Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-04-02
BENJAMIN r. TrLLMAN.


COLUMBIA, 8. c., April e.-Sunday was
= ratn~r quiet day in Columbia.
EARLY in the day, the governor sum
moned the Governors Guards to the execu
tive mansion. He addressed them, saying
that he was informed that their disband
ment was not their fault, but that they
had been overawed by q mob at Their
doors. He told them that they stood be
fore the people of the state as disgrace
and that he wished to give them the op
portunity to wipe the stain from their
brow, and to restore them to honor.
wouldn't Obey Orders
He asked for some Indication as to
whether they would obey his orders, in
which event their arms would be given
back to them. As he made this assertion,
five Of the men threw down their bayo-
nets, and were quickly followed by several
others. Their captain begged them to de-
sist and wait until the governor had
finished. Governor Tillman. however,
told them that their action was satisfac-
tory, for he only wished TO know exactly
what their position was.
He then said to those who remained,
that they could leave, but II they deter
mined to obey orders, to report 10 the state
penitentiary. The remnant of the COM
pany marched to their armory, and In five
minutes thereafter they had disbanded.
their state, but thank God, there arc mon
left who viii obey orders, and NOT be
swayed from duty by adverse political
opinions,
Tho Governors Lecture.
At 8 o'clock marching orders were given
to the troops stationed at the penitentiary
Governor Tillman addressed them, say
ing: "As chief executive of South Caro-
lima, wish to say few words TO you
before your departure. I thank you for
the promptness and zeal displayed by you
in responding TO the call for duty. Many
of you have dou hts as to the justice of the
cause for which you 60.
''The reason Of your going to Darling
ton is caused by the dispensary law, and
it is law as long as it stands on the
statute books. and until IL is repealed, or
declared unconstitutional by the supreme
court The newspapers have sown the
seed of discord by teaching you that there
are portions of the law which invade
private rights. They know that when
they say that, that they lie. The right to
search private houses on warrant is as
old ss the law itself They know that
they are not telling the truth when they
try to make you believe that those men in
Darlington were defending their Liberties.
II said In my message to the legislature,
that large force of constables would not
be necessary II the police of the towns
would enforce the law, but they would
not do this. The dispensary is not the
issue now. but 30 long as it is on the
statutes, so help me God, / intend to en-
force it.
1T IL not question of politics, 10 be
fought out by ball and powder, but by
the ballot box. So much.for the opinions
that you are going to hold as tyranny.
When the news came Of the trouble at
Darlington, God knows that was never
more shocked When the officers of the
law were shot down, was Mortified. The
sheriff telegraphed me he was powerless.
My first and natural impulse was to sp-
peal to the military of Columbia. What
did they dor They surrendered inglori-
ously the honor Of being In the service Of
A FINAL warning.
"You are going on q delicate and dan
gerous mission. You must remember
that the Darlington people are your fell
low-oitixens. but they are in insurrection,
and IL II necessary for you to 20 there to
uphold the law. learn that they de-
stroyed state dispensary. Nobody did
this but the sx- bsrkespers and their hire
lings.
must treat the Darlington people with
consideration, but n you are ordered TO
shoot, you must DO IL, or anarchy will
prevail in this state. hope to restore
you TO your homes as early as possible,
but the law must be upheld. or the state
government will be the laughing stock Of
the world. This ought to be proud day
for you. In after years you can hand
down as heritage 70 your children, that
you went to Darlington on Tillman's
orders. and you are proud Of It,"