Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-04-29
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WHAT Is The ISSUE?

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WHAT Is The ISSUE?
A Correspondent Warns the People to Be
on tho Lookout for County Division.
Editor Of The Yorkville Enquirer:
I am not a politician; but we are all
so constituted as TO- have clear cut
prejudices, and are therefore prone to
take sides on the various questions OF
the day. 1t is this taking sides that
results in what we call 'issues."
The most prominent issue before the
people of the United States just now
is the money issue; but this is not an
issue at all in this section. You might
find a man here and there in York
county who is in favor of the main
tenance of the single gold standard
but they are very lonesome and but
few of them can tell why. In nine
cases out of ten it is not because the
man really understands the subject,
and believes that he is right; but be-
cause some people are just so consti-
tuted that they would not be happy
if they found themselves in full agree
ment with their fellows. No, South
Carolina will send a solid delegation
to Chicago that will stand for free
silver first last and all the time, and in
my opinion the man who gets upon the
stump for the purpose of preaching
free silver to our people has been
asleep longer even than I have. !
think the people will serve him right
liz they will tell him "rats."
All of our Reform promises have
been settled in full. We've held q
constitutional convention. We have
provided new registration and elec-
ton laws which seem to put satisfac-
tory quietus on the race problem, and
in fact we have done about everything
that we contracted to do, especially so
far as State affairs are concerned.
But another campaign is upon Us. We
are again called upon to select dele
CATION to represent us in the legisla-
ture and in view of what I have said
perhaps great many people will be
at loss to conjecture on what lines
aspirants to represent the people will
pitch their claims for suffrage. 1t was
in order to make suggestion on this
subject that happened to wake up.
You know that our recent constitu.
tional convention fixed the limit OF
old counties at 500 square miles and
the limit. of new counties at 400 square
miles and provided that no county
should have less area. You know that
the area of York county does not ex-
ceed IT'S square miles. This is by
actual survey, by some of the most
conscientious surveyors who have ever
lived in this country. If you remem-
ber, the county was recently surveyed
again by interested parties, and you
have not yet heard anybody say any
thing definite about the result. II
you are as we'll acquainted with the
intricate calculations that are necessa-
ry to determine the area of a tract as
big as York county, you will under
stand that it is easy to make "mis-
takes" if you want to. 1t will also oc-
cur to you that it is easier to make
"mistakes' in favor of an employer
than it is against him. just why, l
don't know; but it is so.
But after "mistake" has been made
in survey it is further necessary to
have a legislature that is favorable
to that "mistake." That is the next
move on the programme. Perhaps
some of our people think that the
county question is settled. By rights,
I think it is &; but you remember what
kind of promises we had from candi.
dates for delegates to the constitutional
convention. In my opinion, you are
going to have the same old fight over
again. There is going to be an effort
to have the legislature endorse the
"mistakes' of the survey, and there
are going to be candidates in the field
secretly pledged to the endorsement.
The fact is it will be very lively
issue before the summer is over.
In conclusion, think it we'll for the
voters to look into this matter, and to
keep their eyes wide open. If we elect
anybody to represent York county in
the legislature, we should elect them
to represent the whole county and not
a part of it. We do not want to give
our votes to men, who come to us
under false pretenses, asking our suf-
frage only that they may, after get
ting what they want, cut loose from
US and throw US overheard. We have
had one experience of that kind. !
don't ask for any drawing of sectional
lines, Mr.. Editor but let US net be
deceived again. Next time let us only
vote for men who can be depended
upon to do what they promise.
think there must be still among us
some men of this kind.
RIP VAN WINKLE.
Smyrna, April "a.