The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-12-22
The Quarrel Between Charleston and
Columbia.
Greenrille Daily Ne,Ds.

The Charleston and Columbia newspapers
are much given 10 talking OF section ,aIlsm"
and we suppose the people Of those s,ies nave
tlves have 1t, and newspapers and representa-
tives are quick TO lug the cry OF sectionalism
and the chargeof marrow mindedness into the
discussion of any question OF Suite policy III
which they are interested.
Remembering these facts, 1t is interesting TO
observe the quarrel between Charleston anu
Columbia that has been In intermittent pro-
gre>s since the lust Stnte Democratic Conven-
lion.
In that convention certain delegates from
Richiand county, OF which Columbia Is pnrt,
voted for Or. Mauldin. of Greenyille. for Lieu.
tenant Governor. and for Mr.. Enrle, Of Sum-
ter, for Attorney General, aeainst MI. Hutson,
Of Hampton, and Mr.. Miles, of Charleston,
who were supported by Charleston. Then e the
row began. An observer who did not know
the facts would have supposed that the Rich,
land delegates who voted for Aiauldin and
Earle-who are honest and capable men ana
treason. 1t was openly proclaimed that Cnl'
umbia had broken an old alliance with ChsrI
lesion, and threats OF punishment were slight.
ly masked under vague general deelarntlons
that tile capital OF the State might go on with
her new friends and depend on them for help
In future emergencies.
Now we have another revelation. The
Charleston Ne,rs and Courier of yesterday
prints a letter from aCoumbia correspondent
telling how the people Of that city accept the
defeat of the canal bill. They are reported as
bending To the yoke, kissing the rod ana
meckly submitting t0 the defeat OF the cher.
ished canal bill rs the punishment inflicted
by Charleston for Nichland's vote against
Charleston's favorlte candidates and earth.
quake bill.
The following are given as expressions OF
prevalent public opinions =,
"I don't blame Charleston" said a we'll
known and @ dSne nsIer
the circumstances, and to get even Is the
sweetest thing in life, think: 1t IL mighty
hard, however, that the punishment should
know the representatives OF Richland did
not express the sentiments OF the people OF
Columbia either in their votes in the Stale
or on the bill n ahe
charleston always voted for anything TIM!
Richland wantcd7 No; cant
blame Charleston. I could:'t blame her If
she opposed every measure that Columoia
has the slightest interest In.
"It's mighty hard,n said another gentle.
man, "that our people should 6e punished
for what they never did. although can't say
but what IT Is fair; Why, alter the State n. Con,
defeated for the Legis' stature because OF the
action in that convention In cutting loose
from Charleston. It was only the fact that
that secured his election at the primaries.
understood he would have voted for the Char
leston earthquake bill but was sick.
The vote Of these Representatives on that
tn us than 1t was 10 you. After that the only
surprise to me was that eight of the Charles
ton members voted for the canal bill.
"But," remarked, "the four votes polled
by Charleston did not alone defeat the bill.
The majority against 1t, you remember,
"oh yes. I know that still II the old feel;
Ing OF friendship between Charleston and
would have passed. IN certain. If the Char
lesion delegation had voted solidly and work
ed hard. as they always had done. for Colum-
bia, there would have ,t 6een ,,, no doubt about
On every side can be heard the expression
CT the opinion that It WAS bad day for Col.
umbia when she forsook her old friends and
allies and formed new and strange "con''
There Is not word about the interests or
rights of the Stite or the merits OF any OF the
questions or men. Hasn't Charleston nj.
"Of course she has; and how that Richland
representatives have dared to vote against
Charleston's wishes VIC are Justly punished.
Let us hasten, good people, to rePudiate this
put our mouths in the dust and In sackcloth
and ashes repent. Let US implore for restora-
tIon OF the old alliance, and again work To-
gether for ourselves; playing Into each
the other tliirty-three counties. And II
any OF the thirty.three raise hand or
voice against us we Will put them to
shame and confusion with clamor OF section
alism aud narrow minded hatred of our
beautiful capital and our queenly metropo
lis"
That is the gist OF this remarkable "con-
census Of public opinion" In Columbia. II
Carolina and to be long remembered.
II the "Old alliauce' is restored We shall
watch with interest to see If 1t can again
work and control the votes, the treasury and
the policy OF hundred thousand free white
democrats.