The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-12-27
THE LEGISLATURE.
Is There Either Justice or Wisdom in
ViIIifyiug That Representative
RntVo

| The newspaper criticisms of the actings anG
doings Of the recent session of the Legislature
are so severe, and appear to US TO be SO dis
| tinctly partisan that the Press and Banner
has no heart ar spirit to try to write OF IT,.
Personally we haze no political aspirations
and have no political or material interests &c
he advanced or retarded by the government
or It's officers, and practically it makes very
little d ference To us as to the acis OF the Leg
!sla,ure. or as To who holds the offices.
We love South Carolina. We are proud ol
It's history. and look hopefully 10 the future
and even II the Legislative and the Executive
Departments should do some things which we
do not approve, we are still Interested In the
preservation AT home and abroad of the good
name OF the mother of us all. We are pained
at the evident purpose of some to bring
odium on the Stale merely because Its officers
are not TO our liking: itwouid be much bet
Ter If we threw the shielding mantle Of charl.
ty over whatever may seem to be wrong IL
we In abored 10 rectlfy the error rather than tn
parade II in it's ugliest shape, before the pub
lie, or If we appeal 10 reason, than resort TO
abnse, some good might be accomplished.
Feeling as we do, and respecting the judg-
ment, the honesty, and the patriotism OF
those eminent Journalists who have severely
criticised the recent session or the Leglsia'
lure, II is. with misgiviDgs and with some de-
gree Of heslancy that we give opinions dil-
iering from those which they have expressed.
They or their representatives have been on
the grounds, and may be mucn oetter 1nioTm' iis
lance and with a limited knowledge OF the
true condition Of affairs. we venture TO make
ex preston as the matter presents itself to
paper the editorial of the News and Courier
on last Monday. and review the items In the
same order, as tney nre there presented
l. The Dispensary Law.-According to our
most imporfan mt laws on our Statute books.
g.. The Election of Judges.-The Legislature
fol lowed the precedent, as furnished IN the re-
cent past. The Republicans ousted the Dem
Lnh hoty fc
publicans IN 1876. The Tillmanitea elected
men OF their own political faith In 1893. The
Antis will in turn lit them out Of office when
we regain power, little later on. Didn't
Brawlry because OF their Democracy?
g. The Election of Public Printer The
legislature did with the printing, as II does
with the collection OF her taxes; or Win tne e
4 sum which they deemed 4 fair price for
each. We don't know why the printing, any
more than the collection Of taxes, or the fill-
ing of the State Offices. should he given out TO
ihe lowest bidder. The State has fixed ex
ceedngly reasonable prices for printing. and
the election OF Stnte printer: Is on exactly
the same principle that other officers are elec-
ted. What would the News and Courier
think Of. letting out the office of County
Treasurer, and the State offices 10 the lowest
bidder? 1t wouldn't look we'll to let out the
Judgeships IN that way. If II Ia wrong 70 NIX
wherein does il differ from the practice of Ak
ing The salary OF Governor, without giving
granted that there are several persons In TINS
State who would take the office OF Governor
for less than 81, ,500 year.
The Redistrlcting,-We fully agree with
this head, and feel more inclined to use strong
exnressIons about this act than nything else
which was done by the Legislature. 1t was
justified neither by The demands OF reason
t..t a
THE Repeal of the Charier-The repeal of
the charter OF The Port Royal and Augusta
Railroad was all right. II should have been
repealed long ago we want Port hoSal pull
by IL. II land is enhanced 10 value, and the
city Is built up, ihe State will be benefited
There is no good and sufficient reason why
Port Royal should be bottled In order 10 6ulld
up the city OF Savannah, in the State of Geor-
6. The County Government-We are not
fully acquain ted with the terms OF the coun.
ty government hill. but fear that II Is not we'll
for us. While we are sorry for the change we
have no doubt hat the members OF the LegiS-
lature voted for 1t honestly, and from good
!, The Reconstruction of Counties.-We are
not acquainted with the iacts and circum-
stanres connected with the reconstruction OF
The line between the counties Of Berkeley and
Charleston. We make no expression OF opin-
ion OH this matter.
The News and Courier prefaces It's remarks
on the subjects herein mentioned, as Will ne
seen, by some very bitter words.Woros
of the State. The News and Courlers char
acterization of the Legislature would hardly
be just to any assembly OF men whose repre-
seutatives had been chosen by the popular
vote of any white people ON the face of the
earth. Such words coming from respecta-
be newspaper Is most unjust 10 the good
name OF this proud people, and such treat
ment from the defeated faction Will bar the
,l,Io, a,,f frNr onv nf
tiles OF the State, aud will prevent their ob-
tanning office for many Il day. No good can
come or abusing the State OF South Carolina,
and the self-respect OF the great mass OF lne
assailed, Will prevent their putting into office
or position. The men who express and enter.
tain such disrespect for them and their repre-
sentativeS.
The Press and Banner is thoroughly con-
vinced that the Legislature Is subservient to
the v III Of The GovernOr-eren ~ much 10 as
were our represen tatsves In lSlI-IS to the Will
of Humptou, bat They will grow tired. as we
did, OF doing the will of auoiher, and will
soon assert themselves. The members OF the
Legislature, as Il rule, are inexperienced men,
but ne one can doubt the sincerity or honesty
OF their intentions, however much we may
differ from them. II the News and Courier
would exercise any degree Of influence with
the people. 1t must be more tolerant. and
nj ust r OF presume that all those who do not
see as IL do, 5, are villains.
We believe the public heart OF the people OIL
South Carolina IL In the right place. They
think they are doing right, and 1t Is the part
OF wisdom 10 eetk 10 show tnem wherein they
are IN error. Villitcatiun OF the majority of
The white people Of this State will do no good,
and the magnifying OF Tillman's greatness by
comparing ii to the weakness and incompe-
iency OF two-thirds OF the people OF South
Carolina is u wrCng.
speaking for the Press and Banner, we be-
l.eve In the rule of the majority, and we be-
lieve the minority Is in honor bound to yield
proper respect to the victorious side. We be-
iieve In sticking to the Democratic party, and
we intend TO stand on whatever platform that
party adopts. and we will vote for any candi.
date who gets the Dem ,cratic nomination.
AT the command Of the Democratic party In
former years we voted for negroes, trihing Re-
pubIicans, and fifth rate white men, and we
think we can swallow anything that may be
hereafter presented in the name Of Democ-
racy.