Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-09-14
A RASH ElIT0K.'
The editor of the Spartanburg I

The editor of the Spartanburg Herald makes
some suggestions in the last issue of that
paper, which, viewed in the light of recent,
events in York county, may be regarded as
the extreme limit of rashness, the ne plus
ultra of impertinence, and wanton disregard
of the rights and privileges of the Legislative
candidates before the people of Spartanbure
county. The editor of the Herald has had
the temerity, the unprecedented rashness, to
suggest to the candidates for the Legislature,
canvassing that county before the primary
election, to define their views, as the edito,
impertinently expresses it, ION questions
that must certainly arise in the next session."
From the Herald'S standpoint this exhibition
of interference may seem eminently right and
proper but we warn him, that according to
theory evolved in the York county prima-
ry canvass, he is on dangerous ground not
only is he invading the sacred rights and priv
ileges of the candidates by suggesting that
they "explore their explatterments, but in
thus attempting to "spring upon them ques-
tions for discussion" he is likely to ''spring"
a mine the explosion of which may be attend
ed with direful results. Perhaps the Herald
has yet to learn that voters have no rights
that a candidate is bound to respect and
though candidates are proverbial for polite
ness, affability and even gentlemanly deport-
ment, yet arouse one by asking "a pertinent
and practical question: and he wakes wroth,
greatly to the fear and trembling of the hum
BILE voters who were so presumptious as to
meddle with a estate question" These re-
marks are induced by the following arrogant
article in the Herald, and again we warn the
editor of his danger:
The time for the primary election is rapidly
approaching Our citizens will soon be called
upon to decide whom they will elect to the va
riOus offices within their gift. Upon what
principle will they make their decision : We
refer more particularly to the candidates for
seats in the legislature. Now, we contend
that our people should not send representatives
to the legislature simply because they are kind
and clever men. They are sent there to repre-
sent our interest, andit is but fair that the vo-
tiers should be thoroughly advertised as to the
views of candidates on questions that must
certainly arise in the next session.
What for instance, will be their action with
regard to the proposed division of the county ?
Certainly the question of dividing counties is
an important one. But what will be the ef-
feet of making two counties out of the pres
ent county of Spartanburg hardly any one is
heard to enquire. Will it be to the benefit of
Gaffney at this time =? How will it affect the
interest of Spartanburg city and county? Sure
ly our people ought to hear something in a
matter of such Importance.
Then there will probably arise some question
with regard to the powers of the Railroad Com;
missioner. Is he to have no power to cheekktT
the exhorbitant demands of railway corpGfa-
tions ? 1t is said upon good authority that
the rates of freight North and East ars'to be
increased this fall from 10 to 20 per cent |
This will certainly affect the price offcotton,
and the result must be that thousands Of dollars
will be taken from the pockets of the people
and deposited with the corporation. Proper
legislation, it seems to US, could regulate, or
at least check the excesses of freight rates.
Are our people to know nothing of the views
of their candidates on so important a subject ?
Then the old question of continued appro-
priation for higher education, will doubtless
again arise and other questions of more or less
Importance
What we contend for is that our people be
informed Oh the leading questions of the day |
We believe that our elections could he made |
and should be made an educating influence
We venture the assertion that the candidate |
who avows his conviction and fights it out on |