The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-07-04
The freeman VS.. Citizen.

To tie Editor of the Watehman and Sonthron:
The Freeman of 29,h ult., donors ''Citizen"
By delivering broadside at close quarters,
sufficient to demollsh several men of his size
and "persuasion. But be "bobs up serene
w." notwithstanding the heavy assault of the
editor, and will even make bold to offer few
words in reply.
And, FIRST to dispose of minor matters, and
herein, particularly, of the. EDITORS smile 10
the pennl,ima,e paragraph. The editor may
smile, and smile, and be mistaken, if not a
villain. :sC,izen" has never said that 5000
were equivalent to ST, 500. What be said was
that when the city gave away $500 and col
lected annually only an mill tax, the inter-
est on the $500 would always exceed the taz
revenue derived from Sl,50o house. IT
would require a tax levy of eleven mills on
such property to make revenue to the city
of $3.50 or one-half dollar more than 8 per
cent interest on $500. The editor seems to
think that the house proposed will belong to
the City when it is built. If that be true, it
will certainly be brilliant financial opera
tien on the part of the city. But it it De, as
it really is, question Of revenue only; to the
city, then tCitizen's" contention remains uo-
shaken even by 80 formidable an argument as
the editors smile.
ssCitizen" does not deny the possible bene-
6,s accruing from the establishment of edu-
cational institutions within the city. The
Editors smile appears to have befogged bis
brain and caused him to miss the point.
ssCitizen's'' contention was and is shat the
principle of State or City aid to sec
terian schools, is dangerous, and subversive
of American ideas and institutions The
Editor has failed to discuss that question at
all. Instead. be accuses "Citizen" of being
the hereditary enemy Of the Presby terians,
and attributes his conteot:on to hereditary
fear of them This FIRST, and next, that be
has become demoralized aod can scarce sleep
pigh,s for fear of renewal of the Romish In
QUESTION and its horrors.
Now, Mr. Editor, "Citizen" told the Free
mans editor who he WAS, and asked him to
look into the matter before deciding positively
to sustain The action of City Council.
With that transparent and beautiful fair
ness which is so prominent characteristic OF
the Freemon's Editor, be has sought TO cast
xfr:. 40
by reference as untrue as 1t is undeserVed,s 80
far as this writer is concerned. Consideration
for friendship extending over nearly de-
cade of years, and unwillingness to wound
one whom he sincerely respects, though he
cannot always agree with him, cause "Ci.i-
zen'' to refrain from avaling himself Of the
opportunity to retaliate upon the Freensan's S
sditor-an opportunity which be has invited
''Citizen'' to use by himself using informa-
ton given him by Citizen" not expecting
that be would avail himself OF it to attempt
to place him in ridiculous and unlovely
light.
Perhaps it is true that many years
in the discipleship school Of Buckle and
Draper and Lecky had tendency to
unbias the mind with regard to these
matters, but it is the first time "Citizen"
has ever beard it claimed that such things
have the power to confer the grace OF im-
partiali,y, or remove the tain: OF prejudice.
The assumption of Judicial fairness on the
part of the Ffeenan's Editor is particularly
strong in its appeal to those who know the
steady, constant, uopartizan, temperate,
semper eadtm, cast of that Editors mind.
;'Citizen" has purposely refrained from dis
cussing this matter from the standpoint of
the sectarian or denominational devotee-
thereby setting the freeman an example of
equitable and legitimate discussion, which
good taste, if not fair dealing, would have
suggested to the editor to follow-snd he has
no potion of being betrayed oy the unkind
thrusts of the Freeman's Editor into doing 80
, now, but after such an experience be will
neither hope nor attempt to discuss an
abstract principle with that gentleman, nor
will he s'give himself away" again to him,
lest be be again taken advantage of, and
sought to be made to appear pitifnl and
contemplate hater and hysterical fearer OF
body of his fellow-Christians concerning
whom he is not conscious of having had any
ceususable feeling now OF at any other time,
although be may not hold with them on all
points of doctrine and government. This,
''Citizen" presumes, is position which 1t
will be conceded be has right to occupy
since he freely comedies that right to others.
But, Ar. Editor, ''Citizen' has already tres.
passed on your space and the patience OF
your readers, and, therefore, he must close,
resisting the temptation to challenge the proof