Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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The Great Cost Sale is a Thing of the Past, But we are still selling everything at prices that make all competitors hus? tie to keep in behind us. NEW SPRING ARRIYALS. ? First Installment of We ^ show you the finest line of ! The First 9f the Season. Gent's Fine Neckwear has- arrived-They are beauties. Call r^+'c Qnri^o. ?<2nnoc j?OOpei?es French Percales, 137 different patterns, all new and see them. Ties worth $1, and 75c ^enX S ?PrmS ? ^noes ! 8tyles, not an old one in the lot, o? gQ cents. ^ver boughtto ^S ?*ty. IQ a^ SDa(^es ?f ^ce anf* Russian g j "3. cents per yard. _ :* leather. None but the newest toes shown. ,T . \ . c,. , ^ . . P 0 . ' In Tecks, 4-in-hands, Puffs and Imperials. Now is the time to get your Shirt Waists for Spring. J. RYTTENBERG & SONS. WSDISBSDAJ, MABCH 2,1888.: The Sumter Watchman was rounded tu-1850-and the True Southron ia 1866. Thu Iftsfc Asian a?? SotUhron now has toe combined circulation and influence of both of the old papers, and is mani? festly the beat advertising medium in With Sam Jones in the race for gov? ernor H bas assuredly broken loose io Georgia agaio. " Por the army contractor and bond v boyer a war with Spain would be a _ great thing, bat for the average mao of business it woold be a calamity. When a candidate for a State office gets the business down to scch a fine j point that he employs a regular press} ?gent to prepare reading matter (calculated to keep the name of the candidate before the pcb?ic in a favor? able light, be shatters beyond repair the theory that the office seeks the, mw Within less than two months a ne V igra man bas been lynched-whipped to ?eath with a buggy trace-in Laotens county for violating a labor contract, another has been shot to ; -death in Greenwood connty for no specified cause and a man and infant child have been shot to rb and-burned at Lake City be the negro had been appointed r in disregard of the wishes x>f the people of the community. -These are not all the crimes of 189.8 chargable to white people by any means, fur there have been other lynchings almost as inexcusable. The blood guiltiness of the people grows greater day by day and when the time of reckoning comes the score - will bc heavy. The Lake City horror is the culmina tioa of the spine of lawlessness that has . been fostered and encouraged by the advocates of lynch law. Every mao ( who hat raised his voice or penned a (?ne ia defence cf lynohers, or in advo? cacy of iyuoh law io any circamaiaocee, i- io part responsible for the unexam? pled deed of diabclio ferocity committed ander corer of darkness at Lake City os the ci^at cf Feb. 21. Apologists for lynch law, behold the result of your] toachiog ! See how the seeds of law iissoe^a have brought forth murder, ar 800 and destraction ! It was a brave work.' truly, for white men to engage in, the shooting of au uoarmcd man, his wife and children as (bey sought to j escape from beneath the hurting roof of j their boase which had been fired over their heads wbile they slept. Tbe pa? gan and savage Iodiaoe who roamed the forests of South Carolina two hun? dred years ago were never guilty of a more fiendish and brutal crime, al? though they were destitute of tbe know? ledge of law, of God, of the teachings of Christianity. There aro co words strong enough to folly express our de? testation of tbe brutes who abc* that negro woman and the bane at ber breast. No punishment that tbe law permits is too severe to fit their csime. It was morder most fouj and damnable and we are shamed and humiliated that so vile a or im s must go on record against the white people of Sooth Carolina. There ?re no extenuating circumstances and the blood of those slaughtered negroes cries aloud from the groa od for justice. Wholesale and irresponsible m der is merely lynch law in fruitage. . Mr. E D. Smith of this county said to be a candidate for the of of State Superintendent of Edu tfon We had heard nothing of I Smith 's candidacy until the run was circulated from Colombia, a have no means knowing how mc ! there is in the romor. Mr. Smith well qualified for the position by ec cation and his experience as a teach and would make an effice u t and pi gressive officer, ile is an enth siast on the subject of improving tl pnblfc school system and extendii this means pf educating the mass the people. Tbe State Board of Control has i idea of . abolishing betel dispensarie although it has been charged time at again that these dispensaries are run i direct violation of nearly every seotio of the dispensary law.': The bot? dispensaries pay a profit and the pref feature ia the chief consideration aft? alt There never was a wilder flight c the imagination than the idea that E R Tillman will be a candidate fo Governor this sommer. He bas a bel ter nayiog job io Wasbiogtoo.and ther is nothing substantial for bim to gait by taging a hacd in the scrimmage Ellert e, Watson, Sch u ru pert, Georgi Tillman et al will not have Ben to fign and need not worry ca that score Baker, tbe Lake City postmaster, wai not killed because he was a negro. R< was obnoxious to the people of thi commonly beean?* be waa ignorant because be was insolent to (he patron* of the office, because be had insult?e ladies, because be was inefficient and failed to give the coromaoity the posta facilities to which it bad been accus? tomed, because be was brought from another couoty aod forced upon tbs com mooity over earnest protests and thee kept tn office in disregard of a respect? ful request that be be removed for good and sofficieot reasons that were stated in the petition. The people of Lake City were shabbily treated by the post office department, end their wish? es and feelings were disregarded and over-ridden with a pig beaded obstinacy that is explainable ooly on the hypo? thesis tbat Mark Hanna and his under? strappers were determioed to pay off their political debts to the negro bosses in the south without taking into consid? eration the wifhes cf the white peo? ple at all. This ou?rageou^ and senseless treatment irritated the emire communi? ty, aud white the better eiemeot re? strained their resentment the ignorant and more violent let passion have full play and tbe slaughter of Baiter and bis family Was the result. The post cf5o<? department would not reroovo this ob ncxioas negro postuiahter at the request of the property owners and respectable citizens of the towo, therefore the law less and igooraot clement, always the most violent in their prejudice ag&.cst the negro, took matters into their own bands and removed bim is a summary aod bloody maooer. We emphasize the fact that he was not killed because be was a negro, and for no other reason ; be was killed because be was obnoxious and be? cause the postoffioe department re fused to remove him although be was known to be incompetent as weil as i obnoxious. Were the people of South I Carolina given to killing negroes ! because they were appointed postmas ' . * ye* ters the negro graveyards of tbe State woola be arneb more crowded than at I present. There have been many negro (postmasters in this S ? a to in past years, and, notwithstanding the prejudice that has always existed against the elevation of negrota toto sach poai.ioue, none of them were kiiied, though .he provoca? tion was often very great Many of these negro postmasters were intelli? gent, polite and efficient cfficials, and no oompiaiot was ever made against them, but others wer8 quite the re? verso. The people of the south have been moro patient than anyone bad the right to v?same they would be under sach U9?ge ; they have eodured the mean and petty spite of tho Republi? cans, wbo have foisted their negro henchmen upon tjjem io responsible po? sitions io payment for party service, on the one hand, or as a penalty for p?r;y opposition ou the other ; they havt? submitted to this treatment under protest, tu:, with rare exceptions, have been guilty of no violeoee or law lef-ne-^. to matter bow great and out rageun* ba? been the imposition. This is the record, and while it does not ex? cuse ibe butchery of ^aker and bis child. for nothing ct i i excuse this crime, yet the facts demonstrate that the pose office department itt partly responsi? ble for ibe death of Baker, having created the conditions (bat incited the lawless aod bloody mob to commit that fearful midnight butchery The murder of a negro postmaster is a horrible crime, but the mean and vicious politician whn are primarily responsible for the cri?te most not be permitted to esoape ali censure, while the actual assassins j are being condemned, in unmeasured! terms Tbs Lee County Ledger is tba roost recent addition io our lis: af exchanges. This nevrspaper representative of the newest county io South Carolina is published at Bisbopville and is edited by Mr Yt. L Wilson, until recently tho editor and publisher of the Lamar X Rays. The Ledger makes a most creditable beginning, and we extend to it a cordial greening and the best wishes for present and future prosperity. That Lake City Mob. The postoffice inspectors who were sent to Lake City to run down the murderers of Postmaster Fraser B Baker are still working- quietly on the case. They, of course, are not talking of their examination, but it is said that the evidence is being gath? ered rapidly. Every effort will be made lo locate the guilty parties, but the punishment for them will make another chapter District Attorney Lathrop was at bis office yesterday, and was confer? ring with the inspect? rs about the case He told a reporter for the News and Courier that there were no new developments just now for the public, but added that the investi gating work was being continued. Mr. Lathrop has been requested by the Government to take part in the apprehension of the members of the mob, and be says he will do every? thing in his power to help bring the goiliy men to justice.-Newe and Courier San Francisco. February 28 -The entire proceeds from to day's attend? ance at the Mining Fair, the largest exhibit of matters relating to mining ever held on the Pacific coast, which bas been attracting crowds to Me chanics' Pavilion for the past month, are to be devoted to the relief of the families of the victims o? the Maine disaster An extraordinary pro? gramme of a military nature wa9 presented for the occassion. Lake City People Pear An ed Negroes. Mass Meeting of Citiztns-I Anonymous Letter. I Special to The Register. j Kingtree, S C , Feb. 26.-Yo j correspondent has jase retaroed frc Lake City where be has beeo to d sering io the capacity of ofie stenograph ar for the oorooer io t postoffiee tragedy. The examination witnesses was renamed in the tobac warehouse at Lake City to-day, ac sf-verai witnesses were examine* Solicitor Wilsoo was there and a?sis i ed tbe coroner in the eross-examin; tioe. Postcffice Inspectors Maye ao Bolla were there too, bat took no pa in the inquest. After examining a the witnesses, Coroner Burrows agai adjourned toe ioquest till Saturday March 9 Nothing new was develope at the inquest ro day except the test; mony cf Mr. W T. Askios, who swor that be heard twp squads of horse men some time between midnight, an morning passing bis bouse going in dir'eotion opposite to the postoffiee The mayor of Lake City received tbi following anonymous letter, post marked with stamp H, at Chicago Feb. 23 : The mayor of Lake Citv, S. C . "Chicago. Ills . Feb 23. 1898 My Dear Sir :-Having read ao ac couot io one of the morning papen of the lynching of a negro postmaster, it compel? me to ful61 ! my oath as presi deot of this asxoeia1 ion We tbe mern bers of tbe A C P. A. bave desolved that on or about March 1st, we will arrive io Lake City, S C.. abooi 100 strong aod armed to the teetb. We do not intend to spear man, woman or child till we aveoge the murder of Baker and his baby It will be noticed that the letter i? badly written and the words misspelled Tbe most prominent people of the town think that the letter was written by a crank It was on paper of tbe Virginia hotel, Chicago. The citizens of Lake City met in mass meeting to-day at the call of Mayor Kelley. Stirring speeches were made by various people Mayor Kelley and Mr. H. W. Ackerman act? ed as seoretary State Senator Wil? liams introduced the following resolu? tions which were unanimously adopted : "Whereas, unknown parties did, on the night of Feb. 2lst, commit OBO of the most disgraceful crimes ever por petrated io any community in the killing of Frazier B. Baker and his child and the wounding of his wife and three children, and ..Whereas, we feel it incumbent up? on us as law abiding citizens, to de? nounce said act in the strongest terms and to let the good people of Sooth Carolina and of tbe>eotire Dation know how we stand io reference to the terrible tragedy Be it Resolved First, That we de? plore the crime committed in our com? munity and look upon it ss an aot of unprecedented cruelty. Second, That wc ask of the public j sympa?hy instead of abuse, a* n is a j fact that lawless people live in nil | communities over which law abiding I citizens have little or no control. Third, That we are opposed to law j lessne3s of every kind, and hope that. ? justice will bc meted out in the Baker j postoffiee tragedy." They Are Neeeded to Com- ! mission Two Cruisers. Washington, Feb. 25 -Chairman j Boutelle, of thc house oaval affairs ; committee, bas received a letter from ? the navy department, together with a I draft of a bill providing authority for j the enlistment of 1.500 additional men j to ruan tho Columbia and Minneapolis. ? which has been ordered into oom m is sion The letter is signad by Aching ; Secretary Roosevelt. Chairman Bou- ! telle, of thc nival committee, received ; it last night, but to nooo to-day bad ! oot decided to cali a speoial meeting of ? the naval committee to consider it. He says the request is practically identical i with that proffered by ex Secretary j Herbert to the last congress. ! ? W. C. M'?iowan Dead. Prominent Man Removed from Useful Life. Abbeville. Feb. 27.--W 0 Mc? Gowan died here at 2 o'clock thie afternoon after a short bat very pain fnl illness, and as a result of tbe death the entire city of Abbeville is in mourning for one^of its best beloved and brainiest citizens. Mr McGowan's death is the re? sult of a severe case of pneumonia which confined him to his bed teu days ago The disease made rapid inroads into his constitution .and the best of medical aid could do? no more than smooth the sufferer's pil? low. The invalid made a strong fight for life, bnt early yesterday it was evident that the end was ap? proaching Unconsciousness set in and continued until just/a short while before death, and then opening his eyes he recognized his wife The deceased was a son of the lal? Genera] McGowan and in March, had be lived, would have seen his fortieth birth day. SCOVEL'S MESSAGE. 4 He Says it Was Surely an Ex? ternal Cause. New Yotk, Feb 26 ^A special copy righted cable to the Evening World from Sylvester Scovel at Ha vans, says : "Divers working foward yesterday found absolute proof that the forward big magazine, which alone could have so damaged the ship, is sorely unexploded The sides and floors of ibis magazine are practically intact and in such shape as is impossible had an explosion within occurred. Many divers have so sworn to-day to the investigating board. "lt ie now believed by experts that a big torpedo or mine aided by five hundred pounds of sainting pow- ! der in the reserve magazine next to)4 the big magazine might have pro J doced the actual results, both as re?- ? gards extent and direction found in j tbe wreck Collapsed powder casks ? found about the magazine have hexa? gonal marks in the thin copper where/{he external pressure forced it into its contents of hexagonal pow? der " Choose Ye This Day. Mr Hanna and his cohorts "must realize that they have now arrived at the parting of the ways, and must let the American people know wheth er the administration is for or agaist them The lesson of the Maine disas? ter brings him face to face with this question, which is the result of nearly a year of inexcusable carelessness and unpatriotic adherence to a policy which is a stench io the nostrils of every patriotic American. There is scarcely one among the seventy mil? lion Americans who is not convinced that the ^50 American sailors who were atrociusly murdered by the des- ; [ruction of the Maine, were the vic- j tims of Spanish treachery j While the American people desire peace with every nation of the earth, that peace must be consistent with j honor and patriotic duty ; and Mr. ' Hanna must recognize that the time 1 h as come when he CMSJ no longer pro tect the interests of the ?Spanish bond- i liolders, Wall street gamblers. and|] the octopus Sugar Trust at the ex j pense of the honor of the American ; people -Spartanburg Herald Memphis, Feb. 26 -The Memphis ! and Charleston railroad extending | ] southeast from this city to Stevenson, ? Ala , a distance of 290 miles, was *old at public outcry at noon to day. j Hie Southern railway company ? bought the property at the upset ' price of $2,500,000, there being no ( other bidders. "vVe Told You so!" Under the recent Act of ?he Genera! Assembly considerably more latitude is offered to the sinking fu as to lending money from the finking fond. Nnw loans to the extent of oDe balf of tbe atccact ot tr.zes collected are permissible, and a number of coua ties have already ptK in applications. Under a special Asr Greenwood and Anderson are to be allowed to make epecial loans for their Court Housed Sumter County pat in an application for a ?O?O of $10,000. Tt is thoogbs that this much cannot be lent, in view of the fact that Lee County has Absorb? ed a part of Sumter, and it not beiog shown how this division will affect rh e tax receipts of Sumter. The law has a decidly bad" tendency, and ia iikeiy to lead io trouble. Al? ready severa' of the couoties are ask? ing for renewals, whrn under the law their se?leinen:a anould have been made, aod then the State board could consider new loans The board has no authority ?o renew the notes, and after a while it will be found rb** tbe renew? ing business will get to be a common thing, aod .'he State will not be able to get its hands on the oash when ir is wonted - Colombia Cor News and Cou? rier, Feb 25 SINEWS OP WAR. Washington, D. C., Feb. 28 -A number of the strongest financiers of New York were io tbe national capi? tal to-day and bad an important con? ference witb Secretary of the Treas? ury Gage. They discussed the neces? sity and advisability of a bond issue ia oase war should be declared. They were all of tbe opinion that there would be up troobie whatever about raising ' ?ny amount of money which may be necessary to carry the United States through any war in which they may become involved. The gtroDg fioancial condition of tbs United States in io striking contrast with the impoverished soadiiion of Spain's treasury and the difficulties abe will encounter io floating a loan ^ JJ. _ like every other crop, needs nouri^hrrient. A fertilizer containing nitro? gen, phosphoric acid, and not less than 5% of actual li will increase the crop and im? prove the land. Oar books tell all about tlie subject. They are tree to any farmer. GERMAN KAU WORKS. $3 Nassau 5:., New York. Order Your PROVISIONS ?ND GROCERIES FROM ?E0. W. STEFFENS & SON Wholesale Agents, Charleston, S C -Agents for LOTT'S CIDER BED SEAL CIGABS, AND DOVE HAMS ro all and Singular the Creditors and Debt? ors cf tbe Estate of W. Smith Andrews? A \.u PERSONS boldinjr claims against j?\_ 1 be Estate of W. fcmith Andrews will jrrserit ihe game to me properly proven, and ill persons in any way indebted to said Estate ire required to matte immediate settlement )f same at my rfilce in Sumter. S. C SHEPARD NASH, C. C. C. PAG S., Feb 19-3t Adainietratcr.