The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-11-03
A Monopoly-Downz with Monopolles,

A MonoPoly-Down with. Monopolies,
Mr. EDITOR: We are frequently de-.
TERED from pursuing that which is in
keeping with right in the abstract, by
the inference OF the public that some
personal end is aimed at, where the
soreness of disappointment deprives us
of the faculty of discrimination. Such
sentiment is not the power that urges
us to raise our voices with indignant
protests against tho high handed course
of the Secretary of tho State Agricul.
tural Association with reference to tho
renting of the booths in the Fair
Grounds. We would not sully the co.
lumns OF your valuable paper, did not a
higher inspiration than that engendered
by personal loss urge us to cry aloud
with solemn misgivings at the unauthor-
ICED course Ok Tho Secretary, who, with
out consultation with the members of
the Executive Committee, in violation of
the rules governing every corporate
body, especially one in which all of the
citizens have an interest; encourages O
monopoly, under circumstances aggra.
vatlng in the extreme, to those possessed
OF booths in the grounds erected last
year, and detrimental in every particular
to the true interests OF tho institution,
inasmuch as it shows spirit which men
OF Mr.. Secretary Aiken's prominence
were too prone to arrogate to themselves
before the war-the spirit of contempt
for poor mans privileges and an utter
disregard OF freemun's g rights. We are
not democratic enough yet. nor will we
ever be until certain individuals are
tanght to respect the rights of the COM
munity among whom they stalk. tho de-
generate skeletons of broken-down
arlstocracy and of purse proud monopo.
lizers. Your readers. Mr.. Editor, are
not aware that the Secretary of tho So
ciety above designated has sold the ex-
elusive privilege of erecting liquor booths
IN the Fair Grounds, during the coming
fair, to all individual, for the insigniti-
cant sum of $500; and so anxiously has
this monopoly been watched, that certain
parties were denied the privilege of
erecting booth on the race cou rse, be-
cause lit was toe near the track" when
it Is we'll known that one of the monopo-
ilzers was erecting bar-room immedi-
ately under the judges stand, just on the
boundary line of the course. What n
state of things, when men to the man
uoK poIu buOulQ uuSClo away from their
property brother Carolinians! And why L?
because they are poor menl
All Of our poor friends in this vicinity
are urged. If they wish to gain premi-
ums, to attach high-sounding titles to
their cards of exhibition. An anecdote
apropos: One of our most deserving
fellow-citizens, whose calling, though
honest. was not in keeping with the dig
nifty Of certain high functionaries, sent a
blooded horse to the fair. It was, be-
yond all cavil, the most superb animal
on the grounds. It's owners avooation,
and his plebian name, lost the prize.
The following year he again entered the
animal. preGxing to his own name the
title of Colonel" The horse took the
first premium.
One question, and we leavo the mattor
with the public. Would it not be con
sulting the interests of the people, who
have the matter at heart, if the citizens
generally were not excluded from bid
ding on the leasing of tho Fair Grounds,
which now are let for petty sum, utter
ly shameful in the gentlemen having this
arrangement under their control?
MANY CITIZENS.