The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1892-10-26
rILLMAN RIGHT FOR ONCE.
Nllllons for Debt, But Not q Cent for
Fraud-Our Governors Experience with
the Financiers Of New York.
Especial to the News and Courier.

COLUMBIA, October 21.-This morn
ing, after attending the Columbus Day
celebration, Governor Tillman was be-
sieged by the newspaper men and
agreed to give the public the result OF
his New York trip. He spoke with
some deliberation and seemed to weigh
well what be was about to say with
reference to the very important mission
on which he went North.
eAs this is matter of general pub
lie interest,"" he said, "and people are
keenly alive to know the result of our
visit, as far as I can I will make known
the exact condition Of the matter.
"There s evidently strenuous effort
beng made by the holders of the old
fraudulent bonds to force the State at
this critical period into some sort Of
recognition of their claims, and I am
sorry to see that some of our own peo-
pie in Charleston are lending aid and
comfort and are in combination with
some New York sharks who fattened
on the States misfortune during the
reconstruction period. To further this
object a telegram was sent from Char
lesion aud published in the New York
papers the day after we reached there
we were in favor of the issue ef49 per
cent bonds to redeem the 6 per cent
bonds, and the issue of new bonds to
the amount. of II, ,25O,O00 to take up
the fraudulent bonds. OF course this
falsehood was read by the people Of
New York, and it had the effect Of di-
recting attention to the existence Of the
old fraudulent debt and lent color to.
the charge, which metus everywhere,
that the State at one time had re-
pudiated its obligations. Then we
found that political influences had
been and are still at work throwing
every obstacle possible in the way OF
the success Of our mission, and in addi-
ton to that the weight of the financial
centres of the State was against US.
Sowing to the virtual cessation Of
business produced by the Columbian
celebration and to the feeling of un-
rest and distrust which exists because
Of the uncertainty as to which party
will be victorious, we found capitalists
unwilling to enter into any offer which
we could accept and therefore after
having formed the acquaintance and
discussed the situation with some Of
the leading fnanciers on the streets,
we determined to return home to wait
until after the election.
= II am not at all discouraged by the
obstacles which have shown to exist,
and unless the Republican party is
victorious in the Presidential contest
and carries both House and Senate I
have every reason to believe that we
will have no trouble in arranging the
refunding of the State debt to the sat-
isfaction Of the General Assembly.
: sBut, Of course, if all three branches
of the Government fall into the hands
of the Republicans, it would fore
shadow interference with local control
by the Southern States Of their own
Governments and make capitalists shy
of investing in our securities, and iti
the desire to await the result of the
election more than anything else which
prevented our accomplishing what we
went to do. e
81 would for:the information and
benefit of the conspirators who sent the
telegram from New York the night we
left there, which stated that Governor
Tillman did not accomplish anything
in the matter, and thatit might as well
be understood first az last that nothing
of value can be accompli he'd until
provision is made for the non-fundable
bonds,' and that they and the South
ern capitalists who are now trying to
take charge of the matter and do what
they caR,' who are evidently in collu-
sion withsseach other, will have their la
Dor for their pains. The debt will be re-
funded by Dr.. Bates and myself or not
at all, and their n,c'iti!iug will only re-
suit in harm. The State will meet all
of its honest obligations dollar for dol
lar, if we are not ;hwarted by all the
influences which l have mentioned
and the result of the election, but never
a cent by my advice or approval will
go to pay the fraudulent debt"
CONVERTED BY CLEVELAND.
Governor Tillman was asked what
were his political observations in New
York, and he said that, so far as he
could Judge, the outlook was favorable.
The politicians were sanguine of Cleve-
lands election. Being stranger to
New York's politics, he could only
accept the statements of those who
ought to know. He said that he met
some of the Tammany people with
whom be "fought, bled and died"
in Chicago, and they expressed them
selves as very confident over the situa-
ton.
He said that he called on Ex-Presi-
dent Cleveland, after he had learned
that he bad expressed a desire to see
him, and had a pleasant half hour chat
with him. He found Mr.. Cleveland to
be quite a jovial and pleasant talker,
and seemed altogether Democratic in
his methods of conversation. There was
nothing stilted or Indicative Of self
love, or an idea of his own greatness.
Governor Ti!Intan has bis hands very
full of work, and will dispatch the
accumulated correspondence as rapidly
as possible.