The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1884-05-14
Does "Ccnascati0n" C0nRscate ?-The
Negro Tax.

We again express our regret that our
ainiable contemporary, the Abberilie
Press and Banner, should intimate that
n recent article in the NeWs and Courier
was unfair in its statement of the conclu-
sionS which were deducible from the Mt
terances of the Press and Banner on the
subject of public education, 1t is true
that we did not 'gravely combat" the
propositions of the Press and Banner, be-
cause by simply following those PROPOSE
tons to their legitimate result wo were
able to make all the argument necessary
to- prove that ourcontemporary's position
was contradictory and ~untenable. 1t
would grieve the Newy and Courier to
"ridicule" the Press and Banner, and.
if there was anything ridiculous in the
matter, it was not in II OF treat
ing the subject. but in the declarations of
our contemporary when subjected to loSi-
cal deduction and philosophical analysis.
We are not surprised to hear that tho
Press and Banner is still "conSci0us Of
tho correctness of its position" n is
ronsoled by u full and broad endorsement
in its county 1t is doubtless very pleas
ant to believe, when oi,e wishes SO to do,
that two and two make three; and 1t
must he still pleasanter to be sustained
in all that belief by nine-tenthS Of the
white people of 4 county, We must
therefore congratulate the Press and Ban
ner, while expressing our regret that 1t
has not specified wherein we were unfair
to it, or in whit particular our deductions
from its premises we're Ell oneou
We are tempted to pursue another prop
osition of the Press and Banner to Its IL
nal result, but we wish it understood that
the process is followed with no purpose
of %ridicullng our contemporary, hut
merely to assist ii in its search for light
and truth. The Press md Banner has
repeatedly asserted that white taxpayers
of Abheville protest against tho contirca-
ton Of their property for the education OF
the negro, and in the editorial from
which we have just quoted it says that
the Ncws md Courier fav0rs the prrpetu-
alton of the present plan of 'confiscating
white peoples property for this pnr-
pose. We will show how dire is the
plight of the white taxpayers Of Able.
Vile County, and to what extent the NewS
and Courier has assisted in the contisca'
ton of their property. Mr.. J. w Perrin,
treasurer of Ahheville county, made
some tine ago his settlement with the
State for the taxes of the fiscal year 1885,
and 'S3. His report shows that not one
acre of land in AbheviIle County was
cnntiscated to the State dnring the year
for non-payment of axes. Inquiry II
the Comptroller Generals office the othel
day elected the information that for years
pasl:no land has been forfeited to the
State in Abbeville County. This result
was unexpected.
: The News and Courier had hoped thai
at least Il half acre might be shown tc
have beer forfeited, SO that the proper
ton of "~contiscation" attributable to thu
two-mill educational tax could be com
puted for the information IF the public
and of our contemporary. But this poor
privilege was denied. The white taxpay-
ers of Abbeville County were so cruelty
prosperous AZ to ensure their lands
against confiscation, thereby running the
Press and Banners stock argument and
the Ncws a.d COarier's opportunity fol
making a statistical exhibit, which in its
atomic distribution Of losses amongst the
Aforementioned taxpayers would have
been Il mathematical triumph.
In conclusion, we respectfully, but
firmly, protest against being held re-
sponsihle for this showing. The whole
fault is in the white taxpayers of Abhe'
Vile County, who declined to abandon
their property that the Press and Banner
might he justifed.-News and Courier.
Our loveable metropolitan neighbor IL
wrcpg again. IT will be seen by a careful,