The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-09-04
MIR. TERRELL's PUBLIC SPEECH AT ABBE.
VILE.

the sacredness OF Debts..- Using
Slang to Advancing the Cause Of
MoraIity...In Some Of His Utter.
ances He is Probably Misunder-
stood. |l .f o..
Mr.. Terrell, last week in his speech before
the people Of Abbeville county, advised debt
ors, II cotton was low not to sell their crops TO
pay their debts, until more favorable prices
be had In the
merchant 80 insisting upon compliance
with the contract, should be remembered
Several years ago DIR. Carlisle, at a school
exhibition at or near Ninety.six, uttered this
That all men should be sorupulous in their
money transactions; that the highest integ.
not what virtues or intellectual attainments
q man might have II he failed on the money
side Of his character, he would exercise less
usefulness because Of that failure; that every
man should guard his credit with jealous
was OF the utmost importance In the preser-
walton Of good character; that a wiIful re.
fusal or neglect to pay ones debt was o crime
against the moral law, and damaging to good
We have nothing unkind to say of Mr.. Ter.
rell personally. He Is q bright, entertaining
thusiasm for the Alliance, and his speech
will no doubt do much to build up the order:
But we feel quite sure that many OF the good
and true men OF the Alliance must have OBJ
jected to the manner OF speech in which he
The Introductory speech OF the presiding Of
lcer, MIR. j. R. Blake, Junior, was In striking
contrast. 1t was chaste In manner. and In
style could not fail to meet with public favor
letting down. He maintained the dignity
not only of his own character and of his own
position, but reflected credit on the great order
IL al = xI1I.~ .~oH L.,
this county, and 1t is q great pity that Mr.
Terrell did not learn something from him
While we do not blame MIR. Terrell at all lor
his speech, yet II he had followed the exam;
the use Of slang, his speech would have been
more effective for good, and would have plac
ed the order In better light before the pub
" We believe Mr.. Terrell to be an excellent
gentlemen and q speaker OF good psrts. But
we think, he was mistaken In estimating the
tone and character Of onr people. II he had
known that our people did not approve Of
withheld At least some OF his Objectionable
words. We cannot believe that he intended
to be disrespectful to his hearers, and we can
upon the glorious order OF which he is the
honored National representative, and whose
cause 1t was his special business to present to
the public in its most favorable light.
fectly sincere when he said he hoped to afIay
all class prejudice, II any existed, and
we are equally certain that he may have been
misunderstood when he said those .things
which may have had the effect Of creating
chants. What he said about the high credit
prices may not have been intanded 10 create
In the minds Of the farmer prejudice against
the merchant. Those facts in reference 10
credit, may have been intended to enforce up
on the minds Of the agricultural class the me-
cesslty Of an effort to be self-s!lstaining, which
is a good doctrine-and the difference in cash
and credit prices may have been intended to
stimulate the people to the practice OF that
economy and selfdenial which would enable
the energetic and Industrious farmer to live
more at ease, and more at home. There
could certainly be no objection TO this view OF
His reference to the fact that Che cotton buy.
ers made deductions for water In the cotton
bale may not ha We been intended to create 9
distrust OF cotton buyers. but TO impress upon
farmers the necessity OF keeping their cotton
dry. Surely 1t Is well to take goodlcare OF the
crop.
chants were rich and the farmers were poor
he perhaps cited the merchants condition to
show what energy and attention to business
would do. and to prove that the farmer might
chant, and be governed by business princi-
Nj Mr. Terrell would certainly not say one
thing and then in the next breath do exactly
tho opposite. II DIS hearers Will take cnaIl'
table view Of his utterances, they will readily
see that he really does not appeal to class pre-
judice.
class prejudice, and 1t would be nothing but
right TO take him at his word, although some
OF hia expressions may have been susceptible
OF different conclusion.
A great organization should not be injured
In public estimation because OF his errors and
mistakes. We take 1t for granted that Mr.,
Terrelldid not intend to injure the cause OF
the Alliance. He only underestinated the
culture and refinement of this people.