Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1869-05-21
Friday, May II, 1862,
THE ELECTION pNtFUEsBAT NEXTs

people dfiour District seed no ar-!
i gumegt from us to convince them
of the momentousiissues which are
involEed ip the election on Tues
day. next. Ostensibly it is merely
contest between individuals, but
really and emphatically 1t is a con-
test tor principle; death.struggle,
for all that we hold dear and esteem
sacred. Ostensibly it'has no politi-
cal significance, but really and truly
it is the desperate struggle of Radi-
calism to bind us hand ana foot-to
subject intelligence to the sway Of
ignorance-property to the rule of
paupefahh-to ostracise virtue and
character--to ignore the memories
of the past, to blight the hopes o.:
the future-to quench the light of
our civilization, and to land us into
outer darkness. White men of the
District! if there is in you a single
instinct OF race; intelligent men, if
there is a ray of light; patriotic
men, if there is an impulse Of true
feeling; men, of whatever color,
class or condition, if there is an at
tribute of manhood, a dictate OF
self-interest, perception of the
right and love of the truth; be
true to race; be true to civilization;
be true to country; be true to our
selves; be true to humanity itself.
BY the memories of the past, by
the hopes of the future, let US make
one last effort to preserve some
remnant of character for our Dis
trict, and to save our cherished
homes from the spoliations Of Rad
ical misrule. The success of our
last glorious triumph should nerve
our hearts and strengthen our
hands. The issues are the same !;
let the same zeal and activity second
our efforts, and we must achieve a
like success. q" .. '
Who is Lemuel L. Guffin that he
should ask at the hands of the peo-
pie of hbbeville, the highest Office
in their gift-an exalted position
held once only by the noble and the
peerless, who followed not "the
trade of. winning the hearts by i'm
posing upon the understanding OF
the people," and who chad no arts
but manly arts men whom the
people del gbted to honor, and who
repaid their kindness by looking
after their interests upon
whom office could confer no digni-
ty, but who honored the ofice-who
brought to the discharge of its du-
lies, the highest character and the
most enlarged ability. Win Lem
uel l.. Guffin pretend that he has a
single qualification which would fiji
him for filling creditably the posi-
ton Of Senator of Abbeville. Has
he education, has he experience,
has he capacity? What knows he
of law? what knows he of finance:
what knows he of those great prin.
ciples which lie at the basis of good
government, and of those wise
measures which conduce to the
greatness and glory of States
Nothing, absolutely nothing! His
:. education is the most limited-his
experience the most narrow--his
capacity the most ordinary. Why
then should he aspire to the posi-.
tion of legislator? Will he pre-.
tend that it is for the good of the
people? We scarcely think tha,
efrontery will go SO far. lie knows
that his motive is entirely selfish,
that he is carrying out the Radical
:: maxim, that .Fthc people are made
to give office, and not Office to bene,
tit the people He is a party man
--he is running on a party ticket, he
accepts the creed, .:swears in the
i words, land is bound to- carry ou,
:: the behests of ihis master, ana by
Gabiind and unquestionibgiobedience
81 purchases the parquisites' Of .Dfffce