Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-01-05

selves. They try to advance their own
interest in their own way. Some have
the idea that the best way to advance
their interests is by means Of damaging
representations against us. Whether
these representations are true or untrue,
seems to them a matter Of indifference.
Many Of these representations we know
to be malicious and false. We have not
taken the trouble to correct any ofthem or
make any excuse, for we have always
felt that if the public did not know the
truth at a glance, it would find it out in
time. In most cases such has been the
result. Then again, our contract, as
stated above, being to instruct, amuse and
inform, we have not felt justified in al
lowing our attention to be diverted
from legitimate duties to the discussion
of dirty filings and insinuations, based on
envy, spite and malice, and in which the
general public has no interest. Any in
dividual, however, who desires the ab-
solute facts in regard to any matter affect
ing THE ENQUIRER as a newspaper, or
it's makers as individuals, can get them
to his entire satisfaction by making a
personal application at this office.
While we have occasionally had, and
will continue to have, to make assaults
on individuals, it will be noted that such
assaults have never been in personal
capacity; but always in an official capacl-
ty-for malfeasance, misconduct or in
competency. 1t has happened that some
times such officials have designedly done
us gross injustice in an official capacity
but say, with all sincerity, that we nave
ever been careful not to use these COL
umns, for which we haye the utmost res
pect, to further personal revenge. 1t hap
pens as necessary sequence that an
official who will be designedly spiteful
or unjust to any individual in an official
capacity, will also, upon occasion, prove
recreant to his duty to the public at large,
and when he does this, no matter how
strongly may be the appearance OF prl-
vate revenge, it becomes the duty OF an
honest newspaper to call such officials to
account. THE ENQUIRER has had occa-
sion to do some of this calling to account,
and although the parties assailed have
tried to dodge real issues and create the
impression of personal motives, the pub
lie will remember that so far, in each in
stance, the facts we alleged were satisfac-
torily established.
But in things of this kind we assure
the public we have no pleasure. we
would rather praise than blame. we
would rather build up than tear down.
Recognizing that our duty is to the whole
public, we entertain not the slightest ami
mostly to any good citizen. However
great may be real or imaginary provo
cation against US, we always try to believe
that our opponents too believe they are
right; and no matter how convinced we
may be to the contrary, when we feel
malice arising in our hearts, we try to
pluck it out. A clean conscience being
an important requisite in the proper con-
duct of an honest newspaper, so far as
matters which affect the general public
are concerned, at least, we always try to
keep ours clean.
AS to what the circulation of THE EN-
oUIRER is, is matter Of no especial con-
Germ to anybody except the business de-
partment Of this office. But it is not
matter of any secret. The circulation of
the semi-weekly is as great as has been
the circulation of the old weekly at any
time since 1890. Each subscriber who
pays for the paper gets it as long as he
pays for it, and that is all he is concerned
about. When subscribers time is out,
and he does not want the paper for anoth-
er year. no attempt is made to blackmail
him into taking it anyhow. While we
send sample copies whenever we see fit,
as a gift, we have not and never will
stoop to common practice Of sending a
man paper, year after year, without Or
ders, and even against his protest, and
then claim that he owes US an honest
debt.
We sincerely beg the pardon of the
reader for having taken up his time,
with statement like the foregoing. Had
we not been assured by so many people
that it would he All act of simple justice
to the public, we would not make it now,
and we earnestly hope that it will be
long time before we will feel called upon
to refer to the subject again.
THE COTTON GROWERS.
rNI>o ,,o,>ort Of bo ,,ronoo6inos 0f the