The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-09-29


ly every live town. III the STATE Is not on
cross-road, leading elsewhere than to Charles
ton? We would also ask, if nearly every
dull, thriftleSs town in thcStatc is not located
on railroad leading TO Charleston?
We would further put the question direct
Docs not commerce and trade with Charles
ton act like blight on the prosperity OF amy
town that comes within its grasp? There
may br exceptions TO the rule, but we do not
believe there are many in this part Of the
State
Again the Eegiaci' has been urging the
pledging of the credit of the State for the rur-
pose OF raising money with which TO rebuild
the city of Charleston. This proposition can
never be carried out, except by a vote of the
people, aud the people will never vote for IT,.
They cannot afford to do so. In many Sec
tions of the country the people arc already
heavily taxed, and in other sections they are
not, for various reasons, in such CONDITION
of prosperity as to warrant the outlay. We
have not heretofore made mention Of the
Rcgistcr'S proposition. We let the matter pass
for the rcasol that we did not care to appear
ungracious, but we think the pressing of this
question is ill-advised. IN the first place the
proposition is not one To be considered by the
State-thc Constitution and laws OF the
United States. VIC are told, would not per-
init it-and In the next place, Charleston $ re-
cent action toward the np-country in refer
cncc to the debt for our railroads is too fresh in
our memories. The State, several years ago,
in order to give CharcStonians and n few 9TH
crs living outside the city limits, an oppor-
fl,nir
without taxation, induced the Lcglslotnre
to exempt the factories from taxation
for period of ten years. This was To
bring capital to the State and 10 cncour-
age manufactures. And this was all very
well, Now let us see how the up.counlry
fprcd when they had favor to ask. The pco-
pie I'm various sections had burdcned them
selves with bonded debts to grade various
railroads which had induced millions OF dol
lars of foreign capital to come to our bor-
dcrs, and the people in many other places
were also contemplating the further grad
ing and building OF other roads. The
frcuds Of the new railroads in the up-coun-
try thought, and still think, they deserved as
much consideration as the Charleston capital
lists who may have chosen 10 build factories.
Under this impression they foolishly pro-
posed to their masters that the Stale allow
the taxes upon the Increased property which
they had secured, to go to the liquidation OF
their bonded Indebtedness. This PROPOSE
ton was almost identical with the exemption
of factories. except that the factories were III
the main built with home capital, while the
were built almost exclusively with
foreign money. AS matter OF course the
to aid and encourage the develop
ment Of the up country did not meet the ap-
proval of our ariStocrutic factOry-buildcrs in
Charleston. In fact, the opposition in Char
lesion Was so strong that we believe the city
never once fairly stated the
but with great "horse-heads' IL
was dcnominated q proposition for the State
to assume the Indebtedness of the railroads.
1t was all plain sailing under a delightful
breeze as long rs Charleston capitalists were
the special recipients OF the benefits OF the
factory exemption, but when We up-coun-
try people, struggling in our poverty,
ask like favor in behalf of our new
railroads, the leading newspaper OF tho State,
and the city OF Charleston, did not, as far as
we rccollcct 10 have seen, even once state the
proposition fairly, and, if we err not, the
Charleston and Columbia delegations were
solid against it.
The up-country has not forgotten Charles.
tons part in the defeat Of the census bill,
whereby she unlawrully retains several men,
bcrs in the House of Representatives. Nci-
thcr do we forget that Charleston has two
when in all fairness and i'll all JUS
tice, she is entitled to but one.
In fact, it would, we believe, be difficult to
cite one single friendly act OF Legislation
for the up-couutry, to which Charleston has
not been solidly opposed. We think all the
Legislation, as well us all the political acts
which have been brought about by Charles
ton influence, has been either with an eye
single TO the interests of Charleston, or with
L view to rcpressing or rctarding the pro-
grcss Of the up-country. In case We err
in this matter we would thank the Regis
ter to show one friendly act by Charles
ton to the W. country. We think the records
are full Of the proof OF unfriendly acts, and
We already fear that our city neighbors have
begun to think that they are the State and
that we of the up-couutry arc mere hcwcrs of
wood and drawers of water for them, and
that our fields are pastures green III which
they may forage at their own sweet will with
out let or hindrGnce. If Charleston has ever
been guilty of one friendly act to the up.coun-
try we shall be glad to be reminded OF it. We
cannot recall the act. The Legislation, In
our opinion, has been so thoroughly partial to
Charleston that VIC believe it would he Il safe
rule for the up-country members to oppose
whatever Charleston or Columbia may pro-
1Iil ,,,otS
would make the State believe that the dig
Cling OF the canal was Of first Importance, and
hat tho suppression of the building of "Geor-
cia railroads" in the up-country by convict
labor was barely second in Importance.
We would not seem to strike at Charleston
in the hour of her calamity. We deeply SYM
pathse with her in her misfortune, and we
are sorry indeed, that the people Of Abbeyillr
have not given more sut Stantial evidence OF
their sympathy for the people Of the
stricken city, bat for all this, we cannot let
the Register take advantage Of the OCCASION to
make war on the up-country. We must pro-
test against its using the time for influencing
public sentiment against us, and we would
protest against its disrcSpcct for such up-coun-
try members OF the Legislature Us may
ulllcr LOlll IL III op'Hioi' "H' S'"'"
they "hoWt against employing the convicts in
phosphate bcds:" els thy servant The up
country membcr,l dog that hc should do
this great thing?'
No doubt the low country delegate who, by
speech and vote. might favor the continued
drain on the public treasury 10 pursue the
work on the canal, would utter his words in
more cloqucntand more mclOdious tones than
are usually attributed to that class of orators