The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-12-11
Wednesday, Dec. II, 1895.
Who are the Best People? - Who
Form Public Sentiment in SOuth
Carolina?

The unblushing effrontery of the Office
holding class, and their bootlicks, In assum-
inc TO be South Carolina, or in being the au-
thors and foundation of public sentiment, Is
truly refreshing. Such impudence gives the
best evidence Of the fact that no man, nor no
set of men, nor their kinpeople should hold
Office forever.
This assumption that the little coterie OF
former office holders and their kindred are
better people than the rest of us, must come
from the supposed idea that they have d.
vine right to the Offices and are therefore bet
ter people than their neighbors.
Even If such people should feel that they
are truly and really better than anybody out
OF their set, II seems that discretion and
proper respect for the proprieties would sug-
gest that it would be well not to publish the
fact OF their self-conceit.
The recent utterances Of the Atlanta people
in contempt OF our people is case in point
They pass resolutions which, because OF their
own low standard, would be- discredit 10
good people anywhere, In which the greatest
injustice was done to South Cardinals repre-
sentatives at the Exposition. and as far as the
resolutions deserved the notice Of our peo-
pie, was reflection on South Carolina.
The resolutions, like other assaults on Till
man and Evans, contained covert filings at
the people of South Carolina. And by 1.-THE
people," we mean the good people of the State
who do the voting without presuming or as
suming TO be all of South Carolina.
The fact is, that some most excellent people
hate Tillman with all their hearts, and they
have right to hate him. They hate him:
First-Because,' coming from among the
people, he assumed to lead them in the recent
political revolution, without first asking their
permission to urge his political opinions
This offense was mortal.
Second-When In political ascendency he
allowed his followers to fill the offices which
we're once held by "our SET" This also was a
mortal ofense.
Third-He established the dispensary. This
gave pretext and plausible ground for the
ousted officers, and their followers. to urge
their hatred Of him upon public attention.
The dispensary gave real and conscientious
reasons to the saloon element for hating
Tillman.
We believ these three propositions can not
be successfully denied. The haters Of Till
man, we believe, may be divided thus:
First-All the old office-holders, including
their kin, their set, and their bootlicks.
Second-A very considerable portion OF the
saloon-keepers in the various cities of the
State.
The supporters OF Tillman's dispensary law
may be classified thus:
First-Those who support 1t as party
measure.
Second-Thousands of good men, irrespec-
tive of party affiliation, who desire to see the
rule of rum cease.
Third-Nine-tenths OF the prohibitionists,
whoat heart favor a curtailment Of the liquor
traffic.
Fourth-A large per cent. of the Christian
people, If not the whole church membership
Now, as to who are the best people, or who
constitute public sentiment:
Tillman's haters may be said to be:
First-All old line officers. their kin, their
set, and their toadies.
Second-The saloon men.
Third-Advocates Of the bar-rooms.
THE Press and Banner would not undertake
to say who are 1.-The best people" without first
having the words "best people" defined. If
the ex-office holders are the "best people,"
then those who are not in office are not so
good as the offlce-holders.
If sobriety, morality and christianity make
the "best people," then different standard
from that Of the politician must be set up.
II the saloon men, with the saloon, with its
attendant evils, and their political affiliation
with the irreconcilable ex-ofi cials, are 10
form the "best people," then we will have a
third standard.
II drunkenness is better than sobrlety, then
people"
Viewed from churchly standpoint. it
might be claimed that members OF Chris
tian church are the "best people," And, spun
out little finer, members Of "our church,
might be set down as "the best" the very best