Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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(richman mw .Southron SUMTES WATCHMAN, Established April, 1850. 'Be Just and Fear not-Let all the Ends thou Aims't at, be thy Country's, thy God's and Truth's.' THE TRUE SOUTHRON, Established Jnoe, JSftS Consolidated Aug. % ISSI. SUMTER S. C., WEDNESDAY, MAY 17.1899. New Series-ToL XTIII. No. 42 Published Erory IZTednesiay, -BY KT. Gr. Osteen, SUMTER, S. C, TERMS : $1.50 per aooam-io advance. ADTISTISIMIKT: Ooo Square, first insertion....".$1 00 Every subsequent insertion....... BO Contracts for three months, or longer wi! be made at reduced rates. AU comm anica tiona which subserve private interests will be charged for as ac reniements. Obituaries and tributes of respects will be charged for. THE GREAT REUNION. GEN. JOHN B GORDON STIRS HIS COMRADES. Gen. Hampton, Commanding Army of Northern Virginia, Leads Parade of Grizzled Veterans. Charleston, Maj 10 -Almost the first official act of the ninth annnal reunion of the United Confederate veterans, which began its sessions to day, was an attempt by Gea. Stephen D. Lee of Mississippi to secure an in dorsement of President McKinley's suggestion, made in his recent At lanta speech, that the care of the graves of Confederate dead should be undertaken by the F d rai govern ment. Action on the resolution, however, was frustrated by a motion to refer it to the committee on re so lotions in spite of a rather general sentiment to pat-it through with en thusiasm As this committee is yet io be appointed, it is not probable that the matter will be taken up to morrow, and the ultimate fate of the resolution is problematic. The mo tion to refer originated with Dr J. WilHam Jones of Virginia, and met with some opposition, and it is be lieved the matter will eventually cause some discussion, as there is a decided faction m favor of Gen Lee's sentiments, while the opposition is also said to be very strong The reference to committee probably will result ia amending the resolution so that while thanking the President and acknowledging his action as a grace* fnl one, it will declare that the care of its dead is a duty of the south THE BUSINESS SESSION The business sessions of the re union was called to order this morn ing by Gen C I. Waiker, command ing the South Carolina Division, in the handsome auditorio m erected for the occasion by the city of Charleston. Its enormous floorspace was crowded and thousands were unable to gain admittance to the building. When Gen John B Gordon, the comman der-in-chief, appeared upon the stage he was greeted with thunders of ap plaste. The band struck up Dixie, and the veterans cheered and cheered again. In calling the assemblage to order Gen Walker spoke of Charles ton's invitation to the veterans to meet at the birthplace of secession, and said the gavel he was using was that with which in 1860 bad been used to call to order the secession convention. The chairs used by the officers today and the table of the presiding officer were the same as used on that memorable occasion. When Gen Gordon was escorted to the front of the stage bis appear ance was the signal for a storm of ap plause. Cheers and shrill yells for the commander in-chief mingled with the crash of the band, and hats, handkerchiefs, and flags were waved frantically. When order was finally restored the old Confederate chieftain was presented by Gen Walker, and delivered an eloquent address Ile spoke with all the vigor, eloquence and grace which have won for him a national reputation as an orator. Gen Gordon said : "Governor, Gentlemen of the Com mittee. My Fellow Countrymen of South Carolina : The flood of emo tions which stirs the sensibilities of these veterans today in their loving answer to your gracious greeting These emotions will speak to you in language far more inpressive and eloquent than any words that I could utter, 'the ringing shouts from these thousands of Confederate throats are veritable echoes of the inspiring resolutions of welcome unanimously adopted by your general assembly. While those resolutions have cheered and thrilled every southern soldier's heart, they were not needed to tell ns of the reception that awaited us in South Carolina Her whole history and that of her commercial capital were the promise and guarantee of this magnificent reality For more than two hundred years, made mem orable by heroic struggles in war and brillient achievements in peace, the names of South Carolina and of Charleston have been the synonyo of hospitality, of chivalry, and valor "What else could be expected a people in-who e veins are con mingled the blood of the pron English Cavaliers ? the blood of thoi devoted and resolute men, who pr tested against the immoralities ac grinding exactions of the Stuarts the blcod of the stalwart Disserte and of the heroic Highlanders < Scotland and of the sturday dec ocratic Presbyterians of Ireland ; tt blood of those defenders of freedoi who came to our snores from tr mountain battlements of S wit zerlant and lastly, but no less pure and si cred, the blood of the high soule Huguenots of France, whose martyn by a glorious fidelity even unto deat have made sweeter and richer tb record of human devotion to coi science and liberty. "No resolutions, I repeat, by whic thia great Commonwealth extends il 'loving welcome' were needed to a sure these remnants of the south' immortal armies that the 'freedom c the state' was theirs, and that ever heart within her borders was a so dier's shrine. We had but to remen ber that South Carolina was the nui sery of heroes, as well as of sta! esme and of patriots-that no one Stat* except that she be endowed with a almost boundless affluence of great ness, could in one century have give to the cause of liberty and the re public such a splendid galaxy a South Carolina presents in her Ruf ledge, her Sumter, her Moultrie, he Middleton and ber Marion ; in he Butler, her Pinckney, and her Pick ens ; in her McDnffie and her Calhoun in her Hamilton, her Hayne, and he beloved Hampton. "If we turn from this incomplet array of her noble SODS to the contera piation of the soars upon ber bosom received in ber battles for America) freedom at Cowpeos, at Camden, am Charleston ; at Eutaw Springs, For Moultrie and King's Monotaio, whil ber "Swamp Fox." with his raggei brigade, roasted their rations of swee potatoes in her forests at night, and b; their sudden sallies, now from th mountains and now from the marshes amazed and bewildered the Britts! j invaders ; if we add to this survey o her pt-st the record of her prince!; liberality in the donation of ber soil l the general government, we shall gait a still better conception of the loft!; charaoteristios and unchallenged patriot ism of ber people. *To me, personally, whose associa tion with South Carolinians through th Civil war and the still more galling period of reconstruction and rehabilita itou, gave a dearer insight into thei motives and future aims, it is a pron privilege vouchsafed to me today t stand in your presence as the repre ssntaiives of these battled bruised vete rans and tell this people how fully w recognize their worth and bow grate tally we acknowledge our indebtednee to them. "I should esteem it a still bigbe honor to stand here today as the berah of both the host and guests in proclaim ing a message of good will to all on countrymen and to send the fratena greeting of this people, of all Confed erates, and of their children to al patriots of ali sections ; to unite wit] our American brethren of every Stat io ascribing to the guiding of God th unparalleled victories of Amerioai arms in the late war on land and sea and lastly, by the memory of tb* fathers, whose spirits live in their sons to pledge the sooth's unfailing snppor to every cause for strengthening thi bonds of American unity and tba accelerating the onward march of thi republic in its beogin mieeion to human itv" After tbe applause had subsided Gen Gordoo led Mrs. Stonewall Jackson t< the front of the etage, and ehe wai enthusiastically applauded. As he presented Mrs. Jackson anc io the first lull, Gen. Gordon said : "] will shake her bands for you ail, and it an iostant he added, "co, I will dc more than that ; I am going to bog bet for you," and with that did what be said he was going to do. which met thc hearty approval of the vast throng. It was at this etage Gen. Lee , presented his resolution. It was de eided without further discussion that the resolution be referred to the committee oo resolutions. Gen. Gordoo preserved Miss Kate Cabe! Currie, of Dallas, Tex., Miss Laura Lawendon, cf New Orleans, Mrs Kirby Smith and other ladies whose husbands or fathers were Con federate leaders In response to the repeated demands of the audience he also presented Mrs Gordoo, who was greeted with an outburst of applause. The session then adjourned. VETERANS ON PARADE. The parade of the veterans occurred this afternoon, and they marched through a dense crowd of cheering peo ple. Led by Gens. Gordon and Wade Hampton, a long Hoe of tba grizzled men who had foiiowed these leaders 1 and the other captains cf the Confede rate armies through four jears of hardships and battle, marched sturdily ander the blazing southern san to the inspiring strains of "Dixie," of the "Boonie Blue Fiag" and the irrelevant bat irrepressible "There will be a hot time in the oid town tonight." At intervals along che Hoe the fiutteriog of a war-torn and shot-torn battle Sag called forth cheers, while many heads were bared as the freqed emblems cf a dead cause gleamed over some organi zation whose name is a household word to the sooth. Here and there a camp, appeared io the grey jeans uniform, black slouch hats aEd carrying muskets of the old pattern, and all the war paraphernalia of the "sixty-one." Here again Hampoon and Gordon were cheered vociferously at every step and rode almost the eotire route with bared heads. The absence of Geo Wheeler in the line was a soarce of considerable disappoiotmeot. He reach ed the city early today, but did not participate in the parade. GEN. HAMPTON LED THE MEN. Including the kindred organizations and distinguished guests and commit tees there were probably 5.000 persons ic the line, probably 3,000 of them veterans. Th9 parade was led by Geo. G. I. Walker and staff, followed by the esoori composed of the local military companies, cadets and the naval re serves Then came Gen. Gordon and his staff followed by a long line of carriages containing the sponsors and maids of honor of thc various camps. The veterans were led by Gen. Wade Hampton, at the head of the Army of Northero Virginia, and preceded by 21 battle flags with their escorts. The army of Tennessee followed, led by Gen. Stephen D Lee and was followed by the camps representing the trans Mississippi army in command of Gen. Cabell. The Sons of Confederate Vete rans brought up the rear. The State divisions were in command of the following officers : South Caro lina, Gen. C. I. Walker ; Virginia, Gen Brander; Maryland, Gen. Tripp; West Virginia, Geo. White ; Mississip pi, Gen. Campbell ; Florida, Gen Evans ; Louisiana, Gen. Tu DD ard ; Texas, Gen Polley ; Arkansas, Gen. Horner ; Indian Territory, Gen. Cole mao ; Missouri, Gen. MoCollough ; Oklahoma, Gen. Caster ; North Caro lina, Gen. DeRossett ; Tennessee, Gen George W. Guder. The parade was dismissed at the auditorium, where the memoraial day exercises were*beid. This being South Carolina memorial day the occasion was one of double significance. The ceremonies were very impressive and the auditorium was again filled to its capacity. The memorial address wai delivered by Adjt. Gen. Moorman, who spoke eloquently of the hero dead of the south and paid high tribute to its wo men. Chaplain Jones, in his opening prayer, made an indirect allusion to the Lee resolutions by expressing the hope that the women of the south would keep up the noble work of caring for the graves of the southern dead and that no one would take from them that sacred privilege. THE NIGHT SESSION. Tonight at the auditorium an inter esting ceremony took place in the pre sentation to Gen. Moorman, adjutant general of the association, of a flag from each of the southern States. An immense crnwd was present and the occasion was made rather a sooial one Gen. Moorman was the chief mover io :he .organization of the Cenfederate veterans and formed the first camp in .New Orleans The flags were present ed by the youog lady sponsors from the States and brief addresses were made for eaob by an officer. The campaign for the place of hold ing thc next reunion is oo, and the delegations from the candidate cities are hard at work. These are Louisville, Norfolk, Baltimore, St. Louis and New Orleans, of which the firet named is said tonight to be the favorite. The Kentucky town was a strong candidate for'the present reunion. The cruiser Raleigh came up to the city to day and anchored off the bat tery, where she lies dressed io bunting from rail to maintruck. All day a fleet-of email craft have plied to her oarryiog visitors, and Capt Coghlan and his effsers have been busy show ing the handsome little cruiser that helped Dewey win the battle of Manila at tbe other side of the world THE HERO OP SANTIAGO RECEIVES THE MOST TUMULTUOUS GREET ING. Charleston, May ll.-The Confed erate veterans held but one session 1 today which shortly after noon gave way to the Winnie Davis memorial exercises at the conclusion of which an adjournment until 10 o'clock to morrow was taken. The anounce ment that Gen. Joe Wheeler was to speak filled the auditorium and the hero of two ware was giving c rousing reception by the immense audience The delegates and visitors devoted the afternoon to excursions to nearby resorts, trips down the bay and so cial fuuetions, and tonight a concert was given at the auditorium where a saperb choir and orchestra render ed a programme of southern war songs. The election of officers will occur tomorrow. Gen. John B. Gordon has no opposition to reelection as commander in chief [and his election probably will be unanimous. Perfect weather conditions con tinue and the reunion is pronounced to be far greator than any one of the predecessors. In spite of the crowd there have been no disor ders or accidents and the police ar rangements are in keeping with other preparations made by the city for the reception and entertainment of the veterans. The committee on resolutions, to which was referred Gen. Lee's reso lution accepting President McKin ley's proposal that the Federal gov ernment should make provision for the care of the graves of Confederate dead, spent several hours discussing the matter today, and finally a com promise resolution wa3 framed, and will be offered as a substitute. The resolution is to the effect that if the national government desires to care for the graves of the Confederate veter ans do not object to its taking charge of those in the north and in the neigh borhood of the old war prisons. The resolution will state that the women of the south have voluntarily under taken to decorate and properly pre serve the graves in the south, and the association does not feel warranted in taking from them what they have grown to regard as a duty. In gen eral, the resolution is along the lines of the speech made by Mr. Bu6bee yesterday, and who proposed the sub stitute to the committee. The modi fied resolution has been submitted to Gen. Lee, and he is understood to have accepted it. The substitute committee will report to the full com mittee tomorrow morning, and the matter will then be laid before the convention. ?TITI- ? - A Connecticut Attorney Praises the Prosperous Land of Dixie. Washington, May 10 -"I have been all over the South/' said Mr. E Burr, a prominent financier and at torney of Bridgeport, Conn , "and I regard Middle Georgia as one of the choicest portions of the vast empire lying on the south side of the Poto mac. "It is not naturally the most fer tile soil, and yet the land produces abundantly with proper care and labor. The people of that section are getting to be as thirfty as New Englanders, and are learning the true secret of agricultural succ s for their locality, which is a diversifica tion of crops. Middle Georgia is favored beyond ali other parts of the Southland iu its capacity to produce the finest qualities of fruits. It is the natural home of the peach, and the Georgia peach, shippod in solid trains, finds its way to every city of the Middle or New England States. Of the watermelon produced down there, it is idle to add words of eulogy, for the whole country knows its surpassing merits. "Why people from Europe or the Eestern States should emigrate to Kansas, Minnesota or the Dakotas when they can get cheap lands in Georgia, where they are not frozen up for nearly half of the year, and where there are no oppressive ex tremes of heat or cold, is a mystery. I have been connected with a com pany that has been lending money to various town corporations in that state for the past sixteen years, and as business calls me that way pretty often, I am somewhat entitled to speak about the condition and re sources of the country My opinion is that it is going to be one of the most prosperous parts of the United States. It is magnificently watered by such streams as the Chattahoo chee, the Flint, the Okmulgee, the Oconee and others Hardly a farm that hasn't a splendid spring or creek flowing through it. The climate is very healthful, and though the snm mers are long, yet the heat is not de bilitating, and one doesn't suffer from it nearly as much as in the Eastern States, where the seasons are shorter." DEATH OP PROMINENT NEGRO. Albany, Ga , May 10 -Frank W. McCarthy, one of the most prominent negroes in southwest Georgia, died at his home in this city last night. His funeral occured from the A M. E. chuich this afternoon and was attended by an immense concourse of both whiles and blacks. For the first time in the history of Albany, a town of 8.000 inhabitants, every store and office was closed in honor of the negro, no business being trans acted while the funeral was in pro gress McCarthy never dabbled in politics, but was probably the most influential negro in the county His death is deplored alike by white and colored people END OF REUNION. LAST DAYS PROCEEDINGS OP GREAT VETERANS REUNION. GEN. GORDON AND OTHER OFFICERS RE-ELECTF.D. Charleston, May 12 -With a spir ited and at times stormy session, the ninth annual reunion of the United Confederate veterans was today brought-to a close. Gen. John B. Gordon, commander in chief, and all the old officers were re elected. Louisville, Ky., was chosen as the next place of meeting, and the ques tion of Federal care of Confederate graves was disposed of by the adop tion of a sub-resolution which de clines the president's suggestion, ex cept as to those graves located in the north, and reserving to the women of the south theduty of caring for those in the seceding States and Maryland. The adoption of this resolution and the report that accompanied it pre cipitated a debate which verged upon the sensational, and at times much confusion and disorder prevailed. The resolution adopted in place of the one offered by Gen S. D Lee is in full ap follows : "Your committee to whom was re ferred the resolution introduced by Gen. S D Lee beg to report the fol lowing substitute, with recommen dations of the committee that the same be adopted : "The United Confederate veterans in reunion assembled, desire to place upon record their ^sincere appreci ation of the utterances of the presi dent of the United States in Atlanta in December last, concerning the as sumption of the care of the graves of our Confederate dead by the national government "We appreciate every kindly senti ment expressed, and we shall wel come any legislation which shall re suit in the care of the graves of our comrades in the northern States by our government. "In regard to our dead whose re mains are resting in the states which were represented in the Confederacy, and Maryland, the care of their final resting places is a sacred trust, dear to the hearts of eouthern women, and we believe that we can safely let it there remain." Several very vigorous speeches were made in opposition to the whole principle involved in the matter, but the final vote upon the resolution was practically unanimous, and the an nouncement of its psssage was cheered Another incident was the mention of the southern lynching question by Dr. J L M Curry, one of the sur viving members of the Confederate congress, who, while denouncing mob law, defended the south, and declared her people should see to it that the record of her future should be as un stained as that of her past. HENRY WATTERSON CALLED DOWN. Among the resolutions adopted was one characterizing as mero notion the statements made by a distinguished southern lecturer that the Confederate authorities were remiss in not improv ing the opportunity at the famous Hampton Roads conference when Mr. Lincoln met tbe southern commission io an effort to arrange terms of peace. The allegation wes that Mr. Lincoln bad nt that time offered to write "union" nt tbe top cf the paper and allow the Con federate com missioners to underwrite whatever teroDS they obose, and offer ing to pay $400,000,000.inriemoity for the slaves. Tbe resolution declares there ia co authority for the statement, and says the official records preclude the possibility of its truth. The all important report of the com mittee on a school history was also pre sented end adopted unanimously s.s meeting all questions that bad led to the agitation of the subject. Tonight at the auditorium a gracd reception to thc veteran* was held and an address delivered hy Col. Hcory L. Tamer of Chicago, commanding the First Illinois regiment, who has been tho guest of the city daring the re union. A brilliant bail was given at the Isle of Palms to the sponsors, maids of honor and Daughters of the Confed eracy. The veterans and visitors are rapidly departing, std the ninth reunion of the men who wore ibe grey is practically at an end. AFRAID OF THE PEOPLE, A Legislator's Comments Upon His Legislative Brother. That clarion voiced prophet of The News and Courier bas discovered a bonanza for the State in the person of Mr. E. B. Lawton, of Hampton Coco ty, S. C., because he has made & Euceess of sheep raising on a smaii scale and says that a seor J or two of men like bim would be worth millions of dollars to the State in the l gislature-. Now, tba editor of The News an Courier is generally olear and logical, especially at theorizing, and, but fer bis lack of practical subjects would nr> doubt rival any of the great editors of today. If twenty men like Mr. Lawton would be worth millions to the State io the legislature because he knows kow to raise and breed sheep, we should say, why, then, just give us thai amount as many times as we can fin such sheep breeders in this part of the State and we will pay off the State debts and have no use for the legisla ture for years to come. Talk about sheep raising, why that is an old trade of our own. One of the first things wo remember in all this big worid is the day when we were a little brat and U6ed to "mind the gap,*' in the "cross fence/' and keep the sheep back out of the peas daring coro hauling time Then we have brought in many a limp, half frezo lamb and held him to his young, foolish mother, until the little innocent could get sufficient nour ishment to make him live. We have, like David of old, tended the Sock until jaie of these unfortunates became "bell weathers," could scale a ten rai? fence, and have tied their ears back of their heads to keep them from jump ing. Furthermore we have spent days at a time clipping the woo!, and picked cockle burrs to our disgust. Know something of the value of good home knit wool socks for winter wear, and have slaughtered mutton that would make the editor of The Nsws and Courier long to be a practical farmer in a half hour, but with ali this and a great deal more we fail to see that our services have been worth mach in the legislature, and if we remember correctly all measures introduced by us intended for the good cf farmers for the express purpose of the encouragement of home mada things such as sheep raising, hog rai? ing, etc , did no: meet with support {rom the News and Courier. Yes, weil do we remember how hard we labored for three sessions to get such laws enacted as would help that ciass, and how invariably some "know ing" member would, knock all of cur eloquence higher than a kite by some such speech as this : "Now, Mr. Speaker and gentlemen, pass this bill if you wish, but one thing certain, if yeo do you will never see the state house again." That was enough, the average member is u.ore anxious to keep bis seat than to do bis duty, and if Mr. Lawton were in the house be would doubtless, at the instigation of the News and Courier, first introduce a bill to kill eff dogs. Some just such fellow as Josh Ashly wool.d up and say : "Mr. Speaker, Tm agin this bil?, the peer people has well nigh got noth' ing now, and if we take the dogs away from them and stop them from rabbit huntin' on rainy days and Saturdays we'll never see this state house agin." Then dead would go Mr. Lawton's "dog bill." No, we feel sure that the News and Courier is too enthusiastic over sheep raising.-E. E. Veroer in Oconee News. Everybody is acxioas to hear something more from City Conocil on the matter Of paviag Main Street. When will the gcod work begin ? Montreal, May 10 -A remarkable denonstration took place at St. Hilaire, Que, yesterday. Cater pillars, which last year played havoc with apple orchards, seemed to be more numerous and vigorous than before A crusade against them was formally open in the parish church here, where mas3 was solemnized, after which a religious procession, headed by the priest, M Laflame nd the boys, followed by 150 or more parishioners, marched through the infected region with fervent prayers asking divine assistance in their bat, tie against the plague. ~ ABSOLUTELY RE Makes the food more delicious and wholesome I 1_ROVAL BAKING POWDER CO., NEW YORK._S "'.'?iwrrtftaMPBiiiaimwwii.wanuwiw n t ?wittii'jlii%5JJU/T.r:.imrmT-,: .rmjw. '..majrvuwr.-fnnwiritfiHuaiP.