The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-08-28

Il FLANK ON THE "IDOLS,n
Thc Abbcvillo Jfc1ju,n cont;nnes

The phosphate line, while the flank is
fought on the watchword Of "down
with id0latry." All that the Mediune
says about the evils Of hero worship,
in the abstract, VIC endorse. for we
feel that the undue praise Of one man
tends to dwaf public sentiment and to
control that free expression ofopinion
in the discussion of public questions
which is necessary for the full cnliSht-
eminent of the people and for the pre-
vcntion Of undue combinations by
which the government is run in the
interest of fcw.. The dangers from
an unconditional surrender TO the con-
troll Of any one man cannot be over
estimated, but in its fear on this SUBJ
icct the Mclium falls into the pit on
the other side, and, rs soon as q man
begins to gain public favor, constitutes
itself as a committee of one to prevent
the people from worshipping him. In
the discussion Of this subject the Me-
diam has seen proper to descend to
personalities, us follows: "Ever since
the campaign of 1876, service to lamp
ton has been the measure ola mans
fidelity to party, and SO it is now-un-
questioning support Of Governor Simp-
son is made the test of ones obedience
to law. There is lots Of sentiment in
such q course Of conduct, but there is
not bit Of manhood" That Govern
or Hampton occupied an unusually
prominent position in this Statcis true,
and ia accounted for in the fact that lc
accomplished an unusual victory, for
which our people would have been ig-
noble ingratcs had they not returned
| ~ NIL
ton was nothing more, however, than
sclf-rcspcct required. Governor lamp
ton did not control the State. but failed
to carry out some of lis most cher
ishcd plans, because the people diff
lGrcd with him i opili1n, rs OIL tn.
bond and University questions, tor i'll
stance. The allusion 10 Govcrnor
Simpson is entirely gratuitous, for
there has been nothing like hero wor-
ship for him. Hc has gone along
quietly performing his duties, and has
not sought in any manner what
ever. The only commcatlation Ee has
received is that which has come up
spontaneously, and is based entirely
upon his official acts. We have ditlcr-
cd with the governor upon several
questions, and expect to take different
views Of other questions from those he
cntcrtains, but that is not sufficient
ground to Justify an unreasonable and
discourtcous TRADE against him. The
lfetlium has never been satisfied with
any Governor, and probably never will
be. In fact, none Of us arc likely to be
pleased with every act Of a public man,
and it is bigotcd TO abuse a good man
because lie docs not suit you in one
thing, when, perhaps, he has pleased
you in dozen others. In forming our
opinion Of public men it is necessary
for us 10 take them on all average, and, =,
viewed in this light, we venture the as
scrtion that the administration of Gov
crnor Simpson is as good as any we
have over Ind in South Carolina. The
Meoiu'n also announces that there are
no great men in South Carolina, and
from its course we are satisfied that our
friend at least finds some sat sfact on
in this discovery. 1t evidently wants
our State to remain devoid Of great
mon, Tor as soon as any one reaches
prominence and success our contcmpO-
rary Immediately begins the work OF
trying to pull him down. If on the
contrary the effort should be to build
up Instead Of pulling down, perhaps
we would find that that there urc some
great men in South Carolina yet. The
caviling and tault-finding which is
done by some sclt-consiitutcd political
critics in this State tends to drive our
gacatcst men into the private pursuits
Of life, because they know that no
prominence can be attained without
the most wholesale misrepresentation
and abusc.-AnderSon MteUigcAcer':
"OLp ST." POINTS THE MORAL OF THE
| COSKLING-SpRAGUE AFFAIR.-Old ST
laid his hand upon his knec-cap and
said:
"Dis hyar 81 oradicl teol OBJ do I'll.
matiz minds me dat hits gwine to rain
bout for days an l'se licrbul to lose
dc run OBJ dc story"
(which storyT'
"Dat lcctlc romance up yondcr in
Rode Hum, twixt Conkling and GUY.
'ncr Spraguc."
"What do you think oft, ST, any
how!"
Well. sab, my opinions on desc hyal
qucschins is purity solid. fer fact
Now, in dis ease I'sc clarly satersfldc
dat dc Guy. was totin' 'rounA dc bcs
argument dat wuz lct him in dc prem
iscs."
"Thcn you approve Of the shotgun
remedy for domestic invasions?"
"Jcss cdzactlyl AM whcncbcr c,
man gifts hissef up to dat pitch, whcd.
der he's or musick teacher fun Gcrlnn-
ny cr chil-musicllin fun New Yawk
dat he does inter kamp on annudcl
mans home LOT, dc owner OBJ dc lot GO
dc rite Ter usc er rit oh 'jcclmcnt vic
ha'r-triggcrs am scnter-iro bucksho
kyartridgcsp
"Pcrhaps the law forbids, and fmn
ishcs another sort Of remedy"
"Dat mabbc so wild dc law dcy puts
under shcep-skin kivcrS, but dar's cl
onwrittcn law ob dis hyar lam da
when er manbuys marridgc-liccnso ht
gifts dc rite wild hit ter organize funcr
ills in his naborhood in desc sort oil
Emergencies
"And that looks reasonable"
"Dats do smoob-borc logick dat
wind up dc debate jess cZ well in Rode
Hum cZ In Gcorgy, an hit dat sort oil
or scckslun OBJ dc kodc dat's tackled on
my doah-post, yer hcah mc?"
And then the old man lilnpcd away