The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-05-16
"HE IS A VERY SUITABLE MAN FOE TEE
PLACE, BUT HAS TOO MUCH WEIGHT
tn CARRYn

"HE IS A VERY SUITABLE MAN FoF! TEE
PLACE, BUT HAS TOO MUCH WEIGHT
TO CARRY"
Mr.. EDITOR: Now that the people of
Anderson County will soon be called upon
to choose State officers and representatives
for the government of the State for the
next two years, any suggestions calculated
to aid the people in making the best selec-
lions possible would perhaps not be consid-
cred improper. Governor Hampton him
self, rs our great standard-bearer, and look
ing to the great necessity in the future, as
in the past, of having an able legislative
body, urges the people to send their ablest
and best men. This is certainly good ad-
Yice, and should be needed. Our represen-
tatiyes should be selected now more than
ever before for their ability and moral fit
ness, rather than their popularity. 1t Is
not always the case that the most popular
men nte the most suitable tnen to legislate
for struggling and almost ruined people
Indeed, the history of the past ought to
convince the people of the dangerous ten
denotes of any such theory in politics. Not
the caterer to popular whims, but the man
of sufficient moral courage to dare to do
right, even though he must breast the pop
ular current, is the man certainly for the
times. Even Governor Hampton has been
assailed in certain quarters as IN unsuitable
candidate fer Governor, because "he has too
much weight to carry" And the heading
of this article indicates feeling somewhat
prevalent in our County in casting about
for suitable men to represent Anderson in
the next Legislature. The question with
many persons is not, Is such an one the
most suitable? but, Is he the most popu-
lar?
Now, Mr.. Editor, we dissent from the
principle embodied in the heading of this
article in toto. Practically, it is dangerous
to the best interests of the people, and,
philosophically, it is entirely erroneous. 1t
is well-established principle in morals,
and is gaining greater strength every day in
politics, that man who has no weight to
carry is rather worthless sort of man.
He has never done any harm, and will be
very sure never to do much good. He is
sort of negative eharacter-an easy, good
for-nothing sort of fellow. A man who
has the ability and the courage to discern
the right and strike boldly for it, must be
man of nerve who is prepared to breast the
storm of popular breeze, If need be, rather
than swerve from the path Of duty and
patriotism. Such is Hampton. Such
should be the character of the nien that
Anderson chooses to legislate for our be-
loved State in these troublous and difficult
times. Will she do it2 Time alone can
determine.
Again, there is little too much disposi-
ton, We think, to shove aside the older and
more experienced men of the country to
make room for Young America. This, we
think, is mistake. Not that we would
dissuade or discourage the laudable aspira-
tions Of our young men. Far from it. But
let the young and the old be intermixed, so
that rs our old and honored servants retire
from the field there will be enough younger
men fitted from experience to take their
places.
Again, if the people would be wise in
their selection, under the present order of
things, they should have an eye to the selec-
ton Of such men as sympathize with them,
and realize their necessities. The real estate
of the country bears the principal burdens
of government, and, surely, being the lead
ing interest Of our State, should have repre-
sentative men in the Legislature. Under
the old regime, while all classes of our peo-
pie were amply protected in their personal
and property rights, yet the agricultural
interests-the leading interest-from the
very first settlement of our State, has been
totally ignored, except for purposes of tax
alton. Other classes might be favored, but
not the farmer.
Now that, as State, we are starting
under new career, of prosperity or adver-
sity, as the foundations of government
shall be securely laid upon the everlasting
rock of justice and righteousness, or upon
the shifting sands Of time.servers and favor
itism to certain classes at the expense Of
others, We should be represented by men
who will endeavor to restore the govern
ment as nearly Us possible to that original
simplicity and economy, stamped upon it
by our forefathers, gathering lessons Of
wisdom from their sad experience, and
avoiding those shoals and quicksands upon
which they had we'll nigh wrecked the last
hope of the establishment of the great
American principle Of selfgovernment.
1t seems to your correspondent that our
representative men should be selected very
much in the same way, and upon the same
principle, that our business men select their
agents. Having certain business to be
done, and as an agent must necessarily be
substituted, they quickly select from among
all their acquaintance such an one rs they
think will most completely perform that
work, and then set about to procure his
services. This is good, hard, common
sense, and ought to be practiced by the
people in the selection of their representa-
tives. BRUSHY CREEK.
Mr.. EDITOR: If you will refer back to the
files of yonr paper issued Thursday, De-
cember 3Oth, 1875, you will find commu-
nicarion over the SIGNATURE of HDenocrat I"