Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1892-09-15
A Few Thoughts for the Times
BY DIR. JAMES H. CARLISLE.

BY DIR. JAMES H. CARLISLE.
There lies before me a pamphlet
published in Columbia, S. O., in
1888. Done sentence reads as
follows: "Who that will not viii
fully shut his eyes, or deaf his
ears. to matters Of fact, but must
remember the disgusting and
wicked SCIENCES of corruption and
strategy. that have been acted
over and over again in every city,
town aud village and district in
the State, by these naughty r-:;lers'
to seize upon every public office
post or appointment"
About the same time proml-
nent old public man of our State
said: "a young roan must lay IN
a large stock of Democracy if ne
expects it to hold out to old age"
He said to young friend, wishing
to enter public life, "When you
become amember of the Leg!sla-
ture, take my advice: conciliate
the fools, for they arealways the
majoritv."
Ten years later an ex member m
of the Legislature writes: II am
more and more pleased at not being
in the Legislature, and woulA not
now take seat there for several
hundred dollars. Ihave seen so
much intriguing and :electionneer-
ing this session that 1 am utterly
disgusted with politics" In 1874
a messenger was wanted to carry
the State electoral vote to WASH
ton. For this Office there were
about "ffty candidates."
In 1S46 there were thirty-two
candidates for messenger" of the
Senate, ten or fifteen for Secretary
of State, and as many for Superin-
tendent of Public Works.
These few extracts may furnish
profitable reading just now. | am
not concerned to prove that the
first quotation states historic
truth, though the writer goes to
give names and instances. 1t is
enough to be reminded that in
sthe good days of our fathers
partisans dealtin strong language
It was not left to our day to in.
vent abusive terms and harsh
charges. Nor was it left for those
now seeking office to make the dis
covery that the prizes of public
life are tempting.
Every generation has its perili
and its crisis. New elements are
entering into politics. Reporters
telegraph wires, and daily papers
are more AID more powerful agen'
cies. Violent and abusive terms
seem more and more at variance
with an improveing public senti
ment and conscience. Thing
have been said and done, men o:
all parties, which the doers ane
savers no doubt regret. Good mer
must not seriously divide on que,s u,
tions of public expediency. The
virtues Of good citizenship arr
1 found alike in men who went tt
the polls together and Svoted-op
posing tickets. The ties OF neigh
borhood and the amenities o
social life must prove themselve
to be stronger than party ties
Charity, forbearance, falr9ess
moderation, must not be driver
away by State or national elections
Our State is larger. greater, deare
than any part or tha6any party
An English RiheesiEa curren
magazine, after describing tn
times of an old Hebrew prophet
comes down to his OWL county o
, to-day: Is there not a measure Q
ferceness in the language OF men
!, Does not the ferocity of antagonist
t render men brutal? Does not tn
} spirit of partisanship make ther
blind? Is the meekness and ger
!, tleness of Christ practiced, or evel
. very highly esteemed, among us
' Do we not gather enthusiasticall
! to the meetings where the blazin
> notes of defiance are blown fror
= unscrupulous throats and insinus
: tions of dishonesty are applaude
to the echo2 Even when we al
t convinced of the truth do "
' speak it in lover"
These are timely questions. LIE
. the reader, whatever may be n
! political creed, who processes t
3 be a Christian, read them over
3 second time thoughtfully:
The Right Ring.