THE ERA.
THE ERA.
A RBPUBLICAN WEEKLY NEWS
PAPER THE CENTRAL. ORGAN
OF THE PARTY.
W. M. BBOWX, Manager.
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NO. 15.
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THE ERA.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1874.
You Know you Do.
When some one's step comes up the
walk.
Your checks take on a rower hue.
And though no other hears his knock,'
You hear it well you know you do !
And though it may be very wrong,
When pa is quite ignored for you,
You sing for him your prettiest song.
You cunning thing you know you do !
Ami when he talks of other girls,
Of hateful Kate ami Jennio too,
You tling at him your auburn curls,
that made him so averse to ladies'
You jealous thing you know you do ! society, and had occasioned no little
I anxietv to old Pter. who had al-
He blushes deep, and looks afraid ready begun to fear that John would
To be thus left alone with you ; be a confirmed bachelor, hence his
But your eyes tell there ne'er was maid desire to kindly assist John's matri-
Iut could be wooed you know they moniai matters along.
Jb or some moments after his fath
er's exit, John sat profoundly think
ing; he believed he did have an
inexpressible sort of tenderness for
the roundest daughter of Israel
'But which one shall I take, that it almost deprived him of artic-
iauier." Uiation.
, " Which one shall you take?" re- 44 O, is it you, John ?" said Lucy.
1 T" A T -nr.--..- . II li . t. . I II T t . . - . - r
tnstieu x-eier jauscu , n, iuusi ins - j. ao Deneve tney're fooling us.7'
.right man, surely, that cau not de- Shesuddenlv remnvwl th hand.
cide at sight what woman to pick aire from her eves, and thA nAttmn.
out of a dozen, and a singular youth ment John felt her deft little fingers
m -i fkny --. --,.-----. I A. A .... . W
you aru, nut. mvu jruur eyra uu untying ine Knot in the handker
one already. However, make your chief that was bound about his head,
own choice, and you'll be happier, j 44 Look a here, John," she said in
live longer, mm prosper ueiier in
your domestic affairs generally."
With these concluding remarks,
the fond father turned away, and
John wasleft alone to his reflections.
Now John Jansen was not a ver
dant young man ; he had seen con
siderablo of the world for a person
of his age and circumstances, but he
was very diffident and bashful. It
was this quality of his disposition
county was voted down by an im
mense .majority (some 600 votes).
Notwithstanding these repeated and
emphatic expressions of the sover
eign will, tha officers of the Chester
and Lenoir Railroad seem de term in
do!
You poep at someone 'neath your curls,
Until with love you burn him through,
And make him hate all other girls
In love for yon jou know you do !
Ami when his arm steals round your
chair,
You give a little scream or two,
As if you didn't want it there,
Hut oli, you do you know you do!
You let him kiss your blushing cheeks 1
Somehow your lips meet his Hps too;
You tempt him silly things to speak.
You wicked flirt you know you do !
And when he timidly doth press
His wish to ma.ee a wife of you,
With happy heart you answer yes,
Yon darling girl you know you do f
, MISCELLANEOUS.
.John's Choice.
Peter Jansen was a wealthy and
eccentric New England farmer. The
owner in fee simple of many broad
and fertile acres of available land,
and the proud parent of a very pro
mising son, now near grown, who
in his infancy had been designated
bv the not altogether unheard of
name of John.
Now John Jansen had been brought
up in a very careful and proper man
ner, and it was therefore not to be
wondered at that, as he grew more
mature, he was regarded as a very
exemplary young man by those who
knew him intimately. lie was so
ber and industrious in his habits,
cultivated and refined in his tastes,
with disposition to get along and
iirotfIer in the world, as his father
had done before him.
But the time came when he was
one and twenty. This is a remark
able episode in the lives of most
young men, wlfen, fully freed from
parental restraint by the construc
tion of the law, they think they
know so much, and subsequently
learn that they know so little.
Now, possibly Peter, the pere, re
garded, this event in his son's life
with im great concern as did John,
the junior, for certain it is, that
shortly thereafter he summoned the
young man into his presence for a
little private conversation.
"Well, John," he said, "how
does it seem, to be one and twenty?"
"Seem! why I can't see as it
seems any different from any other
nine
Ives. If not strictly beautiful, she ing.
a half orovoked sort of n. wv. 44 inst
. . . r . w r
see wnat a trick they've plaved
upon us. I might have known what
tney were up to. Nevermind, we'll
have a real pleasant visit now."
They sat down side by side on the
nign-DacKea. sofaand .Lucy talked
so pleasantly and encouragingly to
John that he soon felt perfectly at
nome. ie was almost astonished
at his self-possession. The minutes
lengthened into hours, and, well,
ne never could fully explain how it
was aiterwaras, out tne fact was
that Lucy promised him that she
would be Mrs. John Jansen when
ever he was ready to claim her as
his own, and John went home that
night very proud and happy, and
r a a
on me ionowing morning ne in
formed his astonished father that
any time that farm wa3 ready he
would be ready to go to housekeep-
Longing for Affection.
However old, humble, desolate.
or afflicted we may be, so long as
our nearts possess the teeniest spark
or lire, they preserve also, shiv-
pnnc noo r mar t 10 pmncp a
starved, ghastlv longing for ap'pre- . to. persecute and annoy into sub-
" - m , . I W 1 0 iam tKA r.rrh " I f T "V T rt 11 " 1
ciation ana affection, to this at- mo pwuic, w ij.n ..uoi
tpnnatpd snwtor norhon nnimh sa ana arbitrary demands Dy
not thrown once a year : but when .ut a rit f mandamus to compel
nhiino-Piwi mH fhirr. to fam.'na tne tommissioners 01 uaiawen
when all humanity has forgotten Su,nty subscribe sixty thousand
tn fl VI nrr fpnont. nr a flPrav nw "wnaioui owta nuu jasuc nit
house divine mercv remembers the to railroad company
f
bonds
This
mourner, and a shower of manna
mandamus was argued and tried at
falls for lips that earthly nutriment Chambers, before Judge Mitchell,
9 A.
is to pass no more. jJiDiicai prom
lses, heard first in health, but then
unheeded, come whispering to the
couch of sickness : it is said that a
pitying God watches what all man
kind have forsaketi ; the tender
compassion of Jesus is felt and re
lied on : and the fadincr eve. eraziner
oeyond time, sees a home, a friend,
a reruere in etermtv.
wa3 at least a very sensible girl, and
would make a practical nouseKeep
er. John had but little sentiment
in his composition ; his tastes were
more matter of fact. The more John
thought of matrimony, the more
fixed became his determination of
committing himself as soon as pas
sible. A night or two subsequent to the:
conversation with his father, it was
noticed that he attired himself with
unusual care before going out. as he
insisted, to attend the " debating
society." His father and mother re
garded each other significantly, as
if they well understood what was
uppermost in John's mind, but they
crave the vouner man no intimation
Peter Jansen kept his word, and
John was often subsequently heard
to say that if it hadn't been for that
friendly game of blind man's buff
he would hardly have known how
to have made a choice.
The Danbury Ananias says:
" The body of a well dressed
man was found on the Harlem
road. There was nothiner about his
person to indicate who he was.
except three brilliant diamond
rings, which seemed to show that
he was a faro dealer or a negro min
strel."
Sentiment Worship.
; In speaking of the lesson of the
scandal, the New York Herald gives
utterance to some wholesome truths.
That great journal respects the ef
forts which were made to suppress
this scandal and prevent all the evil
that has been done to Christianity,
public morality, social order and
Old Ben Wade's daughter, who is
said to be one of the handsomest
girls in the State of Ohio, is engag
ed to be married to a journeyman
carpenter, in Ashtabula.
CORRESPON DENCE.
It must not be understood that The Era
endorses the sentiments of its correspond
ents in every instance, its columns are
open to the friends of the party, and their
communications will be given to the public
as containing the views and sentiments of
the writers.
mat tneysuspicioneunis intentions, good iaitn oetween man ana man.
1 I M 1 1- il I
iVIier a last lingering iuuk. u wu ThP TTprnhl ar
"Can't, eh? O, well, you'll see
quick enough, I guess. I suppose
the next thing you'll bethinking of
will be getting married."
"O, 1 hadn't thought of such a
thing yet in earnest."
"Hadn't, eh? well, you'd better
be thinking ; getting married is
about as im jortant a thing as'll ever
happen to you."
44 Yes, I suppose so."
41 Suppose so? suppose so? you'll
know so, by and by. Well, John;
you're old enough to begin to think
seriously about tin's matter. I ain't
going to have you running around
unsettled and unsteady in your hab
its and character. Now, the quicker
you pick you out a wife and settle
dowu, the better. Mind you, my
boy, this wasting three or four of
the best years of your life in sowing
your wild oats, is a very foolish
principle for young men to adhere
to. ow, I don't propose to have
you do anything of the kind, and if
jou avoid it you won't have a har
vest of briars and thistles to gather
in auerwards. Now, just as soon
as you will pick you out a good,
prudent, and industrious little wife,
I've a good farm to give you, and
enough to set you up in reasonable
style, you understand ?"
44 Yes, sir."
m liut not an acre nor a penny of
mine snau you possess until you
have complied with my wishes."
44 But, father"
" I mean what I say, exactly, and
no more; make this matter your
first business, and when you have
reformed your part of the contract,
will attend to mine."
" But this is rather sudden."
lhat makes no difference: if
you are not satisfied with my terms,
the world is wide enough for both
of us, vou are bigenoughand bright
enough to earn your own living ; if
you can do bet ter by yourself than
b yoa, why, start right
oui m the world, for you are of age.
i nave stated my terms, and I do
not propose to alter them."
?1 w,ho shaU 1 marry ?"
tpr ilT T,Israel Ives' Ave daugh
STJ1? certain yoa can have
Jn vlck of the Jt. They've
on wK we l brught up, and'any
io In hen? 13 eood enough for you,
rort favorably, the farm is yours."
lookiner-irlass. John started forth
into the darkness, taking the short
est road possible to the residence of
Israel Ives.
He soon came to the place he in-
tended visiting. A bright light
gleamed out through the front win
dows, with welcoming beams, and
he fancied he could seesmiling faces
there, yet his heart thumped so very
singularly under his shining satin
vest, that it was several minutes be
fore he could make up his mind to
knock at the door : he walked up
"The scandal remains, although
j
the "Trial by Newspaper" ends.
We enter upon the uncertain chances
of a trial by jury. What the result
of that trial may be, or whether
there will be a trial, which many
doubt, it would be vain to speculate.
But certain moral issues have been
settled and upon these we can dwell
now. There is an end of what may
be called the Religion of Gush. For
many years Plymouth church, un
der the ministrations of a clergyman
The Mandamus Case in the
Chester and Ieuoir Narrow
Gauge Railroad,
Tried before Judge Anderson Mitch
ell, at Chambers, in Slatesville, Au- tizan and personal grounds and in
favor of the interest of omce-hoi
ders, in so far as the tenure of office
who granted the prayer of the pe
titioners, and a writ issued against
the Commissioners of " Caldwell
county, commanding them to sub
scribe six hundred shares of stock
to the Chester and Lenoir Narrow
Gauge Railroad. From this decision
and order the Commissioners for the
people appeal to the Supreme Court.
Mr. Editor, I repeat, the issues
involved in this case are of the high
est importance to the people of
North Carolina. I will not believe
that the Judiciary of the old North
State intend or will by their decis
ion on the constitutional power of
taxation, foster the power of cor
porations, speculators and ring
masters to involve the unsuspect
ing people in debt and financial
trouble further than absolute neces
sity and plighted faith require,
neither of which is the case in this
issue.
The venerable age and high char
acter of Judge Mitchell for candor
and integrity, the writer cheerfully
concedes, but it is quite evident to
the Judge's friends that he has out
lived the vigor of intellect, judg
ment and memory which the ardu
ous and responsible position he oc
cupies demands.
It has often been charged by many
of the leading presses of the State,
that a majority of the Judges in
North Carolina, especially of those
who are supposed to entertain dif
ferent political and financial views
from these journalists, that they
construe constitutional law on par-
gust 21stt 1874.
To the Editor of the Era:
lieiieving the issues involved in
the above ease are of the highest
is concerned, lour corresponaenc
entertains no such uncharitable
opinions or our Judiciary; on tne
i ,i . k oau ui iiiw-iuyarauie ciuuueiiue, nas ueeu
n"u ZZSfZZZ worshin6inr sentiment rather than "Ie 2iu? .."i1" special legislation,
several uuira, ". " revelation; " nerositv in nlace of "V"H . cou" 01 at the bar, and the w
to inniK overine worus x.e prupou kHdn in the nlace of faith. ""PTO ana ine .aec,?n, ereor? position and power
saying wnen in uie urcaeuro vijtxiss 1 r oy nia xionor, juuge luucnen, anu
1 r w iirri .wi i wi I t . r & a. w.
Ives.
the eloquence of one man, rather
fVton tl-iQ fni rli ! n era rf iYia Aractof
At last he turned in at the gate, TTpnrv Ward TWohPr in thP nlnop nf
and walking boldly up to the front Jesus Christ. Relitrion has not been
door, he made his presence suddenly,
importance to the people of North contrary he believes them as a whole
vaiunua, aim toueumuv iu 1110 icg- nnra. nnr chtanf ah p.anfl that thev
isiativeand local rights of county wili not hv their decision in the
government, I propose, in this ar- 0se Qf the Chester and Lenoir Rail-
ticle to give a brief outline of the rftf,d no-Qinsf. thA r.PnnlA nf rldwe.Il
pircumstances under which this suit C0Unty, or any similar case, aid
sharp practice
ell known dis-
of corporations
hr trjplr nnrl tfiphniral nlpadin"S to
such other reflections as the subject .Torrida th snirit. if not tho letter
known to the Ives family, by means
of the friendly assistance of the
heavy brass knocker.
Israel Ives came to the door, with
a flaring candle in his hand ; he
gave a sudden little start of surprise
upon recognizing his visitor.
" Why, John !" he said, " is this
you ?"
"Is Miss Ives at home?" said
John, nervously, forgetting in his
sudden embarrassment to designate
the particular Miss Ives he wished
to see.
Jesus Christ. Religion has not been
a matter of discipline or duty, with
rewards and punishments only a
day's picnic in the woods. No
matter What deviation from the
codes that, written; on the tables of
stone at Sinai, have been the granite
foundations of every Christian
Church, no matter how far we
might stray from these unalterable
laws, all was -bright on Sunday
morning, all our sins were forgotten
in the eloauence" of Henry Ward
Beecher. There was no punish
ment, no discipline ! Life had no
necessary duties. Sin as we might,
there was always a welcome and a
the altar of Plymouth
may suggest to tne mind of your
correspondent.
The Convention that enacted the
Constitution of 1868 very wisely
declares that " no county or other
corporation shall make or create any
debt for any purpose of building
of the constitution, intended for the
protection of the masses of the peo
i ).
Die. who are not laminar wiin tne
ever changing laws of late years.
The writer of this article for him
self and the entire people who have
railroads, without first submitting opposed and still oppose the county
" Certainly, certainly," replied Is
rael, smiling mischievously ; "walk blessing at
ncrht into tne parlor ana sit aown, church.
and she will come in presently." The fruit of this religion is now
Leaving, his hat upon the rack in seen. Mr. Moulton has informed
the hall, John did as he was bid ; he us that he is a heathen, and we may
sat down upon the outer edge of the except him from any ecclesiastical
chair and awaited the young lady's responsibilities. But what a strange
coming. He heard several sup- phenomenon is this 44 Christian
pressed giggles in tne aajoming chanty " of Plymouth cnurcn !
room, and a subdued suggestion What tides of hatred, slander, de-
upon the part of Israel that they famation, have been ever sweeping
had best not to act silly and foolish, under the placid surface pf Brooklyn
Then the door opened, and in sailed Christianity!
Miss Sophrony Ives, followed by When Carlyle comes to the close
Patience, Priscilla, Malvina and of his French Revolution he makes
Lucy Ives, each simultaneously a errotesaue apostrophe to the de-
smiling and trying to look as sweet stroying angels who brought that
and pretty as possible. They ad- terrible catastrophe : " Imposture is
vanced one by one and gave John a
greeting, after which they arranged
themselves in a graceful group
about him ; then began the liveliest
conversation John had ever listened
to. He began to grow uneasy and
to lose his self-possession. This was
rather more Miss Ives than he had
anticipated meeting.
At last a sudden idea occurred to
him.
44 Girls," he said, " do any of you
play blind i7ian's bujj'f"
The young ladies all suddenly
giggled.
in flames. Imposture is burnt up."
" Higher, higher yet flames the fire
sea : crackling with new dislocated
timber: hissing with leather and
prunella. me metal images are
molten, the marble; images become
mortar-lime: the stone mountains
sulkily explode." " The images all
run. into amorphous (jonntnian
brass," "for it is the end of the do
minion of Imposture." Something
like this we have seen in Brooklyn.
The fire has been intense, and from
it have come nauseating, odors;
vileness and sin have covered the
" Sometimes," said Miss Sophro- land ; sorrows, misery, distress nave
i .. i n
ny, with a sly glance at her sisters, come upon tnousanas wno win no
44 Suppose we haveagame, then," longer navo mat connuiug irust in
said John, earnestly.
Several handkerchiefs were simul
taneously produced.and before John
was aware, he was in midnight
darkness.
" But you must be blinded too,
Lucy," said Miss Malvina ; " it al
ways makes it livelier to have two,
you know."
relierion and professions of faith
But better the fire. Many,
many years will pass before we
shall cease to see the black ashes
that are strewn oyer Plymouth
church, the crumbling ruins and the
ghastly crumbling walls. This is
the sorrow of the Brooklyn scandal.
The value of it is the burning up of
a m. i t i :
Mi Tnv sio-ht wis temno-1 the imposture which has long reign
r I j . i i i.t- i un ..ll..
eu mere, aim wxnui naa utrii imscj)
called religion and reform.' "
rarily obscured in the same manner
that John's had been.
Then the word " ready" was giv
en, and without a word of warning
Sophrony, Patience, Priscilla and
Malvina noiselessly glided from the
room.
Sincerity; ;
Give U3 sincere friends," or none.
This hollow glitter of smiles and
word3 compliments that mean
For a while John and Lucy groped nothing protestations of affection
innocently about them, each failing
to find the objects they sought ; at
last John spoke:
41 1 say, where are you all ?" he
said, helplessly.
No answer came to his question
from those he was seeking.
"John," said Lucy, "I believe
they're all hiding."
Just at that moment the two ap
proached each other with their hands
as solid as the froth from champagne
invitations that are but pretty
sentences, uttered because such
things are customary are all
worthless. There is no need of
them. It is proper to bejcivil
and courteous to the most indifferent
stranger;-but why assume friend
ship's outward show when no iai
ity underlies it ? When bne feels
friendship, the object of 4hat senti-
extended, and they were each sad- ment cannot suffer, and aeave our
denly clasped in each other's arms, hearts untroubled. cannot be sian
This was a sensation so new to John dered, leaving us unharmed.
the same to a vote of the people.and
no such debt or appropriation shall
be valid unless ratified by a majori
ty of the qualified voters thereon,"
(I quote from memory.) That is
the reasonable common sense mean
ing of this clause of our organic
law ?
Does it mean that if there are
1583 registered and qualified voters
in Caldwell in October, 1873, and a
proposition is submitted by the
County Commissioners to the people
of the county to subscribe sixty
thousand dollars to a railroad com
pany and on the day of election
twenty -one men appear at the polls
register and vote therein, eleven of
whom vote for subscription and ten
vote against subscription the sub
scription of sixty thousand dollars
is claimed as legal and binding as
against the county and the Com
missioners are asked to make the
subscription, which they refuse to
do, the railroad brings suit by man
damus, and according to the ruling
of Judge Mitchell, the subscription
was legally made?
When the Commissioners of Cald
well county consented to submit the
proposition to a vote upon it a year
ago, they were of one mind that be
fore they could be required to make
any subscription whatever, a clear
majority of all the qualified voters
in the countv must assent thereto
by a direct vote in favor of subscrip
tion. The election was held and a
meagre vote polled, (less than half
of the registered voters in the coun
tv votinsr) but of the votes cast a
small majority was in favor of sub
scription this result was owing to
the belief of the people who were
opposed to subscription, that to re
main at home on the day of election
was virtually casting, their vote
against subscription, and this opin
ion the friends of subscription en
couraged in the minds of those who
were known to be opposed to the
county's subscribing stock to the
railroad.
Immediately after the vote was
taken those who were in favor of
subscription claimed the vote was
legal and the county committed to
the tax through and by some special
act of the Legislature. This claim
wasdenied and vehemently resisted
by the Commissioners and a large
majority of the people, and to-day
a large majority of the citizens de
nounce that election as a surprise
and fraud upon the county. The
people being so much opposed to in
volving the county in debt and dis
satisfied with the railroad company
appealed, by petition to the Legis
lature for redress, which accordingly
authorized -the. Commissioners to
re-submit .the question of county
subscription to the people, and the
Sheriff . jvas ordered , , W hold the
election in May last, which he ac
cordingly did, when the proposi
tion to subscribe sixty thousand
dollars in bonds on the part of the
subscription, disavows any hostility
to the building ot said road ; they
m s 1
are in iavor oi rauroaus, wnerever
or bv whomsoever built, provided
it is done in a proper manner. They
... 1 !
would be pleased, indeeci, n tne vu
laaes of Chester and Lenoir can suc
ceed in their enterprise: we have
no prejudice against them individ
ually or collectively, but we insist
that the principle of taxing thepeo-
nle indiscriminately without their
-
consent for the benefit of local and
individual interest mainly, is en
tirely wrong, and eminently unjust
to whole communities. There may
have been a time in the history of
i i ?
our country, when sucn a poncy
could be tolerated ; if such ever was
the case, it is not so at the present
time. I do not believe this little
road from Chester, S. C, to Lenoir,
N. C, if built can possibly realize
the expectations of its friends but
they say it will certainly be built
without county subscription then
why persist in trying to force the
Commissioners of Caldwell to sub
scribe against the will of their
people ? The road is not built nor
will it be completed in many years,
if ever, if the county is held liable
for the sixty thousand dollars sub
scription. Why do I say so? be
cause three counties in North Caro
lina (Gaston, Lincoln and Catawba)
either of them possessing more
wealth and population than Cald
well, lie between Chester and Le
noir, and each of these large and
wealthy counties has , utterly re
fused to be taxed to aid in building
this road passing through their en
tire borders while it only pene
trates a few miles into the borders
of Caldwell, parallel with and a few
miles from the Western North Car
olina railroad; then I ask, who is to
build this road though Gaston, Lin
coln and Catawba ?
The amount Caldwell county
bonds would bring in market would
scarcely build the bridges over the
streams of water between Hickory
and Lenoir, as in all probability the
greater portion will be required to
pay the salary of President Devega,
and his corps of engineers and assis
tants, with a large slice to, pay the
corporation lawyers for legal ser
vice. Of course some body or "ring"
in the back ground away out of
sight and hearing gobble up the
bonds at nominal figures, lay them
away in their safe to receive annu
ally seven or ; eight per cen t inter
est on par funds from the tax pay
ers of Caldwell county : therefore I
am forced to regard the whole thing
as visionary,-injurious to the peace
and permanent prosperity of the
people, dangerous and demoral
izing in the present financial
and political condition of the
country. Caldwell county, by a
series of special taxation, has just
emerged from heavy indebtedness
and her scrip for the first time in
many years is of value to her citi
zens and gives us some relaxation
from j high taxes when "presto "
up springs a sixty thousand dollar
debt (in addition to the accumulating
obligations on the part of the State
debt and our charitable institutions)
to annoy and distress the people for
a generation or two ; and this debt,
if sustained by the Supreme Court,
(having already been recognized by
Judge Mitchell,) is against the will
of a large majority of the tax pay
ers and people of Caldwell county,
thrice declared at the ballot box
for it was the only issue made in
our xVugust election. Politics was
scarcely named or thought of by
candidates or electors in the county
elections. Must the people of Cald
well be dragooned and whipped into
this subscription, into this onerous
debt in a time of financial distress
when the whole country appears to
be struggling to throw off the oppres
sive debt and burthens imposed by
railroad rings and bond gamblers,
and for what purpose ? It is said to
build a cart way to the village of
Chester, down in the State of South
Carolina, which so many of North
Carolina's sons are wont to pro
nounce the "Beotia" of America,
ruled by negroes and thieves, bank
rupts in honor as well as in money.
I wish it distinctly understood
that your correspondent has a. high
er regard for South Carolina that
such writers as I have quoted, but
I recognize the claims of North Car
olina as higher, and her market
towns as superior to those of the
former State. At no distant day
we will he in connection with Char
lotte and Wilmington. These cities
are reaching out their arms towards
the valley of the ladkin and Up
per Catawba, and if our friends in
Lenoir will possess their souls in
peace a little longer, help will come
to them, and by the assistance of
these great interests they may get
a road and connection with points
of much greater importance to the
country than that of Chester.
Mr. Editor, I really do not intend
anything I have written as in dis
paragement to the Chester and Le
noir llailroad, or those who are urg
ing the scheme, but I feel bound to
speajc the truth as 1 understand the
issue. I do not mean any thing
but my individual opinion, when I
express the belief that if that road
was in running order to-day I doubt
if there would be one through pas
senger daily on the line ; it is the
wrong direction for passengers and
freight, at least such freight as
this county requires.
In conclusion allow me to repeat,
those who are opposed to the
county subscription to the Chester
and Lenoir Narrow Gauge llailroad
are so opposed from principle first
and interest last. We hope it may
be built, if private means will ac
complish the object. Build the road,
gentlemen, and if you offer the peo
ple any sufficient inducements they
will be sure to patronize you in
trade, which should be your suffi
cient reward.
CALDWELL.
Sept. 1G, 1874.
T
Letter from South Carolina.
they have fallen in the opinion 'and
eyes of the entire nation and world.
GENERAL R. Hi. ELLIOTT. i
The above named gentleman, who
has for the last two terms represent
ed this district In Congress, has re
signed or will soon resign his scat
in the halls of the nation for tho
purpose of aiding"' In the efforts to
Flace the State in a better condition,
n fact, he is recognized as the leader
of the reform movement and as pos
sessed of the qualifications 'requisito
for the accomplishment of theworfc
he has undertaken. That he has or
will resign his seat in the National
Congress, where he is acquiring such
a solid influence and extenslvo rep
utation, with a salary of-$5,000 per
annum, to come to his Own Stato
and people for the purpose of labor
injg among them at a salary of not
more than $C00, bespeaks for him
and his race a nobleness and patri
otism as yet unseen In any of tho
public men of our day and time.
Would to God we" had many such
open-hearted and sincere- men
among our public servants I Gen
eral Elliott is a man of medium sifco,
firmly, though not thickly 9et, with
an intelligent countenance. Ho is
evidently a man of Intellect and
power, and is destined to a place in
the front ranks of the public men of
our time. During
AN INTERVIEW
with him to-day, the following dia
logue was had eliciting such infor
mation and views as may therein
be contained :
Correspondent I determined, Gen
eral, on coming to your State, and
should I proceed further South, to
make as full and complete an obser
vation of tho condition of affairs :
the feeling between the races ; anil
the real status of the colored people,
as the advantage of contact with
those prominent in public life might
afford. For this purpose, sir, I have
desired an audience with you and
would feel honored In , obtaining
your opinion and views affecting
these subiects, especially so far as
your State is concerned, as much
has been said about it; probably
more than of any other State.
Gen. E.I am sorry to say, sir,
that there still exist much bitterness
and hostility to tho colored people
and the Republican party among a
largo number of tne whites tho
Democrats. The Southern whites
are still deperate and, in my opin
ion, have never accepted the situ
ation, I have just received a tele
gram'from New Orleans announcing
great disturbances and excitement.
Have sent for the particular?.
Correspondent. This feeling, cul
minating as it has in such lawless
proceedings and violent outrages
upon colored and white Republicans
in many sections of tho South, is
greatly agitating the official circles
at Washington : are you apprehen
sive of any troubles of the kind in
your own State ?
Gen. E.Ycs, sir.
Correspondent. From a revival of
theKuKlux?
Gen. E.No ; I don't think they
will revive tho Ku Klux, but will
resort to ope violence.
Corr. You think, then, that the
South is to give the Nation mom
To the Editor of the Era :
Many times during the session of trouble and anxiety?
thft Shitn Rpnubliran Convention, it Gen. E. Yes, sir.
appeared to one not exactly accus- Corr. In Such an event what do
tomed to South Carolina politics, you think will bq tho policy of the
that a serious disruption was immi- Government in the premises?
nent. Hard things were said against Gen. E.Aa to the particular pol
each other by contending factions or icy of the Government, of course I
elements, and bitter, unrelenting
positions of antagonism assumed.
At one time your correspondent ap
prehended a general breakup and
row : at least a withdrawal of a large
number of delegates to nominate a
" bolters' ticket." But this was hap-
pilv averted, and the Convention
a
am not able to speaK. liut snouid
the circumstances again warrant tho
extension of its arm of protection
over the Southern States, its policy
will be much more severe than
before. ;
Cbrr. You think, then, that tho
Government has been too lenient
proceeded in its usual way of busi- and forgiving in dealing with those
ness. iseyonci an quesuon xnere was wi:iy iu iuucihuhjwhu
a strong opposition feeling among
many of the delegates to the nomi
nees of the Convention, wnicn man
ifested itself greatly to the discour
agement of the more enthusiastic
and less sanguine of the friends of
Mr. Chamberlain. But as the Con
ventibn neared its termination and
the smoke of the conflict began to
Gen. E.Too lenient entirely, in
my judrment.
Corr. Do you know of ai
rages having been committc
South Carolina since tho opci
of the Ku Klux?
Gen. E. None that I kj
An armed party of about thl
dred ueorgians entered oui
indicating a peaceful and quiet
m i 1 Jl
Quiescence in tne judgment oi tne
-X - r - - , V. .
party: as expressed uy tne jarge ma
ioritv of the Convention. Thenom
- . . m ... 1
inees will receive tne uniteci vote oi
the nartv in the State and will be
elected by a large majority. There
are sucn, However, wno sun oppose
Charriberlam and will do all in their
nower to create a division : but as
jr i '
all the leaders of the party concur
in the opinion that the nominations
were the strongest that could have
been put forth, the influence of the
opposition will not go far to accom
plish any desired result. It is prob
able that all will fall in ranks ere
election day arrives.
We believe the Republicans are,
manvNmost of them earnest in
their endeavors to bring about the
reforms which the State so greatly
needs.; The candidates are said to
be men of undoubted ability, integ
rity and firm intention of carrying
out thbse reforms already contem
plated! and inaugurating such others
as may be deemed necessary, Ve
were truly glad to see this, for God
knows that poor old South Carolina
has been subiected to a degree of
fraud. ! nlnnder and corruption un
known in the history of civilized
government. She indeed needs re
forms and great reforms in order, to
save her from speedy and utter,
bankruptcy.; We believe that the
Republicans . of the State are fully
equal to the emergency and will ef
fect the result so greatly needed.
They have ihaijy good and able men
among them men who can and
will rescue the party and State from
the unenviable position into which
tyifeut-
3d )in
VMS
36A OI.
u2-Ktin.
!$ataio
clear away," we could recognize very not long since, lhey grerrllled
distinctly a succeeding calm, clearly the people, but dldnofSirQlt any
ac- actual depredations. 'rKldent
aMIba.
fhetco-
a4tcast,
ujjle ; xilca.
W nxstay,
i y . . akkn jt , iy hi
a reso
io Oon-
I it rant.
to
re-
referred in
hango tho
has ordered troops to th
which will no doubt insure
pie from further tro
while they are there
Corr. I see. Gen en
lution was Introdu
vention yesterday! e
for a third term. r I d
sec what became o
ferred to a commit
Gen. E. It was on
order to somewhat
phraseology. It; was reported hack
and adopted unanimously. .
Corr. Do you think the presi
dent's claims will be urged: for a
third term ; and if so, do you think
he will be able to consolidate tho
strength of his party? -' '
Uen. hj. i aon't reuiy Know;
but I am sure he will et the full
vote of the Republicans, of South
Carolina. V , . . . . .
Cbrr. I perceive, General, that
you have a great deal of business to
attend to, and as I may seo
-w . . . ur
again, l will not ion the i
turn vnn In nor or V I
rfy .&v.. .'.. v.;. v.
Gen. E.I will be happy to seo
you any time. X am generally hero
(the Republican lieadqaartersj ? "
not, you will find mef at my law
office, just above, , i -
Cbrr. ThanK you, sir. .1 iasant
afternoon. , ,, j I
Gen. 7.-Good day, sir. ' "
Wa arrived nfc thot Republican
Heaflauarters Justaa4fis6tito Ex
ecutive Committee hadS adjourned
We learned that General .Elliott was
re-elected Chairman "'ana ' plana
adopted for a vigorous canvass. -v
More anon. . U. i, X
you
present, do-
v