The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-07-13
LETTER FROM MR.. WATSON
His Defence of MIR. Benet. and lIis
Criticism Of the Press and Banner
The Press and Banner in Reply.

EQlIOT 1TeSS anu DdnlSE.
Will YOU please publish some of my objec
tions 10 your "orief notes of the meeting or
Sale Day. which you claim to have maze
without notes."
one-Sided and partisan, elevating and paint
ing one side, and disconnectius and thereby
misrepresenting the other:
This seems 10 be in striking contrast WIFI
your able courteous and impartial reports o
former meetings on Sale Days.
There must be something wrong with the
Press and Banner. IT has so long had the
reputation of reporting public meetings fully
and fairly. Equal rights 10 all and special
privileges to none" Why did it make SO III
natured and partisan account of the meeting
Its custom has been to give the words OF a
speak er and leave its readers 10 form thell
own opinion.
not give the words. but gives Us recollection
of the ideas without notes" This would not
be so bad If II treated both sides fairly. But
its words are smooth as oil when referring u
the anti speakers, and as fiery as vitriol when
referring especially to Mr.. Benet.
You say editorially. that MIR. Benet deliver
ed an inflammatory speech, whose purpose
between our citizens. This was startling
news TO the hundreds who heard his speech,
and who had commended him for his modera-
tion and good humor under the irritating anu
personal remarks and filings of the anti
What infiammatory language did Mr.. Benet
use:
II was the subject of general remark that
Mr. Benet spoke in the best Of temper, and In
sharp contrast with the heat and bitter feel
ing manifested by the antis.
Mr.. Benet was asked after the meeting why
he had let his opponents off so light. especial
ly when he could have reminded two of
them, the Messrs. Graydon, that they were
Haskellites and boilers. And hlS answer was
that he dill not believe it right IN Il pablo
speaker to make any personal references TO
his adversaries.
l,t,~ 4,
You are very much M mistaken II you mink
as you say, that the "Tillmanites of this coun-
ty do not approve Of the manner, the tone
and the temper of Mr.. Benet's speech"
do not believe any speaker ever received
warmer compliments or stronger approval.
The Tillmanites have faith in Mr.. Benet's
fairness and patriotism. They know he is
not seeking popularity for be has had that for
years. They know he is the last man in the
county to think of "caSting fire brand"
among our people.
And they are at a loss to account for the bit
ter attack you have made on him, and the in
creasing zeal with which you seem TO pounce
down with all your ability on the Reform
Movement and It's supporters. Was 1t fair to
say in your very brief account that General
some of the old hero's recent utterances were
bitterly criticised? Mr.: Benet said nothing
unkind Of Hampton. He did criticise his re-
marks in Washington recently. but without
bitterness.
But why did you suppress Hampton's re-
cent utterances? Did you not remember even
"without notes" that Mr.. Benet read an inter
view OF Hamptons in which he spoke Of our
Democratic State Convention as one of $50
called Democrats" and that he spoke of our
Chicago delegation as one that misrcpresent-
ed the State?
Mr. Editor, can you conscientiously say you
gave q fair and impartial account Of the meet
You quote Mr. W. n. Graydon as saying,
"He thought the resolution oondemning the
Joining of the names Of the Presidential and
State candidates was unwise, unjust and i'm
polite; that the humblest citizen had the
right to express his opinion as to the State
ticket, while it was every Democrats patriot
ic duty to support the nominees OF the par
Good Democracy, Mr.. Editor. and do hope
that every voter In South Carolina, especially
in Abbeville county, will vote for the nomi-
nees, and that Mr.. Graydon may stick close
TO his text and practice what he breaches, for
General Hampton, whom he was defending.
says that an Independant Is worse than Re:
publican. So let's all stick to the ticket and
vote for the nominees. 1t matters not who
Mr. Editor. IL seems to me that the great
evil, the prime cause of all this wrangling
and hankerng after office leach side claiming
that the office Is all the other wants) might
for S prohibition and md piedging% our our Representa,
tives To respect the will of the people in this
particular and that they begin with the Gov
ernor and reduce the salary OF that office to
two thousand dollars: then take the whole
list from Governor TO Coroner and reduce
them accordingly, abolish!ng some useless
and unnecessary offices; then give US tax OF
one dollar ON every dog. Then, Mr.. Editor,
neither side would have to be salted down to
keep them from fighting over State and coun-
ty offices. For If the ReformerS are fighting
to hold the Thas Is The mster with
1t is because they are out and they want In
and are fighting TO push the reiormers of, If
possible, SO they can get on, and II there were
no large salaries to get on the factions In this
State would not fight half hard and things
would soon quiet down.
Now, let's get the salaries down, and we will
have no trouble to keep things quiet.
Yours very respectfully, +. w. Watson
The Press and Banner I'm Reply.
No reply Is needed to the above letter, In so
far as the Press and Banner is concerned
We are ready to go TO the jury on the facts.
In Mr.. Watson's zeal to defend Mr.. Benet
he seems to forget that Mr.. Benet made the
attack, and went outside Of the call of the
meeting to vent his spleen and spite while re-
peating an oft-told tale of Hamptons sins
and iniquities.
The meeting was called to ratify the nomi-
nation OF Cleveland, and he himself called
the meeting.
The similarity Of a portion of our resolu-
tions and Of the resolutions adopted at Chick
Springs are suggestive.
At this meeting we suggest that personali-
ties were out OF order, and the chairman
should have, in our opinion, called Mr.. Benet
to order. 1t was no place for any one to vent
his personal dislike for anybody, and Mr.
Benet's Juggling General Hampton's name in
TO Presidential ratification meeting was an
offence to good manners.
His criticisms OF Cleveland and the recita
Of his alleged errors was contrary TO the u.s.
ages and practices of people who endorse
their nominees.
His criticisms Of the faction of the Demo
cratic party from which he has so lately re-
nounced his allegiance was unjust and un-
worthy OF any man OF Mr.. Benets intelli-
gence.
If Mr.. Benet had not made his speech, the
resolutions would have passed, without the
excitement OF any bad feeling.
II he had not made his speech neither Nc
Gowan nor the Graydons would have spoken.
They spoke only in reply to Mr.. Benet's as
sault, and there would have been no necessi-
within the call Of the meeting.
The resolution which ratified the nomina-
ton of Cleveland was all right, and the adop-
tion Of that resolution was all that the meet
ing was called for. The tacking on of other res
outlons with the writing of which 1t Is pre-.
sumed Mr.. Benet had something to do, and
his assault on Cleveland in support of them,
and his kindness in pointing out the errors
and mistakes of those upon whom lie has SO
l. L,oo Of fpla