North Carolina Newspapers

PAGES. The News and Observer VOL. XLVIII. NO. 91. Leads all ItortTh (GarolmaDaf lias lira ffews andCirculaiion pimirn*- 1 *Sfc»fll£i i neir Organization Was Once Respectable, NOWIT’S ANYTHING ELSE A Great Band of Lawless and Mur derous Men, THEIR THREATMENT OF MISSIONARIES ; The Literary Classes Especially Dislike Chris- Unity and They Keep the Passions of the Masses Fanned to a Fury. Eleven millions of men are said to belong to the great Chinese Society of Boxers, against which Uncle Sam, in connection with the great European .powers, may soon direct armed force. This estimate was made by a Chinese .grocer doing business in St. Louis. The Society ,of Boxers, which now stands for lawlessness, robbery and , murder, was once respectable. It is , a good influence gone wrong. Accord ing to the Boston Journal it was a law and order league, originally organized as a protest and a means of defense against the bandits with which the province of Shan-Tung was infested. At that time the life and property of no honest man was. safe. The bandits were not wild ruffians, such as those of Italy or the American west of a few years ago, but, on the contrary, seemed to be men of peace. By day they toiled as shoemakers, carpenters, farmers and what not, but at night they repaired to their strong hold in the mountains, from which .they made descents on any man who Was reported to possess a store of money worth the having. A typical attack of these bandits was that made several years ago on one of the Shan- Tung missions, of which Uev. ,1. H. Laughliti was a member. Other mem bers were K. H. Bent and J. L. Van tSclioiek. They lived in three houses, all surrounded by a high wall. The first evidence of trouble was a gunshot outside the,gate, whereupon the gate keeper poked out his head to see what .was the matter. Instantly a pistol was shot off in his face, so that the powder blinded him, although he re ceived no other wound. . The man fel shrieking, to the ground and twenty-five bandits rush ed over bis body and into the court yard. Mr. Bent saw them coming and retreated into his cottage, but the robbers smashed in the door and shot him in the thigh. The mission ary seized a piece of the splintered door and ran out, striking right and left. One of the bandits slashed at him with a sword and cut his head, another wounded him on the arm, but he at last, escaped with his life. Mr. Laughliti, who Was romping with, his little girl in the dining room, ran out to investigate and found Mr. Bent's quarters surrounded by a. mob of ban dits. and heard them shouting, "Kill! Kill!” He ran back to his quarters, got his wife and children over the fence and helped them to a place of safety. Mr. Van Selioiek did likewise. When they returned the bandits were gone and the mission safe lay literally smashed to bits on the ground. The bandits had shattered it apart with crowbars. The amount of money secured was small. Sometimes when the amount .of plunder does not. equal their ex pectations they seize on of their vic tim. blindfold him, carry him off to the mountains, from where they send V message demanding a ransom. It was such attacks as this, repeat ed over and over again in villages throughout the province, that resulted in the organization of the Boxers. But they were not called Boxers then. Their name was Ta-Tao-Hwei, which means the “Society of the Great Sword.” More recent is the name Universal Society of Boxers but the change signifies little; in fact, change of name among the secret societies is frequent. One name is kept up until an edict of suppression is issued against it. and then a new name is adopted, and the society goes on as if nothing had happened. Christians do not know just when the Society of the Great Sword had its origin. The natives refer to it as an “abeient society, but that may mean ten years or a. hundred. It. is agreed, however, that at first its principles were laudable and its work good, but as it became more powerful and increased in numbers, many dishon est and designing persons entered it for the prestige and protection it af forded, just as dishonest and design ing persons ally themselves with in fluential bodies in other lands today. These men provided a disturbing ele ment, and in many eases-directed the efforts of the society against their personal enemies, whom they repre sented as bandits or lawless persons. Some of the victims’, it is said, ter rified by the persecution of the Great 'Sword Society, looked for some other force from which they might hope for protection, and found it. in the Christian missionaries, and especially the German Catholics. These men professed conversion, and besought succor, and the missionaries used every endeavor to secure justice for them. Then, in turn, some of the mission aries, it may be inferred, became the victims of designing men who profess ed Christianity in order to obtain aid in avoiding just punishment; and in some cases it is probable they were able to secure from these noble and self-sacrificing men and women a pro tection which they did not altogether deserve. This condition intensified the feeling which has always existed against the missionaries. The feelings grew to some extent out. of the general contempt with which the Chinese regard foreigners. The Chinese literary class are keen critics and give close scrutiny to the teachings of the Christian Bible. They confess to the beauty of its moral teachings, but cannot see in what they are superior to the teachings of Con fn si us. They also notice the ac counts of the miracles in the Old Tes tament, and stay the Chinese legend of the moon being eaten by a dragon is not much more unreasonable than the Bible story of how Joshua compell ed the sun to stand still. They choose to regard Christianity as ‘“a wave of darkness,” and their feeling, wrong though it undoubtedly is, is much the same as would exist in Philadelphia if a dozen merchants of Race street should set up an orphanage and a temple and endeavor to fill both by adopting American children by pros elyting along Chestnut street. In order to overcome this feeling the missionaries have, in most cases, adopted the Chinese dress. But Celec tial ideas are more strait-laced than our, and the missionaries, des- j pite their native attire, have not always been able to live up to them. This has been especially true of the women, whose western freedom of action lias been shocking to the na tives. although quite correct from our point of view. Every effort has been made by the missionaries to adapt themselves to local conditions, but in China first impressions can rarelx be eradicated and complaints made against the early Catholic mission aries, two centuries ago. sire quoted against their successors today. This hatred of Christianity among the literary class finds expression in the most shocking slanders, which are constantly circulated in order to keep alive the. hatred of the masses, i For the name of God the Catholics have adopted the word Tlen-Chu. which signifies Lord of Heaven, and kau signifies religion. The Christian religion is, therefore, known as the Tien-Chu-Kau. Unfortunately there is a word resembling Chit which means squeak: so the Chinese trans late it “Squeak of the Celestial pig.” and declare that the Christians are hop worshippers. The most sacred ceremonies are slandered in the same way. It is declared that in receiving the holy communion the people drink a philter that makes them slaves to the priests, and that during extreme unction the priest cuts the eyes out. of the dying men. In China there are thirty-one different parts of the human body which are said to possess medical virtue, and in the orphanages the missionaries are charged with murdering children and cutting up their bodies for medical purposes. It. is such wild tales as these that have been used to excite the Boxers against the missionaries, and the same charges have been used in all parts of China, and have resulted in murder after murder. But in reality the root of all the hatred with which Christians are regarded is that they disapprove of what they regard as idolatrous: worship of ancestors. This ceremony is part of the Confuseianism. The educated Chinaman is willing to laugh at Buddhism or Taoism, but rev erence for his ancestors is one of the passions of his life. One may call a native Chinaman all the had names in the vocabulary, and he may not re sent it, but a word against his an cestors will arouse liis most vindictive fury. When a. man dies in China his son prepares a wooden tablet resem bling a headstone, which is elaborate ly decorated and marked with the words “Shen Clin,” meaning “spirit, lord,” and “Shen Wei,” meaning “spir it throne.” This is set up beside the coffin,but there is one ihb absent in the word “Chu,” and one in the wor t “Wei.” At the appointed time the mourn ers gather about and the same high official approaches the tablet. “Hand iq> the vermillion pencil.” says the master of ceremonies, and a red lead pencil' is given to the of ficial. , “May it please cur distinguished guests to turn to the east and receive the breath of lif>;” says the master. The official turns and breathes upon the pencil. “Impose the red dot,” says the mas ter and the official completes the two words “Chu” and/ “Wei.” Afterwards he covers them with black, and this ceremony, it is supposed, invests ’he tablet with the iudividuaiin of the deceased, hi the* funeral procession the tablet occupies a phi. c of honor be slide the coffin,’ and afterwards it is installed in the of the eldest son, who for three morning and night; makes an 'offerHrjf^before it. Then it is placed tn a shrine with the tablets of his ancestors, and in un mon with them is reverenced at vi rions times during the year. There has always been a question as to whether this practice, idolat rous or merely reverential, whether it is religious Mr I'liere social and had the early beep, willing to accept it im China might possibly have been (jnristityis, or at least quusi- Christiank'today. But the pope, after some hejrtation, pronounced against it. and the Protestant churches have followed shit, and it has remained ever | since a practically insurmountable barrier between ft lie two peoples, i About ten years ago the missionar ies had enjovedyi>eaee for some time, | (Continue*/ on Page Three.) RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, SUNDAY MORNING, JULY 1, 1900. JUST TIRED OF LIFE HICKMAN ENDED IT Financial Trouble More Than He Could Bear. HE DRANK LAUDANUM And Then He Cut a Deep Gash in His Throat. FOUND A FEW MINUTES BEFORE DEATH Beside the Dying Man Was Found Three Empty Laudanum Bottles and a Bloody Razor. The Death of Dr. Elliott, at Catawba Springs. (Special to News and Observer.) Lenoir, N. C., June 30. —Mr. James ] Hickman, of the firm of Russel & Hick man, merchants at Granite Falls, was found early yesterday morning with three I empty laudanum vials near him, and a deep gash cut in his throat with a razor. He died a few minutes after he was found. No one, thus far, has given any reason for the rash act, though it has been inti mated that lie was financially embarras sed by some trade recently made. He leaves a wife an 1 one child. The district conference of the Method ist Episcopal church is in session here. It is composed of a fine looking body of men. DEATH OF DR. E. 0. ELLIOTT. i He Was the Proprietor of Sparkling Catawba Springs. (Special to News and Observer.) I Newton, N. C., June 30. —Dr. K. O. i.Elliott, proprietor of the Sparkling Ca : tawba Springs near here, died at his I home there yesterday evening of heart | ailure. He seemed to be in good health, j at 1 o’clock, but about two lie died sud denly. He was a prominent citizen of j the county and had accumulated consid erable wealth. lie was about 85 years. ■ The infant child of Mr. and Mrs. N. C. Brandon, died at Yanceyville, N. C., and \ as buried here yesterday evening. The doath of Mrs. Rrandon was reported in t ie columns of the News and Observer o;i the 13th of March. This child was left surviving and it was ilie fond hope of elcry one that it would be spared. EFFECT OF THE AMENDMENT. ) It* Adoption Will Benefit the Negro as Well as the White Man. To the Editor: Bill Arp, very tritely asks "What is the matter with the coun try?" 1 heard of a fellow sometime ago, w io got religion at a camp meeting and being called upon to pray, forthwith kfjelt and in fervent language made the following petition, ‘‘Oh Lord! please send lllpse good people a barrel of flour, and 0§ Lord! please send these good people si nd these good people a barrel of salt, ai d Oh Lord! please send these good people a barrel of pepper. Oh Hell! (he said) that’s too muchj pepper.” It is needless to say that the meeting dissolved, and the convert lost his grip on religion, and now Mr. Editor without intending to be profane, we would say ‘‘Oh hell, there’s too much nigger in the politics of North Carolina.” It is simple waste of time for our speakers to argue the constitutionality of the amendment. Radical wrongs re quire radical remedies. This is the white man's country, and the sooner this is recognized as a fixed and irrevocable fact, the better, for all concerned. The fran chise of the negro was a fatal error on the part of our government, and is to day being so recognized by the perpetra tors of the deed. Thirty-five years of freedom and vast sums expended in the education of this people have accom plished, practically nothing, in hi 3 mate ;ial elevation to intelligent citizenship, £nd true patriotism is a virtue almost Unknown in the rank and file of the wee. His vote is governed solely by p-ejudice and education “outs no figure" *i his redemption from this blind attri bute of his nature. Politically, he is a natural enemy to the respectable South ern white man, and no amount of edu cation can eradicate this inbred preju dice. As a matter of fact, education only to intensify the feeling and en gender aspirations which (by the very na- Mire of things) are impossible of attain ment, and if attained, could, under no conditions, be enjoyed by him. It is his misfortune and not our fault. Political equality is a stimulus to desire for social recognition. This can never be accord ed him by the white race of the South, end the sooner he recognizes this fact, the better for him. The Southern people are his best friends, but that friendship can only be maintained so long as our superiority is admitted by him. His franchise has been the one sorrowful source of its interruption, and if perse vered in, can result in nothing short of ‘‘the survival of the fittest.” and it is no matter of speculation as to where the advantage lies and what the result must be under those conditions. He is “his own worst enemy” when he persists in competing with the white race for posi tions of preferment (either social or po litical). The predominance of the Cau casian, is a foregone conclusion and properly so, and the virtue of liis suprem acy admits of no argument. And now, Mr. Editor, what does the Constitutional Amendment mean? Pri j marily, it means the salvation of the ne gro race in the South and this view of the situation is worthy of most serious consideration by this (in some respects) unfortunate people. I speak as their friend and not as their enemy. Unfor tunately “they have reckoned without their host,” in blindly relying upon Yan kee sympathy alone and repudiating (po litically) the friendship of the Southern white man of respectability. “Forty acres and a mule” are visions of the past, and matters are assuming ‘‘hard pan” propor tions. Friendship between the races can only be preserved at this stage of the problem’s solution by white supremacy. Racial troubles will remain, as a fester ing sore, just so long as (“not ignorant negro rule”) but simple negro equality remains as a menace to the material ad vancement of our country's prosperity. This is the simple truth “in a nut-shell,” and to beg the question with all sorts of subterfuges is simple foolishness. A white man is a white man, and a negro, a negro, and that is all of it. I will vote for the amendment (not because I am his enemy) but because I am a white man, and believe in white supremacy and further, because I believe it to be a firm, solid step in the direction of saving the negro from dire calamity. JOS. J. MacKAY. Raleigh, N. C.. June 30, 1900. MR. MORDICAI’S LAW BOOK. Judge Winston Writes in Most Complimentary Terms of It. To the Editor: Some days ago I asked Mr. Mordecai if the first edition of his “Mechanics’ Liens” was exhausted. It seems to ine that so excellent a book ought to be in the hands of every practi tioner. It is indeed a full, accurate and well digested exposition of all the learn ing upon the subject treated. The head lines are large and suggestive. #The para graphs are logically arranged. The index is copious and the forms are invaluable. A book is either an undigested compila tion or else it is the ripe fruit of a full and enthusiastic writer. Mordccai's “Mechanics’ Liens” Is the latter. May I not thus publicly make my ac knowledgement to its author and perhaps provoke thereby some other North Caro linian to use his pen. We are getting some good work, of late, from our best writers in this State. Permanent fame is more surely along this way than any other. Wanted:’ A thousand writers to gather up the fast passing events of our State's history. ROBERT W. WINSTON. Durham, N. C.. June 30. * Diseases in Calbagc. To the Editor: I have received many letters from the Eastern part of the State in regard to a disease in the cabbages, which the writer calls Yellow Side and yellow fever. It is evidently a bacterial disease, and I would like to got specimens of affected plants to study. The department at Washington will assist in the study, as it is desired to ascertain whether it is the some disease that has ravaged the cabbage crop in the northwest and know there as Black Rot. Parties whose cabbages arc affected are asked to let me know if they can send specimens, an l I will send franks for mailing them. Specimcnts should be wrap ped in moss barely moist, and put in a light paper box. You will oblige by insert ing this and asking the eastern papers to copy, as I am anxious to investigate the trouble. Yours truly, W. F. MASSEY. Mark Would Still Rule. (Wm. E. CURTIS.) There is a little Woodruff and he has a pretty accurate idea of politics, although he is only 8 years old. He came to Phil adelphia with his father and mother, and of course overheard a great deal that has been said about their apartments, where the vice-presidency was naturally the principal topic of conversation. The other day somebody was explaining that the public generally did not appreciate the importance of the second place on the ticket, because there is only one life be tween the man who holds it and the ex ecutive power. ‘‘Why, mamma,” said the little Wood ruff, in a wondering voice, “If McKinley died wouldn’t Mr. Hanna still run the government?” z What the Amendment Will Do. Prof. Alexander Mclver, (Rep). “It will bring peace and harmony and good will to all classes of the people. “It will maintain and perpetuate good government. “It will promote good morals. “It will disfranchise no white man un less he wants to he disfranchised. "It will disfranchise no colored man any longer than he can learn to read and write and establish for himself a good character. “It is a lawful and proper construction of the Fifteenth Amendment, Laws U. S. I shall therefore vote for it and for Ay cock for Governor.” Democrats Have No Masters. (Durham Sun). In his speech here Saturday, Dr. Cyrus Thompson was under the impression that if the Democrats carried the day. Josephus Daniels would be master of all. “From which I say reverently,” said Dr. Thomp son, “God deliver us all.” A Good Crop. (Chatham Record). Siler City has become quite a market for onions. In one day last week two mer chants shipped eighty bushels. Some or the farmers near there makes more money raising onions than any other crop. A lean woman and a fat one nearly al ways envy each other. SECTION ONE--Pages 1 to 4. COMMENCEMENT ATWESTDURHAM The Graduates of the Graded School Were Five. HONORS WON BY SEVEN The Scolarship Prize Was Taken by Jesse Weatherspoon. j DEPORTMENT PRIZE, OCTAVIUS CRABTREE A Most Interesting Program Rendered to a Large Audience. A List of the Graduates and Honor Pupils. Prizes Presented by Principal J. T. Henry. (Special to News and Observer.) Durham, N. June 30. —The clos ing exercises of the West Durham Graded school took place on Friday nigTit. in the school building- in that village. The vacation period has be gun, and for some time the thought of books and the air of the school room wil lie laid aside. A large crowd of people were pres ent and enjoyed the exercises to the fullest extent. The graduates were Misses Florence Bailey. Cora Anderson and Maud Wil kerson; Messrs. Jesse Weatherspoon and Benton Pendergrass. Honors were won by Adolphus Clark. Zannie Anderson, Grover Shields, Emma Avent. Claudie Powell, Earl Davis and Octavius Crabtree. Jesse Weatherspoon, of the seventh grade, won the scholarship prize, and Octavius Crabtree, of the fourth grade, the prize for best deportment. Prof. J. T. Henry, the principal! presented the prizes in a most enter taining manner. The program carried out was as follows: Yacaton Song, by the school. Recitation. Doll Drill, by ten of twelve girls. Recitation, by Miss Pauline. Sneed. Cantata, A Trip to Europe, by the school. Recitation, by Miss Lina Washing ton, Crews. Speech, by Richard Daley. Farmer's Song, by a number of boys. Recitation, by Miss Florence Hailey. Fan Drill, bv fourteen or fifteen girls. Good Night, by the smaller children. Presentation of Prizes, by Prof. Henry. Dr. William L. Foushee. a brother of our townsman, Hon. H. A. Foushee, was here today. He arrived in the city on Ihe 9:35 Norfolk and Western train, this morning, from Iloxboro. Dr. Foushee was recently appointed profesaon in Latin in Mercer Univer sity. Macon, Ga. He has many friends in Durham who are always glad to see him. NEVER SCRATCHED A TICKET. A Brave Uneducated Cumberland Democrat Favors the Amendment. The uneducated white men, who are Democrats —and that embraces most of them—will vote for the Amendment. They know that it is the only way to se cure White Supremacy. A brave Cumber land county man writes: “I am not an educated man. I can’t read or write. I don’t know my name when I see it. I am a poor man —was at Bethel and at Bcntonsville and fired the last cannon there. I have never scratched a Democratic ticket, have been voting thirty-six years and have voted at every election. Now the most important time in the history of North Carolina has come, when it is a question as to which shall rule the white man or the negro. Popu lists and Republicans tell me that being an uneducated man I will lose my vote il' the Constitutional Amendment passes. 1 don't believe it. A good man never turns out an old father and the Democratic party is not going to prevent me or any other white man from casting a vote as long as we live. But let me tell you, Mr. Editor, that if I knew I w’ould lose my vote, I would vote for the Amendment for I don't want the negroes to ever rule over my children. His J. W. X CARROLL. Mark Witness: —A. M. Williams. To the Point. (Atlanta Constitution.) Many and long are the letters written from the seashore at this delightful sea son. The following, however, to a plod ding, stay-at-home husband, is beauti fully brief: “Dear John: I'm where The ocean hollers, I send some shells: You send some dollars!” Sunday’s Atlanta Constitution has a beautiful picture of Miss Lilian Slocum, o* Fayetteville, who is attending com mencement at Athens, Ga. The poor shoemuker manages to hang on to the last. PRICE FIV => ~SNTS. HOW DEMOCRATS WILL WIN. They Need Only to Carry New York, Maryland and Kentucky. (Chicago Times-Herald.) And now Western Republicans must be prepared to face the difficult task of electing McKinley and Roosevelt without relying on New York State. The truth cannot be concealed that as a candidate for governor, an officer in which his fearless impetuosity and hon esty were needed, Theodore Roose velt would have attracted thousands of independent Republicans, anti-Tammany Democrats, and civil service reformers to the support of the Republican ticket. As a candidate for Vice-President his per sonality will not count for a rush to win support from these classes. If a man like Bird S. Coler Is nomina ted for governor by the Democrats against any stool-pigeon Tom Platt may name, does any one doubt that the dis gust over the political assassination of the Rough Rider endanger both the State and national Republican tickets? By playing the game for Thomas C. Platt the Republican delegates from the West have confronted their con stituents with this ill-favored table of November possibilities. Bryan vote in 1896 176 New York’s electoral vote 36 Kentucky’s electoral vote 12 Maryland’s electoral vote 8 1 l> ; * • « 56 Total 232 Necessary to elect 221 It will be perceived that if Bryan wins in New York, Kentucky and Maryland In addition to the States he carried in 1896 he will bo elected. In order to overcome any such pos sible result of the abuse of Western sentiment in Philadelphia it will bo necessary for Western Republicans to win at least nine electoral votes among the following States which cast them for Bryan four years ago: California 1 Idaho 3 Kansas 10 Montana 3 Nebraska 8 South Dakota 4 Washington 4 Wyoming 3 Total 36 It happens that these eight Western States, by reason of the odd one in California, cast precisely the same vote for Bryan in 1896 that New York cast, for McKinley.v Western Republicans will have to hold' every electoral vote the great Central West polled for McKinley in 1896 and gain at least nine votes from the above table to insure the election of McKinley and Roosevelt, should the pe culiar conditions in New York result in the loss of that State. REPUBLICANS BOSS IT. They Ordered the Populists to Drop Johnson and Crumper (Sampson Democrat.) At the regular session of the Legisla ture, Sampson's two Populist represen tatives, Messrs. R. M. Crumpler and C. H. Johnson, voted for the amendment. At the adjourned session lately convened neither voted against it, Mr. Johnson ask ing to be excused from voting and Mr. Crumpler was not in his seat at the roll-call. In consequence of their votes in the Legislature on this question in favor of white supremacy, it is alleged that the Republicans of Sampson county made the demand that Messrs. Johnson and Crumpler be dropped, and the Popu list county convention danced to the music and refused to nominate them for anything. Mr. Johnson’s name was offered for Senator, but at the dictation of the Re publicans he was knocked down and dropped out, politically speaking. This was the fulfillment of a prophecy made by a Fusion office-holder who made the remark in Clinton several months ago when his attention was called to the patriotic votes of Johnson and Crumpler on the amendment, that these gentlemen were back numbers, dead cocks in the pit, as he expressed it. in consequence of their votes, and would be dropped by the Populists of Sampson. What a pity white men /cannot stand by their own race and then be of good and regular standing in their party. When it comes to this pass it is time for white men to arouse and get out of a political party that is dominated by negro influ ence. The Bepulicans Are Dismayed. (Special to News and Observer.) Lenoir, N. C... June 30.—Mr. Aycock's masterly speech, delivered here on the 13th inst., has accomplished a great deal of good for Democracy. Caldwell’s ma jority for the Amendment will be from 600 to 800. White Supremacy Clubs are being suc cessfully organized over our county. A meeting of nearly 300 persons was held at Patterson last night. Enthusiastic speeches were made by Edmund Jones and W. L. Wakefield. Dr. Dixon spoke to a good crowd of people at Amhurst yesterday. He speaks at Collettsville today and at Globe tomor row. Good results will folow his labors among us. The enemy is greatly dismayed since Chairman Crisp's espousal of the cause of White Supremacy. They are like sheep without a shepherd. I verily believe that as Judge Robinson remarked to Solicitor Harshaw yesterday they are now “gnaw ing their last hone.” Let us push the battle with all of our might and our ma jority will not be less than fifty thous ' and. g If at the age of 4ft a man meets a i woman he thought he loved at J) he is • apt to believe that luck was with him I after all.