The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-07-06
OUR SAY NOW.

Of the things of the past, and we re-
cret that we cannot let it pass with
out reply to some ofthe things said.
We believe in fighting fair, aud our
antagonist is privileged to hitas hard
as he may, provided he sticks to
facts, and does not not resort to de-
ception. Ourreaders will understand,
that according to the rules OF the
Democratic party no one but a can
date has the privilege to make a
speech at the meetings not even II a
candidate should attack citizen; 1t
is for this reason the columns OF
every decent newspaper are thrown
open to those who have been attack
bv an editor and for the further rea-
son that the party may make his de-
tense before those who read the at
tack. This is right, fair and honora-
BILE.
Colonel r. B. Watson, to evade an
issue, OF his own making with Gov
ernor Ellerbe, brought on by reck-
less snd slanderous misrepresenta-
tons, found in the last issue Of The
TINES, an excuse to shift his fight,
and with pretense of righteous in
dignation, be endeavored to create
the impression that he was insulted
by he editor OF The TINES. What
was the alleged insult? We men
toned that which was published all
over the State, the shipment OF peach
es to the soldiers in camp, with the
compliments of Col. R. B. Watson and
we commented on the fact that it was
the first time we ever heard of Wat
sons liberality. There is nothing
insulting about that and it was a
legitimate criticism to make, espec-
iallv as Colonel Watson did not dis
claim sending the peaches nor did
he at Wednesdays meeting deny
what we said. He did however claim
the peaches. were shipped without
acknowledge, by his family and other
friends.
There was nothing wrong in his
giving away peaches, but there is
something wrong in flying false COL
ors; and when those peaches were
heralded abroad as contribution
from Colonel Watson when it was
not true, he had no right to allow the
deception to continue witheut max
ing it known. It turns out accord
ing to Watson himself after notice has
been taken of the gift IL the shape OF
an adverse criticism,that although the
peaches were shipped to a camp Of
voters at this opportune time with
his compliments they wee the con-
tributions of himself AMI others. The
point is simply this, Watson was for
political effect, taking credit for that
that which he was Lot entitled, If
what hesays about it is true. Not
withstanding this, there is not one
offending word in the editorial, and
in fact, it did not offend Colonel Wat
son and his conduct showed that he
was playing for effect; before and
after the meeting he greeted us most
pleasantly and showed not the least
indication of man whose feelings
were wounded, but when he got upon
the stand be played we'll the role OF
injured innocence. His attempt to
distort and garb:e our editorial about
prohibition need only be read to con-
vince any sensible man that he was
playing politics and it was weak
attempt to mislead his hearers, by
separating sentences and making the
editorial read as though we said that
Prohibitionists were using the cloak
of religion to cover their leprous bod
les and that they were the recruiting
officers for the devil. We ask that
the editorial be recalled. and it is SO
plain child can see that Prohibition
lists from principle or what they con-
slider religious duty have our high
est esteem, but those who are simply
using prohibition to further their pol
itical epds and ere not in reality pro-
hibitionists have not our respect, be-
cause they are hypocrites and are de-
ceiving men who are indeed advo-
eating prohibition with sincerity.
Colonel Watson knew full well the
class we referred to, and when we in
sisted that he not read disconnected
sentences, and forced him to read
what we SAID as it was written, he
dropped the subject ike hot potato
and switched of with another das-
tardly attempt to mislead the people
by creating an impression that we
had written him a letter inviting him
to become candidate for governor,
thus indirectly charging US with du-