The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-06-05

THURSDAY, JUNE 5. 1884.
TERMS:
ONE YEAR-..................... -sl.oo.
SIX MONTHS....... ................. 7oc.
Two Dollars If not paid In advance.
THE PRESS AND BANNERS CRITICISM.
The Abbeyille Press and Banner enters
the contest for Colonel Aiken in the
following article replying to our article
to which Col. Aiken has already replied:
Z ssThe above criticism of Colonel
Aiken seems to be one of series OF
Z articles which has lately appeared in that
paper. Wewould not for moment deny
the right of any paper to criticise any
: public servant, but as the editor of the IN
TEhI1GENcEE is supposed to be candi.
date for Colonel Aiken's seat in Congress,
lit occurs to us little unfair for the
editor to use his paper to ipjure his com.
!; petitor, at q time when he is absent from
| home. Colonel Aiken is in Washington,
no doubt discharging his duty with his
accustomed zeal and fidelity. Colonel
Aiken's political views may be very much
at variance with those of the lNTELLI-
GENCER but, upon general principles, we
believe Colonel Aiken is as apt to be
: tight ns the editor of the INTELLIGEN-
CIR. For instance: Colonel aiken has
never said anything which appeared to
us as ridicnlously absurd, as the idea OF
running that antiquated old fossil, Tilden,
: for President. And the INTELL1aENcER
!. seems equally in earnest about electing
|. that old mummy as he is to defeat Colo
Z mel Aiken. For our own part, we are
disposed to give Colonel Aiken's views
proper consideration, and We have no
doubt that his views, if adopted, even
I admitting the truth of the gloomIest
prediction of the INTELLIGENoER, would
have a less fatal effect upon Democracy
and good government, than would the
nomination Of that old resurrected corpse
1 from New York for President.
Let it be understood that We have no
unkind feeling for the INTELl1GENcER.
4 On the other hand, if Colonel Aiken vas
out of the race we know of no one whom
We would sooner support for the place:
+ But we must protest against the use OF
the INTELI1GENcER to prejudice tho
public against good man, who ls IN
Washington discharging his duty with
fidelity. Colonel Aiken's views are Ger.
,iainly not more absurd than the propo.
,sition to nominate Tilden fol, a position
which he IS avowedly and admittedly
unable to fill, even if he were elected.
The nomination Of Tilden would certain
II preclude the possibility of the election
of q Democratic President, even il. the
nomination did not put the party in
state of disintegration."
ST We do not object to the Press and Ban
ner defending Col.iAiken and advocating
his reelection. He is an Abbeville nan,
and the personal associations and County
pride of our contemporary would lead it
to espouse his cause, but we submit to
our friend that its ground of criticism
upon us is not exactly fair, The editor
ofsthe INFELLIGENcER happens to be 8
candidate in opposition to Col. Aiken.
That candidacy does not retire him from
the editorial charge Of che INTELL1GEN-i
cER. AS an editor it is his duty and
privilege to comment upon passing events;
in such manner as be deems proper. The.
fact that he is a candidate does not make.
it wrong for him to entertain or express
an opinion. The only question atissue
over those opinions is their sincerity and
their correctness. The Press and Bonner
will not question the sincerity of the In
TELL1aRNoER in opposing the disruption
of the National Democratic party. It
has been our position repeatedly, and its
present expression is no departure
Neither does the Press and Banner deny
the correctness of that opinion, but seeks
to compare it with another opinion of the
INrELIaENcER upon a different ques-
tion. The Press and Banner has Alright
to combat the INTELL1GENcER's opinion
upon the probability Of Tilden's nomina-
tion and election, but it cannot consls-.
tently argue because we hold those.
opinions, which it thinks are wrong, that
we are wrong in criticising Col. Aiken's,
new party idea.
Before condemning the INTELLIeEN.i
GER we would like for the Press and
Banner to answer the following question
SIS it in favor of breaking up the Ma
tional Democratic party, aud forming
Southern party TO vote on all questions
independent of party affiliations If it
is in favor of this policy, then it agrees
with Col. Aiken, and properly censures
the position of the 1NTELLIdENcER; but
if it is not in fayorof thispolicy, itagrees
with the INTELL1GErcER, and ought
ito find other grounds to censure US than
the expression of an opinion in which it
concurs. The question between Col.
Aiken aud us is, not whether we are
correct about Tilden, but whether -wearo
correct in opposing the new party move
ment. a.,1.,.
:. The fact that Col. Aiken is member
of Congress does not make it wrong for
other candidates to express their opinions
upon his positions, nor is it wrong to
publish those opinions. We have pub.
lished Col. .Aiken's views as we'll as our
own, and what is more than that we
have always sent him complimentary
copy of the INTELIIGENcER, so there
was no danger of our making any publi-
cation he would not have the opportunity
to see. We have given his articles space
in the INTELLIGENcER, and the people
have been given both sides of the con-
troyersy. We cannot see any unfairness