The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-07-24
"Ieaders'' Out OF Il Job.

.sHeaderS'' Out OF q Job.
South Carolina to-day has perhaps more
"leadersn out OF a job than can be found else
where.
We have leaders everywhere and we have
in every county OF the State selfconceited
citizens who imagine they are much purel
and holier than their neighbors.
But South Carolinians are the poorest fol
lowers OF any people on the face of the globe.
All these puritanical, selfrighteous, "bet
ter-than-thou" leaders, who are too good to be
classed with their white neighbors. seem &c
be totally and absolutely without endorse
ment from anybody.
They have kicked and kicked until they can
lead nobody, and when they propose any
thing, or assume TO bulldoze anybody, II
seems that the people understand that TO be
the signal for doing something else than Is
ordered by these LEADERS,
The leaders of the State, and their little
"me-toos," who never had a thought OF their
own, except as they gathered from somebody
else, are in a most ludicrous condition. They
neither "lead" anybody nor represent the
public sentiment of the communities IN
which they exist. But they may have the
satisfaction OF feeling that they are better
and purer than the mass of the people, and
console themselves with the thought that
they are living in advance of the age.
If we were TO make a criticism OF the press
of the State, we would suggest that too many
OF them are playing for the gallery, or seek
ing popularity more than the declaration OF
personal convictions. The Reform press hav'
ing appealed more to the ignorances and pref.
udices of the people than to their better sense
of right and wrong. The Anti press In like
manner haying failed to fairly discuss public
issues VI while they have labored to belittle their
fellow-citzens, and to prejudice them IN pub
lie esteem.
For instance: The refunding of the public
debt was not question of politics. 1t was
one in which the public welfare was involved.
Instances sought to besmirch the good name
Of the State in the hope of defeating meas,
ure which was of such vital consequence 10
the people.
Again: The dispensary law was enacted as
a substitute, or compromise, for the demand
of the people for prohibition. Every conce!v-
able devise has been resorted 10 for the pur-
pose of creating public sentiment against 1t.
The officers, who were to enforce the law have
been very much abused personally, or
else their official action has been stated with
the clear design of making the law odious.
On the other hand, the wilful violators OF
the law have not been censured, but have
been either directly or Indirectly protected
and encouraged in the violation Of the law.
All kinds OF ridicule and personal dislike
-. hono 1,,l. et, tha inn n
office has been put forward daily.
Such action has greatly weakened the oppo-
sition of the h onest and right thinking Con-
servatives Of the State, until now the follow.
ing Of those who utter their contempt for the
Democratic party have almost no following.
Their efforts 10 induce any considerable
number of decent people to quit political af-
filiation with the Democratic party will fall.
The great public heart has very little conf
dence in politicians who lack stability, and
who will not remain loyal, even If their pet
wishes are defeated for o time.
AS far as Abbeville county Is concerned 1t
seems to us that the kickers, or Democratic
deserters, will scarcely number corporals
guard. Abbevile county is nota profitable
field for political deserters. and every man
who respects public opinion, or who expects
public favor at the ballot box, will likely re-
main true and loyal to the Democratic party.
The threat of the great host OF defeated
'leaders" to organize themselves into some
kind OF boomerang or Internal machine has
no terrors for our people. The sooner the
whole lot OF such people organize the better
for all Of us. Every man who is not Demo
crat at heart, whether he is Niggerite, Popu-
list, Anarchist or Republican, should quit the
party at once, so that we may know them,
and so that they may no longer be disturbing
factors An open honest enemy is better than
an unreliable friend.