The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-07-23
Selections from The Christian NeighbOr

"The beginning of strife is as when
one letteth out water: therefore leave
off contention before it be meddled
with. ."-Prov. rUii:: IA.
The Democrat party Of South Car
olina are in a bad way, and unless
there be an early change in the drift OF
affairs rs connected with the current
campaign of the two opposing factions
nothing better appears in the near fu-
ture, and what how and when the end
will be is not easy to contemplate.
1t is now too late to profit by the lat
ter half of the verse-"therefOre leave
off contention before it be meddled
with"-i. e. Do not begin that which
leads to strife or contention. The wa
ter that has been let out cannot be
gathered up again. If the floodgates
can be stopped, that no more water be
let out, it will be rs much as can be
expected. Changing the figure from
water to fire it may be said: "Behold,
how great a matter a little fire Kin
dleth. And the tongue is fire,
world of iniquity: so is the tongue
among our members, that it defileth
the whole body, and setteth on fire the
course of nature; and it is set on fire
of hell" What is said by inspiration
of the tongue may be said of certain
pens, pencils and types as employed
and exercised in the present exciting
campaign.
Matters have got to such q pass that
it is doubtful whether the contestants
would consent to stop the campaign
speaking, even if all the cooler and
more lie, ell headed men from each fac
ton were to unite in so advising.
Eight it out on this line," seems to
be the motto. The best that can now
be done, $50 it appears to u.s. is for the
more conservative on both sides to
strive to keep the fire" in bounds, un-
til the election is over. And in the
mean time persuade all speakers and
writer's to leave off all irrelevant words
i'm discussion as we'll as to waive all ir-
relevant matters including personali-
ties, remembering that "a soft answer
turneth away wrath, and that grievous
words stir up anger" Remembering
also that, ''He that Is slow to anger is
better than the mighty, and he that
ruleth his spirit than he that taketh
city," and, it might be added, than he
that may be elected Governor of South
Carolina.
The present excited state of feeling
NAV make it hard for men to observe
these inspired declarations, yet'let the
people, specially the leaders, strive as
patriots and gentlemen strive to attain
by their speech and actions to the
greatest of all possible achievements
self government. So far as man goY-
erns himself be is great and IS quail
fled to govern others.
Let all unfair devices or unrighteous
measures be repudiated in the contest,
for though a temporary advantage
may be gained by such expelients yet
in the long run they will surely bring
disaster to the cause for the further
ance of which they are adopted. That
which is morally wrong can never be
politically right nor permanently prof
liable.
Now that the leaders of each faction
claim to be the "children of Issachar
il Chron. xii 32) men that
have understanding of the times, to
know what Israel ought to do," let
either or both, in words of truth and
soJerness, show what the people ought
to do in the present disturbed condi-
tion of the people Of South Carolina.
Why not let the people and their lead
ers have a rest from excitement,
though such rest may not change the
minds of any.
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