Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-04-12
Mr.. GANTT'S GRIEVANCE.

issue, corroborates in detail the genera
statement that The ENQUIRER recent
| ly took occasion to make with regard
to the establishment and career of The
Piedmont Headlight.
OF course, in view of his record, we
are not prepared to accept what Mr.
CAN'T has to say as the truth, simply
because he said it. He has often made
up other stories, on other subjects
just as plausible, and for which there
was not a word of foundation in fact
But his Statements this time merely
90 to corroborate, in detail, the devel'
opment of what honest journalists re-
gard as established principles, and
taken in connection with certain facts
that have all along been known to in
telligent newspaper men all over the
state, the story referred to may be ac-
cepted as pretty nearly true.
We feel certain sympathy for MIR.
CAN'T; but it is not on account OF the
bad treatment that he has received.
That be has been treated badly is
quite clear; but then he has very poor
ground for complaint. In a case OF
particeps criminis, neither side is equi
tably entitled to recover. Our sympa-
thy is based entirely on the reflection
that a man of such talent and ability
as Mr.. CAN'T undoubtedly has, should
be weak enough to prostitute those
talents and abilities in the way he
confesses to have done. He ought
to have known, however, that when
he was trying to deceive people
in the interest of politicians, at the
expense of his moral character, and
with the connivance of these politi,
clans, when it became their interest to
do so, those politicians would have no
more hesitation in deceiving and de-
frauding him, than they previously
had in defrauding the people. He is
entitled to sympathy, therefore, for not
having had sense enough to know that
honesty and moral rectitude are the
only principles that can possibly be-
come permanent winners.
But in connection with Gantt's story
there are some features that are very
Interesting. Among other things, it
will be remembered that some time
back there were stories of the tremend'
Gus circulation of The Piedmont Head
light-ranging up in the neighborhood
of from 5000 to 10000 weekly, etc.
and the publishers of it claimed that
it was the leading weekly newspaper
in the state. Such newspaper ought
to have paid all expenses, given the
editor salary of not less than 81 200
year and paid dividends of some
thing like $4,000 annually; but 10 and
behold, in the windup we find that all
the while the editor has been strug.
Cling along from hand to mouth, and
the total dividends paid during an ex'
istence of six years amount in the ag'
gregate to only about 81 200.
But we are not surprised at any ot
this. The fact is, we doubt if the final
showing is even as good as Mr.. CAN'T
has made it on paper. If all the debts
that have been incurred were paid
the balance sheet would, no doubt
show up a thousand or so dollars Oh
the wrong side. Except The News
and Courier, there is not paper in
the state that could make in fact such
showing as was few years ago
claimed by The Headlight, and al
though there are comparatively few
country papers in this state that are
able to make more than bare living
there are quite a number that have
all along been in more healthy con-
dition that Colonel Gantt's Headlight
However, in Mr.. Gantt's story and
in the facts connected with the career
of The Headlight, there is lesson and
moral that ought to be of more OF
less value to the people. A newspa'
per is legitimate business enterprise
and there is connected with it great
deal of moral responsibility. While
there are numerous publishers who
would not knowingly commit any kind
of wrong, there are none who are
working solely and entirely for the
benefit of their fellow men. 1t is not
to this end that they give away theil
substance. For instance, at one time
great many people throughout the
Fourth Congressional district, received