The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-04-25

ton. Without sufficient force the in
vestigations that were necessary in
Darlington, more particularly the in
quest, which was and ought to have
been held, could not have been made
with safety, because it was Imperative
Il necessary that the constables should
be present to testify. The necessity
was not so great at Florence, but the
presence of the troops at s:ther or both
places did no harm, and gave assur-
ance to the world that South Carolina
was capable Of restoring order. ana
peace within its own oor-
ders."
KEEPING IN WITH T1LLMAN.
"Was there any clash between you!-
self and the Governor, and ale there
any differences betwixt you?"
There are no personal differences
except Of political opinion on some
minor matters. I see that strenuous
efforts are being made to create such
an impression by putting forced con-
struction upon the telegram which
passed in regard to my course at FLO
renee. The matter was very easily ex-
planned and settled between Us, and 1t
ought to be clear from my report that
there was a misapprehension on his
part as to the course I was pursuing.
This is evident, too, from the marked
contrast of his last telegram to me with
those which preceded, in which be
cautions me to soothe rather than ag-
gravste the situation, act with vlgor
where I thought it was safe, and en-
trusted everything to my own dlscre-
ton in accordance with his general
orders"
THE ALLEGED RIOT.
General, would you mind saying
what YOU think as to the riot being &C.
cidental or did ie have political bear
ing?"
"The personal fight or beginning was
purely accidental, but the riot which
followed it arose out Of the excite
ment produced by the enforcement OF
the dispensary law. The public nina
was evidently in an inflamrceble state
or the thing would have been impos-
sible."
"Is there anything Of political sig
nifcance in the response made oy the
people and a part of the militia after
Columbia and Charleston had refused
to obey?"
~ "Of course, there are always some
partisans on such occasions, but large
majority of those who responded and
of those who were ready to respond
were Influenced by patriotic pur-
pose to restore good order, sup
port the existing laws of the State
and to prevent the overthrow OF
the constituted authorities ofthe State.
It would not do to ascribe their con-
duct to a desire for the promotion ofthe
political ends of any faction or to the
endorsement of any Special law. They
had higher aims and purposes in their
support of the State Government"
THE DANGER NOT OVER.
- SIS the danger over, and will there
be any further trouble arising from
the execution of the dispensary law?
Or what is the real cause Of the present
agitation in South Carolina?"
II have said as much as I intended;
but since you ask the question will add
that fear it is not, unless the methods
of enforcing the Dispensary law are
very carefully handled. AS to the real
cause of the trouble, I would say it is
money, money, money, instead of liqu-
or, liquor, liquor. 1t is the profit feature
of the law which will eventually have
to 90. One hundred per cent is too
great q temptation for the sversge
blind tiger to resist, even though be
may risk his life in yielding to it. Be-
sides, the tiger is blind to any moral
wrong on his part in selling liquor for
profit when he sees the State engaged
in the same business. Legalizing it in
his mind does not change the moral
aspect. Kill the profit feature and you
kill the blind tiger. Let the profits re-
main in the pockets of the people,
which is the best treasury the State can
have. The remedy would seem to be a
modification and simpli6cation of the
law by the abolishment of the State
dispensary, the substitution OF simple
purchasing and auditing agent, relegat-
ing control of the local dispensaries to
the counties and holding the right Of
local option inviolable."
AN APPEAL FOR MODERATION.
General, is there anything to be
specially dreaded in the coming cam
paign"
"Well, you know that I sounded a
note of warning in my christmas
Reflections of last year, when I ap-
pealed to all parties for greater modera-
ton in political action and discussion.
That warning has since been repeated
by me, and I must confess that I look
with great anxiety to the immediate
future. Isee no real cause for conflict
if the right spirit prevailed in the State,
because all of the reforms we have
advocated are accomplished facts and
dead issues. The dispensary lswis not
q reform measure of itself, nor has it
been adopted by the Reform party. 1t
must be made one before they feel
bound by it. Out side of the desire for
office, the dispensary seems to be the