The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1892-05-13
THE ETHICS OF POLITICS.

We are sorry Mr., Sheppard used such
harsh language at EdgeGeli >iu speaking of
the Columbia Register. His prorocation was
great but such words rs ''liar' and "scouu-
drcr are too frequent in our politics just
now.
lizard words do not mean anything now,
and the tendency to use them freely seems
to be increasing, For that reason those of
us who are trying 10 be decent, to keep some
where in sight of the rules which used to
govern tho conduct Of respectable men,
ought to be all the more careful not to follow
q bad example and to stick closely TO deco
rum and dignity.
The average South Carolina voter is good
DDinl Of u gentleman. lie inheSiis traditions
s1stuns which make him demand a GER
,a.If dignity and respect for the proprieties
in his pubic leaders and those who under
take to teach him. That is why We are
pleased whenever we SEQ that the Columbia
Register has an addition to list OF readers
The Register has introduced here style of
campaign which We believe will disgust the
people with the cause it represents and
which they will resent and rebuke.
We do rot think, for instance, our people
as a rule enjoy being whoopel up as 'wool
hat boys" and divided into classes on that
kind OF n line. OF course there are in every
county few fellows who like that kind Of
told in the presence of women, and who howl
themselves hoarse over oahs from the stump.
These make good deal of noise, but they
do not poll mauy votes. The men who do
the voting are generally sober, self rsspcc
log, God-fearing men, who do not talk much,
who are civil in their own way and like
othe S to be likewise. Men of this kind do
not relish being whooped up as if they were
boys, or childreu, or roughs. They read
newspapers for news and to form their
opinions. They do not like one sided mau-
agement. They sec W tn homely shrewdness.
through all the shouts and claims of the
earth uttered in partisan sheets. When one
side Of n debate is printed and the other
suppressed they know that is not fair. When
they see q newspaper print charges which
are false or giving false turns to facts and
pcrs sting in doing it ard suppressng COR
rections and statements Of the truth, they
know that newspaper is representing rot
ten cause and using low methods in doing it.
The Register has made series Of chtrgcs
wholly or entirely false against tho couscrva-
tives and their candidates and has not IN one
instance, so far as we can remember, given
the statement made in contradiction or
explanation. Ii charged the con- ervative
convention with telegrhphing The directors
Of the Piedmont company for permission TO
nominate governor. 1t charged the Pelzcr
and Piedmont companies with working
their hands fourteen hou's day. 1t repeat
ed Governor Tilman's charges that Col Orr
ynted ror-ra radfcyis.-,-i i.-Aoonsod Governor
Sheppard of depressing and brib:ng the Gus
toners ofhis bank. We might repeat the
instances Indefinitely. In each one there
has been Il rompt statement f. ON the other
eide and i'll every case, so far we have
seen, this statement has been ignored.
The people of South Carolina are not used
t. Il at kind Of thing They arc accustomed
to fair play, to certain courtesics to oppo-
nents. to regard for the propretics.
For that reaso and others already stated
We hope that in this campaign Governor Till
man and his followers will be left monopoly
Of all the epithet, vu'garty, whooping and
low tricks and ISLANDERS. We have reason
and facts on our side. We can safely trust
TO them in appeals to the minds, con nsciences
and patriotism of the people, and can trust
our opponents to help us by making appeals
to prejudice which the people see through
plainly and Juggling in new campaign
methods which may do well where people
are less bred than ours ore but do not help
here. GreenrWe NeWs.