The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1884-04-30
The Meeting on Salcday.

frat political meeting OF the
While no matters of vital interest to the
welfare of the county are involved, yet 1t
il not to be denied that the action Ut the
County Clubon that day may decide some
questions Of general interest to the peo-
! pie at largo, and Of special Interest to the
citizens Of particular localities. The con-
test for County Chairman. and the elec-
ton of delegates to the State Convention
may have the effect Of healing any little
local differences and preiudices of opin.
lon which may have heretofore existed.
On the other hand these elections may
bring out the old skeleton with which to
revive u local contest, and to excite feel
ings which should not exist among our
people.
The people Of Abbsville county have
never disregarded the interests and the
claims Of the people of Ninety-St1. The
result OF former elections, We think. Will
prove the correctness Of this assertion
At the last election a proposition was
made to change the Constitution of the
State whereby tho area OF counties wax
limited to G25 square miles. This was a
change of the old settled policy Of the
State, and, as a matter Of course, involved
a division OF sentiment and = diversity Of
interest. After a holly contested election,
the matter vas decided.
It would seem that in ordinary cases,
Were a contcs. is closed, that the war
should stop. Until recently We had sup
posed that such WAS the case in reference
to the new county question, but wo are
informed that such is not tho fact. and
and that rs a reward for advocacy Of the
new county some Of the candidates for
position are to get the full and undivided
vote of Nincty-Slx on Monday next.
If the vote of Einety-Six should DO
given to any candidate as a reward of su-
perior merit or of better fitness for the
position, then it is all right and proper,
but If it is as q reward for political opin-
ion, then 10 it not a declaration Of Il con-
tinuation of strife, and ar effort to pun
ish the people Of Abbevillc county for a
conscientious vote on q question about
which the best, the wisest, and tho most
patriotic citizens may differ?
If the county question was a live issue
it would be perfectly right and natural
for N%inety-Six to vote for those who sup
ported their side of the question. But
when tho matter has been settled. for a
time at leust, It would seem to us that a
mere qualification of q little spite or the
inniction Of a little wrong, would be =
poor remuneration for the a~ntagonisms
which such q course would be very like
ly to follow. II Sinety-Six rewards her
friends with votes, is it not natural and
right that the other side should reward
their friends in like manner
TO 80 beyond this. Other elections are
to be held in the coming campaign, and
II this is to be an unceasing war. Ninety
Six, with her few hundred votes, will,
in all probability, burt herself worse
than she will hurt her neighbors in other
parts of tho county. Already Ninety
six OdS u CstuuludIC II WIG 11SiN W. oAA\0
at the hands Of the people Of the County.
To renew this old matter may be OF no
particular advantage to him at this time.
In fact, as the withdrawal Of support Is a
game at which more than n can play, II
Ninety Six wants to iniure the prospects
Of the candidate hailing from that section
it is barely possible that no surer neans
could DO adopted.
For our own part we do not see what
Ninety Six expects to gain BY an une-
o2al contest with tho remainder of the
County. While she may feel safe to in
nict a wound at u time when she has no
candidate for Legislative honors, yet the
time will come when some OF her cit
liens may expect and deserve the votes
of the very people whom they may now
lie seeking to wound. But, if Ninety
Six proposes to go to war, we think 1t we'll
for us that we receive the first shock Of
battle at the beginning Of the canvass.
1t Is right and proper that we understand
each other, and tho public, we feel sure,
will thank Ninety Six for the enuncia-
ton Of a course Of action in reference to
tho dead issue. If Ninety Six proposes
to slaughter candidates for the Legisla-
ture because Of their opposition to the
new county. then we say, may the act
bear its Legitimate fruits. We have no
fear of results. Ninety Six is q fraction
al part Of Abbeville County, and If she
desires to excite tho p~rejudices Of the
greater part Of Abbeville County it Is a
matter Of her own choosing. If Ninety
Six chooses to call for a division, 1t Is
her right, il she, in her wisdom. chooses
to do 80. It will then be her privilege to
uphold her candidates, and it will be our
duty to support ours.