The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1874-08-26
Whats the Matter with AbbsWHe ?

!; Such is the caption of shorteditorial
in a recent number of the Pho'ni1,
which takes the Abbeville people and
the Abbeville papers to task, for lack
of zeal in organizing Tax-Unions, and
gives the Press and Banner sound
rating for. alleged concentrations OF
Comptroller-General Hoge's speech
The impertinence of such intermeddling,
VIC suppose, never occurred for a mo
ment to the sapient editor of that jour
nal, nor it's supreme righteousness as
coming from such source.
We would be pleased to know who
constituted the PhteniG the censor mo-
as1na of its professional brethren, OF
what special qualifications either in
zeal or capacity, it has shown to lead
the hosts of reform in our State. Its
course has been proverbially tempori'
zing and vacillating, and NOW under the
impulse of some newborn zeal, II
seeks to make amends for past derelic
tions by berating other journals of the
State for alleged shortcomings. People
who live in glass houses should not
throw stones." What has the Ph1nia
done for reform in Richland, that II
seeks to carry the crusade into Able
Vile? How many Tax-Unions have
been formed there, as the fruit of It's
newly inspired enthusiasm 2 But even
if the Columbia journal were able to
put forth more pretentious claims to the
leadership of South Carolina journalism,
and could boast more converts to its
teachings, we claim for ourselves and
the people of Abbeville the right to dc
our own thinking. We have not as
sumed the role which the Phoenir would
assign us, of arrogating to ourselves q
monopoly of the intelligence of Able
Vile, and hence would not be willing to
assume the responsibility of its short
comings. At least We would wish to
share the responsibility with its learned
lawyers, its skillful physicians, its intel
ligent merchants, and its patriotic
farmers and mechanics. If they
have been laggard in the work
of forming Tax-Unions, the natural
conclusion and charitable inference is,
not that they are wanting in public
spirit, but that they surveythe situation
through their own glasses, and are not
so sanguine as some of their contempo-
raries in regard to the wonders which
these organizations are to accomplish.
At least such are the reasons which in
tiuence us in Withholding our support,
and we are gratified to know that our
views are held in common with large
number of our most intelligent and pa
triotic citizens. The avowed purpose of
these organizations is to bring about
resistance-passive resistance, you may
please to call it, yet still resistance-to
the power of the Government. This is
revolution, disguise it as you please.
So much for Tax-Uniotis.
AS to the charge OF the Pheair, of our
having given laudatory notice of
Judge Hoge's late speech, it is so en-
tirely misrepresentation, that we can
not believe that the editor read our no.
tice, but is indebted for his information
to the "Abbeville gentleman" of whom
he speaks, and whose information he
perhaps unwittingly distorts. We made
no commendation of the Comptroller's
speech, but spoke simply of his integri-
ty aud capacity, rs shown in the admin
of the Comptroller's office,
which would not be gainsayed, we
thought, by friend or foe. 1t was an
act of simple justice to an opponent.
With regard to the speech itself we said
nothing.
We trust then, that hereafter the
Phoenir will read our articles before
them the basis of all attack.
Perhaps it would be the dictate Of sound
wisdom to abstain altogether from this
and to follow the example
Of the Tennessee man, who was once
quoted by General Jackson as having
made q fortune by "minding his own
business"