Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-09-08
Straps and faets.

ments for the ceremony have been
perfected by Mrs. Atkinson, wife of
Governor Atkinson, and the best man
will be former Senator II. w. B. Ham.
General Longstreet is 80 years old
and very deaf, Miss Dortch is % years
old and very pretty. The general is
expecting by every mail his appoint
ment from President Mckinley as
railroad commissioner, to succeed
Wade Hampton, and Miss Dortch is a
candidate for state librarian.
Postmaster General Gary has just
received from the postmaster general
of Canada, a full explanation of the
postal savings bank system in vogue
there. He also has received letters in
regard to the system from prominent
men all over the country, and farmers
especially, as banking facilities for the
latter are extremely limited. The post
master general is gathering all the in.
formation possible regarding postal
savings banks, and it is believed, in his
annual report, will call attention to the
best features of the systems of the var
ious countries having such banks, and
will recommend that congress authorize
the establishment of postal savings
banks in the United States.
"A rather sensational story comes
from New York to the effect that an
English syndicate, by bribing certain
French officials, has secured control OF
the Panama canal, and it is said the
tactics adopted were similar TO those
employed to obtain possession of the
Suez canal from the French. 1t is also
claimed that with the Panama canal
in the hands of the English the port OF
Colon will be fortified and become
greater, commercially, than Singapore,
and from a military point of view,
will be as important to England as
Gibraltar or Malta. 1t is quite safe
to say, however, that the United States
will object vigorously and effectively
to Colon being fortified by England,
and made strategic point for military
and naval operations. In the mean-
time, it would he we'll for this govern
ment to take up the work of building
the Nicaragua canal, and push 1t
through to completion as rapidly as
possible.
One of the two Negroes nominated
for cadetship at Annapolis has lost his
chance of appointment. This is j. 5.
Smith, who was named by Representa-
tive George White, of Chicago, to rep
resent the 5,h Illinois district, at the
Naval academy. Smith was to have
been examined sometime ago; but at
his request the time was extended to
September /, in order TO afford him
further opportunity for preparation in
his studies. He failed, however, to
appear at Annapolis for examination
last Wednesday, and the department
being 80 informed, the person named
from the 5th Illinois district as an al
ternate has been directed to appear
for examination. He is Ernest Schoe-
ter, also of Chicago, and has been al
lowed ten days in which to appear. II
he passes the examination he will re-
ccive the appointment that was within
the reach of Smith. The other Negro
nominee, Bundy, is now under exami-
nation at the academy, and it is ex-
pected that this will consume several
DAYS. Meanwhile it will not be known
whether or not he has passed unless
he fails signally in some important
branch.
Atlanta Journal: There seems to
be an impression that there is Fed
eral law prohibiting the use OF the
stars and stripes for advertising pur-
poses. In fact, one of the leading
American newspapers has recently
charged brewer with having violated
such a law by posting Autographs of
the flag with the brand of his beer
printed on the stripes. The fact is
that there is no such law in existence.
A bill prohibiting the use of the flag
for such purposes has been offered in
congress at every session for number
of years; but invariably, when it has
passed one house it has failed in the
other. At the last session of congress
the bill was not reported from the
senate committee having it in charge.
As result, there is no penalty for the
prostitution of the American flag.
There is, however, very strong senti-
ment against such an offense, and it is
almost certain that at the next session
of congress the bill will become law.
1t is significant that no American-born
citizen has ever been guilty of pollut-
ing the national emblem. The offend
ers in all cases have been citizens of
foreign birth. The law will enforce
the reverence for "Old Glory" that has
not been given voluntarily.
- The coming constitutional conven-
tion of Louisiana, says an exchange,
will take up the subject of suffrage
restriction in earnest. The New Or
leans press assures the country that
the evas;ve and vicious policy of other
southern states will not be followed !;
that the settlement of the problem
will be fair to all elements and condu-
Give to honest politics and good gov
ernment. The attempt to provide a
sided educational qualification
which bars out colored citizens and
lets in the mass of illiterate whites, is
declared to be dangerous and unwise.
All ignorant and illiterate voters are
to be disfranchised, the white litter
ates being sacrificed in the interest of
the community as a whole. The last
constitutional convention went so far
n, to rropt tha cuffraue to nnnatural-