The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-12-26

Christmas vas marked by the usual
drunken murders and accidental
killings The day was anything but
merry to many who were shot, cut or
blown up.
The act Of the Legislature making
illegal sales under Scotch Mortgages
will perhaps, make sale under mort
gage more expensive, but will give
greater security to all parties concerned
With tbe mortgage.
The Metropolitan police scheme is
now a law. The next thing il, how it
will be enforced. If Gov. Evans de-
cides 70 hold it in reserve as menace
to towns that are not sufficiently
jealous in obeying his orders in regard
to the enforcement Of the dispensary
Law, there will necessarily be some
irritation, bat not the serious trouble
that we anticipate will result if he
proceeds in high-haDded manner to
take charge of the police Of the towns
and cities and create jobs for bis
hungry Office hunting undersnappers.
The hardest year in the history of
the country is drawing to close.
Whether the next year will be more
prosperous or more disastrous depends
upon the people. With the proper
effort. and by the closest ecouomy we
may be able to regaiu our lost pros
perity, but to do 80 we must look
elsewhere than to cotton. There is
already movement to establish grain
warehouses 10 the principal cities in
this section aud those who plant grain
will be able to obtain advances from
grain factors, and farmers will then be
made Independent Of cotton. which has
proved not only their own ruin, but
disastrous to all lines of business in the
South.
The efforts the people of .Greenville
are putting forth to make that city q
manufacturing centre should be imitat-
ed by every town in the State. The
day Of large profits in the mercantile
line appear to be past in this sectioo,
since the only salvation Of this section
appears to be in curtailment of expen-
ditures. The farmers will have to
spend less and live more at home.
and the merchants will not be able
to sell So much goods, nor will
they be able to realize as large profits.
The plan of the Greenville people is q
wise ooe, for it is the only one that will
insure the growth of the city. The
population Of the city will be increased
aud the business of the city will be
enlarged. The wages paid the opera.
tives in the factory vii! keep up con-
slant circulation of money in the CON-
munity and much more than the net
profits on The investment will revert
to those who build the factories.
Gov. Evans has been as good as his
word and has treated the counties which
did not vote for him as Republican
uconties. In Richland County the ap-
pointive Offices were given to Reform
ers, and though the Senate refused to
confirm his appointee for auditor, Gov.
Evans will give him the Office all the
same. In Sumter County be appointed
Reformers to all the trial justiceships,
but respected the primary by appoint
ing A. B. Stuckey Auditor. The
; present Treasurer. D. E. Keels, will
be continued 10 Office uatil the present
tax levy is collected and then Il. l..
Scarborough, the nominee of the pri-
mary will be appointed, it is said. 1t
is presumed that Gov Evans will CON-
mission the trial justices. who were re-
jected by the Senate. No one is sur
prised that be appointed Reformers to
the trial justiceships in this county, nor
that certain men who style themselves
leaders Of the Reform party in Sumter
County made desperate effort to In
duce him to disregard the nominations
/