The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-04-30
THE ALLIANCE BOYCOTT.
:. SrusibIr Exposition Of the Proper
Conduct OF the Alliance iE Refer
rnrr to the B0yco.t az Applied 10
Newspapers.

4 S"uSiblr EH position Of the PrGpc'
/ Conduct OF the Alliance in Refer
! rnre to the boycott az Applied Ia
( Newspapers.
GrceHrHlc NerS.
! We find in several newspapers reports q
the action of sub Alliances by which IL Is de-
clarcd in effect that us certain newspapers
nHmEl have proved themselves hostile to inc
purposes of the Farmers Association ana the
nomination nf Mr.. Tilln.an, the nemners o.
those sub Alliances pledge themselves u
cease from taking those newspapers ana to
take ana read others which more nearly cN-
press their sentiments. ,
amounts To nothing because we suppose therc
ara few men in South Carolina who would
allow the majority of any organization 10
which they might belong 10 say LOT lhci,i
what newspapers they shall or shall not read.
ihoSe who are tired OF reading certain news
parCrS ana prefer change VIII make Inc ne
cesS;,ry hu> mess arrangement; those ,,r Whu
thimii or feel otherwise will not yield their
, preferences 10 the wishes of others.
Mr.. Powderly, Grand Master Workman OF
the kniGhiS OF Labor, said once that the ooS,
r0tt is too fine Il tool TO be trusted to unSkliled
hands. He might have said with truth that
ii is too dangerous 10 be used freely anu that
is use is justified only in rare, urgent ana
deadly emergencies: II is deadly weapon.
LIS uSr is like manSlaughtcr which the law
permits when it is - bSolute'y necessary lor
sei!:defence, but wisely and justly torbids and
Furnishes in any other circumstance.
In 1876 when the people of this state were
making a desperate Fight for their lives and
property and the Sif fety and honor OF their
ianiiirS they used the boycott effectively
ari well, and had ther ght 10 do IL. On oc[
rasiuns ln Ireland when ii was Il conflict OF
l;f1 ana death and the people were defending
;hrir humble homes and the food for their
rh!drrn'S mouths The boyiot has been nsed
with the approval OF all The civ iliZed world.
liz this State now, however, there is con-
test between opposing elements OF one great
irar.y. There is no question of life or dcath or
welfare or injury involved. Every sane man
Democrat is made Governor the public peace
Will be maintained. law and order will pre-
vail and we will all be left to make our nv,
iHSS and prosper rs we cun in security ana
quietness. In these circumstances there Is no
reason or excuse for the use of The boycott.
What Is the object of resolutions Such as
those we have referred to, passed by the sub
Alliances?
They are intended to prevent or punish, or
holh. They can have no other purpose, al.
though we doubt IL one man in dozen OF
those who vote fur them considers the mean
Ing OF his vote and the action 1t helps 10 pro-
ducc.
They arc to prevent the editors against
whom they are directed from expressing their
honest sentiments il those sentiments are
against those held by the sub Alliances. let
what honest man would respect or tolerate Il
nan who would fear TO say what he thinks
right and say and teach what he believes Is
~--N
pocket
Men are to be punished, for what?
For speaking their sentiments and Thoughts
like honest and manly men, using their
rights aS free American citizens ANA DOING
their duty as representatives of Il free press.
If ihc av0wed purpose Of these sub Alliances
ShGuld be generally accepted ana all olhcr
-ub Alliances and citizens should follow their
example these newspaper men would be
starved out. The bread would be taken from
them and their wives AMI children and they
would be sent away forced to 90 somewhere
Csc 10 earn their livings. They would be
punished as the glorious men were punished
who in old times were sent Into exile, thrust
from their homes and into strange countries
bee use cowardice did not stitie their sturdy
voices and their conscicuces moved them
more strongly than did greed Of gain or love
of peace.
That is the kind OF thing it is proposed 10
establish in this free country and this lree-
.lnrl l..vE- state of South Carolina in this
;r;,r -. gaze 1890.
We ,mus! all be forced to think alike. Men
CHARGED with tte highest public duties and
the most sacred responsibilities must crlnSe
and dodge and swallow their honest beliefs
and adopt the beliefs OF somebody else on
pain Of being boycottcd by sub Alliances,
punished, starved and driven away!
We happen TO know Il man who has made
large wealth by hard and honest work and
tn" use OF his brains and who has SO used
what he has as to make IL Il benefit to every
community with which he was connected
aud Il blessing to scores and hundreds or the
poor. He has never unduly pushed a debtor,
he has worked hard and earnestly TO promote
the public welfare, his pocket has been wide
open to help every good work. he has helped
hundreds 10 tide over bad times and gain
prosperity and there is not Il spot on his life.
Yet because he differed from certain of his
fellow citizens In 4 purely business matter
his private affairs formal at
tempt was made TO boycott him and there
VAS deliberate effort to break down his bus
mess ana destroy him.
n thing is El /
direct harm and can do none because the Spir-
il Of liberty and fair play and common sense
among the people will rebel against it. But
its tendency Is Injurious because IL Is against
free speech, free thought and free action,
which are the foundations Of our country. II
tends to divide the people into hostile camps,
each seeking TO inJ nrc or destroy the other;
II VIC continue in this way the farmers will
presently be boycotting the merchants and
the merchants the farmers, one part OF the
Democrats of the State will refuse to hold fell
tend from conruerce and politics TO religion,
and BaptiStS, MethodiSts. trShyterianS,
Catholics, EplscopaIians ans! L;,Imrans will
be holding aloof and trying 10 siarvc each
other ont.
United We stand. divided we fall. No COM
muni,y or State or country can prosper with
such conditions. We need To phil together
while we can. to decide what differences we
have with mutual federation, good hulnor and
respect and to work heartily together for the
general gOnn. federation Of differences Of
opinion Is absolutely necessary In every CIV
ilizcd and free community. Anything else Is
barhnrism and tyrany.
There arc people in this world who find II
hard to believe that any word or act of Others
is Gisiut crested. and for their information we
will say that the GrernrHke NcUs has no direct
interest III this matter. No Alliance has boy
coitcd this newspaper. There was talk O.!
something OF the kind last Fall but we were
clad to find that IL was without foundation.
We are proud that the farmers Of Greenville
have conducted their affairs with prudence
that Is beyond criticism and, consequently,
have one of the most pro>perous, harmon
ious and active organizations in the State.
The cases we alude to have occurred in other
counties and affect other newspapers.
II IL was otherwise. however II would not,
so far as this newspaper knows itself, be any
wise different. There is not. We believe, one
person interested In the GreemriUe Ee,Us who
would not ruthcr pile the entire plant in the
street and buid Il fire under II than to have
It. for fear OF anybody repress one thought
that ought TO be spoken or say one word 1t
did not honestly believe.