Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1894-04-04

President Cleveland returned the Bland
seigniorage bill to the House Of Represen-
tatives Thursday without his approval. In
the message which accompanies the veto'
the President objects to the bill as inopPor-
tune at a time when the country is slowly
recovering from depression largely due to
previous mischieyous financial legislation,
and q reversal of the administrations poll
CIV with regard to the imitation of the cur
renew and criticizes the uncertainty and
ambiguity Of the language in which it is
drawn. The veto, however, is not based
solely on these objections; the President
says "In my judgment sound finance does
not commend a further infusion OF silver
into our currency at this time, unaccompa-
MED BY further adequate provision for the
maintenance in our Treasury of safe gold
reserve" lie also opposes the proposed re-
tirement Of treasury notes and substitution
Of silver certificates as tending to bring
about large addition to the silver currency
in circulation and a corresponding reduc-
ton of gold in the Treasury. He says Il
regard this section of the bill as embodying
a plan by which the government will be
obliged to pay out its scanty store Of gold
for no other purpose than to force an unnst-
ural addition of silver money into the hands
of our people. This is an exact reversal OF
the policy which safe finance dictates If we
are to preserve parity between gold and sill
YER aud maintain sensible bimetallism. -
The message ends thus; II am not insensi-
bic to arguments in favor Of coming the
bullion seigniorage in the Treasury, and l
believe it could be done safely and with adj
vantage, if the Secretary of the Treasury
had the power to issue bonds at low rate
Of interest under authority in substitution
of that now existing and better suited to the
protection of the Treasury. hope a way
will present itself in the near future for the
adjustment Of our monetary affairs in such
a comprehensive and conservative manner
as will accord to silver its proper place in
our currency but, in the meantime, l am
extremely solicitous that whatever action
we take on this subject may be such as to
prevent loss and Encouragement to our peo-
pie at home, and the destruction of conf
denee in our financial management abroad.
There is war in South Carolina between cit
liens Of Darlington, Florence and vicinity on
the one hand and the blatherskite Governor
Of that afflicted State and his officers on the
other. The disturbing cause is the liquor law
enacted by the reform party or Tillman.
ties, under which the State has monopoly
Of the trade in intoxicants. This arrange
msnt has never been entirely acceptable to the
bibulous portion Of the Palmetto population
and the people of the State, conyiyial and
otherwise do especially and not unnaturally
resent tbs searching Of private houses for con
cealed stimulants. Their grievances are ag,
gravated by the fact tn at the beverage dis
pensed at the Tillman bar is of an inferior
quality. On Friday there was a collision be-
tween constables charged with the duty Of en-
forcing the dispensary law and residents Of
Darlington. Two Of the former and three Of
the latter were killed, and the remaining con-
stables took to the woods, pursued by armed
and angry citizens. The excitement spread
and intensified, dispensaries at Florence and
elsewhere were broken into and the liquor
emptied out, and the Governor ordered out
every military company in the State, and is
sued a proclamation declaring Darlington and
Florence under martial law. OF the State mi
litia several companies reported, Others re-
fused to obey orders, and some disbanded.-
The Governor went so far as TO obtain an or
der from one of the State judges enjoiningt the
sending out of dispatches from Columbia con-
corning the troubles, and established militia
~ censorship over the telegraph offices at Co.
lumbia and Darlington. Press matter goes to
Florence to be sent out. Several hundred
troops are in camp at Darlington, q large mum
Der Of them are believed to be in sympathy
with the citizens and can not be relied upon
by the Governor, WI ose chief dependence i:
in the country militia-his political support
coming mainly from the rural districts.
Gov Tillman yesterday issued q proclama-
ton assuming entire control Of the municipal
police Of the State, alleging that the police
have INSTRUCTED the enforcement Of the dis
pensary law.