The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-07-24
Wednesday, July "a, 1885.
Geographical Politics.

earth Is that which Is based on geography
AS far as our memory serves US we nave
heard OF, and know of. no man who was com
petent for position to urge objection to his
competitor on account Of the home in which
he lived.
Abbeville county is a small body polite
and because some OF her ablest lawyers live
at Abbeville, where their profession calls
them. we learn that men OF little minds and
totally lacking in The intelligence and ability
which are necessary to make an impress on
the Constitution are objectng to the election
OF competent and efficient men to the Con-
vention, simply because they live at Able
willie Court House. To say that such course
is contemplate is to put 1t mildly. Such
course is evidently for no higher purpose than
that of electing men to the Convention VINO
are notably and admittedly inferior, simply
because the inferior men live in some remote
corner, and possess the requisite amount OF
subservlency to be regular jumping jack
for some little politician who stands oehlno
the curtain and pulls the string.
Let the voter act from his own best Judg-
ment, and do his own thinking for once.
If candidate, or his friends, object TO
competent competitor simply because he lives
atJAbbeville, just enquire within your own
mind for the motive. and don't let them palm
off anybody's jumping jack" for real man.
A Jumping Jack, who is moved by somebody,
behind the curtain, pulling the string, or
Parrot, who utters only the sentiments which
he Is taught to speak, will be worth nothing
10 any body in the State Convention. Instead
of being an honor to Abbeville county they
will make the proudest of all the counties an
object OF ridicule, or the subject Of jest.
We have heard none OF the speeches at any
OF our meetings, and have no authentic ac-
count Of any of them, but we ask sensible
and patriotic men to consider well the speech
es and take into account the real merits OF
the different candidates.
Heretofore in some instances certain politi-
clans, who had little TO recommend them
selves have resorted to the dirty trick Of ap-
pealing to the prejudices OF the people as
against the more competent competitors who
might live at Abbeville.
AS such appeals we believe, are seldom or
never made by men who are worthy to repre-
sent Abbeville county, we hope that our peo-
pie will for once forget prejudice and act for
their own best interests
The people of a county are judged by the
men who speak for them in representative
bodies.
Run through the list of candidates, If you
please.
Compare the ability Of the candidates from
Abbeville with that Of the ability OF those
who assall them merely because they live at
Abbeville and are true to every part of the
county.
The candidates from Abbeville are r. r.
Hemphill. J. C. Klugb, w. c. MCGOWAN,
Frank B. Gary. They are lawyers and men
OF ability. They are the equals Of any men
on the list, and they are vastly superior to
any man who appeals TO the people to vote
against them merely because they live at Alb
bevile village. The truth is, the fact of their
ability is the real objection TO them. Nobody
has said word of their lack of abiity-aH
that is urged against them is, that their home is
at Abbepiue. No man has denied that any
one of them is the peer OF any other man In
the race.
Below the surface is just two good and SUBJ
stantial reasons for objecting to the election
of the ablest men on the list:
lst. Their superiority TO the men who op-
pose them.
2nd. Their fidelity to Abbeville county In
refusing to cut 1t to pieces at an unsuitable
time.
Why is this question of new counties
sprung at the last moment? Why such ap-
parent self-abnegation on the part of Green
wood?
On the surface it would seem that the town
of Green wood has no candidates, but will
anybody deny that she has candidates from
Ninety-Six, Bradley. Coronaca, and Honea
Path who are a unit against Abbeville? :?
1t seems a plan through which men with
little sense and some reason might see.
There Is no doubt sentiment abroad which
demands new court houses, but this is no
time to enter into local scramble. The Con-
stitution should be. for the whole State, and
not constructed for the benefit Of those who
seek to establish Court Houses.
The local legislation OF the General Assem-
bly, has been carried to great extremes To
lower Constitution to a local partisan docu-
ument is a proposition which should not be
entertained for a moment.
This Is time when every citizen should be
striving unsefishly to send the best men to
our convention.
1t is unfair to seize upon such a moment to
make the constitution partizan document.
If the proposition to cut this county in two
is a worthy one, its promoters need have no
fears. The people will do the right thing. II
1t is right to divide, it will be done, but no.
body should want TO take snap judgment.
1t would be unfair to elect men to the Con-
vention who would cut off Lowndesville,
Honea Path, and Mccormick from the posi-.
bility OF ever becoming a county seat.
II this Con ventiO does not cut the county
in two it is possible that all or either of these
places may be at some time the centre Of
prosperous little counties. Then why
throttle them In noble ambition?
The fact that this question OF dividing the
counties so that Lowndesville, Donalds and
Mccormick could never be Court House
towns speaks of the unfairness OF the propo-
stion.
If 1t had been intended to treat these towns
fairly why was the question not openly and
fairly discussed in public.
II it was intended TO give Mccormick,
Lowndesvile and Donalds fair chance, is 1t
susceptible of proof that any Of the Green
wood advocates have ever said a word in that
way.
The people love fair play. The great public
heart will do right, if 1t is made aware of the
facts.
All the candidates advocate a reduction OF
the area, and that is as far as the State Con-
vention should 60. 1t should not be sought
TO make it partizan and unfair body. 1t
should represent the whole people. and it
should allow US to settle our own little dis
putes.
In after years, the question Of establishing