The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-09-10


Charleston. S. c.. Sept 9-Charleston.
more than any other American city. bears
the physical marks Of the struggles
through which the American people have
passed 20 their enjoyment Of the pres
ent peace and plenty. Gray age is held
In great respect in Charleston. and there
fore there are old buildings, old customs,
old manners. Among the priceless pos
sessions Of the city IS a broken and bat
tered bit Of marble, which is in itself, an
epitome Of the history Of the country.
r It Is a marble statue Of William Pitt,
FIRST Earl Of Chatham one Of the great
est Of English statesmen. When the
American colonies protested against the
injustice Of the British Stamp ACT, South
Carolina was earnest in its remonstrance,
although 1t really suffered but little from
the stamp tax, and was highly favored
by Parliament, which gave it q bounty
for indigo. But the petted South Caro-
hnians abhorred the principle Of taxa
ton without representation. When the
elder Pitt effected the repeal Of the OBJ
nOxiOus stamp act in 100. the South
Carolina provincial assembly, on motion
Of RaWlins L0wndes. ordered the cree
ton OF the monument to Pitt, the true
friend Of the Americans, who are the
true sons Of England.
-Four years later the statue came from
Europe, ard was set up at the inter
section Of Broad and Meeting streets.
Just in front OF St AnchaeTs Church,
then but nine years old The statue
represents Pit as speaking. clad In the
toga OF a Roman senator. After William
Pitt had become the Earl of Chatham
and prime minister. his activity in be-
half Of the Americans ceased, because
Of his fast failing health. But even Pitt
could not have stopped the headlong and
headstrong policy OF the British govern
ment. inspired by the King. which caus-
ed the revolt Of the American colonies.
The war came on, and Charleston, as
one of the principal ports, was the object
Of more than one hostile demonstration.
finally falling into the hands of the Bit
'ish. A cannon ball from an English sun
in 17S0 demolished the right arm Of Will
lam Pitt. The statue was taken down
and stored away after the Revolution but
after some years was again set up In the
grounds OF the Orphan House. Here the
children always thought it was a statue
Of George Washington just getting out
Of bed"
Once again Charleston was a be-
leaguered city, and for three long years
was set about by the army and navy of
the United States. During that long
EOmbardment q shell fell IN the Orphan
House grounds and the shock OF its ex-
plosiou cracked the neck Of the statue.
almost severiug Pitts head from Chat
hams body. The whiteness OF the marble
has been stained by the smoke Of more
than one confiagration but the great
earthquake has left no mark Eighteen
years ago the statue was again removed
and set up in the park surrounding the
City Hall, not q hundred yards from its
original position. 1t typiies the graft
tude OF once loyal British colony 20 a
friend in Parliament, but Il bears the
scars Of a successful struggle against
British dominion, and of an unsuccessful
resistance TO the supremacy of the Fed
eral union Of American States.
Other cities have monuments which re-
mind patriotic people Of the events of a
glorious past but in Charleston there IS
no need Of marble and bronze memorials.
The Revolution and the civil war, in one
way OF another. are still a part OF the
daily life Of the people Family histories
are known and the deeds OF the members
Of each family for a century or two are
matters Of common knowledge. The de
scendants Of him whe was Tory have
hardly been able TO restore themselves TO
entire public esteem by a hundred years
Of devotion 10 Charleston. Yet all
ChaFlestonians are proud Of the remnants
Of na "a ~ e
arms OF George III has never been taken
from above the door Of Goose Creek
Church
South Carolina was first Of the thirteen
Colonies to carry resistance to English
power. TO the extent Of forming an indie
pendent provincial Congress New Eng
land States at the Hartford convention
may have expressed very Independent
opinions. but South Carolina was the first
State to actually attempt notification Of
Federal law. When the break between
the North and South came, South Caro-
lima was the first State to secede, and it
was at Charleston that the first fatal shot
was fired at the Union flag The South
Carolinians sometimes make mistakes. bat
they cannot be accused Of a lack OF indie
pendence. What South Carolina is to the
Union, so Charleston is to the State.
The people of Charleston have been
known TO successfully nullify State laws.
especially those relating to the LIQUOR
traffic. When Zen Tnlman was governor.
and the new liqJor laws caused rioting.
some Of the ancient and honOra bic militia
companies of Charleston, with proud rec
ords, antedating the Revolution. resigned
rather than aid IN enforcing the obnox-
ious VIII of the States chief executive II
IS writ in the law Of South Carolina that
Intoxicating liquors shall be sold from
county "dispenseries." The cheering Gun
must not be quafted on the premises. Pur-
chases must be made in Original pack
ages. In Charleston this statute Is multi
fed. liquors are sold through the me-
dunn Of that beast popularity known as a
blind tiger. but that animal is not .
timid and shrinking creature here. His
lair IS vide open, and the strangest OF
strangers may go in and purchase
package" Of a variety original only with
Moan. Leading citizens are attempting to
stop this practice, and the Charleston
News and Courier, a newspaper. Of great
influence, is urging that the blind tigers
be closed. When a grand jury refuses 10
return true bills. however. and the public
sentiment IS largely with the ''nunifers. %
little has been accomplished.
Charleston protests against the oft re-
peated statement that the city is dead. "
It does not pretend 70 the high relative
Importance which it once enjoyed as the
second port city Of America. but #
rightly objects 70 the stories which tell
that its prosperity is all Of the past The
cotton that used to go to England from