Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-04-01

than there was to either intimidation
! or force. And the evil effects have
been with US since. By the precedent
established them, there has since been
justified slander, abuse, ballot box
stuffing and other political crimes too
numerous to mention.
We do not care now to condemn
anything that was done back in 1876.
1t is too late for such condemnation.
What was done cannot be undone ;
but it is not too late to forget these
things as precedent. However JUS
tiiable they may possibly have been
then, they cannot possibly be justified
now. At this day, and under present
conditions, in a white mans country,
restored to white men, no man of hon.
or can continue to practice the frauds
that were once perpetrated with i'm
punity, and for men without honor to
continue to practice them is something
the people cannot, with regard to their
own safety, permit any longer.
England, perhaps comes more near
ly to having a government of the peo-
pie, for and by the people, than any
other country on the face of the earth.
We proudly claim to have such gov
ernment ourselves. But ours, espe-
cially in high places, is government OF
the politicians by and for the politi-
clans. This is not a pleasant refec-
tion but it is true. Education and
intelligence govern everywhere, when
they try. There is more education
among the English masses than among
the masses of any other country. The
Englishman prizes his civil rights much
more than we Americans do. He
keeps thoroughly informed with regard
to those rights, and as between Eng
lishmen, especially, he loves absolute
Justice. Therefore, the demagogue
does not and cannot flourish to any
considerable extent in England.
Knowing the truth when they see it,
and demanding nothing but the truth,
Englishmen are not easily deceived.
High or low, rich or poor, our people
are as honest, individually and COL
lectively, as are the English people !;
but lacking education or general lnfor-
nation, they are not such difficult prey
for the demagogue. 1t is easier for
INSCRIPTIONS politicians, bound to-
gether by ties of mutual selfish inter-
ests to dupe the people for their own
personal benefit, while the people be-
lieve that they themselves are their
own real sovereigns.
So if our people would work out
their own best interest, they must give
closer attention to public affairs. We
do not mean that all should become
politicians or candidates. The man
who serves his people in any public
capacity is highly honored; there is no
question of that fact. Fortunately, only
few are needed in public capacity.
1t is extremely important, however,
that only the best and fttest be hon
ored with public positions, and this is
why the whole people should give
their close attention to public affairs.
1t is necessary that they should be in
a position to distinguish the competent
man from the ignoramus, the patriot
from the demagogue, the hightoned
gentleman from the hypocrite. When
they qualify themselves to unerringly
make these distinctions, the day OF
dishonest politics in this country will
be done, for when the general informa-
ton of our people is advanced to the
standard of their honesty, such mis-
takes as have sometimes been made III
the past will be impossible.