The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1882-02-08
Wednesday,, Feb. s. 1882.
Senator Fisl,t:rne in a Sea Of Troubles,

Senator Fishhcrne in a Sea Of Troubles.
Inthis weeks paper, we present our
readers a few long articles rhout
Columbia matters, but not enough to
give the reader a basis upon which he
may found an intelligent opinion
rs to the rause of the difficulty between
Gen. Kennedy and Senator F~ishburnc.
IN matters like this where every
man wants facts, that he may form his
own conclusions, The reader naturally
turns TO the daily reports Of the plo-
ceedings OF the General Assembly
which the public understand to be the
records of actual facts, without color
ing or reference to the personal prefer
ences or prejudices Of the editor or re-
portcr. We failed 10 find any men
ton at all Of this affair iii the semi-o:-
fetal proceedings As published in the
News as1 (oaricT', and only the bar
est mention of it in the Rcgisfcr.
The Register while giving some facts
Oh the local page, and eNculpatinS cr-
erybody from blame, except Senator
Eishburne, let slip Il few significant
words, besides giving Il reasonably
fair statement OF facts as they occur
red at the Office CT the Trial Justice.
1t will be observed by reference to the
Legislative proceedings as copied from
the RcgiStc- that the only mention by
the Register OF the speech which
caused the difficulty with Lieutenant
Governor Kennedy, was in these
words: MI. Fishburne renewed his
"effort 10 pass the bill Ito relieve GER
'.tain counties from the operation OF
1.-the stock law and spoke at some
"length and with marked earnestness
''against the motion CT Mr.. Nylie.
''In speaking Of the merits Of the
measure, Mr.. F%ishburne repeated the
arguments employed by him yestcr-
"day. which were fully reported in the
"Rcgister." That speech we have
copied from the Register into the col
umns of the Pres and Banner.
There can he no doubt that Sena-
tor Fishburne did something on
the following day which the Pres
ident of the Senate thought to be
wrong. Exactly. what that something
was, no one can tell from the printed
reports, and wherein the President OF
the Senate offended the Senator on
the floor does not appear. But it is
nevertheless true, that he did grievous'
ly Offend Senator Fishburne, when
presenting his arguments in b. half OF
a measure in which he felt the keenest
interest.
But we are left in the dark rs to the
actual facts. No mention being made
of the matter in the reports which
should be fair and impartial. and SC
little having been published in the ar,
ticles which have the appearance of q
desire to mould public opinion with
out giving the facts, we are unable to
speak anvisedly. We have always
had a high regard for Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor Kennedy, and we call hardly
believe vi own eyes when we read OF
his share in what a special reporter OF
the Neus and Courier terms "the most
"disgraceful scene yer witnessed in
''the Senate Chamber of South Caro-
Gina" Governor Kennedy we be-
lieve to lie one of the most conser-
vative and most polite mel in the
State, and when we read Of his irrita'
ting a poor unfortunate Senator
against whom he had ruled, and
against whom the prejudice of oul
whole people is arrayed we miss the
larger heart and kindlier hand, which
we have ever believed he possessed.
We have no words of excuse or pal
liation for Senator Fishburne's deser.
ton Of the Democratic party, but We
cannot endorse any persecution of him
on that account. We condemn the
persecution-if persecution it is-be,
cause persecution is wrong in itself
And we condemn it, because it will, il
this policy is pursued, materially in
jure the prospects of the Democratic
party. y system of terrorism will
mot succeed permanently. The best
way to succeed is to DO right, and the
best way to perpetuste a political par,
ty is to be just. Many good mel in
this State are soreiy aggrieved at the
passage Of the stock law, and if we
have not the sympathy and co-opera-
ton of that class of our citizens We
may next fall find it hard to elect oui
candidates.