The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-10-30
what a Brother Editor Has to Say.

The constant agitation by the Farmers AL
lance, ,and their frequent suspicious Of evil or
the part OH their neighbors, ia remarked upof
by newspapers, and our Sumter con.
temporary, the Wotchn,an and Southron
speaks OF the class prejudice which that organ
izution seems to have developed In many sec
tions of the Suite. The article takes Il calm
au d dlspasslonate view OF tho situation, and
among other things, has this to say:
Now as to all this sort ofthing, this ATTEMPT
to array one class OF citizens against another
we have no words except OF depreciation and
remembrance The body social Is composed
of many members, but there Is mutual inter
dependence which proves that they must
stand or fall together.
Pauline illustration is exactly in'point, "f
one member suffer, all the member suffer
with 1t II one member rejoice (beins benefit.
tedj all the membrs rejoice with It," The
head cannotsay TO the feet III have no need o
you y nor the hands to the head ~ have no
need of thee"
Similarly, our mercantile class and our farm
ing population arc indissoubly bound TO-
What hurts one hurts tho other, and nc
blow aimed at either but takes effect also on
both.
The truth of this mutual interdepende dence
may not so clearly appear now. but about
next January, when arrangements are being
made for the year 1890, it will stand out In
bold relief
Then let there be no useless and harmful
antagoulSm engendered now, only To rise up
in dismal array later on In boOmerangish re-
suits, plaguing the inventors, indeed, but
also involving the innocent and, in some In
stances, the helpless and dependent.
As If 10 reinforce the views above express
cd, and rs illustrating the dangerous tenden-
cies that under favorable circumstances are
developed in such cases, there GENES 10 us The
.4GJcriNe Press and Banner, facite pr1nccps
IN IL
gene, that the County Alliance has boycotted
ii for say ing that in is opinion, by using cot.
ton instead of jute bagging, the farmers of
that county :r Wero e 81 70 neg bae apes upon
The result has been, to use the Press ana
Rdnner's own language, that "Some OF our
oldest friends and subscribers, under mis-,
tnken idea that they were under some moral
obligation to do SO, have discontinued their
papers. We regret TO part with them but we
cannot surrender our own convictions as to
the interest Of the farmers, even under this
Now, If this Is to be the treatment under
gone by an individual for expressing his hon
est opinion to which he Is surely entitled,
step the boycottlng power will take? Is II to
be wondered at that the editor OF the Press
and Banner, in view Of these facts, offers the
following sugGestl0n?
bnycottcd this newspaper, and forbidden Its
members to subscribe for II, we have this
friendly suggestion TO make. That they now
require every member of the Alliance 10 take
one or more or the county papers,"
We are happy To say that no such spirit has
manifested Itself among the members of the
Alliance in this county. We hope that no
such spirit exist but the editor OF the Press
and Hammer pertinently inquiries whether In
tn ling such IL step the Alliance Is not tran.
sccuding not only Its legitimate powers. but
is in danger ut least Of violating the solemn
assurance given to every man who joins.
Hear him:
I'VE are told that the properly qualified Of
ticers to represent the Farmers AL lance, as
sure candidates for admission to their order
that nothing in the obligation Will interfere
with their religious or civil liberty. Under
that assurance the candidate is obli igated.
With the Iull light of this obligation before
them they pretend to say TO their brethren
that they shall not subscribe for Il newspaper.
To prevent u man from subscribing for
newspaper is not only depriring him Of one
of the rights of the citizen, but the net Is vio-
lative OF the solemn promise made to appli-
cants for membership. We are reliably in
formed that various members OF the order
will have their names erased from the men,
hcrship roll before they Will submit To amy
such inhgnity or uSurpation OF their civil
liberty.