Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-09-17

tracting anything from the dignity Of your posi-
toH, or even from the persuasiveness of YOUR edl-
TOTALS. "Stubbornness" and 'folly" in their or
binary acceptatiop do not occur to US as the most
appropriate terms for expressing respect for those
to whom they are applied.
You see that with the best intentions, when
prompted by zeal without knowledge, you may
injure, rather than promote the. cause which you
advocate Hoping that experience will not be lost
upon you-instead of "Due West" now sub
scribe myself, Yours, &c.
r. C. GRIER.
Due West Sept. 7th, 1857.
r. c. GRIER, d. d.
Sir-You are peculiarly fortunate, inasmuch
as superior education has enabled you to rectify
mistake on our part by the use Of sophisms,
without being under the necessity of exhausting
the rich store of facts which we suppose you have
still in reserve. 1t is moreover ground for con-
graduation, that you can defend yourself so deI-
terously with the weapon Of sarcasm, since IN this
progressive age" truth, as you seem to think,
requires some establishment. We do not know
what inference will be drawn by your readers, but
it appears to US, that had you shown yourself
more willing to rely the strength of your
after the readiness shown by US to make all due
corrections, it would not have diminished, in the
least, their credulity. Butyou seemto be impress
sed with the belief that an editorial flourish" is
ephemeral and will pass away, while from your
high position, you continue to fulmine against
those whom you seem determined to array as enc
mics. We are not surprised at this, for it is
common mistake on the part of individuals, to
suppose the Press will tremble whenever they
come forth panoplied for tilt at arms. 1t is an
error, likewise, into which many fall to rely upon
the "Aourish" of q name, snobbish supercilious-
ness, and the presumed dignity of their position,
under the belief that the Press will dread the die
tum of authority or shrink from exposing dslngen-
uousness in ''high places any more than II 1t
emanated from the humblest origin. 1t is always
an unpleasant task to disturb the vainglorious
compacency of those who choose to rely rather
on the advantag ges of position or the ingenuity Of
their logical Abilities than the strength OF their
cause and the inherent vigor of Truth.
But YOU will excuse US, if we cannot see the
force or the propriety Of answering positive
charge, with the bad logic of satire supported
with the "whistle of name" And you will ex-
cuse US, moreover, if, with the public, we wish to
know why you appear so indignant about charge
which if false was so through mistake, while at
the same time your own admissions are, to say
the least of then, equivocal? You are represent
ed as opposing the temperance movement among
the students. Your own admission is that you
only objected to their joining until your power
of opposition was annulled by the superior au-
thority of the parent. In the same manner you
can console the students with the assurance that
you do not oppose their taking little relaxation
that you will gladly permit them to visit their
homes, kindred and friends, whenever their pa
rents in the exercise Of their prerogative choose
to remove them. And really do you think this
satisfactory Or do you not experience the truth
of your own aphorism, and find "tbat with the
best intentions" an overplus of zeal may lead you
to mistake your own nclinations, for prudence
and good sense, and to injure virtuous cause by
O Difference shown to prejudice as silly as it is
contemplate?
Certainly it would not have detracted from the
"dignity of your position" had you shown your
self more conversant with the force of language,
in the awkward attempt, which you made to ap
pear neutral" We cannot see how You can
claim exemption from the charges made against
you by sheltering yourself under the plea of neu-
tralty. Your own language does not sanction
such plea, and when we take into consideration
the circumstances under which it was uttered, the
force which might have been given it by the man.
ner of expression, and likewise the actual impress
sion produced, We cannot pronounce it NEUTRAL
Glance at the circumstances which elected your
recommendation. The abuse of liquor, to use n
favorite term with its nasal-twanged advocates,
Mt length produced reaction favorable to Tenn
perance, in community which, itappears, rather
appreciates the praises which Horace lavishes on
the generous wine than the correctness and ele-
gance of his latnty. A number of students
having their own improvement and the good OF
their fclow-students at heart, propose to connect
themselves with the ''Sons': in other words they
propose to quit drinking and to persuade others
from the same sin. In regard to the movement
you use language which your hearers construed
Ito give the most favorable interpretation as fol.
lows: "You wish to take measures to make your
selves and otl rs temperate-I have no special
objections to seeing you temperate, as sobriety is
no great disadvantage to the student, but do not
join the "Sons" unless yourparents wish it," This
might lot have been the meaning you wished to
convey, but the effect produced will probably
"suggest few hints which may be of service to
you," when hereafter you attempt to occupy Q
neutral ground between good and evil.
Itmght have appeared to your superior acumen
that there is wide difference between the same
actions in different individuals and at different
times. A private man may appear neutral or
such subject or even q public functonary 81
long a. the question is not pressed upon his no.
tice. But when the issue comes up, neutrality
paradoxical as it may seem, is cfopposition.
The public could expect nothing short of encour.
agement on your part, the students who wished
to reform themselves or others could expect moth
ing short of this, and even that class who might
could form 10 other expectation and their surprise