The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1881-09-28
Constitutional Amendments.

Our lrlcnd the Suthdn Argus TcpllcS 10 our
article OF Inst week. Below we give his arti'
&C in full, intcrlined by our reply. as being tho
shortest way In which we might attempt to
answer. We will say In advance, that as a
whole, the amendments which that paper de-
sircs, would make the impression that he
would have q political Constitution. that
would l~cgislate a very large part Of our citi-
zenship out OF politics. No government like
ours can long stand, which is not Just and
kind TO the humblcst Of its subjects. The
strength Of this Republic lies in the loyalty
of the whole people. For this reason We
should seek TO foster q love and respect for our
laws.
To make constant cncroachmcnts on
the rights Of the poor. and to infict unneces'
sarily severe punishment on that class OF Of
tenders, will inevitably create in the minds
Of q large part OF our people, q feeling OF q dis.
trust, and a fear, OF those who may have i'm.
mediate control of the government. The
argus says:
"Our friends OF the Press and Banner bring
us TO task about our last issue alluding indi-
rcctly rather than directly to their paper. We
VIC had bad occasion to differ from the edito-
rails of that paper on several prior occasions.
and our article merely intended TO show our
readers the necessity of constitutional amend
menls, rather than to point them to what we
believed an error in our ncighbor., But as
our friends seem to desire II, when We
differ hereafter. we will alludc TO their paper
by name. The Press and Banner says. "our
and obedience to the Constitution Is the safe
ty OF our government, but our present Colsti.
tuition IL an imported one not suited to the
wants and necessities or our people and one
Of our great sources of political danger. 1t Is
q dangerous Constitution, never followed and
Obeyed even by It's Republican trainers and lis
contradictory rhrareo!ogy and unreasonable
demands, render 1t impossible for the dcmoc'
racy 10 obey 10.
Our friends want us to draw the inc of de-
narration between protecting the humblest
citizen and great mnnopO!ics. The line Is an
easy one: the hutnblcsl rs we'll as the wealth.
lest citizen should be protected In all the
rights OF citizenship so long as they obeytd
the lawsof the country. But we hold that Vi
~olution OF cchlain laws OF the land should dc
bar persons OF certain rights now exercised,
about which we will have more TO say farther
on In this article.
In speaking OF the prevention Of oppression
by monopolies, We .tid nothing, or advocated
nothing, that would prevent railroad develops
mcnt or discourage caipital coming into OuI
State. We believe In the right OF both indi.
viduals and corporations acquiring, and &C
using that property To the injury or opprcs
sion or any person or locality. Either fedora
or State Constitutional law limiting, no
hampering, tho franchises OF railroads and
other corporations would encourage siich cor
porations 10 bring capital into the State where
they know they would not he subject to re-
strictions by every succeeding Legislature. and
It would also prevent unjust discrimination
against different localities. Wee do not believe
that entire uniform rates arc possible, or tina
local rates can be made rs low rs through
freights, but there was n time, when excessive
freighls and unjust discrimination was SC
prpat there was almost 81 universal cOmnluln
from the papers OF our State and from pctl
tons from the people. There Is still complaint
but we admit that IT is largely, decreased by
our present progressive railroad supcrintcnd'
ents and by the efforts Of our efficient railroad
commissioner.
The Press aad Banner farther says he hopes
the Argus does not want any Constitutions
Amendment rs to social rights"
We would remark that no law was ever en-
acted, or can be enacted, which will REGULATE
a citizens social standing. The Argus how
ever turns from the SOCIAL question" tospeak
OF the school question, as follows:
" certainly want sec 10 Of article 10 OF tho
the Constitution modified or repealed. This
colleges, and universities OF this State sup.
ported in whole or In part. by the public funds.
shall be free and open to all the children and
youths In this state without regard 70 race OF
Bonner 1t does not suit the Argus. Our friends
are bachelors and have no children to edu.
cate, but we do not believe, IN fact we know,
that they would not be willing to sec white
and colored children educated In the same
school-room; yet. as long as this article Is q
part OF our Constitution the colored child may
demand this right. Now, 1t is useless TO say,
that both races are being educated and no
such demand Is being made"
1t would be equally useless TO say that any
such demands will ever be made by the color.
ed children.
ut is true that such equitable laws to both
races have been evaded by the democratic
General Assembly and so faithfully executed
by Observation-Disclosures, our school com.
missioners and school district trustees. that
We have heard OF no such demand or desire
yet, VIC cannot forget that 1t was demanded
when the radicals were in power and so on
forced that white professors Of intelligence,
and rare learning and ability, were forced to
resign their profeSSorships, and tho white stu.
dent was virtually driven from the walls OF
our honored State University. We dislike for
even a moment to contemplate the Republi-
cans getting possession OF our state govern
ment again; but In these days of Mahoneisfn
and Malone sympathy. we know not when q
change may coIne and we would prepare our
selves for the worst"
Being desirous of maintaining Democratic