The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-05-16
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"EE 70 q yKRY GUrTADLE lgAN FOR THE
30 GA1nY.n
Mn. EDITcn: Now that the people of
Anderson County will soon be called upon
70 choose State ofticars and representatives
for tho government Of the State for the
next two yearu, any suggestions calculated
TO cid the people in making the beat salec-
tions possible would perhaps not be consid-
cred improper. Governor Hampton him
self, as 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 psopic to send their ablest
and best men. This Is certainly good ad-
vice, and should be needed Our represen-
tatiyes should be selected now more than
ever before for their ability and moral at
ness, rather than their popularity. 1t 10
not always the case that the most popular
men ute the most suitable inen to legislate
for struggling snd almost ruined people.
Indeed, tho 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 !or the
times. Even Governor Hampton has been
assailed in certain quarters as IN unsuitable
candidate for Governor, because she has too
much weight TO carry" And the heading
of this article indicates feeling somewhat
prevalent i'll our County in casting about
for suitable men to represent Anderson in
the next Legislature. The question with
many persons is not, Is such on one the
most suitable? but, Is he the most popu-
lar2
Now, Mr.. Editor, we dissent from the
principle embodied In tho heading of this
article in toto. Practically, It is dangerous
to tho best interests of the people, and,
philosophically, It is entirely erroneous. It
is well.establisbed principle in morals,
and is gaining greater strength every day in
politics. that man who has no wei. hit TO
carry is rather worthless sort of man.
He hos never done any harm, and will be
very sure never TO do much good He is a
sort OF negative cbarac'er-an easy. good
for'no:hing sort of fellow. A man who
hos the ability and the courage TO discern
the right and strike boldly for It, must be o
man of nerve who is prepared to breast the
storm of popular breeze, If need be, rather
than swc.ve from tho path Of duty and
patriotism. Such Is Hampton. Such
should be the character of the men that
Anderson chooses TO legislete for our be-
loved State in these troublous and difficult
times. Will she do it7 Time alor., can
determine.
Agnin, there Is o little too much dsposi.
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 laudabe aspira-
tions of our young men. Far from It, But
let the yourg and the old be intermixed. SO
that rs our old and honored servants retire
from the field there will be enough younger
mon 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 NJ eympathize with them.
ana 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 1epre-
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 inteIest-from the
very hrst settlement of our State, has been
totally ignored, except fcs purposes Of tax
atiL:. Other classes might be favored. but
not the farmer.
Now that, as State, we arc starting
under new career, of prosperity or adver-
sity, as the foundations of government
ahali be securely laid upon the everlasting
Eock OF jnssics and .:Sh:eousncss, or upor,
the shifting sands of time-seryers and favor.
itism to certain classes ut the expense OF
others, we should be represented by men
who Will endeavor to restore the govern
ment az nearly as possible to that original
simplicity and economy, stamped upon 1t
by our forefatheru, 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 :: seiis government.
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, AID as an agent must necessarily be
substituted, they quickly select from among
all their acquaintances such an one as 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-.
tive5. BRUSHY CREEK.
Mr.. EDITOR: If you will refer back to the
files of yonr paper Issued Thursday, De-
cember 20th 1875, you will find n commn.