The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-12-20
A ABASE SIAN DER REFUTEO.
The Oh ar9e tn 1t Mr.. Sims Was a Repub
lican Provop to ps False.

COLUMBIA, s. c., Dec. 15.-The Reg
lister of to-day publishes the following
,card:
Editor Columbia Register:
My attention has been called to a
communication in your paper Of last
Friday from one w. G. Mitchell. of this
place, in which appears the folio wing
sentence:
Editor Sims has never stood flat.footed d
In any political party other than the Radi-
cal party. In their rauk be occupied q
prominent position until ] S76, when he
topped over to the Democratic party and
there be commenced his BUSH -whacklng."
There is not a word OF truth in the
above paragraph, as I will amply prove
by the letters which l append below.
This is an old slander that was origi-
mated here about fifteen years ago by a
Radical official of this county with the
hope of injuring me when first came
to Orangeburg to start Democratic
journal, but it signally failed of its
purpose. as the prosperity and pOpu-
larity of my paper fully attests. When
I irst heard Of the villianous slander
fifteen years ago 1t once wrote to
number Of gentlemen at Kingstree-
where I had been employed on a Re-
publican paper in the capacity of a
printer, and asked them to state what
my political affiliations were during
my residence In that town, as it was
my connection with that paper which
the slanderer used as a basis for his
vile and slanderous charge. I make
this statement to explain why the let.
ters published below are dated several
years back.
1t is stated In the paragraph quoted
above that occupied prominent po.
sition in the ranks of the Radical par
ty until 1875, when I foJped over to
the Democratic party. Now let US see
bow much truth there Is in this state
ment. Up to 1872 I was employed on
the Charleston Courier, when 1t was
bought and consolidated with The
News, the two papers becoming the
present News and Courier. In 1873 I
went to Kingstree as printer and
worked as such on a paper known as
the Williamsburg Republican, where I
remained until after the election of
Hampton in 1876, when went to Spar.
tanburg, having bought half interest
in the present Spartanburg Herald, at
that time weekly paper.
As to my political affiliations while
at KipRstree, T Will let the letters pub.
lished below speak. The first letter
will introduce Is from the Hon. T. Nd.
Giliand, the leading lawyer at King
stree to-day, and a staunch and uncom-
promising Democrat. Here 1t is:
KNesTREE, s. g., Dec. 5, 1873.
Mr.. JAS. L. SINS.
MY DEAR Sm:-I am very much sur
prised at the contents of your letter. The
persistent Democratic position maintained
by yourself at this place, especially under
the peculiar circumstances of your employ.
ment, and yonr late career on the staff of
the Spartanburg Herald, ARE certainly suf.
| ficient to repudate the imputation endeav-
ored to be fixed upon you. Your associa-
tions here were suth that no Radical would
have been permitted to enjoy, and am
ready, as am certain any Of the gentle
men Of the community would be, to do you
any service in crushing the SANDER that
could only have arisen from evil hearts
eVily disposed.
Very truly yours,
THos. M. GILLAND.
The next witness I will introduce i,
Col. r. G. Logan, who at the time ]
lived at Kingstree was the owner and
editor Of the Kingstree Star, a staunch
Democratic paper, and now owner and
editor of the County Record, the only
paper published in KiRgstree,. Hear
what he says:
CHARLESTON, S. G., Dec. 10, 1873.
Mr.. JAS l. SINS. ORANGEBURG, s. =.
DEAR SIR:-I have Just received your
letter of the 9th instant asking me to give
you letter about your standing socially
and politically in Kingstree during your
| residene there. take pleasure In stating
that during my acquaintance with you al
that place I always found you to be gen.
| tlenan who enjoyed the confidence Of the
best people Of that place, politically y and
socially. never knew you to act with
the Radical party In politics, nor never
heard Of you being accused Of being untrue
| to your principles as native South Caro-
Gilman. Your department. as citizen
commended you to the esteem Of all whose
pleasure 1t was to come in contact with
you. Let me say to you that good per
will not bel eve the revilirgs Of bad men
and in their attempt to inture you they
only expose themselves.
(. G. LOGAN.
So much for Democratic testimony
I will now introduce a letter from Mr.
Louis Jacobs, a Republican and bust
ness manager Of the paper on which
worked. to show that my employers
well understood my politics, and that
was as outspoken in my Democracy tc
them as I was to my Democratic fel
low-citizens. Mr.. Jacobs Is a most ex
cellent man and Is now a resident o.
Charleston, S. c., being Deputy Reve
nue. Collector for that district. Here
Is his letter:
KNesTREE, S. c., Dec. 8, 1879.
j. L. SINS, ESQ. ORANaEBURa. s. q.
DEAR SIR-ln reply to your letter Of Isl
instant asking me to state your politica
aAliationS while you were working or
the Williamsburg Repu blican as compost
tor 1 beg to state that during our entire
intercourse, which was almost daily,
having been business manager OF the con-
Germ, you were always known to me, and
all others connected with the paper, as a
consistent and outspoken Democrat; In
fact know am safe 10 saying that In
this entire county no Our had ever cnnsid.
cred you as being in sympathy with what,
as a printer, you had to put in type. II
this Is not strong enough. put it into shape
yourseIf and send to me for signature.
With best wishes lam,
Yours sincerely,
LOUIS JACOBS.
The above letters are sufficient to
bury this vile slahder beyond resurrec-
tlon, but just to show how much inter
ested 1 was In the success of the Demo
cratic cause in 1876, will append one
more letter. Sometime during the
Summer of 1875 1 was offered half
interest in the Spartanburg Herald by