The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-02-10
Wednesday, Feb. 10, 1897.
Throwing Stones.

Throwing Stones.
Speaking for this newspaper, we seldom
read such articles as have for their purpose
the Injury OF anybody's good name, but few
days ago we violated our rule by reading 10
the Augusta Chronicle an editorial when
was copied from the News and Courier IN rel
erence to Governor Atk uson accepting
railroad pass TO California and back. About
one column was occupied in an apparent
effort to convince the public that Governor
Atkinson was corrupt, or at least, was accept
ing questionable civiltieS from the railroads.
In doing so there could have been no hope OF
doing a public service. The animus of the
whole thing was shown In the attempt TO in-
lure the good pane OF the Governor OF
the State of Georgia.
Governor Atkinson rose 10 the position OF
Governor of Georgia on his own merits. He
was poor boy. He had no blue blood in his
veins, but he had that royal native manly
blood that brings men to the front, ard
makes the humblest boy a man among men.
Such men are never free from the assaults OF
the men whom they have outstrlpped in the
race Of life. Poor boys, by the blue bloods,
are too often regarded as usurpers, while the
little fellows that they may have left behind
are almost sure TO vent their spleen and
envy.
Governor Atkinson ran for the office Of
Governor without asking permission from
anybody. He did more than assume to run
for the Office OF Governor. He had the pre-
sumption to run against the regular orthodox
blue blooded royalty; and for this reason, II
may be, he committed great crime against
the morals and dignity of the State OF Georgia
when he accepted free railroad ride. Did
any mortal man ever hear OF any outcry
against the old orthodox crowd for accepting
anything?
But to go back little. We presume that
no man in the State Of South Carolina has
than have the editors and employees of the
News and Courier. And we presume that no
man in the State OF Georgia has half as many
tickets as have the Chronicle and its enl-
ployees.
Further, we presume that Governor Atkln-
son has paid as much railroad fare as have
the editors OF both the News and Courier and
the Chronicle.
five are not in error the News and Courier
and the Chronicle have men out on the rail.
roads-men who live there from year to year.
and who may make special low arrange
ments for board at hotels on the lines OF their
travel.
Now, the point which we would make is,
that If 1t is corrupt in the Governor of Geor.
gla to accept q free ride over railroads
through and to distant States-to say nothing
of the Georgia roads-wherein are the News
and Courier and the Chronicle guiltless In
daily doing the same thing in their own
States?
If Governor Atkinson is corrupt how can
these newspapers set up claim 10 purity?
They are both in the same category. and by
no method of reasoning can they fairly place
Governor Atkinson in a worse light than
they must assume for themselves.
The Press aud Banner knows the stereo.
typed reply to this Is, that the papers publish
the schedules. In return railroads give editors
passes to ride as much as they please. That
Is the balm which soothes their own con.
science and warrants them in assailing others
for doing the same thing Of which they are
practically and actually guilty.
To show that the pay for passes in adver-
tising in the merest assumption is to cite the
fact that both these virtuous and entirely
correct newspapers advertise for grocers, jew
elry dealers, clothiers. dress makers, milli-
merry stores, and so forth. We venture to
suggest that neither of these editors take pay
for their advertising in free pass 10 60 into
any Of the stores TO help themselves to as
much as they may choose TO take; and we
venture further TO suggest. that these editors
have never asked or obtained such privileges
for their employees at any Of these stores.
Again. We suggest that no such offices
ever do job printing and furnish stationery
for railroads and take pay in tickets.
Because of the laws the railroads are not
allowed to give anybody free pass. TO
evade the effect OF this law, when an editor
wants free pass he generally contracts to do
advertising, which advertising may or may
not be done.
IfGovernor Atkinson is corrupt in accept
Ing free ride 10 San Francisco, how can
the members of the South Carolina Press AS
ISOLATION remain pure and spotless, II they 60
on free pass to Nashville next May?
1t is pretty cheap man who can be bought
with free ride on railroad, aud the men,
bers of the South Carolina Legislature may
have realized that fact when they made it
unlawful for members Of the General Assem-
bly, and State officers to accept free rides.
They knew themselves, and perhaps they
had an estimate OF the kind of men that the
Reform party would put in office, and so TO-
prevent the evil effects OF the Establishment
OF q free pass from Columbia to their homes.
they made special provisions against men,
bers accepting the same. But the editors
of great dailies get down TO the level OF
crossroads politicians when assailing the good
name of the Governor of the State OF Georgia
for doing once what these dailes do every
day. Such action may be based on
disposition to put stain on somebody's good
name, even If they have nothing better than
q pretext for so doing.
We venture TO suggest that Governor Atkin-
son Is as pure as any editor who does the
same thing that he does.
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