The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-08-18
JOHN G.. CALHOUN.
Col. John p. Thomas Wants TO Lynch
The Editor of The Press and Ban

To the Editor of the Abbeville Press and
Banner:
I am not specially charged with the memories
of South Carolina. | know "Sparta hath
many a worthier son than l." Nor am on
special guard duty at the tomb of Calhoun.
however honorable such a vigil might be.
But the appeal made to me by my friend, q
worthy kinsman Of job Caldwell Calhoun,
to come to the defense of a great name ira
duced in is home. in Abbeville, explains and
~justities this open protest. The necessity or
which Is ueplOred.
For some REASON inexplicable to me, the
Abbeville Press and Banner has time
and time again treated with grave dis
respect and disparagement the name and fame
of CalhOun-a man OF the people n born De-
mocrat-in the best sense OF the term one,
who had he been living In the early days OF
Rome, would have been a Gracious, as he was
a Cato.
Your studied and persistent attacks upon
the fame of Calhoun, illustrating the license
of the press. seem TO have begun with your
editorial Of March 3, 1897, on The Writing of
History" Referring to the truthful declara-
ton of the Iorkville Woman that.
OH e. CALHOUN VAS ONE OF THE GREAT
EST MEN AMERICA,
has produced, the Abbeville Press and Ban
her says, with amazing effrontery.
These words, or words TO that effect, are al
most stereotyped; yet who has ever quoted
John c. Calhoun In support OF any theory, en-
C6pl p6IudpS luOSO Olu lhob LhNS
been long since exploded by the logic OF
events. The Press and Banner, living In the
home OF John g. Calhoun, confesses that we
know nothing of him, except that he made
speeches that few men have read, and that
we also do not recollect to have heard a stump
speech In 20 years that did not refer to John Z.
Calhoun's greatness, without giving US the
least idea as to wherein his greatness lay.
The fact is that we have heard the name OF
Calhoun, and a few local celebrities who had
kindred, until We are worn out and have no
more patience with the public idolatry OF
'our Set"
After this. follow the editorials on THE
Rule of Dead Men, "Slavery and Free
Trade" ITO the Candidates, )" ending for the
present with "Refreshing Innovation" In
The Press and Banner of Abbeville the states
manship OF Calhoun Is derided and his doc
trines scorned and repudiated. Here are
some 'choice" extracts TO serve as.
ENsAMPLEs OF THE DARKNESS OF
THE WRITER.
"The craftsmanship of Calhoun was from
the standpoint of slavery and all his princi.
Piles have been overshaddwed and relegated
to the rear. Slavery having passed away, the
cornerstone of his doctrine has been removed.
To say that the political condition OF the
slave States had not changed, and TO say that
the policy which governed In the time OF
slavery would answer for today is TO say that
the former days were better than these and
that we ha We learned nothing In so years.
"Sond principle will survive the everlasting
hills. but error must give place 10 light. The
logic Of events has proved that the utterances
of Calhoun are ancient hlstory-not living
principles
"a politician who would today advocate
free trade and quote Calhoun as an authority
is 10 be classed with the preacher who would
rise In his pulpit and show from the Bible The
lawfulness and justice OF slavery.
THE one idea is not more dead than the
other.
"The great mistake which McLaurln has
| made in this campaign was made when he
vent on the defensive as to protection, in
stead of ~pronouncing boldly for the great
doctrine which must rule this country"
1T may be that Calhoun Is authority on
some great political principle, but, as far as
we can now recall, all of the leading questions
that agitated the public mind during his life
time nave been settled definitely and forever
against the theories or principles which were
upheld by the great slaveoWner.
"Bu even admitting that he was the great
est mar that ever lived, and that his states
mauship was characterized by the most I'M
We have heard OF Calhoun and OF the lesser
lights that shined in this country 40 years ago
until we are sick and tired OF the parrotlike
speeches that can recognize nothing In the
manhood of the living and that can say moth
ing OF the Issues that present themselves to-
1--WE are tired of the rule of dead men.
ave are tired OF idiotic hero worship.
1 du OIdlOI IL uolulhS vi MO HS II
hardly gain much by attaching himself as a
barnacle to the corpse of those who ought,
with their ~laurels, TO be allowed to rest. We
are so tired OF hero worship. The whole heart
Is faint with SO much idol worship
THUS NOT SATISFIED
with one exhibition OF its hostile temper. the
Abbeville Press and Banner sends Its enven-
oIned shafts repeatedly at the sepulchred
greatness OF South Carolina.
And the surprising spectacle OF diShonor 10
the name and fame OF South Caralina's peer
less statesman Is presented in his birthplace,
the home of himself on earth and his ances-
try! OF him, OF whom a distinguished men,
Der Of the New York Historical society said,
10 his noble eulogy, April 2, 1850. I'm heart
Mr.. Calhoun was Il Raphael, in mind a
Michael Angelo"
Well may it be said to the editor OF the
Abbeville Press and Banner, sob, shame,
You may congratulate yourself. Mr.. Editor.
upon the indulgence OF your constituency
and upon the immunity you enjoy IN the out
ragged county of old Abbeville, than which
there is none more illustrious In South Caro-
lima.
1t appears that your Misrepresentation
and your sophistrfes have thus far not been
challenged by any son of Abbeville.
Is it that there is no one In your county too
poor to do reverence to the mighty shade OF
Calhoun? Or is 1t that your editorial utter
ances have been &c extravagant and unreason-
aDlo as 10 place you DeyOuu Tue pdl6 Vi d
righteous responsibility?
1t may be so. 1t surely must be so. But 1t
occurs 10 me that you have SO outraged every
propriety; have so wounded the senslbilities
of the men and women OF Abbeville and the
State who take pride in the heritage OF Cal
houn to the country that one pen at least
should proclaim the Ignominy of you I'M
warranted expressions OF contempt and
scorn OF Calhoun.
Press and Banner VS.. John Caldwell Cal.
houn! This might seem enough.
But 1t is not enough wnen a writer revels In
his rot, and when impunity leads to repeated
There are cases when the comparative in
Significance of the accuser is lost in the mag
nitude of the accusation. This 1 hold Is
CASE IN POINT
If the editor OF the Abbeville Press and
Banner were a student Of Calhoun; If he
were acquainted with the works OF Calhoun:
If he had followed his grand career In Its
brilliant incidents to the pathos OF It's close,
he never could have written the words he has
recorded the sentiments he has avowed in de-
probation Of q a man whose splendid public
conduct was in accord with the purity OF his
private life.
From 1911, when Calhoun took his seat In
congress. to 1850. when he died with his har-
ness on, his history Is the history OF his Stale
and his country. In all the public measures
that agitated the union during these 40 years.
he took q leading part. and he was a master
spirit. He grappled like a giant with every
question that arose. And when the waves OF
deepest agitation raged in crested power, II
beat the surgeS under hin,
And rode upon their hacks"
AS representative. as senator, MS secretary
Of war, as Vice President, be adorned every
office that he held and showed himselfa mas
terful man. In the senate, with the logic OF
Aristotle and the fire of DemOstheneS and the
firmness of Cato. with spirit like Burke and
Chatham, he was the peer In debate OF Clay
and Webster, making with them the Ameri-
can triumyirate, unrivaled In the history OF
our country for forensic power. On the sub
innt OF the Tariff. ON the nnastinn of the chr.