The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-03-07
n" REPLIES TO SOME CRITICISMS

"H." REPLIES TO SOME CRITICISMS
| He Defends Himself Against the "Prob es"
of the Lance nc ga Reader and Parties
the Thrusts of The Herald and News.
EDITOR HERALD AND News: When
I launched few random reflections
upon the inconsistencies Of the "elect"
on the sea of journalism few days
ago, I little dreamed that had, iuad-
vertentiy, wandered into rhetorical
| vein that would so seriously strain the
penetrative faculties of two such cul-
tured gentlemen as your respected self
and my honored friend "Reader."
And I am sadly at loss to explain
the temporary loss of mental grasp,
unless it be from that superabundance
of learning which, it is averred, some
times makes men mad. But be this as
it may, the plane upon which the crit
icisms have been cast, and the evident
solicitude in quest of light, render 1t
obligatory on my part that should
fathom those hidden depths and bring
to the surface those "molecules"' Of
meaning that lie beneath the placid
waters of higher English.
III entr upon the discharge of this
duty with some trepidation, yet am
consoled with the reflection that such
small bits of "mother-of-pearp' as /
may be enabled to lay before you will,
on account of intervening distance, re-
semble in some small degree the gen.
uine article.
For fear that the above allusion to
intervening distance" may be classed
as hidden metaphor, I will state that l
have it from competent and oft reiter-
ated authority that one of you is grac-
ing, beautifully, and otherw,-enhanc-
ing, panel of the political fence; and
! T know that I shall be pardoned for
expressing the belief that it is an inside
panel, and that the position occupied
by yourself is equi-distant from both
ends of the middle panel.
T do not wish to be understood as
implying improper political conduct;
for, if there is one principle that hold
to, above ali others, it is, that man
should always be found in the middle
of his convictions, and high enough up
to be distinctly heard when it is neces-
sary Tor him to state them.
As to Reader" who is evidently
sup a very tall tree" but who, from
this coigne of vantage, directs bis fair
and kindly, if somewhat questionable,
criticisms, I will admit that he has
touched a tender spot; tender, not on
account of the legislative act which,
apparently, struck the blow at educa-
tional interests, so much as on account
of the want Of interest, on the part Of
the people, of which the act was the
Spatural outgrowth.
2 ssee no special cause for blame that
I, c5ssS:.:-stach to the members of the Legis-
lature in curtailing the expenses of the
Board of Management of the schools of
the State; for, be it remembered, that
the aforesaid reductions of salaries are
simply additions to the general school
funds in the counties in which such
reductions obtain, and while the sum
total will be inconsequential, still there
is no harm done to anyone-except,
possibly, to the future incumbents Of
the offices referred to; and when we
consider that the acceptance Of them is
very f. removed from anything that
savors of eompulsion, we are inclined
to indulge in quiet smile at the in
genuousness Of your correspondent
when he so mercilessly applies the
probe to long forgotten wounds.
For fear this assertion may be
shrouded in mystery, I will simplify
by saying, that the salaries will be
known, and should any one not feel
able to serve for the amount prescribed
he can simply let the office alone.
Now, as to the advance of the amount
paid to the "apostate Baptist" and
others engaged in the Dispensary force
of the State, I had not taken the time
to consider, but since I am forced to
do so, T am somewhat surprised al the
evidence in favor of such advance.
Let us take the old barroom statis-
tics of, only, our own town, and we
find eight well-equipped saloons, each
paying into the treasury of.the town
five hundred dollars per annum. Am
I correct? Now multiply $500 by s,
and $4,000 is the result. Deduct 1900
from this amount, and the ultimate
result, 50 400, is attained. Granting
that both the 81 900 and the ST 900 are
simply taxes upon the sumptuous tastes
of the patrons of each Institution, and
that they in no way encroach upon
the general fund, We are inclined to
the opinion that the much despised
Dispensary is considerable improve
ment upon the old system from an
economical standpoint. I fail to see
anything in this to give alarm. have
been so long accustomed to seeing the
State, in its constituent capacity as
member of the Union, regulate the
manufacture and safe Of intoxicating
liquors, and in its (ndividnal capacity
exercise additional coDtrol 10 the licens-
ing Of the saloon, that I fail to realize
the enormity of its offence when it, 10
its individual capacity, assumes entire
control. I have yet to hear of one SIN
gle man, reputed to be sane, who de-
MED the right to licence or not licence
| on 49, ,o,rt ,,f IVA Ctofo hoforo Z bo