The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-11-07
Energy Our Duty, Apathy Our Cain.


If there is one thing which is without excuse,
it is public apathy, in time of common dam
ger and peril. We need scarcely recite the
wrongs and expressions under which the peo-
pie of South Carolina have suffered. These
are known and read of all men, and how the
rights of intelligence and of property have not
only been ignored, but trampled under foot,
and system of public spoliation and vicious
rule established, which has become by-word
and reproach wherever representative govern
ment and justice is either regarded or esteemed.
1t is one thing to be overwhelmed. 1t is an
other to fold the hands quietly to be riveted
with chains. There may be failure, with effort.
This, whether it commands will at least de-
serve success. 1t is quite another to cast aside
hope and yield to despair. If there was one
thing which, in the present crisis, was of more
importance than another, it was that there
should be at the least one representative of the
tax-paying interests in Congress. This oppor-
tunity was offered in the Fourth Congressional
District This had clear white voting ma
jority upon a full and thorough vote. A Con-
vention of the Congressional District was
called By this Ex-Governor B. F. Perry was
nominated. He presented the qualities of de-
cided talent, great frmness, and purity of pur-.
pose, and the most answering integrity of
character. He should have been supported
with alacrity. Every intelligent voter, in
should have strained every nerve for himself,
and seen that every neighbor and friend was
present, to have cast his suffrage and secured
an election so important and desirable. In
Greenvlle County alone, by the last census,
the respective voting was as follows:
White voters.
t0Inrp6 VOTERS
White ajority.................. ,5O2
And vet from the absence of voters and the
general indifference manifested, Ex-Governor
Perry's majority was only four hundred and
sixty-one votes. And so we might cite further
1t is manifest that if there had been full and
earnest ca m vote, Mr.. Perry would today have
been the member elect from the Fourth Dis
trict, and those who represent the property and
the character of the State would have one and
a worthy and able representative in Congress
of their interests and rights. But he has been
defeated, and this by an indifference or hope
lessness, which are alike to be condemned. We
cannot but repeat and re-echo the words of Mr.
Perry in his letter, published yesterday: at is
sad and melancholy to think that the honest,
patriotic and virtuous white people of South
Carolina are in some measure responsible for
this appalling condition of public affairs. In
many counties they did not turn out to vote on
the day of election. Can human weakness and
apathy exceed this? They see the corruption,
feel the hand of the oppressor, and bear the
crushing burden of taxes, and yet will not go
from their houses to vote for change in rulers
or government. If all had gone out to vote,
and had exerted proper influence with the
colored people," we might, at least, have been
The duty of every citizen, though he be in
an apparent minority, or whatever the odds
against him, is always to exercise his vote and
influence, and thus do his utmost to secure
good government. Without this, and is he not
playing into the hands of those whom he con-
demns, and helping to fasten the very yoke of
which he complains
We cannot recall the past But we may take
lessons for the future.-C Charleston Courier.