The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-05-16

and Mr.. Richmond Pearson, Republic
an, seated in his stead. although Craw-
rord was as fairly and clearly elected
US was any man who voted to put him
out This was as foul an outrage as
was ever perpetrated even by Re-
publican house, which, as l am fully
aware. is putting it strong.
MY business Is to practice law. Pol
1tics Is with me only a recreation. In
my professional work l long since
learned that fact favorable to my
SIDE OF case, stated by n witness for
the opposing side, has much more force
than If stated by one Of my own wit
nesses. Consequently to establish be-
yond all cavil that the Republican ma
)orlty did commit most palpable out
rage against the principle Of free
ballot and fair cOunt-of which they
falsely vaunt themselves the special
guardians-I shall call no Democratic
witness, but will rely on the evidence
OF an eminent Republican, thoroughly
conversant with the facts-tO wit. Gov
ernor Russell Of North Carolina. Sure.
~ even Republicans ought to believe
| nlm. Here Is what he SAYS:
The truth u.s." added Governor Rus.
SELL Pearson was fairly beaten by
Mr.. Crawford. His real complaint is
that he did not have votes enough.
There are other Republicans in the
state who think as do about it, among
them Colonel Lusk and Mr.. Smathers.
Ihey say that Mr.. Crawford ought to
want Mr. Pearson to be seated because
II means sweep for Crawford next
November. They think it worse than
that-it means the loss to us Of many
seats in the legislature. What is the
use OF our making the great issue as
to honesty in our elections If our own
party should perpetrate such q fraud
as this? Why, just think Of it. The
| whole city Of Asheville is to be flung
IN the ditch because q colored man
was arrested for perjury committed
during the contest, long after the elec.
ton. Why not throw out the whole
vote Of Buncombe county?"
Bearing Bitter Fruit.
Government by proconsuls is bearing
Its natural and inevitable fruit in Cuba
and elsewhere. That fruit is bitter
and nauseating. For week or two
the papers have been full Of the scan
dals touching the wonderful and ex-
traordinary allowances to our officials
In Cuba. The question as to them has
not been definitely settled, whether
these allowances were made with any
shadow of legal authority or were
made as "a military necessity" n
phrase which, like the mantle Of chari-
ty, Is made to cover a multitude of
sins. The country had scarcely had
time to catch it's breath after these
startling revelations before the press
notified us that a high Republican Off
clal over there had got down to plain
stealing. His name is Mr.. C. L. Neely.
For novice he started out strong, as
at his first grab he appears to have
cabbaged willfully and feloniously
some $4,000 of somebody else's money
uncle Sans money or the Cubans'
money. While G. Il. Neely will not
be a name for Republican spellbinders
to conJure with this year, it must be
said for Mr.. Neely that he took his
nerve with him when he wenr to Cuba.
have not been introduced to Mr.. Nee
ly and have no chance to study his
psychological processes at short range.
but judge that, seeing other no more
merlt0rlOus prOcOnsuls in the enjoy
ment of fat allowances" on the side,
he concluded he would make himself
IN allowance and proceeded to do so
without any unnecessary red tape.
That he "allOwanced" himself ut an
inopportune season for the Republican
spellbinders is patent. He, as 4 matter
OF ordinary gratitude to the McHan-
mates, ought to have postponed feath-
ering his nest until after the election.
but his impatience hurried him into
doing an untimely piece of business.
What the poor, benighted Cubans,
VINO Fought Spain SO long to rid them
selves Of Spanish plunderers and
thieves, will think of American plum
derers and thieves is a question which
Is liable 10 cause some trouble to Mark
Hanna, the apostle Of Republican puri-
ty and sweetness. The Cubans NAV
kick. Then what?
Hitherto l have frequently quoted
the Washington Post. AS to Mr.. Nee
~ that great organ of gOldbuggery,
imperialism and high tariff says caus-
tically:
OPEN THE BOOKS IN CUBA!
former treasurer of the postotiice department
In Cuba has just been arrested on a charge of en-.
pezzlement OF the public funds. The amount
not p,pbfn
or erect monastery, but quite sufficient for
modest robber ready to retire from the madding
crowd and lead life Of simple ease and plenty
ever after The story further goes on to show that
the prisoner. >ir G. +. Nicely, when arrested.
mad some $4,000 concealed in hio trunk What
became OF the remaining $4,000, if it be true that
he cmbezzled that amount, does not appear No
doubt the criminal proceedings will enlighten US
Dut for that we must contain our souls in pa.
thence.