The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-07-07
The Cotton Plant.

The Cotton Plant is receiving more or less
OF public attention just now. The Printing
Committee of which Mr.. w. A. Neal Is chair
man took exception to the editorial utterance
of Editor w. T. Crews. Crews was served
with notice Of a determination on the part OF
the committee to terminate the contract al
the end of sixty days. Crews makes reply 10
the committee and claims to have unearthed
a most wicked political plot in the Congress.
sional race.
Neal In reply asserts that much hat Crews
says is either partly or wholly false, and then
recites the circumstances from his own stand.
point.
Viewed at this distance. after a mere casual
reading, we see no special difference In the
statements, and we do not believe that any
body has done anything very bad, or out o.
the ordinary in politics, as politics go.
From our standpoint, the effect of the whole
correspondence Is to injure the Cotton Plant
In the public estimation, and 10 lower public
confidence in the integrity OF political lead
ers.
The truth may be told in such a way as to
mislead the reader and to do great injury.
This correspondence seems TO indicate a dis
position to put somebody's heal on Crews
The exhibition Of such a disposition always
excites sympathy for the under dog In the
fight, and generally hurts the man who as
sumes to put on high and mighty airs.
1t isn't a good idea to assinate q witness be-
cause OF his probable or possible testimony.
The rule in Court ls. for the jurors to hear
the testimony and then Judge ofthe CREDIBLE
ity OF each witness.
The parties to this contest or quarrel need
not seek to destroy the character OF anybody,
II each gives his version A discriminating
public will find no trouble In forming opin'
ion as to the truthfulness or untruthfulnes
of the statements.
If the accused Is allowed TO assasslnate his
a~ccusors he would likely nave a glorious
time.
Another matter: Any assertion that finds
It's way into the newspapers, and receives
public attention, will be believed somebody,
No statement or insinuation can be so absurd
as not to be believed by somebody, no matter
how vehemently 1t may be disputed or de
MED.
For this reason men of high character can
not we'll afford to go into quarrels with men
for whom they have little respect. The man
Of high character, as a rule should, and gen
orally does. respect the rights and good nam
OF others, but instances do occur where gen.
tlemen SO far forget themselves as to indulge
In personallties-as they generally find oui
later-to their own hurt.
The Press and Banner believes that all the
rucus o going OH about the Cotton Plant Is
entirely unnecessary. The contract for print
ing the paper was q business proposition
When the terms Of the contract were violated
the Printing Committee and the Printer
should have settled their matters as other
business men settle their business-in private
without going into the newspapers.
Boiled down re see 1t this way:
LIST. The Committee made specific charges
Of violation OF contract on the part OF the
printer, and gave notice OF intention to re
scind the contract.
I'd. The Printer In reply made ugly charges
as TO political matters, involving good names
Sd. The chairman OF the Printing Com
mittee denounced statements OF the contrac
tor as wholly or partly false.
Now, we submit that the publication of al
this matter is Injurious to those who have
rushed into print about q purely business
matter. Public confidence in the Cotton
Plant and others may be effected. And none
Of the gentlemen who ave aired their con
tempt for Crews have gained anything. AND
he has gained nothing. All have lost, or thai
Is the way look at 1t.