The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-06-10
A Beautiful Row.

~"
Grccnvillc owes Congressman Dihblc some
thing for his efforts 10 secure the United
States court house building. for this city, and
We do not forget IT.. But we must say he Is
engaged in very silly clild'S play now.
The exchange of cpithctS through ncwSrH
pcrs be.wccn grown men is usually foolish
bet ~ccn men holding responsible public posi-
lions, representing respectable conStltuencic.
and supposed to set some sort of decent cx-
ample, IL IS criminal.
Mayor Courtrnay is not responsible for the
present exhibition. What he said of Mr.
Dibblc was said In Il communication to Sccrc-
lary Lamont. not intended to reach the pub
lie eye. The fact That a man holds II public
office does not forbid him to express his Opin.
ion Of another mans conduct t. the persons
Immediately interested. But th0rc Is no nc
ccsSity or excuse for obtruding Il retrrt to
such an expression OH the general public.
The thing is made all The more absurd and
i, relieved OF any dignity that might be given 1t
by the possibility Of tragedy by the evident
fact that all this deaunciation Is entirely
safe
\. few years ago when n man called another
a liar 1t meant something, for the eCcuScr was
compelled by public sentiment 10 make his
charge good, fight, Or back down.. Now such
IN ~utterancc means nothing in the world but
Il bad temper and Il presumption OF defeat to
inspire It. Everybody knows that the mayor
OF Charleston and the congressman from that
district may call each other liars until they are
black In the face without the rcinOtrst proba.
bility, under our present laws, of either suf.
lerlnS from anything worse than )acerated
feelings.
Now what does. Mr.. Dibble expect to accom-.
plish: lie Is generally II sensible man, II
knows that VIM ~. Ceurtenay has not mall
ci1uSly uttered any fMlSchOOd and that no
body will believe he has lone so. He knows
lie can persuade nobody that Captain COur.
tcnay is Il coward. lie knows he can not car.
~ conviction Of his " truth and fairness to
tho public mind by general, sweeping and abb
surd drnunciation OF his asSaillnt.
He has disappointed his friends who bclicv-
ell in his wisdom and prudence and given all
his enemies cause for rejoicing. We do Hot
expect Mayor COurtcnay to throw away the
opportunity lie now has to put himself before
the public In sharp contrast with Mr.. D.bhle
and his methods of scolding like II vicious old
woman. But even If he does and wcakcnS his
own position. he will not help Mr.. DIbblr'
The people have the right to demand that
those chosen to represent them In high places
should use wisdom. moderation aud dignity.
No man can read Mr.. Dibble's card and see
anything In II but undigniicd fOOlislncsS and
violence Of accusation and language, unSup-
ported ~ evidence or the weight Of personal
accountability.
We do not mean to imply that Mr.. Dibblc
has wilfully published IL misstatcnicnt or that
his conduct would he different if he could DC
held to account under 1.-THE rode Of honor.
What n very large number Of heroes and
popular idols arc tumblIng from their pcdcs-
tails and revealing the ordinary character Of
their clay this year! We shall have none LEFT
after q while IL the pres mt rate Of NOR
tality among them continues.