The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-04-02
The Nominating Convention.

The Farmers Convention laSt week put lol-
ward the names of b. Z. Tillman for Cover.
nor and ]. c. Colt for observation-disclosures.
We do not think Mr.. Tillman is the proper
man to be Governor Of the whole people, and
we are sorry that the farmers did not choose
another as their standard bearer.
The Governor of State should represent
the whole people. and he should not be ut war
with any class OF citizens. He should be Il
man who is friendly to all, and who in turn
has the good will OF all.
When it is known that the State is full of
good men who would not be Objectionable to
any class of our fellow-citizens, 1t seems that
proper respect for their neighbors should
have prompted the farmers to nominate q
man who would not only be faithful 10 them,
but who would not be Objectionable to any
considerable portion of the people.
If the farmers have nominated man who
is Objectionable to Il large number OF the pco-
pie, they have committed an error, which Is
fully as grevous rs any Of which the farmers
now complain.
Many of the farmers OF Abbeville county
are to-day members Of all unlawful conspira-
cy which has for its purpose the suppression
thought on the part Of their newspaper, hut
for all this, we hope to be fair TO al GLASSES
and conditions OF men, regardless cf their
personal likes or disiikcs for the Press an"
Banner. We feel that newspaper cannct al
ford to be unfair or unjust, ana for inns rc'''
son we express our extreme regret ihr the ui-
wise, impolilic and unjust manner in which
our delegates u The Farmers Convention
were treated last week. They went TO Coiuni'
uia, not as public enemies, tut as patri"tlr
citizens, taking lively interest In the wc'-
fare of the government While We may differ
from them in opinion rs TO the wisdom ol
their action in making nominations at thls
time yet they deserved To be treated with due
and becoming respect while at the capital OF
the State. They are the pcople-in one sense
they represent the State. But the delegates
were not favorabiy impressed with the treat
ment which they received at the hands or the
citizens and the Stale officers. Besides this, Il
number of the students of the University
banded together, and jeercd the members o'
the Convention, while applying the most Of
lenslve epithets to Mr.. TiIlman.
Laying aside all of our prejudice or dislike
for Mr.. Tillman as n candidate for Governor,
and forgetting for the moment that large
proportion Of the farmers Of this county nave
Joined boycott to destroy this newspaper
we would say that the ill-treatmenl
which was accorded to the members OF
the Farmers Convention is unjust to the last
degree 1t oGends every sense of propriety
and decency.
AS a rule the representatives OF that con-
yention are burden.bearers-men who pay
taxes, but who receive very few of the loafcs
and fishes that are distributed from the pub
lie crib.
If they, or any of their number, were Office
seek ers, 1t Is certainly no crime for any son ol
the State to aspire TO official station.
If, therefore, the farmers choose to meet In
Columbia, it was no proper occasion for in-
sulting them, even though they had an ambi'
ton to fill Offices Of honor and cmolument.
The farmers of South Carolina are not pub
lie enemies.
They deserve respectful consideration at
all times, even though their object should oe
the elevation OF chosen leader to the high
est office within the gift of the people.
We say what we have said in defense OF our
whom we think were mislreat'
ed, without in any way yielding our own po-
litical con victions, which would lead us to
prefer almost any other Democrat than Mr..
rjl,man. We believe the farmers made
mistake in nominating him who Is distin'
yuished chiefly because Of the enemies he has
made but this newspaper proposes to treat
MIN and every man fairly.