Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-02
TILLMAN IN CONTROL
Militia Sent to the Scene Of the
Rioting.
QUIET ESTABLISHED At DARLINGTON
Preparing to Arrest the Constables'
AssaiIants.
THE GOVERNORS POSITION

At 1 o'clock this morning all was quiet at
Darlington. 8. c.. the scene Of the recent
riot. The troops were being placed on
guard and citizens were at their homes.
Early yesterday morning Gov. Ttllman
established telegraph censorship. placing
al militiamen, the most intelligent that
could be selected. in charge Of both offices
at Columbia. 8. c.. to supervise all messages
offered. These gentlemen carried out their
instructions and refused only a few tele-
grams that were calculated to arouse bad
feelings. Early in the day the governor
summoned the governors guards to the ex-
ecutive mansion.
Drawing them up In line, he addressed
them, saying that he was Informed that
their disbandment was not their fault. but
that they had been overawed by a mob at
their doors. He told them that they stood
before the people of the state as disgrace
and that he now wished to give them the
opportunity to wipe the stain from their
brow and to restore them to honor. 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 bayonets and were quickly
followed by several Others Their captain
begged them to desist and walt until the
governor had finished. Gov. Tillman, how
ever, told them that their action was salts
factory, 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 determined to obey orders to
port to the state penitentiary. The remnant
of the company marched to their armory,
and In five minutes thereafter they had dis
banded. During the day the governor noti-
fed the captains of the other companies that
the arms must be delivered to the state
within two hours. They replied that they
did not know where the arms were and that
1t was impossible to comply with his orders.
The governor informed them peremptoriy
that the guns must be produced. On hear
ing this. number of prominent citizens,
in the interests Of the peace and order, ad-
vised the men to give UP the guns.
On their earnest advice. the young men
expressed their willingness to do everything
In their power to put their captains in pos
session Of the arms.
The Governors Address.
At o'clock marching orders were given
to the troops stationed at the penitentiary
Gov. Tillman addressed them, saying: "As
chief executive of South Carolina, wish to
say few words to you before your depart
ure. I thank you for the promptness and
zeal displayed by you In responding to the
call for duty Many of you have doubts as
to the Justice Of the cause for which you 60
You are reform democrats and 'antis,' but
all South Carolinians, thank God. The Tea-
son Of your going to Darlington is caused
by the dispensary law, and 1t Is law as long
as 1t stands on the statute books. until re-
pealed 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 they lie. The right to search
private houses on a warrant is as old as the
law itself.
"They know that they are not telling the
truth when they try to make you believe
81, in, arl pffo loft
ing their liberties. / said In my message
to the legislature that a large force Of con-
stables would not be necessary If the police
of the towns would enforce the law, but
they would not do this. The dispensary is
not the issue now, but so long as it is on
the statutes. so help me God. 1 intend ito
enforce 1t. 1t Is not a question Of politics
to be fought out by ball and powder, but
by the ballot box. So much for the opin-
ions that you are going to uphold tyranny.
When the news came Of the trouble at OAR
lington, God knows that l was never more
shocked. When the officers Of the law
were shot down, was Mortified. The sheriff
telegraphed me that he was powerless. My
first and natural impulse was to appeal to
the military of Columbia. What did they
do? They surrendered, ingloriously, the
honor of being in the service Of their state,
but thank God there are men left who will
obey orders and not be swayed from duty
by adverse political opinion.
1.-TWO companies at Florence and Sumter
did likewise, when the action at Columbia
was known. We then see the spectacle OF
the adjutant general running over the state
trying to get men to go and do their duty.
then ordered out the fourth brigade Of
Charleston-that crack command. All they
did was to dicker with me as to what was
their duty. Those towards in Charleston
did like those in Columbia. Without q COM
pany at my command. begin to cast about
to see what could do to uphold the dignity
Of the laws. I thank God I nave found
them in you
You are going on a delicate and danger
Gus mission. You must remember that the
Darlington people are your fellow citizens
but they are in Instruction and it Is neces-
sary for you to go there to uphold the law
learn that they have destroyed a state
dispensary. Nobody did this but the ex-
bark eeper and their hirelings. You go as
an arm Of the law, and you must treat the
Darlington people with consideration. But
If you are ordered to shoot, you must 90 it, |
or anarchy will prevail in the state. 1 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 a proud day
for you. In after years you can hand down
as heritage to your children that you
went to Darlington on Tillman's orders, and
you are proud of It,"
No Trouble at Darlington.
There was not the slightest obstruction
or demonstration made by the people Of
Darlington when the military train arrived