1.00 a Year, in Advance.
'FOR COUNTRY, FOR GOD, AND EOR TRUTH."
Single Copy, B Cents
vol. xr.
PLYMOUTH, N. C, FRIDAY, JULY 20, 1900.
NO 30.
OE.I) TH?Ii:s AND NOW.
Hill ArT:iIk About Uajw When II.)
Was V on na.
How fast the earth is shrinking How
far away was Chira when we old men
were boys. It took a three-years cruis
around the world to find it, and even
then our merchantmen only touched at
the ports and learned but lutle of tbe
vast interior. Her immense domain
was set down as one-half millions of
equare miles, being one-tenth of the
habitable globe and nearly twice the
area of the whole United Slates. Her
palliation was in 1 SG0 500,000,000 and
, is" now probably (500.000,000, Her
government for at least 3,000 years has
been one of revolutions, internal broils
aud changes of dynasty, but it has stood
aud still stands and no doubt will con
tinue to stand. Travelers tell us that
the stagnation and ignorance that has
long been charged upon China does not
exist; that they are. an industrious
peace-loving people, and all their troub
les come from outsiders. I was rumi
nating about this China business and
the war over there and the cable dis
patches that come in a day, for we had
an old-time district school in our town
last night and old Mother Felton and
myself were the taro youngest scholars.
She had on a draw-string frock and a
pair of pantalettes and was sucking a
etick of molasses candy, and I had on a
shirt and one callus and a imir of
Wecht a that come down nearly to the
top of my blue home-made socks. She
f was Becky and I was Bill. We belong
ed to tbe infant class and had to stand
up and spell "ba" and "bee" and "bo."
Becky cried because she coulden't spell
"ax" and had to go foot. I consolated
her nil I could. Kirby Anderson was
the smallest boy m school and the larg
est dunce. He was in geography and
saul China was as big as Bartow county,
and that 8 how I come to ruminate
about Ctiina. All that I eyer learned
about China in my geography was that
1'ekin was its capital and the people
were all heathen and eat rats, and th re
was a great wall arouod the entire conn
try. Our book makers ought to have
known better, for Marco Polo had trav
eled all - over that country and lived
there for twenty-four years and was
made governor of a large province, and
he says he never mingled with a hotter
people. Confucius gave them laws 2,
500 year.8 ago that they still reverence
and oiev. Families are faithful to
each other and children are taught to
obey thtir parents as long as they live.
Confu-ius had such a reverence for his
mother that he mourned for her for
three years when she died. How many
sons do that in this Christian count) y.
Of course they haye some race traits
and customs that seem very bad to us,
but they are not malicious nor selfish
nor are they revengeful unless wrought
un to it by bad treatment. Our Chris
tian people massacred 200 of them out
west a few years ago tor no crime but
because they were in the way and want
ed work and accepted it at less wages.
Who ever bhw a more harmless and in
dustrious people than those scattered
Chinamen who are found in almost
every town and village in this country
For thirty years I have observed them
in my travels from Virgiuia to Texas
and never heard a complaint. Betting
and gambling is a national amusement,
but it is on a limited scale and makes
nobody rich or poor. It doesn't com
pare with our stock gambling, or high
rolling on steamboats or Kentucky po
ker among the bloods. I never saw
GeneralJohnC. Breckinridge but once,
and that was at a faro bank in Rich
mond during the war. Colonel Towers
took me in there to show me how the
n thing was done and to our surprise
Breckinridge was doing it.
But the great crime against China
was the introduction of opium Irom
India by he English. This began in
1810, and in 1828 had gotten up to 7,
000 chests. In vain and in vain did
the emperor and his counsellors pro'ebt
and plead. They saw that the opium
habit was spreading and ruining their
people. In 1838 it had increased to
21,000 chests, and its importation was
stopped by force of arms and 21,000
chests were seized ana destroyed.
This brought on a war and the Chinese
government had to pay $21,000 000 for
the opium destroyed, for its value was
$1,000 a chest. Then a treaty was
patched up and the opium business in
creased to 74.000 chests in 1SG0. I
wonder what it is now. But the Eng
lish merchants now pay a duty, but
that amounts to several millions of
dollars annualy. What will not Johnny
Bull do for money? No wonder China
men have a suspicion of all foreigners
and a contempt for our missionaries.
The Chinese authorities passed a law
against eating opium and gave it a death
penalty, but it was smuggled in all tbe
uame and tney declared mat not even
Buddha could stop it.
Now as to that great Buddha, my
reading tells me that the common peo
ple do not express any great adoration
for him nor faith in him. As Dr.
Johnson remarked to Uoawell, "it is
necessary for every nation to have some
religionwhether they understand it or
not," and hence the euperetitution of
the Chinese has taken hold of Buddha
as the best they can do. But this un
known God has failed them so often
in great emergencies they have no un
wavering faith in him. And yet there
are over 1.000,000 pnefits in the empire
' who make a beggarly living out of
Buddhaism. Buddha ha8 given them
a little god for everything that concerns
their temporal welfare; nothing for the
heart r the immortal soul. They do
not believe in either. They say that
there is no future life.but if there is then
good conduct in this life will ensure safety
in that. It the rice wants rain, they
appeal to the god of rain. If the
drought continues long, they drag the
little rain god out on his wheels and let
him stand in the burning sun until it
does rain. They want him to see and
feel how hot it is. If the rain comes
tuo much and lasts too long and the
rice is sprouting in the fields they get
their squirt guns and drench the rain
god every day until he stops the pour
down. We ought to have had him
over here this June aud put our China
men to work on him.
But the government the govern
ment of 000,000,000 of people does not
cost half as much as ours, with about
80,000,000. The per cpti tax is
about io cents, and all taxes are paid
in rice. China has no bonded debt.
No revenue from whisky or wine, for
none is distilled or drank. Nothing is
in her way of peace and contentment
3ave foreigners and opium. I do not
know what is the salary of the emperor
or empress, but all salaries are small.
The prince who is to succeed the em
peror gets only $10,000 per annum.
Then there are thousands and thous
ands of officials in every province,
from the governor down, but their pay
is small. A soldier in the standing
army gets but $4 per month. That
army is composed of about 1,000,000
of men. The emperor has no arbitrary
power. He must conform to the laws
and must advise with bis cabinet, and
behind all is the great board of control
that represents the people and is made
up of two or more learned and good
men from every produce. This board
does not act often or on trifles, but
when any great emergency arises they
meet at Pekin and their word controls
the emperor and everybody else. That
is not a bad government, is it? Tbe
emperor is entitled to an empress and
two other wives, who are called queens
If the empress leaves no son, then a
son of a queea is taken, but nobody
knows which son until the emperor
dies, for Confucius said that if the
young man knew that he was chosen it
might make him arrogant.
Another peculiar and Democratic
provision of the constitution is that tbe.
nobihfcv shall not always be nobility
Evary generation ia reduced in rank
and power down to the seventh, and
then they become as the common peo
ple. This keeps the nobility on the
down grade and keeps the government
from bemg overrun by a pampered
aristocracy. That's good. Yts, it is
better than the English law of primo
geniture, which giyes all rank and the
home estate to the eldest 6on and tells
the others to go to grass. I saw n
number of the grass fellows in Florida.
Oa the whole, I like the Chinese gov
ernment and I nave respect for the poo
pie. Bret Harte wrote :
"That for ways that are dark
And tricks that are vain,
Tho heathen China is peculiar."
Yes, I expoct Bret was trying to win
their money and thev won his.
This is enough of geography. I ha ve
written it for Kirby Anderson and Bert
Morgan and their sort. Paul Akin
called our little grandchild to come out
on the verandah and kiss him good
night. Sue bad put on her night gown
and said to her moth3r: "Mamma,
Paul doesn't kuow any better, does he?"
There are a good many big echool boys
who know no more about China than
Kirby. Bill Akp.
A I romiiient Iturke County Populist
W ill Support tlie Amendment.
M ORG ANTON. N. C July .11. P. W.
Tatton, clerk of the Superor Court and
chairman of the Populist party execu
tive committee, has declared openly for
the amendment in the following card:
"To the Chairman of the Democratic
Executive Committee: I have been a
Populist ever since there was a Populist
party in North Carolina for six years.
I have been chairman of the executive
committee of said party in Burke coun
ty. Not since the civil war have the
people of North Carolina had amore
important issue to settle than there is
now before tbem, to-wit: White Su
premacy. I am a white man, and
therefore not only believe in, but must
Biipport the constitutional amendment.
The leaders of the Populist party have
not only arrayed themselves against
said amendment, but are trying to force
the rank aud file of the party to follow
them. Therefore I intend to support
the amendment, and since the Demo-'
cratic party is the only party advocat
ing it, consistency compels me to sup
port the Democratic ticket.
"(Signed) P. W. Patton,
' Chairman Pop. Party of Burke Co.
"July 11th."
Mr. Patton will carry over half of the
Populist of the county with him. His
support of the amendment is a great
gain for the party in this county and
makes euccesa doubly sure.
The devil has to pry the busy man's
door ojen, but that of the idler is a
standing invitation to him.
Do you i-ead what people say about
Hood's Sarsaparilla ? It is ciuing all
forms of disi-ase caused or prompted by
impure blood.
DOlVAIiKK ICItll'ItlCSS OF CHINA
AND PAMOVS LI HUNG CHANG.
Story of Their Meeting When the
ICmpresN Was a Slave Girl and Li
Was a Sailor Lad.
New York Herald.
Kuan Foy, a scholarly Chinese mer
chant, and ODe of the most prominent
members of his race in New York, yes
terday told the history of the romantic
rise ofhe empress dowager from the
lot of a Blave g.rl, and of her meeting
with Li Hung Chang while he was a
poor sailor lad on a river boat and she
was on her way in bondage to the im
perial city in which she rose to supreme
power.
Now, the resident manager of Yu
Lung A Co., a large importing firm,
Kuan Foy, in his native land of mys
tery and millions, was a military official.
So far as may be in his own words his
story of the empress and the statesman
is here repeated:
"Tuen, the empres dowager of China,
was once a slave Her story is strange,
and one of the most remarkable featur
es of it is that Li Hung Chang, China's
greatest man, was at the same time
rough, ignorant sailor lad, earning a liv
ing on one of the boats of the Hun-Ho,
and that to the slave girl fell the chance
of rewarding him for a very brave deed.
Strange, indeed, that these two met by
chance whiles both were in obscurity
should rise to play two such different
and important parts in what promises to
be the last scene of the drama of the
Uhine6e empire, or at least of the Man
churian dynasty. The events of the
past year point with certain linger to the
end.
'Tuen, beiug a girl child of a Man-
churian low grade official, suffered the
contumely of Chinese females. How
ever, her feet were not bound, and to
this fact, a seemingly minor cicum-
stance, the great things in Chinese his
tory for the last 50 years are due. If
her feet had been bound she would ne
ver have risen from slavery to the rule
of the empire.
"A rebellion in her father's Yamen
district rendered her family destitute,
and though but 11 years years of age
she petitioned her father to sell her as
a slave so that her brother might be ed
ucated and her mother fed. Her fa
ther consented and sold her to the then
viceroy of his district, and little Tuen
passed away from her family, never to
know them again until years later her
agents sought out her brother and she
took him to live inside the imperial
city, though she could not take him
within the Purple Forbidden Citv. He
was made a Manchurian prince and re
ceived great estates.
"Soon after she was taken into the
viceroy's household she heard her mas
ter mention an elaborate tunic he had
seen at court. She listened to hia de
scription of its elaborate embroidery,
and 12 months later her child's hands
finished one which was a duplicate by
description. The viceroy was astound
ed and asked her to name any wish she
had and it should be granted.
''She hesitated, aud then, kneeling
at his feet, begged to be taught to read.
He told her that it wa8 impossible for a
girl to learn to read. She said it was
not her fault that she had been born a
girl, and that the gods had been so cruel
to her. The viceroy was so impressed
with her request, however, that he sent
for masters to begin instructing her,
and to his astonishment they found she
already knew much and wa3 well along,
self-taught. She mastered Mauchu,
Mongol and Chinese, and there are
some who say that in the last 10 years
ghe has added English secretly.
"The viceroy was yery proud of his
clever little slave, and as she was devel
oping into a comedy damsel he Bent
her as acomplimentar' gift to the em
peror. She became the favorite slave of
the father of the present emperor, and
when his mother, the imperial consort,
died she became empress and saw to
his bringing up, aud was regent of the
empire following her husband's death
until she took the reins of government
from KwangSu's hands, less than two
years ago.
"While she was on her way to Pekin
occurred the incident in which Li Hung
Chang figured. The party conveying
tbe pretty little slave girl in a sedan
chair had occasion to cross the Hup-Ho
river, and one of the young men fell off
the boat. He was drowning, and Tuen
emplored the boatmen to save him, of
fering a ring she wore as a reward. Li
plunged into the muddy current, and
with a fine muscukr effort saved the
drowning man. She gave him the
ring, and many years afterward recog
nized it on the hand of an official who
came to court. He had won his way
up through 14 degrees of oilicialdom,
and since she was then empress regent
and she had found him he was very
quickly advanced to the first places t
the laud.
"Degraded time and again, it h&j
ver lessened his influence, for his
and might are the greatest in the
die kingdom. "vl
"From the time the slave girl TC
entered the wal's of the imperial city,
tract within Pekin about six mileu
square, she has nevr left it up to the
present time, and there are no China
men but the very highest officials who
have ever seen her in the last 20 year,
for in her section of the vast enclosure
she has live! alone, except for eunuchs
and ladies in waiting, the latter some 20
in number."
nilt ICATICNICD WITH A It SON AND
IHCKDIilt.
lorrlble ItlciiaiM-e Against the Whites
at Wliltsett.
Greensboro, N. C. July 7. A. negro
named Eli Wharton, made 4 boast in
the presence of reputable white men at
Whitsettt, N. C, that if the amendment
was carried, every house in Whitsett
would be burned and that white men
would be called out and shot and that
women and children" would be put to
death. This conversation was over
heard by Messrs. J. D.Oldham, George
Davenport, T. G. Boone and O. M.
Ingold, all responsible and trustworthy
gentlemen.
GREENVxixr, N. C, July 7. This
morning Chairman Blow was assaulted
by two negroes and his face badly bea
ten with metal knucks. The assault
occured in the public equare fronting
the court house. The police captured
one negro. The deputy sheriil chased
the other home and shot at hitn while
running.
Reaching his house, the negro's
brother drew a gun and forbade the
officer entering. Citizens with rifles
aud guns followed and surrounded the
house, which was searched, but the
uagro had gone through a back door
and escaped.
The negro who stopped the officer,
and the one arrested by the police,
were tried before the mayor and sent
to jail in default of bond. There is
much indiguation among the citizens
and threats among the negroes. Other
trouble may follow.
Butler's ITIendacity at Slalom llle.
Statesville Landmark.
Senator Butler, who spoke here Wed
nesday, made his usual bitter speech
of denunciation, equivocation and
straightout misstatement of facts. He
put in a good part of his four hours'
time talking about Democrats not meet
ing him in joint discussion and inci
dental boasting of his own prowess as
a debater. Referring to Congressman
Bellamy, of the Wilmington district,
he said that Bellamy got into Congress
by shooting people in the back. He
also referred to Col. Waddell as a cow
ard, who had "deserted" his regiment
during the civil war when the time came
to go to tbe front, aud had gone into a
bumb-proof and studied for the minis
try rather than go into the war. He
also said that Waddell had incited
other people to shoot negroes in the
back but was too big a coward to get
into danger himself; and in this con
nection he also referred to Mr. Aycock
the Democratic candidate for Governor,
as one of these who shouldered his gun
"to shoot negroes in the back." This,
we are informed by an honorable and
truthful man who heard him, is a sam
ple of tbe chat Butler had in Statesville
Wednesday. The idea of the Giteau
faced thing talking about cowards when
he is too big a coward to go to Wil
mington, or anywhere else there is dan
ger, and have the talk he had here.
But Butler's Statesville speech will do
the Democrats more good than harm.
It made the Democrats who heard it so
mad that they will exert themselves as
they never have before.
J w
Sewall Ordered toiHovcoii.
Laurinwrg. N. C, July 7. II. F.
Sewall who was to speak here today,
was met at the train by a crowd of our
citizens and advised not to do so. He
took their advice and boarded the train.
The cause of this action by our citi
zens was not political, but personal.
Sewall made a speech in Pittsboro in
which he referred to a negro who was
killed here in 1898. He referred to
hia slayers as cowardly murderers who
killed an inoffensive negro in the very
attitude of prayer.
The facts are that the negro was
very impudent, had gone about armed
with a shot gun, had threatened to
burn and had also threatened the life
of one of our good citizens. Instead of
assuming the attitude of prayer he
was found heavily armed and succeed
ed in firing several volleys into the
crowd before he was silenced with a
Winchester bullet. These are the facts.
Sewall's speech was a gross reflection on
on our people, hence he was ordered to
journey on.
Wp are greatly surprised that any
body' places reliance upon any state
ment or charge that Dr. Sigh Thomp
son makes. Have the people of Ca
barrus county forgotten that only two
short years ago this same Dr. rngh
boldly made the charge when he and
Aycock spoke here that the former
Secretary of State had not accounted
for a sum of money he had collected,
and that then Mr. Aycock in his reply
produced Dr. Thompson's receipted
check for the identical sum? Thomp
son did not know the receipt could be
produced and was dumbfounded when
was confronted with it. Aycock
it hat Thompson had either a
How long v,
country be willi
50,000 men in tl',
indirectly admitt
administration thai
an indefinite pcriouV
STATE NEWS.
Attention is called tn (be (art that
Judge Starbuck, Republican, of Win
ston, is for the amendment. It has
been known for some time that he
would vote for it.
Mooresville, July 8. Prof. Chas. L.
Grey, who has been in charge of Moor
esville Acadamy for several years, has
resigned that position and accepted the
position of secretary and treasurer of
the oil milla at Davidson.
Dr. W. P. Exum, who was tho Popu
list candidate for governor in 1892 a
prominent Populi6t and citizen of
Wayne county declares for the amend
ment, and w'll make two or more
speeches for it during this campaign.
It ia a well known fact that Anson
has never elected anything but Demo
crats since 1870. Chairman J. G. Boy-
lin reports the county in a fine shape
and well organized. The white people
will be nearly a unit for the amend
ment. A republican of State prominence
says he has it on the best of authority
that at the National convention Spencer
Adams, the Republican candidate for
Governor, had Cheatham and several
other negroes in hia room, and he was
drinking and fraternizing with them.
Let Every White Man Hey.lt.ler at Once
The registration books under t he
new election law were opened to-day.
An entirely new registration is re
quired no certificate on account of
removal or change of residence, but
a straight out-and-out new registra
tion.
The books will be opened this morn
ing at 1) o clock and will remain open
twenty days (Sundays excepted),
which means that they will close tor
registration on July 21st, at sunset.
The books will be open at the vot
ing places of the respective precincts
on each Saturday from 0 o'clock a.
m. until sunset. Other days they
will be at the residences of the regis
trars, who can Ipgally register a voter
any day except Sunday.
It is of the utmost importance that
every really white man in the State
register at tho earliest opportunity,
and vote for the Democratic party
and the constitutional amendment.
You may depend on it the negro
crowd (and by that we mean all who
oppose white supremacy) will all be
registered. The white men should
should register AT ONCE and no
put it oil' a day.
Butler is sending out secret circu
lars to his henchmen, trying to scare
the registrars, and on this Mr. Sim
mons, chairman of the Democratic
committee, has the following to say:
"If any registrar in discharging
the duties of his office is subjected to
any threat or any prosecution byr
these Federal marshals, let him con
tinue to do his sworn duty faithfully
and fearlessly; they will not dare ar
rest him; they know they have no
authority for such a course; they are
simply trying to intimidate him.
But, if in their desperation, they
should arrest any registrar, bond
will be furnished him; counsel will be
provided for him, and he can rest as
sured no harm can come to him.
Those w ho thus interfere with him in
the discharge of his lawful duty un
der the laws of the State will be
both criminally and civilly prosecu
ted, for the man who swears outsuch
a warrant, and the man who executes
it will be both criminally and civilly
liable."
Southern
Railway,
The . . .
standard railway op
the South . . .
The Direct Line to All Points.
TEXAS,
CALIFORNIA,
FLORIDA,
CUBA AND
PORTO RICO.
Strictly KlltM-CLAJtS Kqulp
tnent on "11 through ami IjjchI
Train; Put in m Palace Sl;p-
THE SITUATION IN CHINA.
Baltimore Sun, 7th.
According to a dispatch from Wash
ington the United States Government
has decided to increase American mili
tary forces in china to about 6,000
men. Regulars ordered to the Phili
pines, it is understood, will be diverted
on the way and sent to China, unless
tbe situation materialy improves.
Much criticism is developing in
Washington official circles over the al
leged inactivity of the Government.
It ia urged that much valuable time
has been lost in getting troops to the
disturbed districte in China. This sen
timent is voiced strongly in an editor
ial in the Army and Navy Register.
Japan has officialy notified the United
States Government that Japanese troops
in China will be increased to 22.000
men. It is said that 19,000 Japanese
troops have been dipatched to Taku.
Russia is said to have acquiesced in
this action of Japan. England has gi
ven official permiasion.
Through London, Canton and Shang
hai sensational stories still come of the
extermination of foreigners in Pekin.
A Shanghai diBpatch sayB: "Prepare to
hear the worst." Dispatches received
in Bremen from commercial agents in
Shanghai are of like tenor. Other ru
mors say that the international troops
are being closely pressed in Tientsin.
It is indicated that the allied forces in
Tietsin may themselves need x relief.
Each day it becomes clearer that the
abandoning of the relief of Pekin was a
necessity, as the Tientsin forces are
scarcely capable of holding their own in
their present position.
Baltimore Sun, 9th.
The fate of foreigners in Pekin ia still
uncertain.
Dispatches from the United States
Consul General Goodnow, at Shanghai, .
say that the legation were holding out
July 3. Attacks by Boxers had been
repulsed with losses of 2,000 Chinamen
killed, it was said. Since the repulse
the hostile Chinamen had adopted the
tactics of starving out the foreigners.
A London dispatch says that the Con
suls at Shanghai reported the legations
safe July 4.
On the other hand unofficial Shang
hai dispatches reiterate the statement
that all foreigners in Pekin have been
hutchered. It ia founded on indefinite
reports.
From. Chefu comes the information
that 10,000 Chinese soldiers have reocu
pied one of tbe arsenals at Tientsin and
are fortifying the native city. About
80,000 or 100,000 Chinese surround
Tientsiu. Foreign nations have deci
ded to send to China for the relief of
Pekin about 100,000 troops. Orders
for the mobilization of this great army
have already been issued, and many of
the troors are ulroady on be way.
Baltimore Sun, loth.
Information has come from several
sources that prince Chmg, head of the
Chinese Foreign Office, has taken issue
with Prince Tuan, the Boxer leader, in
Pekin and is protecting the legations
there with imperial Chinese troops.
Prince Ching is practically, it is said, at,
the head of a counter-revolution. This
fact has led to renewed hopes that the
legations may yet be rescued.
The powers have consented to per
mit Japan to senegas many troops as i
desires to restore order in China.
Emperor William of Germany sent
the first Chiutse squadron fom Kiel
yesterday. He told the forces they
must avenge the outrages of tbe Chinese,
but must spare women and children.
There has been renewed fighting at
Tientsiu, according to Chefu dispatcher.
The Chinese forces have again bom
barded the town. Non-combatants
have been ordered to leave. Foreigners
are taking refuge on warships at Taku.
Populist for tlic Amendment.
Here are the names of a few
prominent ropulists who say the
Amendment ia constitutional, and that
they will support it:
Maj. Wm. A. GutKYie, Populiat candi
date for Governor in 1896.
Geo. E. Boggs, Populist candidate for
Congress in the Ninth district.
M. 11. II. Caldwell, Populst candidate
for Congress against Kluttz two" years
ago.
A. D. K. Wallace, Populist candidate
for State Senate ia this district.
Dr. 11. F. Freeman, State Senator and
leading Populist.in Wilson county.
L. C. Caldwell, ex-Railroad Commis- '
sioner, and Chairman of Topulist State
convention.
J. Z. Green, Editor of Our Home,
Populist organ in the Sixth district.
Dr. W. P. Craven and Dr. J. B. Alex
ander. Populist legislator and senator
from Mecklenburg county.
W. B. Unchurch, member of Legiala-.
ture from Wake county and for Beveral
years president of the Farmers Al
liance. J. N. Price, Ti4,l"iie for
he Legislature