The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1899-07-19
The STATES IDEA DIssEcTEO

eve feel that the Lexlng gton DIS
patch is entitled to copgrat ulations
upon taking the safest course open
toit for resisting the Richland Lexing-
ton consolidation. ."-Columbia State.
Thanks, neighbor, the Dispatch
will pin the compliment to its mast
head and shall strive to attain unto
even greater ones in the future.
Being unable to present any good
business reason against the PROPOSE
tion, and being likewise unable to
ignore what must become a question
of constant discussion"
Wrong, you are, neighbor. Al The
proper time the Dispatch is prepared
to present many excellent business,
as well as social reasons Swhy the
proposed consolidation will be i,'iu-
rious to the progress of the county
and real detrilnept to the business
interest Of her citizens. But that
time is not ripe yet and therefore a
discussion cf the subject, at this
time, would be uptimely and waste
of time and space. Indeed, the State
itself recognizes the wisdom of this
course, as the Dispatch finds on page
4, column 3, paragraph 4, OF issue
July II, the following admission:
"There is no special hurry about
'sthis matter. II the consolidation
"shall be carried out it must be by the
swish of the people, and it will
stake good deal of time for the idea
"to soak in" Why has our neighbor
across the Copgaree become so sud
denly restless concerning his pet
scheme and CHATS under the mac
tivity of the people of Lexington to
'scatch on" and swallow the tempting
(s) bait with a gusto and without
question? Is it now unwilling ''for
'sshe idea to soak in9' and charges
the Dispatch with 'beipg unable to
present any good business reason
against the proposition" because it
declines to ''agitate' an Idea"
which, if allowed to "soak" will
become SO water logged that it
will sink into oblivion by its
, own absurdity, that not even so skill
full and resourceful a wrecker as is
the State will be able to float the
'sides" again. Come, neighbor, be
consistent.
There are some triaing errors Of
''fact in the paragraphs. From the
Dispatcb.] We did not propose to
annex a portion of Lexington
county to Richland, but to consoli-
''dste the two countless &c. Then
our neighbor is more unreasonable in
its demands than the Dispatch had at
first supposed and makes the States
Idea" still more absurd. I'VE are
mot proceeding on the imperialist
theory that trade follows the flag
''but Oh the common sense fact that
1.-The flag follows trade" The Dis
patch will not pause to arguetbis con-
tention with its wide. awake and ide,
s!istic contemporary. Suffice, how
ever, to say that there are many beauti
fully woven theories from the massive
minds of America and Europes
deepest thinkers and profoundest
statesmen to support either side OF
the contention. 1t is a distinction
without difference, or a difference
without distinction and no matter
how it is put, The fact remains that
the State, in the case Of Cuba it is
Cuba for the Cubans, and in the case
Of Lexington, advocates Lexington
for Richland and thus occupies
dual position diametrically opposed
and incompatibly antagonistic one
with the other.
1t is true, the Dispatch is glad to
sag, that Columbia eljoys remuner
a,ive trade from this county; but it
is also true that it is not near so large
as it should be, and the Dispatch
would like to have it erjry. The
Dispatch is not fighting Columbia.
1t would not throw one obstruction
in the way OF her progress. 1t
sincerely rejoices together with the
business men of that city in her bright
prosperity, and as an earnest of its
sincerity it hereby pledges itself to do
everything not inconsistent with its
duty to its own people, to increase
her prosperity. Must become the
"political capital" What! Touch
the thing with gloved hands! Whis-
per it not in Gath, for somebody will
raise the cry of arraying the country
against the city. But be understood
here that Lexington does not propose
to become the tale of nobody's politi
cal kite.
Lexington county has three rail
"roads and ia to have fye-nok seven