VOL XVI.
I GREAT RAILR
A iDiher Report of the So-Called
Shows That the Gold and
PnntrnlloH Itc lni
uuiiiiuiiuu no Mbllullt
wh puhlibhed a full, com.
; -m l trutliful account of the no
! l'.iniM:ratio State Convention,
i i.- Mire that our report should
i i uraln and fair, Tiis Caccasian
. r. t the hervicpH of two persons,
i i whom were Htrongly in favor
. ..' rat iotif to report the convert
! i. n.-it lfr one knowing that the
, i r making a report. One re
; i vmh ptit)!ishe(! Ut week, the other
fc ii hf low. We do not publish the
i ! report in full, hot leave out the
r i ;r i!'taiK The following report
that the Mrt report was very
! rtn.1 hardly told the truth asplain-
i , it. should have been told. Ki.
I i: ' ' I f A I s N.
! i meeting held in JIalfigh last
ii r-lty at Metropolitan Hall waa
ii i lemorr:itic Convention. It was
i n .--ting tlf rievelandites, l'almer
i - and railroad attorneys who
' 1 theiiMplve the Democratic
- 'invention.
I li- !ie.-t and most appropriate name
II t rati tie given it is the (Irkat IS ah.-
i i- l . . w v k it Com vkntiui.
i ii'- whole proceedings were planned,
- I'n t.'d and manipulated ly a cho-
-ii i. umber of prominent kaii.koad
i.ri. Th meeting was called to
k'. ti.-r by n railroad attorney, and the
i i .(M.rary chairman was a gold man.
Iiniiiediately after the committee on
I'-rtuaiieiit Organization had entered
tl - lull there were loud calls for J J. J.
M-tui, Southern Kailroad Attorney,
T'liVional mud-slinger, owner (?) of
uk ai: -ged Tree silver letter from (iro-v.-rt
levelatid, and one of his chief of
i' ' liul.lers. lie said he did not know
O il to say, but was there to get his
-M-r. "If the party says co-operate
wi'h -nine other party, I will do what
it -h.. (Faint yell.) If this conven
tion -ays the Democratic party shall
lik,'!' its own battles alone against all
"tlu r parties, then I will he found at
my post."
Hie i nnventlon tore things loose at
til- litter part of this remark. The
w hoopers and railroad hirelings who
were exerting all of their energies to
divide and defeat the people in their
eitorts to secura honest legislation, did
not allow an opportunity to slip to
-how their "ISosa" that they were earn
mi; their pay. Glenn gathered cour
aife irom this "show up" and sputtered
"it his billingsgate profusely.
A Republican Kailroad Attorney who
knows something about the matterde-
Wired to this writer that there were
twenty. three C2:i) railroad attorneys
on the various committees appointed
i'y this .Mualled Democratic conven
tion. Walter 1 Koj t!, who was a candidate
fur Klector on the Palmer and Uuckner
k'uiil Democratio ticket, waa a delegate
to the convention.
s. . I'.radshaw, who was also a can
ilnlate on the same ticket, was also on
(In k, but it was not positively learned
that he was a delegate.
II. P. Short, of Cabarrus county, who
voted for McKinley, was a delegate in
lull fellowship and good standing.
I II. llinbee, Southern Kailroad at
torney, was proxy for Henderson
i oiitity and cast its vote.
There was not a roll call of the coun
ties during the session of this extraor
dinary convention, and there was no
turd for it. It was selected and
brought together by its ow.ner and
i's for the purpose of being cnaki
voi s and when the ISoss' orders were
Kiw n there was not enough manhood
ur independence in the convention to
m ike any sort of pretense to opposi
tion. The small minority who repre
sented the people were o overwhel
mingly defeated that they acjitiascki
IX sn.KNCK.
mi: onvkn tion
w railed to order by Chairman Man
ly, who made a short, well-worded talk
id no special import or meaning. He
made some reference to P.ryan which
wi- "lightly applauded.
He then introduced Col. J. S. Carr,
I'lirbaiu, as temporary chairman,
wl " made a brief speech.
Afternoon t!ton.
Ih'' performance opjned again
a'mu: ;i o'clock. Ex-Congressman B.
r . .rady was called upon. He stumb
led along in a course of inconsistent
remark declaring that the State had
""I 1 ad a United States Senator in
I 'tut-time who could take the placeof
I i i-er or Kansom (goldhug). At the
nt ion of these names the convention
l:.oped 'em up" lively. Than some
"eie-ate called out "or Vance." Grady
m l ance 'still lives." (Laughter.)
I r jRltloa From I'opallit.
Mr. chas. F. Warren was called for.
He ' line flirniril mil annoim.o.
(e l a I jus6 been informed that the
"4 rmsn naa a proposition from the
1 enpies l'arty State committee to lay
tief'.re the convention.
I e riiiroad contingent greet fd this
"'H "inurement with ieer. hnwl nA
and all sorts of pandemonium
-x uoien or more looters were
the ,, or ?iiiallinir"Mr. Chairman"!
'"'"Jred more howlers were yelling
. ...,rri "louuer::" There was as
"m il disorder as It was possible for
he number present to make. Warren
, V one .I3e 8al(J: "This questitn
"l!'-t h.. met "
, A voire from the tlinr veltirt "Wa
:iye already met it." Another voice
" 7 our, "ana downed it."
ti.M rma.n.Mn,y cm forward with
u propojition and asked for resDect-
onsmeration of it. He then apol-
lur r, thus trying to in-
ine Iace of the hoots and
Jrln-. a tnomt before, that it was a
sr. err . conention to ask re
T J( tful procedure from it 't
for v . lUiams' la.wJ and attorney
n Z ,,lnlMn.ton nl Weldon Kailroad,
thl 7 th?.1 any communication froui
UpulisU be laid on the table
" heers anil unnl.n..
thU ll' Neal lawyer and attorney for
i arolina Central Kailroad moved
- -eier me communication to the com
iiintee on nUtfnrm .n .
att.fp.i" ea9.' Koldbug, lawyer and
hitr V Ju "r ine aoutiiern icaiiroad,
"peu the commuunication would h
annu. i ?'lt mm, etc. He waa
tiii -nV- V,oroU9'J. (He knew and
entire railroad ami o-niif nnMnn..nt.
be r .,at sthe communication would
Tk k with that committee.)
l'or,.riiinn,n of the reading of the
opuiist proposition waa ieri-A .ni
WasYi Bra'" name
"'iiuiBppiiue,
lI't star performer of the cotobina
AD
LAWYER CONVENTION.
Dp.mnnntin rnnvan wv.u
""iuiiw wuiiibiiuuil lllilbll
Monopoly Faction of the Part
w y. . Covington, lawyer. He
was just in the right shape to Say any
h.ng in any sort of way, and for some
oou anvics Kent the
ir V r UBr Ul '""gnier.
.Vr "r'aie got in a question
or two that rather phased the r.nn.
. . ile eald : M1 baTe Leapd it inti-
uatru goiuDugs are rimningthis
convention. Is that nv 'v.J'
one or two voices that answered Mves "
. laiiruau inu monopoly contin
gent had the pull in the matter of lung
ftritiroi anil s.
, ' fc,,c' "eni UP a vouey of
nun. -lou nail better settle that
question," said Iiixon, "and settle it
" " Kom out rrom here that
this convention is dominated by gold
bugs you are going to he badly hurt."
1 have heard that all anti-fmionists
arc gUlUOUgS."
'A lie." "no " veiled I In Uliiii.
believe that is a lie myself," said
Maj. Dixon.
How are you on fusion?" asked a
ueieme.
il I n I
i uon i know tliat tuv f.n;n;n
worth much, but if you want to fcnow,
I Jl tell you. I am against it."
..mj j'ixon got a burst or applause
as he took his seat.
Judge A. C. Avfrr mm ..lto.l
He arose, and as he did there were
.sume nisses ana some applause. He
said that he did not desire to address
the convention at that time. He had
information thtt the committee on
resolutions would not be able to rennrr
before 7 o'clock. When that report
..uc ic uMiib uesire 10 nave
something to say. He then paid his
respects to the hissers. He told them
that he had served the Dem. party for
thirty years, and when the time came
he would demand his rights to a hear
ing and would maintain them; that he
could point to those who had hissed
him as political recreants who had
been unfaithrul and had scratched
their party ticket in the last election.
MrI'I SesHion.
The first work of any note at the
night fession was the reading of the
platform. It will be easily seen that
all it contains of any special conse
quence is almost bodily "stolen" from
the Peoples Party State platform.
The platform was published in full
last week.l
Keport on tli Popnllat Communication.
In presenting this report Governor
Jarvis said :
"As to some matters that came be
fore that committee the committee
was divided; three members of that
committee desired that in reply toa cer
tain proposition sent to the committee
from this convention, we should make
a counter proposition. These men
were as good Democrats as we are and
had at heart the welfare of the party
as much as the other members of the
committee, and as an evidence of their
loyalty to the party, their unalterable
allegiance to its interests, they have
consented to present no minority re
port to this convention."
The report was as follows :
"The Committee on Platform and
Kesolutions, by direction of the con
vention, having had under considera
tion the proposition for fusion made
by a coramtttee of the Populist Party,
recommend that this convention
adopt the following resolutions in re
spect thereto:
JtESOLVKD. 1. That the nrnnositinn
for fusion submitted bv the Ponulist
committee, be, and the same is hereby
respectfully declined.
JUsolvkd. 2. That the Democratic
Executive Committee be, and the same
is hereby, instructed to entertain no
further proposition for fusion.
lhe reading of this reDort was wide
ly cheered, it suited the convention ex
actly. It was in accordance with the
boss. As soon as its reading was con
cluded several voices yelled : "I move
mac ine resolution be adopted by a
rising vote.
lhe motion was put without delay.
and the entire convention arose to its
feet widely wboopinsr. . Hats went off
and cheers rent the air. The conven
tion had done the work.
'A delegate hallooed. "Thiee cheers
for the committee on resolutions." and
they were given.
During this proceedare came the sur
prising perion. It bad been given out
and boldly talked during the day that
the Populist communication could not
oe aisposeu oi without a big fight. Men
like Avery, Davidson, Mason, Hale,
"tuner, iruun n losion ana otners
had permitted intimations that thev
were in for getting all "reform forces"
together and that some mighty good
reasons would have to be given for not
effecting such a union. But lo! not a
mouth opened in debate, not a voice was
raised for the oeoDle. The railroad
forces bad cowed these doughty cham
pions, and when they opened their
mouths at all it was to bow to the lash
and "renew their allegiance" to (he
Democratic party.
After the adoption of the platform
and rejection of the Populist proposi
tion fur co-operation of the silver for
ces calls were made for speakers.
- isicing statesman" Jarvis who ran
from the silver convention in 1S95.
was cauea out he said nothing worth
repeating.
Capt. i bos. W. Mason came next. He
said he came to extend the band of co
operation to the Populist party, but be
knew no higher duty than to follow
the Hag of the Democratic party. He
Dowea to ine iasn or toe railroad ele
ment that controlled. Almost anybody
would have expected better of him.
"Buck Kitchen followed. If you ev
er get a chanoe don't fail to hear him.
lie is an entire aggregation by him
self in his new role, and is worth the
price oi aumission, wmcn price is
nothing. He was wildly applauded by
the convention. He howled about
what he called "nigger rule," and then
the gang would whoop. He started in
to roast G rover Cleveland. Some fel
low yelled: "Leave that out." The
Honorable "Buck" saw be was losing
there, and adroitly turned the
tide in his favor again by saying that
be had recently been in a crowd a sight
worse than Grover Cleveland. The
railroad manipulators were caught
again and they whooped up "Buck"
with amazing energy. This encour
aged bim to the point of wildness and
he roared out that "we will have just
such a government as we want. If we
can't get it by votes, we will resort to
those means which have never yet
failed." He ranted on saying he was
in favor of co-operation, bat not such
as was offered by the Populists.
When he was talking his loudest, D.
A.CovingtOu, yelled out: "If there
is anything you want, name it." An
expression of ineffable contentment
rested on the speaker's face and he
uvcu s mougn ne thought he had
u" "wara, or mat it was in sight.
je . uvermao, Southern Kailroad
hrLr "PS. 5 Pc vacated
mituin. mis prominent assist
ant in the secret, midnight f0 year
L-.?"."1. 10 aa' !0"Iis7
ru;V;r J 'TT.1'" ana -corrup
e iuiioii lorces. wnoo-ey
tapt. K. II. Petble?, of Northamp
ton, was sent to the Convention in
structed to advocate co-operation with
the Populists, but overrnd hia
u ' PeP,e and fell in with the
McKinley Democrats, railroad nmn.
g .-j - - - waw.ao
crats and Palmerites.
i n bis speech be tried to "whoop 'em
up," but he could not doit. Finally
he grew desperate and as a tat.
nam :
. w - " . 1
"W OUGHT
TO TELL THOSE PEOPLE
WHO DO SOT
VOTE THE DEMOCRATIC
TICKET THAT W
WILL TREAT THEM AS
nt ""WTI. WHKK THSY COME TO
THE DOORS Or OCR BOUSES WE OUGHT
ro TREAT THEM AS W DO "niggers
auu snow mem tnat th av tn f. in
a kn..t. . . R
a luruugu our oacs aoors.
He seemed to represent thu nti
menus or the railroad rulers who were
running ine convention.
The Democratic machi
i i . :
oeen extremely careful not tn rnnn
v x ceoiea speecn. Kx-Judge A.
y. ivery was loudly called. He said
he-renewed his allegiance to the "Dem
ocratic party."
o. Beddingfleld, ex-railroad com
missioner, made a few remarks, after
wuicn ine convention adjourned.
Thus ended the Great Kaii
LILROAD
liAWYKR Convention.
POLITICAL PARTIES PAST. PRESENT
AND FUTURE.
Written for The Caucasian.
All destroyed nation?. howAvar
learned in science or political econ
omy, have gone down because of
corruption in political parties, or be
cause cf an idolatrous love of power,
ana its abuses. And the decay of
such, invariably began at the heads
of the departments. The history of
Spain furnishes an object lesson to
prove the statement. The birth of
new parties and nations eminated
rom persecution and oppression.
arising from selfishness which had
crowded out patriotism. Oar own
great nation was born amid storms
of persecution and showers of blood,
the legitimate fruits of aggregated
power and wealth of the monied ar
istocracy of England, showing itself
in unlawful taxation through politi
cal parties, and corrupted leaders
whose love for gold and office was
greater than their love for God and
humanity. And now in this the sec
ond century of our national exist
ence we find the same hydra-headed
monster from the mother, country
corrupting our political parties, and
with the aid of our disloyal citizens
by the formation of stupendous com
bination, unequal taxation, class
egislation, and centralized power
will soon, if not checked, convert
our free republican government into
despotic monopoly. To pre
vent this our political parties have
been changing bases, tactics, names
and increasing in number. Bat it is
well known fact, that with all
this, they have not been able to keep
the demon of selfishness and greed
out of their organizations and legis-
ation. .Lvery convention from the
primaries to the nationals of every
party is attended by agents or friends
of the corrupting power, and every
election increases the ill feeling and
bad blood of individuals, because of
their presence and influence. And
though our political parties are nu
merous and very different in objects
and principals, yet every election
year they have arbitrary 8 gents of
this gigantic power upon every par
ty ticket to force honest men to vote
against their convictions or stay at
home. Such is the power of this en
emy of all moral law and good gov
ernment as that the vaults of bank
ers and pockets of individuals have
been almost universally, wittingly or
unwittingly, offered annually to carry
elections and secure legislation in
the interest of classified monopoly.
or many years this stealthy enemy
has gradually grown to ba a mon
ster without being known to the
great mass of voters.
Prior to the last war, the great
wo political parties (Whig and Dem
ocrat) managed to keep each other
in check to a good degree. But the
war hatched out an enormous brood
of vampires who fatten upon the
blood of others and curse their
victims for not submitting to their
mandates with more grace. But.
bless God for a Christian civiliza ¬
tion in this "land of the free and
home of the brave", the people are
being educated! Ignorance is no
onger at a premium! It is under
par and going down; and the politi
cal hucksters must go to their graves
in ignominy. And as China has a
aw to hang all bank defaulters.
et us have one to disfranchise and
otherwise punish all political rene
gades and tricksters. All new , oar-
ties have had to fight their way to
the front at the risk of life and
honor or die a premature death and
be buried amid the anathamas of a
political mobocracy, consequently,
the signs of the times point to a, dis
solution of all our political parties,
and by the laws of disintegration
and absorption the reorganization of
two new ones with new names and
purposes. Let all lovers of honest
reform and good government keep
cool "With their hands upon the
throttle and their eyes upon the
rail," do the best we can in this cam
paign and look to the year of grace
1900 for the organization of a new
party with a new name and com
posed of the working classes and
all such as have shown or will show
a willingness to perpetuate our li
berties as handed down to us by the
patriots of 1776. And the enemies
of those liberties of whatever order,
occupation, name or complexion will
naturally fall into line on .the oppo
site side, continue to worship the
golden calf, corrupt the ballot box,
and use their time, talents and
money to change the form and Jen
slave the people of the best govern
ment on earth. Some divines be
lieve the millennium is near at hand.
Bat may it not be one of a political
and eeonomic nature, just to pro
ceed the great and eventful one
spoken of in the Bible and to pre
pare the world for the last days?
Whatever it may be, let us set our
houses in order, do our duty and be
ready for whatever may come. This
government-is destined to be a great
factor in the future history of the
world. Dr. J as.. F. Foard. -
Statesville, N. C, June 6, '98.
RALEIGH. N.CL THURRDAT .TnKF. o iqqo
' 1 1 mi 'SAW W OJnW'"--
THE SANTIAGO BOQBHRDQEIIT.
r UnTHtR DETAILS OF THE FIGHT
COMMODORE SCHLEY PURPOSE TO
LOCATE FORTS AND BAT
TERIES. Th UuihUM-IUt Sew Orleans.
low Took l art la lb bmcarat, lb
ltattlehlp Tbeir Bl (iaai I be
( rlitubal f oloa aa! the Craixr Ie vot
ing Uer Attention, with .ol Effect, to
the IWtlrrief and Morre Castle Spaa Uh
Marksmen In a hie to bit oar Ship. Most
of Their Shot, tailing fchort No Injo
rses are Keported on the American Hide.
The following report has been
given out by the Associated Press:
Port Antosia, Jauaca, Jane 1.
r or an hour vesterdav af teraoon
the Massachusetts, Iowa, New Or
leans, aod vixen, of Oommmlam
fcchley's tqnadron, exchanged shots
wiin the Spanish fleet under -Admiral
Cervera and with the land bat
teries guarding the harbor of Santi
ago de Cuba, behind which the Span
ish fleet is hiding.
lhe encraeement was the first
which has occurred between the two
naval forces, and was but a prelude
to serious work in the latter part of
cms week.
No attempt was made by the Amer
ican commander to bring cn a gen
eral engagement, it being his desire
to locate the batteries on the hills
above the harbor and to determine
the position of the Spanish forts.
At l o'clock the signal to form
column was hoisted on the Massa
chusetts, and the New Orleans. Iowa,
and Vixen fell in in the order named.
The Massachusetts steamed slowly
until about five miles west of the
harbor entrance, when she turned in
toward the shore, and when about
5,000 yards off, she turned east again
and bore down on the harbor, the
New Orleans being close up and the
Iowa half a mile behind. The fi air
ship gradually increased her speed
and was soon runnincr throucrh the
water at the rate of ten knots an
hour, bhe drew closer and closer to
the batteries, and to the anxious
watchers on the other ships it seemed
that she would never open fire.
One Shell Struck the Colon.
When, however, she passed the
harbor entrance by 500 yards, a
great cloud of white and yellow
smoke burst from the two thirteen-
inchguns in her after turret, and
wo shells rose over the hill, one of
them striking the Spanish flagship,
Cristobal Colon, full and fair as she
ay at her anchorage, and the other
ailing close alongside.
The two guns on the forward tur
ret were then fired, and their shells,
in exploding, threw up great jets of
spray close to the Colon.
All the shore batteries took up the
challenge and began a rapid lire on
the Massachusetts. But she was
soon beyond their range, and the
batteries thereupon turned their
guns on the New Orleans. This
cruiser had been directed to pay at
tention to the batteries and to draw
their fire as much as possible, and
she obeyed her instructions to the
etter. tier first shot located a large
battery on the hill above the Monro.
t flew straight into the fort and must
have caused much damage, as a great
cloud of dust and debris rose as the
shell burst. A couple more shots
sent part of the walls of Morro fly
ing into the air, and then the New
Orleans confined herself to the bat
teries, her fire being rapid and ex
tremely accurate. Every shot she
fired made trouble for bpain.
ine lowa came next. and. like the
Massachusetts, devoted, her atten
tion to the ships lying within the
harbor. Her twelve-inch shells made
the water fly all around that part
of the harbor in which the Cristobal
Colon lay. The latter, however,
was not seriously damaged, and kept
up her fire until long after the Amer
ican ships steamed out of range.
lhe Spanish ships, with the excep-i
tion oi the Cristobal Uolon were be
hind the hills and could not see the
enemy, who threw shells around
hem with such rapidity that they
knew he was somewhere on the other
side of the hill, and then hopelessly
raised the muzzles of their guns and
banged away. The result was what
might have been - expeetod. Their
fire tore the bosom of the Carribbean
Sea, but it harmed nothing else.
Alter the Massachusetts had pas
sed the point where she could fire
into the harbor with advantage, she
urned to the open sea, the other
vessels following her. That fight
was over as far as the Americans
were concerned J
Batteries Will not Last Long.
Commodore Schley has located all
he batteries now. and an officer on
the Massachusetts said, after the ac
tion: "We can dismount every srun
eft in less than an hour." But if
the Vesuvius does not coale, and an
attack is made without regard to
the mines, the men on the first ship
will be cast in heroie mold, if thev
do not feel, as they go into action.
that any moment "may bring the
same fate as that which came so sud
denly to the men of the Maine on
that dark February night.
ARMY "NOT FIT TO MOVE."
London Tlmea Correspondent Telia What
be Calls "a Dlsacreeable Trotn."
London, June 4. The Times pub
lishes this morning a two column let
ter from an American correspondent
dated Washington, May 23, in which
the writer says :
"Let as publish a bit of disagreeable
truth, as it will do.us no harm in the
long run, much as it may excite anger
for the moment. Although America
must have known a year ago that war
was inevitable, her army is not fit to
move. It is much like that of France
immediately after the war of 1870, with
this difference, that the American
troops have confidence in their imme
diate superiors."
The writer continues with a serious
indictment of the "terrible condition9
and "lack of organization" at Camp
Tampa, which he says, is "largely due
to red tape at Washington or to that
military appendage misnamed staff."
He comments on the fact that "in a
hot and pestiferous climate men "are
compelled to wear winter clothing eat
winter rations, fat pork and beans,
witn no rruit or vegetables to cool their
superheated blood,, while carloads of
fresh f raits and vegetables are going
is orsu to jh ew . x ora ana Chicago
kets." " v
THE SinXIHG OFTHE dECnOaC.
A NAVAL BANEUVER TO COSPLETELY
BLOCKADE THE SPANISH FLEET
-IT WAS A DARIN6 DEED.
weieratlaod to lloao Cfcoaa! Aaalsws
Orrera'e fsnaadroa. and HslMsa Volan-
leered to I adertake the Ussprsa E
raad-Merrlsnae waa Klgged W lib Toe
elo- to be Kapladed troaa I bo Isaek.
bad Kaeapo Waa Intended bjr Means of
life-beat-Prisoners Taken lo Morre
Wnero They are Itetag Well
Treated.
Message f rom Sampson.
. Mol Haiti, June, 4. "Succeeded in
sinking Merrimac in the channel of
banttago at 4 a. nu Jaee 3. This was
carried oat most gallant) under the
command of Naval Constructor Hob
ion and seven men. By a flag of truce
irom the Spanish Admiral, Cm era.
sent in recognition or their braver. 1
am informed all are prisoners of war.
iwu Biiguuj woanaea. uequest au
thority to approve exchange, if possi
ble, between these and the prisoners at
Atlanta. Six of the Spanish squadron
V - .1! 1 l a '
in the harbor oi Santiaro nnable to
avoid being captured or destroyed.
SAMrsOH,"
The Xerrimae Hank.
By the Associated Press on Santiago
de Cuba, Jane 4.
Bear Admiral Sampson, during K.i
day morning decided to close the nar
row harbor entrance of Santiago de
Cuba by sinking the collier Merrimac.
loaded with coal, in the channel, lit
called for volunteers to go to almost
certain death, and 4.000 men offered
themselves. Lieut. Uobson and six
men were chosen, and at 3 a. m Fri
day morning, the Merrimac. under her
own steam, entered the channel under
a terrible Spanish fire. The vessel was
riddled with projectiles, but she an
chored and swung around. Lieut.
Uobson then set olf an internal torpedo
with an electric attachment, there was
an explosion, the Merrimac sank, the
channel was closed, and apparently,
Admiral Cervera will be unable to es
cape. Lieut. Hobson and the heroic crew
of the Merrimac were saved in the fol
lowing manner. Unable, after the
sinking of the vessel to make their
way back through the storm of shot
and shell, they rowed into the harbor
to the Spanish flagship, and were
taken on board unharmed. The Span
ish Admiral, under a flag of truce, on
Friday sent word to the American Ad
miral that he offered to exchange the
prisoners, adding that in the mean-
wnue uobson and his party would be
treated with the greatest kindness.
Ecape Alive.
Lieut. Hobson appears to have car
ried out his plan to the smallest de
tails, except as regards the method of
escape. The rowboat in which the
crew were to escape was either blown
up or snot to nieces. lor Lieut. Hobson
and his men drifted ashore on an old
catamaran which was slunk over the
ship's side at the last moment, as an
extra precaution. Upon reaching
shore the men were taken prisoners
and sent to Santiago City under guard.
jaser tney were taken to Morro Castle,
wrere inev now are.
Capt. Oviedo, Admiral Cervera'
chief of staff, who boarded the New
York under a flag of truce, did not
give further details of the capture.
The bravery of the Americans evi
dently excited as much admiration
among the Spaniards as it did among
the men of. the American fleet. The
prisoners: will be perfectly safe, and
will probably be well treated while
they remain in Morro Castle. The
fleet is wild with delight tonight over
the termination of the most daring
expedition since the destruction of the
Albemarle by Lieut. Cushig in 1864.
The Admiral is just as glad as the
youngest Jackie.
It is probable that the Spaniards
will try to blow up the Merrimac, but
improbable that they will succeed.
Speculation is rife as to the exact de
tails of how Lieut. Hobson managed to
blow himself and ship up and live to
tell the tale. His heroism has cleared
up the situation well. The Spaniards
are now doubly hemmed in.
Story of the Adventure.
lhe story of the sinking of the
Merrimac is one of the most thrilling
of the war.
As is well known, the harbor at
Santiago is very narrow. One or two
ships sunk across its mouth would as
effectually prevent the escape of the
Spanish fleet as though a line of battle
ships were anchored there. There is
uo doubt that this fact appealed to
Admiral Sampson and he decided to
block the channe) in some way. After
the decision came action. In his fleet
was the collier Merrimac, a large
steamer purchased some time ago in
New York. The great steel hull of the
Merrimac offered the barricade which
the Admiral songbt and the ship was
marked for destruction.
The next step was to find a crew to
accompany her on her dangerous mis
sion. A volunteer crew was asked for.
Eight men were selected and plaoed
on board of what seemed certain to be
their coffin. In the stillest hour of the
morning between 3 and 4 o'clock
the prow of the Merrimac. with jast
enough men on the ship to ran the
engine and handle the wheel, was
turned toward the narrow entrance to
Santiago harbor. It is easy to imagine
that the officers and cres of the
squadron watch the steamer's onward
progress with beating hearts. Nearer
and nearer she approached the harbor
entrance. In the moonlight , which
fell upon Caribbean Sea her black hall
could be seen slowly moving toward
destruction. Evidently she passed the
first line of dreaded torpedoes safely.
out wnen she was a little further in
the harbor there was explosion and
the vessel sank.
SKETCH OF UEU TENANT UOBSON.
The nation was thrilled Saturday
with the bravery of the young Naval
Constructor, Richard Pearson Hobson,
who guided the Merrimac into the har
bor of Santiago under the fire of the
Torts, ana deliberately sank neracross
the narrow channeL The young man's
grandfather was Chief Justice Rich
mond Pearson, of North. Carolina, and
his ancle is Richmond Pearson, Con
gressmen from the ninth District of
2iorth Carolina. The stock from which
the young man has -come is of rood
Southern blood, and includes Gover
nors, Senators, Jadges, , Congressmen,
ana others who have Men famous in
national history. As for young Hob-
eon nimseir. he is certain to be remem
bered as one of the great heroes of the
war. His exploit was even greater
than Dewey's, for the American Ad-
mirai at Manila baa a nsbting chance.
while uobson ana bis seven compan
ions supposed that they were going to
certain aeatu, - - - . .
iticnmona . Pearson uobson is a
young man who will not be 28 years
oia nntu the utn of next August, lie
is a native or Alabama, ana was ap
pointed by Secretary Herbert to the
Naval Academy in 1885, graduating at
tne neaa or his class in issa. it is rata
in the Navy Department that his.dis-
regara for tbo ruloe and rvgviuioet
oi sne service is soesHliiag paaoao
aai. tie never coeie b bee ad 4w a bv
iae rt d tap of official reel! a. I f. for
lasteae. bo desired te aee'reon tbo Seo
retary of War, be woo 14 de so eirvctlf
stead ox BAfteg bis coeasBiakatloM
rorwardefl tbroegfc the proper ebae
oris, ue das always bad Ideas el bis
owe, and It was tbreeah a is efforts
that naval constructors wire neat te
sea to observe tbo effect of art sal coo
conflict npoa modern ship.
lie has traveled abroad quite eatea
if ely, haviag speat three year atedy
ing naval construction io the boot
r reach and Koglitb schools. Uo was
detailed to accompany Admiral Walk-
or s wane squadroe, and also went to
Brazil when the flag of that repablic
was first reeogaiced bj the L'aited
States in lfr$9. lie was extremely de
sirous of witnessing the Japeueee
Chinese war, and In fact bad been or
dered to China when his very vigoroos
expressions as to tbo condect of that
war led to a protest from one of tbo
governments, and the order was re
voked. His abilities as a constructor
. f a a
were reoognizra wnen two years ago
oe wss sent to Newport A ews in con
nection with the construction of the
new battleships.
Probably Hanson's Idea
It was generally agreed that the
idea of running the Merrinao into
the harbor and sinking her was con
ceived by young Uobson, and that,
when be had suggested it to Admiral
Sampson, he asked to be allowed to
conduct the expedition. In no other
wsy can his presence in command of
the ship be counted for. The Merri
mac was io charge of Lieut. Com
mander Miller, whose record disproves
the idea that be would have volun
tarily relinquished an opportunity to
gain glory in a brilliant achievement.
Besides this, young Uobson is not an
officer of the linef and had never before
been intrusted with any command.
As a result of his brilliant idea and
daring courage he will undoubtedly
receive very substantial promotion.
As an Assistant Naval Constructor, be
has the relative rank of a Junior Lieu
tenant, but in the construction corps
the highest rank is that of a Com
mander. It is probable that Mr. Uob
son will be made a Captain, while the
men who were with bim will have
tbeir rating considerably increased,
so that for all time to come they will
receive a practical reward of their de
votion to their country.
CURRENCY ISSUED DURIN6 THE WAR.
How it waa Contracted and 1 to oiled Debt
Created A Heavy Harden I'lared I'pon
the People.
For Thk Caucasian.
Sib: For general information I
wish to state through The Caucasia
the amount of currency issued by tho
Government during the Civil war, and
the bonded debt created by that means.
To do this, I will not go into all the
particulars, describing the different
kinds of currency issued, but juit the
number of kinds, amount Ac.
There were sixteen (16) different
kinds of currency issued including the
fractional, or postage currency, (in SO,
23, 15. 10, 5, and 3 cent bills, or script.)
The total amount issued was about
$$,300 million dollars, all of which
was legal tender for all purposes ex
cept custom dues and interest on U.
S. bonds.
Every dollar thus issued was paid
out for full value received to the
soldiers, contractors for war materials
Ac, and as a matter of course it all be
longed to the people just as truly as a
man's horse or carriage belongs to
him that he nas bought and paid for.
So tnat, at the end of the war the Gov
ernment owed nothing, not a siogle
dollar to any one on earth.
All that currency circulated in the
North and West, the South had none.
Business was done for cash in hand
every man "paying as be went," and
the people were free from debt.
aow mark the change, cry soon al
ter the close of the war Congress gave
the Secretary of the Treasury power
to convert all of that U. a. currency
into 6 per cent, coin bonds, made free
of all taxes. Within three years, fif
teen hundred million dollars were con
verted into bonds, and burned up.
Then the people cried out in tbeir dis
tress, when Congress stopped the con
traction. So far about four hundred
million of greenbacks was cornered,
but the Secretary still continued to
contract the other kinds of currency
into bonds until the public deb
amounted to very nearly 3,000 million
dollars.
Thus a great debt was loaded upon
the South and West, drawing one hun
dred and fifty million dollars in in
terest annually, while the money with
which to earn the interest and princi
pal, was taken away from the people.
mt- - I J . IIL
j. his was nob onij ueuurniiervuuiof
in tnus contracting and burning op
the currency that the people bad paid
for with their blood and treasure, but
it was a quadruple robbery in thus
loading a fraudulent bonded debt
upon the South as well as upon the
North and West. Was there ever a
greater crime committed upon a care
less, stupid people?
The people south and west, have
paid already in interest and principal,
more than six thousand million dollars
on account of that debt, and yet the
balance of the bonds still outstanding
is has heavy as the whole debt was as
the first because of reduced ability of
the people to pay. More anon.
Respectfully,
E. O. Ball
' Brooklyn, N. Y.
GETS HOLD OF THE CAUCASIAN.
A Democrat Reads It and Endorses Every
Word io It Thinks the Silver Foreee
Shoald (et Together Many Densoernte
Will Vote tho Popnllst Ticket.
Rat os v ills', V.' C, Jane C, 9S.
Ma. Epitos- By accident I got hold
of a copy of last week's Caccaaiast.
I read it. I believe every word in it.
The silver delegates let the Ransom
leaders aod Col. Andrews bolldose
them. They, the Democratic party.
will and I think ought to be defeated
this fall. If they are the silver foreee
will get together in 1900 and wipe
them off the earth. There are many.
many Democrats in old Rockingham
county that will vote with yon this
fall.
I am a Democrat and read mostly
Democratic papers. 1 think the elec
tion this fall wul give the silver Demo
crats enough courage to not submit to
the Kansom-Jarvls ring fa 1900.
I think, Mr. Kditor, yon are doing
noble work. Unless the silver forces
unite in this county they cannot elect
a constable.
' There ought not to be tat two par
ties in this State, vis : Oa one side the
Republicans, gold Democrats and Othe
Wilsoa EPopalisU under one banner,
and on the other silver Democrats,
Butler Populists and Matt Republi
cans under one banner until silver ia
back doing biuiness at the eld stand
as she was prior to 1873.
: With eyes open for the bright future,
and hoping to be able to vote for you
in the fall elections. I am.
i
ROCKUGKASI COUXTT DKMOCAAT.
Foa rirrr exxrs from now nntil af
ter Ue election we will send Thb
Caccasiax regularly each week.
i .., enwAWawai
U:?ATI0riS OF TEE FEDERAL JU:i0i3T 13 TEE I3TEOST
OF TEE C3:iT FCHHI.
8T. MO. CWU t. RUSSIU. CCvlRhCa
The Ceastitetwa is Uitstvsly si
poee4 to be the creation of the Coo
ration of 1737. After a has J rod
yoara ( existence aa4 eipaasioa.
the aaajsr part of it is tkeereatloaef
progressive jadieial ooastracuoa. To
prove this rrqatre mere spare Uaa
the scope of this article permits; bat
it will hardly be denied by capable
constitutional lawyers.
first, more were fotty years of
liberal and progressive interpreta
tion, taoa thirty year of strict con
struction, either eipaasive or re
stricted according to the demaaJs of
eo nee a (rated wealth: The jadteal
policy of this day is to strike down
the States and yet to narrow the del
egated powers of the aatioaal legis
lature wherever necessary to bem
eade against the advaaeiag hosts of
populism.
It Is perhaps well that there should
be a tribunal like the So pre me Court,
with power to interpret the Consti
tution and to stay the hand of Con
gress, In this there is nothing dan
gerous in the long run. These jadi
eial arbitrators under our federal
system, although nominally and ap
parently independent or the people,
are really subject to their control.
Every federal court is the creation of
the legislative will. The power that
made it eas unmake it, The Ha-
preme Court itself can be controlled
by the authority residing in Con
gress to reduee or enlarge its mem
bership. Right here the supreme struggle
must come. To swing back the
country to the control of the people,
io reverse raise doctrines and perni
cious constitutional constructions.
to prevent the failure of this last and
beet attempt at free government, it
ia tapo riant to get a House. Senate.
aid President that will reorsanite
tho existing judicial system, abolish
the judges wno stand for plutocratic
privilege, and establish courts com
mended by judges who stand for the
rights of man.
By this means the popular will
may be exerted and enforced. The
framers of the Constitution hardly
thought that they were conferring
upon the Supreme Court the power
to veto the acts of the liouse. Sen
ate and President a veto which is
exereised whenever the court choos
es to think the act unconstitutional.
And their thinking it so is generally
because they want it to be so.
Nor is there in this anything novel
or startling. It is just what was done
by Jefferson and the Congress who
came in after the defeat of the Fed
eralists in 1800. When William of
Orange was contending with a re
luctant or hostile House of Lords he
gruffly informed them that they
eoold pass his measures or he would
reorganize them, he would pack their
iioose by eon verting his Dutch guards
into peers of the realm. Reorganiz
ing courts for the purpose of enforc
ing obedience to parliamentary will
is not unknown in the history of that
constitutional monarchy whieh is so
much adored in the high society of
American money lord.
In part proof of the eusertion that
we are approaching a period of in
tolerable judicial supremacy, let cer
tain recent eases be cited.
The national external and internal
taxes are insufficient to meet tire ex
penses of the government. To meet
this deficiency the country wants a
tax on the income of the rich. This
ia enacted into law. From the na
tion s court comes a veto a veto so
prompt that in the days of the fa
there, when sentiment waa not so de
bauched by the struggle for wealth,
it would have been regarded as pre
mature. So prompt was the court to
get in its work that it would not wait
for a bona-ude case to be brought to
its bar. It rushed in to give its de
eision in a case that was not a genu
ine controversy between parties with
opposing interests, but was virtually
fictitious, was manifestly concocted
to extract from the court an opinion
against the income law, and was
clearly collusive between the parties.
The supreme issue was on. The mil
honaires demanded exemption from
federal taxation. They were not
afraid of the States. If one State
seriously taxed their incomes they
would move to another. No State
could afford to offend them for fear
of driving them out. They eould
congregate on one State by acquir
ing in it actual or nominal residence.
As to that matter they could bay a
State or so and use them as pocket
boroughs for their own convenience.
The only way to tax their ineomee is
by Congress. Take from Congress
that power and they are aafely land
ed above and beyond the law. Says
the Constitution: -Direct taxes shall
Vaata sk U eWaOl 1 AW awl on Oaw aXam aa tlaa fait a OavaV A.
aivHvaaaasB aw
cording to numbers." Thin makes a
direct tax impracticable. To get rid
Of thO income tax Uen tho Courts
most hold that income Uxe are di-
reet taxes. The framers of the Con-
stitatioa thought Uat Ue oely direct
taxes were taxes on land aad pells,
80 Uought the lawyers aad j twlM
and statesmen of the repablic for a
hundred years. Bat these jaiesal viU power to fix ealuatiem. If they
arbitrators of last resort, by a vote of abase this power by making aa ex
five to four, upturn Ue settled inter- ceeive aeseesment, there is no ress
pretation of Ue Constitution and de- njy. Wavf Because it is better that
eree that Ue overgrown, rich shall this power should reside ia a jury
not bo taxed. Their netory is ap- than ia the one maa sitting as a
parently complete. Nothing oan de- jadge. Bat when tho ntoaey kings
feat Uem but a eowstitutional aead- eomeiato court, there sits on Ue
meat or a reorgaaizatioa of tho 8a- beach a praee of the blood, cxereis
preme Court. ing prerogatives that are eogaate to.
In North Carolina Ue reorgaaiza- u Uey art aot sabstaatially Ue saate
tion syndicate of the Richmoad aad as Ue dispensing power which was
vaBTuie MiirosKi Mopuri ww
converted into the Soathera Railway
tympany, oouuaon xroxt osnainikjock.
ageats of tho state its great central
railroad two hundred aad tweaty
three miles long, and fornunj aa ia-
dispeaaable eoineetinx uak between
the northern aad soaUara soetioas
of the Soathera railway system- They
acquired this groat proirt y by fret
ting a lease upon it to Uem for ninety-nine
years. This was substantially
a sal.. The Oororaor of North Car -
ollna, ia a message to the Iralatnre, I nabaaa eorpns a dsfsevfrit daly ia
charted that the terms of tho sale iUetad aad nnder proocas from tho
were anfair to the State, that- the!
I sale was proeured by false .pr4saoe
Cf CTh Cl
aad by fraad. that tho rnrs paid was
flagrantly lAaJsaate wbea taken ia
eeaaoeftow witk Ue fact that the
tWathera Uailesy Ompaar, wiUlta
thousands of aOcs ef rnUre4 and
its hand rods f sn4ieas ef I stoat
meats aad oocunUee. eas absolately
doeeadeat for its oo eateteoee epea
this North Carol, sa tatlreod. This
sale was secretly made. Another
railroad sj.Usa offered te rame tbo
ft ci fifty per eoat. . Tbo Keethera
kaalroaJ I Cease ay lashed late the
rod eral Cearts, dtmaaded aa teieae
iso agaiast the Stat te prohibit it
from bssertiar its mats ia the Mete
courts and a decree ta qeity afirm
iag tbe validity of Ue sale.
Courts cf entity will never cattr
taia a cesaplaiat aaloee it appears
that no adeqsate rrmeOy raa be giv
es by the law courts. This prtacl
pl of equity jurisprudence ens ef
Crated, assorted aad ereelaJsaed ta
England by Lisle ead Ilardviek, by
Erik toe, Kldon. aad Maas field, aad
by all the great lawyers and chancel
lors who preceded aad seeceeded
hem, and ia A at erica by Story and
Join Marshall aad their eeaocietee.
aad by all their successors up to the
organisation of the isspeadtsg judi
cial and political conspiracy for the
subversion of popular gt vera at eat
aad for the conversion of this repub
lic into a consolidated tlstocratic
absolutism. Equity courts owe Ueir
very esistence to the fact that raeee
arose whore the ro tenon law courts,
by reason of tbo Imitations uoou
their processed, could not anve rIv.r
Thousands of suitors through the cen
turies in equity courts have Lm
driven from their doors and toLf ta
go and get tbeir relief a t he st a a lory
or common law courts. This rriaei
pie iniquity has boon eoastatentlr
aad uniformly applied te ordinary
controversies between maa aad man.
la Uis orth Car oh aa rase, this
great railway syndicate had shoir
remedy in the law couits-a remedy
sufficient, adequate, and complete.
Kvery allegation made srainst Ue
State or its ageats. could have been
setup by way of defence in Ue
threatened action which the com
plainant songbt to enjoin. Hat this
was no ordinary case. Shy lock aad
Mammon were the plaintiffs. The
Ut payers of North Carolina, robbod
of their property, were the defend
ant. To plunder Ue one and legal
ire tbeir spoliation by Ue other, Ue
rock-ribbed principles of equity ju
risprudence must be undone. Tan
State itself by wieked and wanton
force must be brought np for judg
ment before Uese federal proconsuls.
Its sovereignty must be despised. Its
rights, reserved to it by Ue Federal
Constitution, most be denied. The
power of every little federal jedge
to annihilate it must be assumed and
asserted. And Uis too is Ue State
the one of the original Uirtoen
whieh refoeed to ratify Ue L'niud
States Constitution until it had as
suraaee of Ue adoption of Ue Tenth
Amendment: "The powers not dele
gated to Ue United 8tatcs by Uis
Constitution, nor prohibited by it te
the 8 tales, are reserved to Ue States
respectively, or to the people.
The State of Tenneesee established
by its law a board of ssseasois for
the purpose of ascertaining aad fix
ing tie valuations of railroad prop
erties. Kobody ever questioned the
power cf the State to do this, aatil
the recent and present conspiracy to
annihilate Ue States by Ue usurpa
tion of federal judges. The Ten
nessee assessors fixed Ueir appraise
ments accoidiag to Ue market raise
of Ue stocks and bonds of Ue mil
road corporations. In substance they
fixed the value ef railroads according
to income-producing or net earning
power. This is Ue rule whieh is
universally applied in fixing the
taiable valuations of fields and for
ests, of mines and mills, and of Ue
property of ordinary persons. lint
ia this federal forum the laws which
govern Ue common people have no
application to Ue corporation na
bobs. So ia went the non-resident
holders of these railroad bonds to a
federal jadge for an is junction
against the State of Toe net see to re
strain it from cxercisiar its sovie'
eign power of taxation. And ott
went hia isjaaction, whica vacated
the assessments of Ue State aad vir
tually substituted such as were agree
able to Ue views of the corporation
jadge sitting on the federal bench.
lie obtains his jurisdiction by rea
son of the diversity of Ue eitz sushi p
of the parties. Bat suppose an indi
vidual non-rceident owner of a bouse
or horse had rose to Uis eout for
an is j a action to slop Ue local officers
from enforcing aa asseasmeat al leged
to be excessive. lie would have been
told that he mast look for his reancdr
I a. a t O at anaa
w m reTUDue laws oi Temeeae
It hat the matatao hA ww-uua ki
form aad manser and procedare of
I aaaoasinsr oronartv amJ tnr tka.
rection of abuses resultiac from na-
lawful assessmentj, and Uat tn Uo
absence of illegal action by Ue ae-
neaaora. Use eoUl ut tan ItafA
! nU beeanee of iaaia -a.at;A.
I Thee ere the i arv saktabJinkoJ Wm u.
l claimed by Ue house of Stuart, aad
wtieh broaght oao of theo u tho
This Teanesese ease is oatitkd to
oadasiaar renown b erases of its enun
ciation of tho doctrine that railroads
shall aot be taxed apoa their true
yalae, because ia some preciaet or
county other ass see on appraised
lands aad males at loss Uaa their
worth.
In tho stale of Texas itseoas that
U Federal jado has eUMharred apoa
' Coatiaaed oa 34 par