Newspapers / Marion Messenger (Marion, N.C.) / Dec. 18, 1896, edition 1 / Page 1
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TL. H. me Messenger Prints , the, News -BUS 01DEBS POX- job printing TO combo Rutherford, ybarke fowl Cilrohna and & there. Cood Advertising Medium. Kates furnished on application. Address, THE MESSENGER, t THE MESSENGER, Marion. N. C. Promptness, Accuracy, Neatnaaa and Good 8tock Guaranteed. Letter Head, Note Heads, BUI Head. Envelope. Circulars, Cards. Pos ters, Pamphlet, and any kind of Printing. Marion, N. C. VOL. I NO. 35. MARIOM, N, C, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 189G. Price $1 Per Year, in Advance. It A Wayside Waif. Q BRILLIANT nnlnm- K A Ulil sunset shining - Mj Vo npou tbo colli and -i crimi oa trocn lndact'u mo to continue riding on to tbo next town. The sun went down tho hill beyond tLe town, but left bucu puos oi golden glory behind liuu that I tcarco regretted Lis goiu, until the twilight was fairly upon me. There grew upon all thiun a tine of solemnity which aflected my nerves, and I wifahed myself buck to the little inn again, for I was awed by tho iu creawing beauty of tho evening. It made me find. I never fcvl gay by moonlight. It seetui to wear too solemn a beauty for light words to bo fcpokeu beneath its radiance. Before tho very entrance of the town T htopped. For tho hint ton minutes 1 had fancied that f heard a noise clo.se to my horse's heels thut, had I heard it in tho wood through which I hu 1 passed, would hrtvo driven me nearly mad with terror. Tho noise was like tho pattering of f-i'iall feet, yet ecarcely like nuy animal's. I grow bolder and looked around. Far back upon my horse's track I E9w a little white figure, iti sbapo fairly deflncil by the broad fctreaiu of moon light that ilowed directly nrross tho path where it btood. I fane'ed that I could see its anus thrown tip. I hes itated. I tried to reason against my superstitious fears, and said to myself : "Kustace Anuesiy, are you u mnu of full grown strength and sta'.ure and do you fear this wee, shadowy thing that puisnes you no lorgor. but t-lauds as if imploring you to return?" And I turned Napoleon's head and Tent back. In tho middle cf tho road Ktcod a child, its little arms find foot bare nud glittering like snow iu the moonlight. I spoke to it, and the rich, Koft tones that floated to my ear dispelled all my previous Ide-is of a (upirit voice. "Who are yon and wherd nro you going? How came you hero at this time of night ?" wt-ro tho cjuestious I raiuod upon the littlo crecture, as I threw myself from my liorso and alighted down beside it. "I am a poor, motherk.3 little girl, aud I am going anywhere; frou cruel people," was her response. (loot! heavens! thought I, tre there wretches iu the world wicked enough to harm this little innocent being? I asked no more questions, for hu-j was shivering with the night air, and the had evidently hurried aw:iy from the f-oene of her distress with nothing but night-clothes upon her sLj inking little frame. I took her up and placed her upon Napoleou's back, covering her from head to foot with a largo pi ud scurf, whic'i I bad not felt cold enough to put on ; mounted behin 1 aud drew her littlo form close, shielding her with my arms, in which shu ne.-tled as if with a sense of deep security. Half an hour after, I was sealed be tide a blaziug lire, at my friend John Wakefield's tea table, and still nestling close to my arms was tho child I had rescued, now rejoiciug in a full suit of littlo Carolina's. John happened to kuow the ruMiau inlo whoso h:nds she hid fallen, Mid w.i.i prep.ired to give even greater credence to tho child's ttory than my.' elf. A systematic course of hardship and exposure, and a brutal punishment in flicted for each inability to bear it, re em od to have been her bit tor lot until, tTiis night, goaded into unutier iible madue.-s an 1 terror, after a cruel beating, she had risen from her si r.r.v bed upon tho garret i!o.:r, :;i.d eiept suflly down stairs, escaping easily through au ojen window and running off, she knew not whitln-r. She was atraul to appc.il to any one near, lest she might be taken back ; so sho ha I run on in the wihlness of her despair. We found that she had initially come eight miles thus thinly clad. Shs ha 1 walked beside my hor.-e, not expect ing to be taken up, but ir.erclybecai.se it seemed good, as she expressed it, to be near anything alive; aud when I spurred him on, she said she thought that she was living; such pain went through her heait. 1 It r name was Oiivo Rosseter. ITcr father and mother died during an cpi iltiuic at the South, and she was brought to New England by r. servant of tho family, they tvo being all that Mirvived. Sho wept bitterly when sho siokeofthis person, who teemed to Lave been ail that the kindest le.other could have been to her. She brought the child home to her fxiends, lul they were poor, ami lLmr.au 't -ved fo? their living nutil sho grew Mek, imZ remained sick for n long ' inie probably sho died of consutnr- tloC. Then a niiin and his wife wanted her, fi: d they moved away from tho town v. :u re the child might have found bet ter friends among ilauur.h's poor re I'ktioas. Somehow sho had forgotten tbe name of the town. So umuy places v reiuher mind that she could not i-tiuuuish events which had parsed in ''eh ; so we ha I no means of knowing x 'ept by trusting to tho innocent : i"e. That was too truthful to dis fist. Passing over a variety of cir ';:ustauces which she relited with a i-i lest propriety that charmed us all, 1 ::.!ist tell you how gladly the little ' i tiire found refuge with my mother tt "ir family mansion iu Thorn field. I had iust left college, and was prc- 1 inu,' to study medicine as a profes- j I was glad that, iu the brief ( v.-nr in which I must leave my '-''tiivr, I could leave my little Olivo 1 a companion to her. ,;!it uli-u at length 1 became the ! ; ileal udviser of all Thorntield, iu I -jv;.j'jenc'j ox" the resuuatiou of Vt. I Hammond's practice, Olive was the happiest creature alive. She was now fifteen ami developing into cweet and beautiful womanhood, llow fair she looked, with her puie, soft, feminine face, Bet like a sweet picture in its frame-work of tho love liest light brown curia tinged with a rich, sunny glow ! My Oiive! Mine own! ' So I loved to call her in spite of my mother's pleasant chiding. Nothing united Olivo better than for me to call her thus, when fche was found by me watching and waiting for my return home. No duty seemed too hard for her to accomplish thon. My mother said sho was making me lazy, when she broucht my cloak and carried it to its place, aud arranged my slippers and uressing-gowu so daintily by my chair, bringing with her own hands my chocolate, though there were servants in plenty to do these things. "Let her a'one, mother," I would, say. "Olive is as well pleased to do it as I am to receive it anl what is done for love is bo much sweeter to me than when it is bought aud paid for." "I thought I was being paid," said Olive, meekly. Somehow it did not often occur to mo that we were her benefactors. Her beneficent presence in our house seemed like an actual gift to us, and so it was ; a gift from heaven to cheer tho lonely old Thorn field house, making light aid music and beauty till its rooms. Meantime I became fiercely jealous of young Tom Elfiugham, who actually made lovo to Olive, though the little innocent did nut know it until Tom had tho insolence to ask me to sanc tion it. I was thunderstruck, for he was a handsome boy (I called everyone a boy that had not arrived at twenty fivo years), and possessed a good for tune. What right nad I then to re fuse my ward's affections to one whose advantages and really good qualities mado him a fitting match for any one of tho daughters of our most aristo cratic families? Yet who can describe the pain of thus giving away to an other a being who s.eems exclusively your own? 1 could not speak of it to her yet but my mother's quick eye saw that thcro was something tho matter with. me, an l she wormed out the secret, as only a woman knows how. I thought sho looked disappointed ; but Boon she began to talk to me about Jennie Ef fingham, Tom's sister. "I wonder you never proposed to her, Eustace. She is a good girl, nd physicians ought to have wives. Not," she a ided, "that you should ever go from this homo to live, and then, if Tom should marry Olive, we can all live together." I sat in a sort of 6ilent rage to hear my own dear mother plotting in this way. "Jennie Efiinguam bo hanged, and her brother with her 1" 1 thundered out, at length. Thero was a merry twinkle in my mother's eye as she begged me not to consign my Irieads to such a dismal fate. If I did not choose to marry, I need not hinder Tom Effingham. Had I told Oiive? "No," I said, shortly. "Well, she ought to know, Eustace. Shall I tell her?" It was a welcome offer, for truth to tell, I could not ask her to be the wife of another. But my mother chose a time when she knew 1 was in the library and cou Kl hear all she 6aid. When she told her, Oi;vc utterred a cry that went to my heart. She had just coice down stairs, and did not know I was within hearing. My mother set forth all the advantages of the match advantages which I could not gainsay, but of which the enu meration pierced mo to the soul. A long pause ensued. "Does Eustace know this?" she a-ked. My mother told her how it came about, and said, what was quite true, that I did not like to mention it to her. She added what was not quite true, that 1 thought it a good match. Oiive did not speak again and soon left the room, and 1 went out, return ing quito late. I found tho room deserted. My mother now went often to bed before I came, but had always left Olivo to wait fcr me, and she had wonderfully improved thoso lonely hours by reading nul study. The lights were turned down, and no sound was to be heard ; but as I came near the lire I caught a glimpse of some one kneeling by a chair. "Is that'you, Olive?" A smothered sob was the only an swer. I knelt down beside her and cruelly asked her why she was weep ing. "Has Tom Eilinghim been here?" I asked, with a savage voice. She softly answered that he ha I. "Then these tears are his, I sup pose?" "They pre, indeed." Cool was it not?" I started up in agony of soul, that I would not have confessed to my best friend. "Olive! I am going away to-morrow." She tried to speak, but coulu not. "I have had an offer to-day to go to Europe on business. I was to decide to-morrow. I have decided." This was literacy true. Sho rose aad tottered to the chair where I sat. "Going away, Eustace! io leave ns alone?" "CerUialy. My mother can bear it, aud Mr. Efiliigham, for whom you are weepinsr, can console you." "Oh, Eustf.ce,1' this is cruel. It is not like you." She fcftd cre-c close to my arms and laid he' head oa my shoulder. It Melt ed my eaage mood this sisterly ten derness. "Never speak that name to me again, Eustace." i "Never speak it? What, when you I said yourself" ! "I said, or rsboiilrl bavA Raid, if vnn ! had not been so passionate, that I pitied Mr. Effingham, because he seemed so miserable." A thrill ran through my heart. Only pitied ! 'Then you do not love him, Olive?" "Oh, no ! I tried to love him, be cause yonr mother and you wished it, but I could not, and I told him so. I wept because he seemed to feel it 60 deeply. " '"And what would suit you, my child, if one like Mr. Effingham, young, handsome aud rich, does not?-' She buried her face in her hands and whispered a sentence which 1 shall not repeat, but which I repaid by many kisees. I did not go to Europe, and in less than a year Olive was my wife. How happy wo have lived I My mother lives with us, unburdened by any care of housekeeping. My little wife saves her all anxiety. I have outliyed the romance of earlier days yet I remem ber that hour of suffering as vividly a? ever. In my dreams I sometimes live it over again, and wake with a deep pain at my heart, which I cannot con quer until the morning light. Sometimes I rally her upon tho sweet words which she spoke to me that night. She takes my jesting with a patience that charms while it amuses me, and only says in reply : "Love, I should speak them, if we could live that evening over again." And I know she would ; and I know, too, that the ten years which ore be tween ns weigh not a feather in her mind. She has just looked up from her work, and said : "Are you writ ing a lecture, Eustice?" And 1 reply: "Yes, darling , on the best treatment of heart disease." The Migration of Swallows. A Dutch correspondent writes? "Arnhein, the capital of the province of Gueldelrand, as is known, is situ ated upon the Rhine, which is crossed by a bridge. Passing over it one day last week, one of my friends witnessed a remarkable scene. Myriads of swal lows, apparently those living in the environs, were crowded together, as they do every year in exactly the same place. When they Hew np, which ttiey did several times before starting for good, the mass looked like a huge black moving column. When they came down again, it was done with a deafening shrill of shrieking.or whist ling, or piping a curious noise, which it is almost impossible to describe. It seems as if they wanted to make sure that nil could stand the voyage, for many were fallen upon by great num bers of the others, who pecked them to death. "After different false starts they went away like a whirlwind, leaving upon the fields those that probably were too wepk and so were murdered first by their companions. Pvoplo may wonder how these birds in differ ent countries start upon almost the same day. The mystery must bo solved by ornithologists. For my part, I think ns soon as the days shorten they depart, as they need mnch longer evening light to catch the thousand of gnats they want every day," Westminster Gazette. A Periwinkle Fail. One of the chief dishes in the cock ney bill of fare in England is the peri winkle, a shellfish, resembling in shaps the common snail. It has hitherto been practically unknown to American epicures, and is said to bo greatly in ferior to the species of shellfish enteD in this country. Of late periwinkles have been of fered for sale in a number of stores patronized by tho new York colony of cockneys. It is said that all of tho periwinkles sold iu New York come from New Kochelle. An Englishman lining there was in the habit of im porting them for his own use. One consignment was much larger than he expected or wanted, and he concluded to try au experiment and see if they could be grown in this country. He dumped about a bushel in the Sound, and, to his surprise and pleas ure, they seemed to thrive as well there as in the native English waters. They multiplied rapidly, and he not only found it unnecessary to import any more, but had more than ho could possibly use. So he has placed them on sale, and is deriving a considerable revenue from them. New York Jour nal. The Deadly Persimmon Worm. William Smith, engineer of tha Kelly Shinglo Manufacturing Com pany, was found dead in bed yester day from the effects of a bite of an in sect Known as the "persimmon worm." This worm is called by that name be cause it lives principally on the leaves of the persimmon tree. Mr. Smith was bitten on the left hand, and he complained of being 6ick within an hour. When his dead body was found the arm and side had swollen im mensely, and h.fd turned the color of tobacco juice. These worms are so numerous that the trees upon which they feed are almost denuded ct leaves. Five years ago they were quite common in this locality. The peopla in this neighborhood lild them io deadly fear. Some persons are dis posed to classify them as tobaccc worms, but neither tho tobacco noi the tomato worm, and really both ar practically the same, have herns ol spikes such as are possessed bj the persimmon worm. Indianapoli News. Eiils of Koat Cortee. The co2ee eating hibit is oa the in crease and doctors s ly there are tew worse. Coffee, when eaten roasted, is productive of a train of ills that finally result in complete physical and mental prostration. The trouble is more prevalent among young girls than any one else. They eat parched coffee without any definite object, just as they eat soapstone 6late pencils, but with much more disas trous results. The coffee eater be comes weak and emaciated, the com plexion is muddy anJ sallow, the ap petite poor, digestion ruined and nerves all unstrung. lioast coffee will give a few minutes of exhilaration, followed with great j weakness. The -vio'ims nearly die ' ivhen deprived of th.3 :ucnsomed etiua J (ilant. New York Journal. Ill Gold Notes Must Be Retired and Our Financial System Reformed. ENDORSES THE WILSON TARIFF Recommend That This Country Maintain Its Present Attitude To ward Cuba TLe Pension List Must Be a "Roll or Honor" This Con gress Should Inaugurate a System of Retrenchment and Economy. Last Monday the Fifty-fourih Con gress re-convened, and President Cleveland's last Message to that body was read, and below can be found the most important parts of the same: To the Congress of (he United States: As Representatives of the people in tho legislative branch of their Gov ernment you have assembled at a time when the strength and excellence of our free institutions and the fitness of our citizens to enjoy popular rule have been again mado manifest. A politi cal contest involving momentous con sequences, fraught with feverish ap prehension, and creating aggressive ness so intense as to approach bitter ness and passion has been waged throughout our land, and determined by the decree of free and independent suffrage without disturbance of our tranquillity or the least sign of weak ness in our national structure. When wo consider these incidents and contemplato tho peaceful obedi ence and manly submission which have succeeded a heated clash of political opinions we discover abundant evi dence of a determination on the part of our conntrymen to abide by every verdict of the popular will, and to be controlled at all times by an abiding faith in the agencies established for the direction of tho affairs of their government. Thus our people exhibit a patriotic disposition which entitles them to do mand of those who undertake to make and execute their laws such faithful and unselfish servico in their behalf as can only bo prompted by a serious ap preciation of the trust and confidence which the acceptance of public duty invites. In obedience to a constitutional re quirement, I herein submit to the con gress certain information concerning national affairs, with tho suggestion of such legislation as in my judgement is noce.-sary and expedient. I do not beiievo thak. tho present somber prospect in Turkey will oe long permitted to offend the sight of Christendom. It so mars the humane and enlightened civilization that be longs to the close of the nineteenth century that it seems hardly possble that the earnest demand of good people throughout the Christian world for its corrective treatment, will re main unanswered. THE SiTl ATION IN' CUBA. The insurrection in Cuba still con tinues with all its perplexities. It is difficult to perceive that any progress has thus far been mado tow trds the pa cification of tho Island; or that the sit uation of affairs as depicted in my last annual message has in the least im proved. II Spain still holds Havana and the seaports and all tho consider able towns, the Insurgents still roam at will over at least two-thirds of the Island country. If tho determination of Spain to put down tho insurrection seems but to strengthen with the lapse of time and is evidenced by her unhes itating devotion of largely increased military and naval forces to the task, there is much reasou to believe that the Insurgents have gained in point of numbers, and character. The spectacle of the utter ruin of an adjoining country, by nature one of the most fertile and charming on the globe, would engage the serious atten tion of tho government and people of the United States iuuny circumstances, in point of fact they have a concern with it which is by no means of u whol ly sentimental character. It is reasonably estimated that at least from $:)0,000,000 to $30,000,000 of American capital aro invested in plantations and in railroad, mining, and other busiuess enterprises on the Island. The volume of trade between Sho United States and Cuba, which in lSS'J amounted to about 01,000,000, rose in 1893 to about 103,000,000, and in 1891, the year before the pres ent insuriection broke out, amounted to nearly 890,000,000. The message treats lencthof thecon ditions of Cuba, the acts of Cuban sympathizers in this country and the attitude of Spain. It would seem that if Spain should offer to Cuba genuine autonomy a measure of homo rule which, while preserving tbo sovereignty of Spain, would satisfy all rightful require ments of her Spanish subjects thero should be no just reason why the paci fications of the I.-dand might not be ef fected on that basis. Such a result would appear to be in the true interest of all concerned. It was intimated by the government to this government of Spain some mouths ago that if a satisfactory measure of borne rulo were tendered the Cuban insurgents, tnd would be accepted by them up?n a guarantee of its execution, the United States would endeavor te find a way not objectionable to Spain of furnish ing such guarantee. No definite re sponse to this intimation La9 yet been received from the Spanish govern ment. While we are anxious to accord ail due respect to the sovereignty of Spain we cannot view the pending conflicts in all its features, and properly appre it nd our inevitable close relations to t. and its possible results without onsidering that by the course of events ve may be drawn into such an nuns mi aud unprecedented condition, as will fix a limit to our patient waiting 'or Spain to end tho coldest either alone and in her own way, or with our friendly co-operntiou. When the ina bility of Spain to deal successfully with the insurrection has become manifest, and it is dt monstrated that her sovereiegty is extinct iu Cuba for all purposes of its rightful existence, and when a hopeless struggle for it re-fetablishment Las degenerated into a strife which uieaba nothing moro than the useless sacrifice of human Ufa nd the utter destruction of the very I subject matter of the conflict, a aitua- ' lion will be presented in which or ob ligations to the sovereignty of Spain will be superceded by higher obliga tions, which we can hardly, hesitate to recognize and discharge. Until we face the contingencies uggested, or the situation is by other incidents impressively changed, we should continue in the line of conduct heretofore pursued, thus in all circum stances exhibiting our obedience to the requirements of public law and our regard for the duty enjoined upon us by the position we occupy in the fam ily of nations. YENEZCELAX COXTKOVERST. The Venezuelan controversy is briefly reviewed, and a treaty of gen eral arbitration recommended. Ill MIGRATION. The number of immigrants arriving in the United States during the fiscal . r was 343,267 of whom 340,463 were permitted to land and 2,799 were debarred on various grounds pre scribed by law and returned to the countries whence they came. THE POSTAL SERVICE. Our postoffice department is in good condition, and the exhibit made of its operations during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1896, if allowance is made for imperfections in the laws applicable to it, is very satisfactory. The total re ceipts during the year were $82,499, 208.40. The tatal expenditures were $90,626,290.84, exclusive of $1,559, 899.27, which was earned by the Ta cifio railroad for traL'uortation and credited on their debt to the govern ment. There was an increase of re ceipts over the previous year of 85, 516,080.21, or 7.1 per cent, and an in crease of expenditures of $3,836,124. The deficit was 1,679,956.19 less than that of the preceding year. The de ficit for the last year, although much less than that of tho previous year, emphasizes the necessity for legisla tion to correct the growing abuse of second class rates, to which the de ficiency is mainly attributed. The trans mission at the rate of one cent a pound of seiial libraries, advertising sheets, "house organs," sample copies and the like ought certainly to be discontinued, A glance at tho revenues received for the work done last year will show more plainly than any other statement, tho gross abuse of the postal service aud the growing waste of its earn ings. The free matter carried in the mails for the departments, oTjces, etc., of the government, and for Congress, in pounds to 94,480,189. It thus appears that though the sec ond class matter constituted more than two-thirds of the total that was carried, the revenue derived from it was less thau one-thirtieth of the total expense. The average revenuo from each pound of first-class matter wass 93 cents, from each pound of second class 8 1-2 mills. I recommend that legislation be at once enacted to correct these abusis and introduce better business ideas in the legnlation of our postal rates. Experienco and observation have demoEBttuted that certain improve ments in tho organization of the post office department must be secured be fore we can gain the full benefit of the inimenso sums expended in its admin istration. This involves tho following reforms which I earnestly recommend: There should bo a small addition to the existing inspector service to be cm ployed iu the supervision of the carrier force which now numbers 1,300 men and performs its service practically without tho surveillance exercised over all other branches of tho postal or public service. Of course such a lack of supervision ond freedom from whulesome disciplinary restraints must inevitably lead to the imperfect ser vice. Thero should also be appointed a few ii:sp ctois who should assist the central otiie i leases, post office sites, allowances for rent, fuel and lights and in organizing aud securingtho best re sults from tho work of the 1,400 clerks now employed in first aud second-class offices. I especially recommend such a re casting of tho ap)ropriations by Con gress, for the postofiieo department as will permit tho Postmaster General to proeeed with the work of consolidating post offices. This work has already been entered npon sufficiently to fully demonstrate by experiment and expe rience, that such consolidation is pro ductive of better service, larger reve nues and less expenditures to say noth ing of the further udvautago of gradu ally withdrawing post offijes from the spoils system. CIVIL SEHVIOE REFORM. Progress in civil service reform is reported, aad it is stated that more thau 84,000 places are now included in the provisions of tho aet, all that prop erly come under the civil Bcrvico ex cest fourth class postmasterships. The extension to the last named class is recommended. THE WILSON TARIFF PILL. He refers to tho Wilson Tariff bill, end says: "Whatever may be its short-comings as a complete measure oftariffreform.it must bo conceded that it has opened the way to a freer and greater exchange of commodities between ns aud other countries, and thus furnish a wiiler market for our products and manufactures. The only entire fiscal year during which this law has been in force ended on the 30th day of June 1896. In that year our imports increased over those of the previous year more than 6,500, 000, while the value of tho domesi.io products we exported and which found maikets was nearly 70,000,000 more than during the proceeding year. Ouf tariff laws are only primarily justified as sources of revenue to enable tha gov.iumcut to meet the necessary ex penses of its maintainancc. Considered as to the sufficiency in this aspect the present law can by no means fall under just condemnation. During the only complete fiscal year of its operation it has yielded nearly 8,000,000 more revenue than was re ceived from tariff duties on the pro ceeding year. THE DEFICIT IS THE TREiSTET. Tbere was. nevertheless, a deiieit between our receipts and expenditures oi a Time more than $25,000,000. Ibis, However, was noi unexpected. j TLe situation was such in December last, j seven months be-to- the close of the fiscal : year, that the S-vn tary of the Treasury for- told a deficiency of 17,000,000. 1bf great j and increasing apprehension and timidity in j business circl.-s and tho depression in all ao- ' tivities interveniut; riucc that timo reaultinfsr ! from causes , erfe,-t!y well un-l-rstood, en- , t;r iy dio'uDiic ted with our tariff law or its ; o;-crLtion, seriously checked the imports w uuid Lave otherwise received, and readily account for the difference between the esti mate of tho Secretary and the actual deficien cy, as well as for a continued deficit. Indeed, it must be confessed that we could hardly have had a more unfavorable period than the last two years for the collection of tariff reve nues. We cannot reasoEably hope that our reeuperatio a from this business depression will be sudden, but it has already set in with a promise of accelerity and continuance, ENDORSES PBESEHT TABIFF LAW. I believe our present tariff law if allowed a fair opportunity will In the near future yield a revenue which with reasonable economical expenditures will overcome all deficiencies. In the meantime no deficit that has occurred or may occur need excite or disturb us. To meet any such deficit we have In the Treasury m addition a gold reserve . of over one hun dred millions, a surplus of more than one hundred and twenty-eight millions of dollars applicable to the payment of the expenses of the government and which must, unless ex pended for that purpose, remal a useless hoard, or it not extravagantly wasted, must in any event be perverted from the purpose of its exaction from our people. I suppose it will not be denied that under the present law our people obtain the necessaries of a comfortable existence at a cheaper rate than formerly. This is a matter of supreme Im portance. BEl'ORM OF THE CURRENCY WAXTED. This reference to the condition and pros pects of our revenues naturally suggests an allusiou to the weakness and viees of our financial methods. They have been frequent ly pressed upon the attention of Congress In previous executive communications and the inevitable danger of their continued tolera tion pointed out. Without now repeating these details I cannot refrain from again earnestly presenting the necessity of the prompt reform of a system opposed to every rule of sound finance and shown by exper ience to be fraught with the gvest peril and perplexity. The terri ble civil war which shook the founda tions of our government more than thirty years ago brought in its tiniu destruction of property, the wasting of our country's sub stance and the estrangement of brethren. These are now past and forgotten, even the distressing loss of Ufa the conflict entailed is but a sacred memory, which fosters patriotic sentiment and keeps alive a tender regard for those who nobly died, and yet there re mains with us today, In full strength and ac tivity as aa incident of that tremendous struggle a feature of its financial necessities not only unsuited to our present circum stances but manifest a disturbing menace to business security and an ever present source oi monetary distress. WITHDRAWAL OF GOLD NOTES AND GREEN BACKS. Because we may be enjoying a temporary relief from its depressing influence this 6bould not lull us into a false security nor lead us to forget the suddenness of past visi tations. I am more convinced than ever that we can have no assured financial peace and safe ty until the government currency obligations upon which gold rany be demanded from the treasury are withdrawn from circulation and cancelled. This might be done, as has been heretofore recommended, by their exchange for long term bonds bearing a low rate ol interest or by their redemption with the pro ceeds of such bonds. Even if only the United States nctes known as greenbacks were thus retired, it is proba ble that the treasury notes issued iu payment of silver purchases under the act of July 4, 1890, now paid iu gold when demanded, would not create much disturbance, as they might, from time to time, when receired in the Treasury by redemption in gold or other wise, be gradually and prudently replaced by sliver eoin. This plan of issuing bonds for the purpose of redemption certainly appoars to be the rnost effective and direct puth to the needed reform. In default of this, however, it would be a step in the right direction if currency obligations redeemable in gold whenever so redeemed, should be cancelled instead of be ing rei sued. This operation would be a slow remedy, but it would" be Improve pres eeut conditions. National banks should redeem their own notes. They should be al'owed to issue, cir culation to par value of bonds deposited, as security for its redemption and the tax on their circulation should be reduced to one fourth of one per cent. In considering pro jects for tho retirement of United Status notes and treasury notes issued under the law of 1HU0, I urn of the opinion that all have i laced too much stress upon the danger ofcon trading tho currency and have calculated too little upon the gold that would bo added to our circulation if invited to us by better and safer linaucial methods. It is not so mueh a contraction of our currency that should be avoided as is unequal distribution. This might bo obviated, and any fear of harmful contraction at the same time removed, by al lowing the organization of smaller bauksand iu less populous communities than aro now permitted, and also authorising existing banks to establish branches in small com munities under proper restrictions. The entire case may be presented by the statement that the day of sensible and sound methods will not dawn upon us until our government abandons the hanking business and th) accumulation of funds, aud couiiues Its monetary operations to the receipt of the money contributed by the people, for its sup port, and to the expenditure cf such money for the people's benefit. Our business interests and all good citi zens long for rest from the feveri.-h ngitation and the inauguration by the government of a reformed financial policy whif-h will en courage enterprise and make certain the To wards of labor and industry. Another topic iu which th? people rightfully tako a deep interest may be here briefly considered. I refer to tint existence of trusts nnd other huge aggregations of capital, the object of which is to secure, the monopoly of some particular branch of tr::de, industry or com merce and to stillo wholesome competition. When these are defended it is usually on the ground that though they increase profits they also reduce prices and thus may benefit the public. llemember, however, that a reduction of prices to the people is nrt one of the real ob jects of these organizntions nor is their ten dency necessarily in that direction if it oc curs in a particular case. It is only because it accords with the purpose or interest of tboe mana'j-ing the scheme. Such occasional results fall far short of compensating for the palpable evils charged to the accounts of trusts and monopolies. Their tendency is to crush out individual in aependence and to binder or prevent iliefn-e use of bumati faculties and the full drvtl. p ment of human character. Through them tho farmer, the artisan and the small trader is in danger of dislogment from the proud position of being his own master, watchful of all that touches his country's prosperity, in which he has an individual lot ai.d interested iu all that off-sets the advantages of business of which he u a factor, to be relegated to the level of a mere appurtenance to a great ma chine, with little free will, with no duty but that of pa-sive otedien-e and with littlo hope or opportunity of rising iu the scale of re sponsible and helpful citizenship. To the instructive belief that such as the inevitable trend of trusts nnd monopolies is due the widespread and deep-s.-nted .oj ular aversion in which they r.ro held ajd the not unreaso able ms'stance that, whatever may be their incidental economical advantages, their gen eral eiTcei upon personal character, pros pers and usefulness can not be otherwise than injurious. Although ongress has at tempted to deal with this matter by legisla tion, the l.v.vs passed for that pur pose thus far have proved in effective. . not because of any lack of (lisrosition or attempt to enforce them, but simply the law themselvs ns interpreted ty courts do not reach th difficulty. If the insufficient existing laws can lie remedied by further legislation it should be done. The fact rnu-t t-e r-cignired. however, tbat all federal legislation on this 6ubjct may fall short ol its purpose because of inherent ob stacles and also because of the complex char acter of our governmental system, wLich while making the federal authority supreme within its sphere has caiefuily limited that sphere to metes and bounds which cannot be transgressed. The decision of our highest court on this precise puestion renders it quite doubtful whether the evils of trusts and monopolies can be adequately treated through tederai action, unless they seeE di rectly and purposely to include in thedr ob jects transportation or intercourse between the United States and foreign countries. It does not follow, 'moreover, that this is the limit of the remedy that may be applied. Even though it may be found tbat federal authority is not broad enough to fully reach the case, there can be no doubt of the power of the several States to act effectively in th premie, and there should le no reason to doubt their willingness to judiciously exer cise such jower. In concluding this com munication, Us last words shall be an appeal to the CoigrcM for the most rigid economy In tbeex;Dpiture of the money it ihcuid hold lntrut for the people. TLe way to perplexing exlravtgmca k asy. but a return to frugality Is did cult. When, however, it is understood that those who bear the burdens of taxation have no guaranty of honest eare save in the fidelity ef their public servants, the duty of all possi ble retrenchment is plainly manifest. When our differences are forgotten, and our con tests of political opinion aro no longer re membered, nothing in the retrospect of out public service will be as fortunate and com forting as the recollection ot official duty well performed and the memory of a constant devotion to the interests ot cur confiding fellow-countrymen. Oboveb Cleveland. Executive Mansion, Dec. 7. WEEKLY NEWS BUDGET. Southern Pencil Polntera. The manufacturing plant of the Brown Bros. Tobacco Company, of Winston, N. C, has been destroyed by fire. Loss about $150, 000, with insurance amounting to f 59.500. Mr. Jules Soule. editor of the Biloxl Re. view, was shot and killed at Biloxi, Miss., by J. II. Miller, editor of the Biloxl Herald. A bill has been introduced in the Georgia Legislature requiring ministers and others authorized to perform the marriage cere mony, to return tho marriage license within SO days or pay a fine ot t'25. The Wlthington Russell Company, ol West Nashville. Tenn.. manufacturers of ag ricultural implements, has been destroyed by fire. The loss la estimated at tsO.OOO. par tially covered by insurance. Eighty hands are out of employment. The comptroller of the currency has de clared a sixth dividend of per cent to the creditors of the Commercial National Bank of Nashville Tenn. Near Brunswick, Ga.. a boiler exploded rfnd two men were dangerously scalded and one killed. A bill has been introduced in the Alabama Legislature to exempt from prosecution any one who kills the dlspoiler of female relative. Seventeen solid car loa Is of lard, from a Louisville, Ky., house, consigned to Ham burg, Germany, passed through Salisbury, N. C, lust week. At Morganton N. C, A C. Avery, Jr., son of Justice A. C. Avery, of the North Carollaa Supreme Court, was assaulted by negroes and stabbed ia five places. The negroes have been captured ana placed in the Char lotte jail for safe keeping. A Sweedish sailor was picked up clinging to a small hatch floating in the Gulf stream, off the coast of North Carolina, last Friday, lie was the last of his crew. The Westham Quarry Company, owning large quarries and dressing sheds in Chester field, Va., has made an assignment for the benefit of their creditors. Liabilities are S8U.000. It is believed tbat the assets will pay the company out. The losses, amounting to $30,000, sustained by the Germania bank and the National bauk of Savannah, Ga., through forged South western railroad stock certificates, said to have been hypothecated by Maj. A. L. Hart ridge, have been settled in full. At Dallas, Texas, County Treasurer, W. N. Coe has been arrested on a grand jury in dictment charging him with embezzling 5, i'J5 of tho county funds. Miss Emma Monroe, the 15-year-old edi tress of the Attalla, (Ala.) Beacon, met W. II. Cathee, cdi'.or of the Herald, on the streets and cowhlded him. At Bonarnold, Milan county. Texan, con victs escaped while at work by the guard being shot by a mounted desperado. Frying Tan Shoals, near Charleston, 8. C, broke away from her moorings during last week's storm. The Louisville baseball club has disposed of Shortstop Eustace nnd Right Fielder Mo Farland to the Indianapolis Club. The con sideration is said to have been 800. Geo. II. Hoffor, cashier of the first National Bank of Lebanon, Ky., is a selt coufes-ed -mbezzler to the extent of 1 110,000. IIo has been at it for stx years. A special to the Louisville Times from Danville, Ky., says: An attempt to burn the town of Danville has been made aud property to the extent of tl5,000 was destroyed. An unknown negro who was driven from a liv ery stable is suspected. A special from Versailles, Ky., says all toll gates in Woodford county has been cut down and destroyed by a mob. Similar depreda tions have been committed recently in Frank lin. Owen, Anderson and Washington coun ties. The mobs are composed of men who demand free turnpikes in Kentucky. At St. Lous, Mo., the national convention of the W. C. T. U. adjourned sine die Wed nesday. To the executive committee is left the duty of selecting the place for the twenty-fourth annual convention. A numlrf'rof cities have urged their claims. It is believed that the choice lies between Buffalo, N. Y., and Detroit, Mich., but the choice may not be made for some time. All About the North. The Rev. Dr. T. DeWitt Talmage has denied the report that he was going to be married to Miss Susie Mangum, his daughter's sister-in-law, at Sing Sing, N. Y. Seattle, Wash., is suffering a second flood visitation. Great damage to railroads and other property have been reported. Henry Owen O'Coner, one of the principal witnesses for the protection in the famous Cronln murder case, committed suicide by shooting himself in Chicago, 111. John R. Fellows, district attorney of New York, and a former member of Congress, is dead. Cornelius Vrinderbilt has bought the Knower cottage on The Cliffs, near Newport, R. L The price paid was a quarter of a mil lion. Wm, Drury, of Mercer county, III., a multi millionaire and the largest land owner in the United States, is dead. Aged &C. Georgo Y. Coffin, the famous cartoonist of W'ashjiaxlonjis dead. The Committee Named. In accordance with tho Instructions of the Republican caucus Senator Sherman ban named the following Relators aa the special committer of five to devise legislation for action by this session of ConfcreM looking to an international monetary conference: Wal-cctt.i-bnirmaij-n ar. Chandler, Carter, fi-ar. This is regi rded a conservative committee with a majority friendly to International bi metallism. A cai;vas has been made Huong the Democrat', and Republicans say they have enough vi .tee in fight to pass a blil In the interest i f irternatlnnal bl-mctailism. Methodist l-iT-.e It Highly. An original copy of th- first printed "rule for the society of the people called Mstho-di.-ts" has been unearthed at St. Loul, M'i., a- d m it wan puLlished by John aud I harles WVsJey over their own signature, in 1743, and contains the first rieu'dus of the litera ture of the Methodist i hui-ch. which now ni:lrs over 000.000 nt'-niber In the lilted States, worshipping iu 3,000 religions edillcis f,f their own. It Is a most inter-ting document, not only to followers of that frth. but to stndefcti of religious history. The circular is of four page, nnd U fulling to pieces with age and bandilug. This paper Is yellow and the print unreadable iu places from the stains of time. Republican Meet. Thursday, at Washington, the Republican Senatorial st'-r-ring committee and Mr. Mark llanna held a c.r,f-renc? that lasted upwaMa f two hours. The situnti n in the State of N'.-rtii ( arolina. Kentucky, South Dakota ai. l Washington with respect to the election of United States Senators was diaermed and it was decided that every honorable method should bo em ployed to elect Senators there, ir possible. The posibi!lty of passing the Ixngley hill was also considered. While the Republicans will vote to take the measure up wh'-never s i' h a motion is made, the com r. it tee sees that tb' till cannot possibly cure the requisite voV to become a law. It was also ihejudguoat of tho comrniitee that an extra session of Congress shuiild be called a.'ter McKlnlev Inauguration. Arthur Are you sure she loves you? Jack Yes; when I toM her I had no money to marry on, she asked nie If I couldn't borrow some. Puck. RAILWAY AND TKLKOKAFII. The State Kallroail Commission Makes It Annual Report. In their letter to the Governor tbo Commissioners state that tho tjtal mam line mileage in North Carolina is 3,445.43 against 3,305.98 one jearago, says the News and Observer. This is an increase of 39.45 miles. Since the last report the mileage in the State baa increased as follows: Caldwell and Northern, 10. GO miles; Henderson and Brevard, 21. CO miles; Aberdeen and West EnJ, 7.25 miles. The taxable property was increased during the year $1,491,548. Trior to rt the organization of the Commission an a Board of Appraisers the valuation of the railroad property in the State was placed at $12,424,540. The valuation for tho year 1890 is S2f,57t,09f.99 an increase since the establishment of the Commission of 14,151,55(1.99. From this it appears that about one- , eighth of the taxes of the State is paid by the railroad companies. The Atlantic Coast Line operates 20 Pullman cars valued for taxation a $26,964.18. The Southern Kail way baa 36 Pullman cars valued at $3f, 240.54 and the Seaboard has 8 worth $20,177.75. The total value of Pull man cara running over roads in this State is $83,982.47. The Western Union Telegraph Com pany has 3,224.60 miles of lino in the State worth $88,926.60, and 8,650.99 miles excess wire valued at $75,188.08, while its batteries and office furniture aro assessed at $8,138.12, making the total valuation for tho company's property $182,252.80. The Postal Company has 1,350.23 miles of wire valued at 20,459.08. Tho total valuation of its property in the State is $31,270.48. Property of miscellaneous telegraph companies in the State is valued at $3,371.21. Against State Colleges. Several of the college presidents in this State met in ltaleigh and formed "The North Carolina Association of Christian Colleges." Wake Forest, Trinity, Catawba and Guilford col leges were represented. It is said by some of tho members that tho chief purpose of the association ia to aid common schools; that the organization is permanent, and that it will be ex tended to all Christian colleges in tho State, twenty in number; that it will demand from the Legislature, early in the session, the carrying out of tho constitutional requirements that State publio schools be kept open four months in each year. It is also the purpose of this association to cut off all Stf-te aid to higher education, as they contend that public schools aro paramount. The Annual Report. The annual report of the Institute for tho white blind and for colored deaf mutes and blind shows that thero are of the white blind: Males, 79; females, 74. Colored deaf mutes: Males, 47; females, 42. Colored blind: Males, 38; females, 33. Grand total, 313. There aro said to bo over 1,000 deaf mute children of school age, and over 2,700 blind. Thero are also over 2,0(10 imbeciles. For the latter thero is no place to go, as there is no school for feebleminded children in tho Stato. Wilson's Tobacco Sales. A special from Wilson says: During the month of November this market sold 1,713,000 pounds of tobacco, which makes the record fcot np since August 1st, 6,123,193 pounds, moro than any oiher market in the State, so far. Tobacco men think that thin market will sell 10,000,000 pounds this season. Salisbury is to vote on a proposition to issne $100,000 worth of bonds to purchase the city water works and put in an electric light plant. Klghteen Thousand Visitor. The Board of Agriculture, which met in Raleigh recently, added the names of Henry Fries and II. K. King to its Legislative Committee. 'I ho re port on the Stato Museum showed that during the year it has had 18,000 vis itors. These were from nearly every State. The museum is to be enlarged. Street I!cg;l'"R Prohibited. The IUIeigh board of alderman some time ago adopted an ordinance that bar-rooms should, after January 1st, close at 1 1 p. rn. The board now post pones tho effectiveness of the ordi nance until March 15. The aldermen have also prohibited all street begging- The Mecklenburg Democratic Coun ty Executive Committee has given no tice of contest to State Senator-elect Alexander and Representative-elect Craven, Populists, who were given the certificates of election. Dowd and Clarkson, Democrats, claim to have a strong case, which will be presented to the Legislature. Deputy Collector E. A. Moffit, ex Sheriff of Randolph county, was shot and killed by Lee Tomer near Pen nirgton's ferry, Montgomery connty. while searching Turner's house under a warrant for blockade whisky. Two deputies were with Moffit, and one cf them shot and killed Turner. The report on Raleigh's public schools is that 1,194 pnpils are en rolled. A man by the name of Jadan has been taken to the penitentiary from Nash connty for killing one Cartlttt at Roiky Mount during Bryan's speech at tbgt place. He gets twenty-five years for the murder of the above named man. W. II. Rcmseur, of Charlotte, has received the plans for a $10,000 special exhibition car, to be a traveling exhi bition of all the State products, to be called "North Carolina on Wheels." It will travel the Northern and West US. States.
Marion Messenger (Marion, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Dec. 18, 1896, edition 1
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