The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-08-11
Would Not Knowingly M~isrepreseut
SharlestOn.

Would Not Knowingly Misrepreseut
Charleston.
We nave no wish to engage in a discussion
of the character OF Charleston and lts people.
They have their sins and shortcomings, their
preJudices and peculiarities, their views OF
tinguished as a rule for their conservatism OF
though and speech and effort; but al heart
they are not greatly unlike the rest OF tne
people OF South Carolina. II our AooeolLs
contemporary knew them better he would
like them more; and while we would not ask
him TO abate one jot or little OF MS oevotlon
to the dispencary law. we would ask MIN 70
think whether he has not been too sweeping
and Incorporate in his denunciations OF
Charleston. A large majority OF the people OF
Charleston have been opposed TO the dlspen-
small minority have either engaged In or en-
couraged the violation of the law. 1t has
been vigorously resisted by every means
known 10 the law. That was right and legitl-
mate. Nobody here has ever thrown down
1.-THE gauntlet" there has been no attempt on
."the part of "the outlaws of Charleston to be-
"come guardians OF our morals and our So
"briety,,' "the liquor element of the City by
the Sea" have not championed the cause OF
Mr.. McLauain, as far as we know. ana Inc
"only notification OF one OF the most import
ant laws on the statute books" that we have
approved and that the people OF Charleston
have approved Is the publication which mas
been obtained by orderly processes through the
Courts.
We do not believe that our Abbeville CON-
temporary would deliberately do injustice TO
his community, and would ask him In the
spirit of fairness to reconsider his harsh 1udg-
ments.- Charleston News and Couria.
'The tenor OF the above rather disarms US.
We always try TO be more polite than the
other fellow.
There is reason in what our neighbor says
and as far as this editor knows himself, he al
ways listens to reason, and always respects
the man who appeals to reason.
This newspaper would not knowingly do
any wrong to Charleston. Charleston would
have no more outspoken friend than the
Press and Banner If this editor saw. or be-
lieved, that injustice was being done to the
city. Az a matter of fact, we believe every
true Carolinian is proud of Charleston.
Our Charleston contemporary says:-"1f
our Abbeville contemporary knew them bet
ter 1.-THE people of Charleston he would like
them more"
This is no doubt, as true as gospel. When
ever we have met a gentleman from Charles
ton, we nave ~involuntarily felt like begging
his pardon for ever thinking evil OF Charles
ton. This editor has only the most exalted
opinion Of those Charlestonians with whom
he has come in contact.
We, however, see little Of Charleston except
as reflected through the columns OF the
Charleston newspapers and whatever we
think OF Charleston, or have said Of Charles
ton, has been largely induced by utterances
OF the News and Courier.
II Charleston will just be like the rest Of
the State, and treat others as people, or clti.
zens, entitled to consideration, the opposition
to Charleston will cease Immediately.
Charleston in her political fight has some
times been impolitic, and In her opposition
TO the dispensary her expressions have been
indiscreet.
We have thought that the News and Cour-
the dispensary law In Charleston, and We un-
derstood that boast to mean a defiance Of the
laws Of the State. Our recollection Is, that
gentlemen, bankers, merchants and bust.
ness men, Of Charleston s~ympathlsed with
the italian (whose name we cannot spelD in
his effort to disregard the law, TO defy the
constables, and to do business contrary to
the Statutes OF this State. We were led TO
this opinion by publications in the News and
Courier.
Charleston's sympathy for, and aid TO the
Darlington rioters, led US 10 believe that
Charlestonians regarded themselves very diff
ferent from and very much better than the
rest of the State.
The New aud Courier, by its treatment OF
Tillman and other Reformers, acted in such
a way as to excite opposition rather than
friendship for Charleston. The people who
yNfal for Ttlnonn bo~aet a-l tha
pie who enacted the dispensary law were
honest, and 1t is only necessary for the
News and Courier to show the people that
they were mistaken-if they were mistaken
and there is not a man who favors the dis
pensary that will not be more than willing to
correct his error. But, hen the temperance
people OF this State are defied, and 1t is pro.
posed TO disregard a law which they deem
good, IL excites opposition and distrust OF our
brothers by the Sea.
Our contemporary says, the people O.
Charleston are not greatly unlike the rest OF
the State. Then, that being so, why can't
Charleston appeal to reason, obey the law I'M
til 1t is repealed, and treat the rest OF us as If
we were people?
Let Charleston treat the rest Of the State
with proper consideration, and the rest Of the
State will love and honor Charleston.
Charleston has 1t In her power to allay the
opposition which she has indIscreetly
aroused, and whenever she 80 Wills it, every
man in the State will be a friend to Charles
ton.
But as long as she assumes high and mighty
airs, and treats the government with disre-
spect that city will hold of her friends.
Charleston is a good old city, but she is not
above the laws of the State, and her
foreigners who van to sell liquor should be
required to comply with the laws that govern
the rest or us.
The good men Of Charleston cannot Oxford
to leopard her best interests fighting the bat
ties Of the lawless element.
sLet's be friends, contempary, and reason to.
gether. We will meet you more than half
way And II you treat US right Charleston
will never have a more steadfsst friend than
the Press and Banner will be.
Cheerful Outlook.