The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-12-05
EVANS IN TILLMAN'S PLACE.
South Cardinals New Governor Takes
the Oath.

Address-It Is Conservative in Tone
and Free From Anything Startling.
columbia, S. c., Dec. 4.-To-day in the
hall Of the House of Representatives John
Cary Evans was inaugurated as governor
nj the state of South Carolina, in the
rresence Of the members of the general
assembly, and at the same time B. r. Till
man. the man who has been the absolute
ruler Of his state for the past four years,
ceased to have any official capacity what
ever-became an ordinary citizen. And an
ordinary citizen the ex-governor, whose
name has become known all over the coun-
try in the last few years, will remain till
March 4 next, when it is more than likely
he will succeed Senator NJ. c. Butler in
the United States Senate. He was in a
happy frame of mind to-day. His last
official acts were to sign four pardons.
The Inauguration took place with great
pomp, shortly after / o'clock. The wealth
er was murky. A continuous rain began
to fall early, but the hall was brilliantly
Illuminated by pendant strings of incan-
descent electric lights. The galleries and
every other available space were packed
with spectators, a large proportion of
whom were ladies'. The students of the
many colleges here were In the crowd.
The inaugural procession came in headed
bv the sergeants-at-arms of the two
houses, one bearing the historic colonial
mace and the other the equally historic
sword of state, and consisting of the jus
tices of the supreme court and circuit
Judges, attired in their judicial robes,
United States Senator Irby, the retiring
governor the governor-elect and heuten-
ant governor-elect and other officials. A
band of music stationed in the gallery
played lively march.
After President pro TEN. Harrison of the
Senate had called the assembly to order
and a beautiful and most appropriate
prayer had been rendered by DR.. John A.
Rice the oath of Office as governor was
administered to Mr.. Evans by Chief JUS
tice McIvor of the supreme court. In
making his response Mr.. Evans turned
his face to the audience and his voice
rang out clear as a bell. He then pro-
ceeded to deliver his inaugural address.
It was generally expected that 1t would
be Of the nature of some of his campaign
speeches, but in this respect it was
surprise to all. 1t was quite conservative
in tone. and there was nothing in it of a
startling nature.
When Mr.. Evans came down from the
stand with ex-Gov. Tillman, the band
played "Over the Waves" Thus the ship
of state, which has had a stormy voyage
for four years, starts out on her cruise of
two years.
Mr.. Evans first act was to appoint
Chief Liquor Constable Holley a notary
public.
All the other new state officers were
sworn in to-day
An informal reception was rendered the
new governor at the executive mansion to-
night. No one knows what to expect of
the new administration. Mr.. Evans evil
IDENTIFY intends to pursue u conservative
policy.
The governors message is a rather long
one. The opening paragraphs are as fol-
lows:
After obtaining the will of the people
In three separate elections, / might say, l
am here to-day to assume the governor
ship of the proudest people on the globe;
me governorship of South Carolinians.
Ten years ago the elevation of a man of
my age to the highest honor in the gift
OF the people would have been regarded
almost as unconstitutional. A young man
IN South Carolina would not have dared
aspire to this honorable position, for fear
oil gaining the odium of that class who
1orsooth by reason of age or inheritance,
considered the offices as their particular
property, without regard to the popular
will
There are some who still regard the
political revolution of 1890, which gave to
us an aristocracy of brains, instead of
lands and money, as an hallucination,
dream of youth filled with iconoclasts and
as the reign of the demagogue. This gen.
tle sIumber will result in good, and the Rip
Ean Wrinkles of the state will awaken to
ma themselves monuments of antiquity,
surrounded by young scions of modern
progress and development, who have moth
ing but love and reverence for them
II is matter of congratulation to the
people that the effort to stay the course
oi reform by an appeal to an ignorant and
pufchasable vote has been rebuked the
second time in manner unmistakable
IN terms, and let us hope that in future
there will be found in the state no man
so ignoble as to dare threaten us with
return of the dark days from 1868 to 1876
with reference to the constitutional con-
Vehtion he says: II congratulate the peo-
PIE upon the fact that a constitutional
convention is at last to be called in re-
sponse to their desires expressed at the
oallot box. This is victory which means
more than l shall express to you. 1t is the
most important matter with which you
VIII have to deal with and should receive
your earnest thought and attention. 1t
should be called at a time most conVen-
tent for our farmers. Remember the
strngency of money and the poverty OF
our people and limit the number of dele
gates TO the number of the general as
sembly. None but patriots should be
members of this convention and the pay
oI the delegates should be so small as not
% make it an inducement for candid
acy Two dollars a day and the same
mileage as allowed members of the general
assembly is sufficient. Less than TINS
amount would not support delegate IN
.he city of Columbia. see no reason Wny
lhe session of the convention should last
over forty days. If this plan is adopted
.ne cost of the convention should not eX-
Ceeo $4,000, a small pittance indeed TO pay
lor eternal liberty and white supremacy
with reference to legislation and the
oanks he says: ''The greatest proportion
oI the time of our general assembly Is
1aKen up chartering all manner of Wild
cal schemes and country villages ana
sehool districts. All of these companies
ian be chartered under general laws ana
lney should not be allowed to enter the
seheral assembly. Nine cases out OF ten
ele state is put to greater expense than Is
Yer realized from the company.
ne ne practice of usury by our'banking in
s4tuuons is becoming alarming and is un-