The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-05-02
LET Us HAVE PEACE!
From the Southern Christian Advocate

From the Southern Christian ADVOCATE.
Are the white people Of South Caro-
lima irrevocably divided into two polit-
ical factions? Is there no possibility
of uniting the people again? If the
two political factions cannot come to-
gether on platform alike honorable
to each, is there no hope of bringing
about better state Of feeling between
them?
These are questions of the gravest
Importance, and they deserve the
calm, yea, the prayerful, consideration
of every Christian patriot. On the
answers that may be given depend the
future moral, social, educational, in
dustrial and commercial prosperity of
the commonwealth. The ascendancy
Of one or the other faction is a small
matter compared with the higher in
terests that are involved. 1t is COM
paratively small matter whether Re-
formers or Conservatives shall be in
power-whether the laws shall be
made and executed by this, that or the
other political party or faction. But
| it is no small matter that all the high
er interests of the people-education-
al, social, moral and religious-should
be put in jeopardy by the present in
tense and bitter partisan feeling that
prevails throughout the State.
It ia not for us to say which faction
| is most to blame for this unusual and
deplorable condition of things in South
Carolina. Both are greatly to blame;
and it is infinite folly to stop to cavil
over the measure of censure that be-
longs to each, when each one is 50 evi-
dently culpable. Il is enough for US
to know that our State is in deplor-
able condition; that our people are di-
vided; that intolerance, abuse, mis-
representation, anger and the intensest
passion are the ruling spirits of the
hour; that father is against son, and
| son against father, brother quarrelling
with brother and neighbor with neigh
Dor; that under these adverse inAuen-
ces the cause of religion and morality
suffers, the peace of the State is en-
| dangered, and anarchy and ruin are
| threatened.
Is there not patriotism and religion
| enough in South Carolina and among
South Carolinians to put stop to this
mad carnival of bitterness and hate?
Will the formenter of strife and the
breeder Of discord among 'neighbors
and friends, whether he occupies
high or low position-will such an en-
emy to the peace and well-being of so.
ciety continue to be made the hero Of
the hour2
We plead with our people-our
Methodist people particularly-for a
better state of feeling, for more toler-
ance Of opinion, for more temperate
ness of speech and action. And we
have right to make this plea. We
belong to neither of the political fac
tions now warning for the mastery in
this State; we are neither Tillmanite
nor Haskellite, Reformer nor Conser-
vative. We have well defined views
of public policy and Of our responsi-
bility in the exercise of suffrage. But
| we allow no party lash to be popped
over our head; our highest political
allegiance is to God, our country and
our own conscience. We have had no
part in bringing about the present
strained relations between our people.
By tongue and pen, have we counsel
ed moderation, unity, peace, the OBJ
servance Of law, wisdom and prudence
| in the execution of law, respect for
| those in authority, and all else that
tends to the happiness and well-being
of the people. To do other than this
to stir up bad blood, to oincite to un-
fractional wrangling, strife and blood
shed among friends and neighbors, is
| unpatriotic, sinful, devilibh.
There is too much Of this spirit
| abroad in the State. Some of our ut
| terances, verbal and printed, have too
| much of the sulphurious odor. Though
spoken of neighbors and friends, they
bear the stamp of blind and bitter
| hate instead of conciliatory love. We
may not be able to revolutionize the
the press, we may not be able to
sweeten the tone Of debate on the hus-
tings, we may not be able to control
the utterances of the leaders of the
factions, but every man can and.
should set a watch over his own speech
and actions, and every man can coun"
sci moderation, forbearance and broth
erly love.
We believe the hour has come when
the pulpit should speak out with no
uncertain sound on this subject. We
do not believe in discussing politics
in the house of God, but this is not
politics. It is always in order for the
the pulpit to cry "Peace, peace" to
the angry passions Of men, and to ap-
ply the principles of Christianity and
the Bible to political conduct. 1t is
not politics to remind the people that
whose hateth his brother is a murder
er; that righteousness exalteth all ma
tions, but sin is reproach to all peo-
ple; that when the wicked reign the
people mourn; that it is duty they
owe both to God and to man to be
peaceable and law-abiding citizens;
that the right Of suffrage is fearful
responsibility, to be exercised in the
fear of God and not in the fear of par
ty or of men; that the peace and high
est good of the people should be more
to every Christian and patriot than
the triumph Of faction or party: These
and like lessons need to be taught with
all the force possible from every pull
pit in the land.
Can the readers Of the Advocate
give an intelligent statement OF the
matters of political principle that di'
vide our people into two hostile camps
and cause so much bitterness Of speech
and fcelingf Is it necessary that
these principles Of government shouic
be established in fire and blood? Are
the liberties of the people endangered
by the ascendancy Of either faction
Arc not the factions agreed IN mos
things that are of the highest concern
to the people? Are their differences
worth fighting over? May not more
rational and peaceful solution be the