The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-04-29
The Good spirit of the 'AObcviIle
MeSxenser.o

Our neichbor Of the Medium stated last week that
he was In favor of the road, but wanted more light.
We think the light Is furnished now, and We hope to
see him range himself with his strong personal In.
fuence md that OF his able journal, on the side Of
progress. We trust and believe that he can and will
now advocate and assist in this splendid rnl road,
which, his good cuInUon sense must tell him Is a.
least our best hope Tor increased rail road facilities.
And We want to see our friend Of the Press and
Banner range his excellent rupcr alongside the Ne
dium and MESSENGER In . brave etfUrt tn build up
our barren and waste places. We hav. no doubt that
he hus argued himself into the honest belief that his
course is ri:ht. But we hope that In the lisht Of
these recent and latest developments he will See this
question differently, aud will give It his strong sup.
bort. lie will MT let personal feeling stand In the
way Of O public duty or the achievement Of public
gond. Douttlrss there have been said some things on
both sides Uf this question, that might Well have been
left unsaid. But these can be easily overlooked In an
united effort to accomplish o great good for this
community and country. There Is great truth in that
trite old maxiw -united we stand, divided We fall"
And this is especially true uf 70 small o community as
oars. Concert Of action is essentially necessary to
to success In any great enterprise that We undertake.
so. gool friends let us forget our differences IN on
honest, hearty and united eff 'rt to arrest the danger
that threatens the prosperity of our town and cOnn.
try. Let us make a long pull, o strong pull and A
pull al,osethcri In this last attempt to build o grand
trunk llne uf Railway through our county.-A6bc-
rile Messenger.
We heartily rec.procato the kindly express
sions contained in the above paragraph, and,
so far as we are concerned, while holding fast
to our principles, and our convictions, we are
more than willing to overlook all that has
been said on the other side, and would make
! any honorable amend for any thing which we
have said, and which "might well have been
left unsaid." We thank our neighbor for hay
ing come half way to the right station, In
that he seems to express n willingness to have
peace, and n desire to have unity OF action
among our people. We congratulate him and
ourselves that the advocates of the Carolina,
Cumberland Gap and Chicago Railroad arc
even willing to have peace with those OF us
who do not see rs they do. Since our neigh
Dor In a manly spirit has expressed adcsire to
have thai unity OF sentiment ana oneness OF
action which guarantees strength and hRr'
mouy. we now propose 10 him that he offer us
more equitable terms than an absolute and
unconditional surrender. 1t will be noticed
, that he asks us to maxi an unconditional sur
/ render Of all our rights, including all our con-
| victions, as well as to allow the company 10
appropriate to their sole use and benefit
n large part Of our property. This
we cannot co. 1t will be noticed however
that he made his proposition In n kindly way.
and In no evil spirit, for which we thank him.
But we cannot yield to bis request for an I'M
conditional surrender. When he proposes q
compromise OF wishes, and a reconciliation OF
differences, then we will give our hearty CO.
operation, and meet him fully half way. But
If the stockholders of the Carolina, Cumbnr-
land Gap and Chicago Railroad propose to
grind us under their feet, and take our money
from as, they must do so by art, by strategy,
or by such force as we are unable to resist.
We will not accedo to their demands, the
manner Of which Is not less offe nslve than the
unjustness OF the movement Itself.
We begged the tool hOlderso OF this road not
to prccipitnte this matter. We did this III or.
der that we might discuss the subject in a
friendly way, when we might ascertain the
merits of the different proposed roads. and
then abide by the decision Of q majority ol
our people, and we pledged the Press and Ian.
ner, so far as possible to- faithful acquicscencc
in whatever might seem TO bc the wishes of q
majority Of the people. This reasonable prop
osition was declined, and the proposition tc
run over Us, rousll-sllod, was openly and def
nntly made. Our sclf-reSpcct would allow Us
, no other alternative than to resist the en-
c%roachment on our property, which We vii
do to the last hou
Again, thanking our neighbor, the McsScn,
ger, for the good spirit which pcrvadcs his ar
ticie. and expressing due qualification at any
, evidence on the part Of the stockholders o
the Carolina, Cumberland Gap and Chicago
Railroad TO treat US us nciglbors and friends
who arc as much Interested In tho welfare o
the own rs they are, we pledge ourselt to d'
our level best to bring about peace, ON any
terms which would be just to US and lalr Il
>, them.
= But let it not be understood that we Will, fo
!, one moment, ever consent to the proposition
, to allow them to run riot over the property 0
the people, to raise money for the private us'
, OF their own corporation, and to sustain OIL
GERS on muniflcent salaries, While earnin,
, none OF the money.