amended. While members of the conference adhere to the statement that no con? clusion was even approximately reached, they all declared that they will report a conclusion that will be satisfactory to both houses and which will be agreed to. They assert with emphasis that the matter is not to be left hanging in the air, foi' the over? whelming vote in both houses is accepted as an evidence cf the sentiment of this congress that final and positivo action of some sort should bo taken, and that the congress should not bc frustrated by a few friends of Spain developed by the debate in the senate. For this reason they say they will agree upon resolutions that mii9t command the respect and support of both houses of congress. The New Registration Law. Conditions Necessary to En? able a Citizen to Cast a Ballot. The new registration law is quite lengthy and very stringent in its pro? visions ; but a comprehensive idea of it can be gathered from the following: Until January 1, 1898, registra? tion shall be in the hands of three supervisors in each county ; after January 1, 1898, the work will be in charge of one supervisor in each county Until January 1, 1898, all male citizens who have been residents of the State for two years and their re? spective polling precincts for four months, and have paid their poll tax at least six months previous to an election, and who are not laboring under any of the disabilities men? tioned in the constitution, and who can read or understand the constitu? tion, are entitled to register and be? come electors. After January 1, 1898, the other conditions must be complied with as described, and the candidate for registration must have also paid all taxes that may have been assesed against him during the previous year, must be able to read and write any section of the consti? tution, or mi Jt show tax receipts on property to the value of $300. Min? isters and teachers, where otherwise qualified, will be entitled to register after six months residence in the State The registration books must be opened at the court house on the first Monday in April next and kept open for six consecutive weeks. They must be opened again on the first Mondays iu June, July, August and September and kept open one week in each month They will be closed 30 days before the general election ; but individuals who become of age during that interval and are otherwise qualified, may be regitrered before the books are closed. The board of registration is to be the judge as to an applicant's qualification forvoting If the applicant is not satisfied with the ruling of the board, he can take his case to a circuit judge or to the circuit court, and from there to the supreme court. All persons register? ed on or before January 1,1898, will be qualified voters for life, unless they shouid be subsequently disqualified on account of other provisions of th* constitution. Registration certificates shall be in the following form : Registration Certificate, Numbei -. This is to certify that is a registered elector of the ?lection district or county of -, resides in -township or parish or ward ; is -years of age, and is entitled tc: vote in- polling precinct if oth erwise qualified. Registered on the -day of-, 18-. Board of Registration of - county. -, Supervisor of Registration ol - county. Provision is made for the renewal of lost or destroyed certificates and for the transfer of registration from one county to another. It is the duty of the clerks of the court to keep registration boards advised of all convictions for disqualifying crimes, and it is the duty of the registration boards to erase the names of all who have been convicted of such crimes, The disqualifying crimes are : Burg? lary, arson, obtaining goods ur money under false pretenses, per? jury, forgery, robbery, bribery, adul? tery, bigamy, wifebeating, house breaking, receiving stolen goods, breach of trust with fraudulent in? tent, fornication, sodomy, incest, as sult with intent to ravish, miscegena? tion, larceny, or crimes against the election laws It is provided that the disabilities occasioned by con? viction of the crimes mentioned may be removed by a pardon from the governor, even after the name of the voter has been stricken from the registration lists. Until after the general election of 189G, there is no change in the law as it applies to incorporated cities and towns After the general elec? tion of 1896, however, before an election can be held, all of the would be voters must have been duly registered by a supervisor of regis? tration appointed by the mayor or intendant, as the case may ce. Be? fore a certificate can be issued, the applicant, must have subscribed to an oath to the effect that he has lived iii the State two years, in the county one year, and in his polling precinct four months next immediately pro? ceeding the election There aro, of course, numerous other provisions in the law ; but it is only such as have been mentioned that especially concern the individual applicant for registration. Old Pianos t^ken in exchange for new ones at the Sumter Music House. Sold Out to Spain. Fireman Owens on the Com? modore "Peaches." Charleston, March 26.-Edward Owens, late firemao on the filibuster? ing steamer Commodore, weot before the Spanish consul here to-day and wade a statement regarding the much talked of trip of the Commodore. He was mad because the officers of the boat would not pay him more money and be bad been drinking besides He admitted that be always knew where the boat really was going, but be claimed to have been "shanghaied," that is, shipped to go to one port and then taken to another, and he swears be will prosecute the officers of the Commodore. He told the consul to-day that the Commodore went straight to Cuba when she left here on the 13th. She tried to land at night, and failing at that, she came boldly up to the Cuban coast and put ber men and arms ashore. There were 32 men, be said, among whom were General DeSoto, and six boat loads of rifles, machetes and ammunition. He said the land? ing was made just around a cape which was, be thought, in the provioce of Santa Anna (Clara?). The men on board were mostly Americans of Cuban extraction, General DeSoto being the only man of note among them. They did not drill while on board the Com? modore, but when they landed they all put on caps with Cuban flags on them. The Spanish consul said that he could take no part in the matter until official recognition of Owens state? ment had been taken. If Owens wished to prosecute the officers or libel the boat, the Spanish government would help all it could after the case had been made and if the United States district attorney would start proceedings Spain would help to push the matter by get? ting witnesses, etc. Owens saw a law? yer this afternoon and a libel suit against the vessel will be brought to? morrow. THE BUTCHERY BEGIN8 Habana, March 26.-it is officially reported that a combination of rebel bands, taking advantage of the fact that only a small force of Spanish troops was stationed in the city of Santa, Clara, marched upon that place on the night of March 22 aud penetrated to the centre of the towD, where they made an attempt to capture the arsenal. Gen. Bazan, in command of the troops in the city, accompanied only bj his staff personally inspected the poiots of danger and so disposed the garrison as to eave the city. The rebel leader Leoncio Vidal was killed in front of the arseoal, opposite the plaza, and his body remained on the ground exposed to public view in the morning for seve? ral hours. The total losses as the re? sult of the fight are not known. The Spanish column under Col Segura has captured a largs insurgent camp at Siguanea, in the province of Santa Clara. He reports that the cap? ture ot the rebel stronghold was accom plrthed only after several engagements were fought, resulting in the killing of four of the enemy and wounding a large number. Col. Segura destroyed the camp and captured the rebel hospital, which contained 125 wounded insur? gents, among them the rebel leader Rego. A large quantity of medicine and a number of documents were also captured. The plantation on which camp was situated was desolated and the valley which the insurgents believed to bs impregnable is occupied by the government troops Col Pavia reportes having bad an encounter of five hours duration with the rebel leader Lacret at the Lead of 1,000 cien, in which ?he rebels lost 13 killed and many wounded. The Spanish had oue soldier wounded. The prisoners who were coodemned to death for the crime of rebellion against the government were shot in the Cabanas fortress this morning. -~^^Z>- -nun Murder Near Florence. Florence March 26.-Mr. Watson Hall, an aged and highly respected farmer who lives near Mars Bluff, was shot and killed while sitting alone in his residence by some unknown person from the outside of the house night before last. The story of thc killing is a horrible one. Coroner S. T. Burch went to Mars Bluff yesterday morning to hold the inquest. The coroner's jury was formed, the inquest held and the verdict reudered was that "Watson Hali came to his death from a gunshot wound in the hands of parties unknown to thc jury, but the evidence points to one Alex Ferrell.77 Highest cf all in Leavening Pov Outwitting Filibusterers. Senatorial Talkers Against Time Effectually Silenced Washington, March 26.-The con? ferees on the Cuban resolutions, after a short eessioo, this afternoon agreed to the resolutions as they originally passed the senate. This result was practically readied yesterday. It shuts off all further debate in the senate, where there was evidence of a spirit of antago? nism that the committee believed would be exercised to the ultimate de? feat of any and all resolutions. The house, it is believed, will agree to the report without delay. In the form as thus agreed te, the resolutions are as follows : Resolved by the senate, the boose of representatives concurring, That in the opioion of ooogress a condition of pub? lic war exists between the government of Spain and the government proclaim? ed and for some time maintained by foroe of arms by the people of Cuba ; and that the United States of America should maintain a strict neutrality be? tween the contending powers, accord* ing to each all the rights of belliger? ents in the ports and territory of the United States. Resolved further, That the friendly efficeB of toe United State? should be offered by the President to the Spanish government for the recognition of the indepeode nee of Cuba The action of the five conferees was unanimous. Senator Lodge of Massa? chusetts, the sixth member of the com? mittee, was absent. It has not been doubted from the first that the house conferees would agree to the senate res? olutions, sioce it was known that the systematic course of fillibustering which has already been pursued in the senate would be continued there if the effort to pass the house resolutions were main? tained. At the meeting to-day the sen? ate conferees confirmed the statements to this effect that were made by them yesterday, although asserting that could the house resolutions be brought to a vote it would be found that two-thirds of the senate would favor their adop? tion. Tbe house conferees, who have held out strongly for their own resolu? tions, saw the futility of further argu? ment, and by consenting to accept the senate resolutions brought the three days' conference to an end. Mr. Hitt. the chairman of the house foreign affairs committee, will at the first opportunity call up the conference report and ask its consideration. Ife wil! probably be followed by seme de? bate, but it is not doubted that it will be adopted. MILLIONS OF SILVEB DOLLARS. Washington, March 27.-Tho mints are now coiniog standard silver dollars at the rate of 1,500,000 per month from the silver bullion purchased under the Act of July 14, 1890, on hand. Of the number of silver dolars now be? ing coined 1,031,375 will be held for the redemption of treasury notes, being the cost of the bu'lion contained in 1,500,000 silver dollars at the aver? age cost of silver bullion purchased un? der the Act of July 14, 1890. The remainder 468,675 dollars, will be paid into the treasury as profits oo the coio age of silver bullion and against which silver certificates can be issued and in the payment of any expenses of the Government. - m M- -o rrr?-" How To Prevent Croup. I Some read inp: that will prove interesting ; to young mothers. How to guard against j the disease. Croup is a terror ia young mothers and to . post them concerning: t"e cause, Srst sytnp j toms and treatment is the object or' this Hem* I The origin of croup is a common cold. Children who are subject to it take cold very easily and croup is almost sure to follow. The first symptom is hoarseness; this is soon followed by a peculiar rough coug:i, which is easily recognized and will never be forgotten by one who has heard it. The time to act is when the child first become^ hoarse. If Chamberlain's Cough Remedy is freely e'ven all tendency to croup will soon disappear. Even after the croupy cough has developed it will prevent the attack.' There is no d--. tiger in giviog ?his remedy for :t contains nothing injurious. For sale by Dr. A. J. China } In go:og to get a drink and tVink what bargains in Pianos, Organs and'Ssw.ng Machines are to be bad at the Sumter Music House, in the Masonic Tempie nu?diug. Why suffer with Coughs, Colds and La Grippe when Laxative Bromo Quinine will cure you in one day. Does MO: produce the ringing in the head like Sulphate of Qumice Put up in tablets convenient for taking. Guaranteed to cure, or money refuTided. Price, 25 Cents. For sale by A. J. Chi??a. Nov. 20-6m. vex.-Latest U. S. Gov't Report