The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-09-26
Wednesday, Sept. 26, 1900.
The GreenyflIe News.

The GreenvilIe News.
The Press and Banner makes it q rule to try
to be entirely respectful in It's talk With the
brethren of the press. and rather than retort
IN sharp expression, or disagreeable WORDS,
We have often allowed ill-humored articles to
pass unnotlced. The Greenville News may
have presumed on this rule.
Forbearance, however. has ceased to be
virtue, and we shall reply to that paper In
kind. If the ideas of the News in reference
to civility and fairness toward brother prin.
ter should fall short of showing the eXternals
of decent respect for this newspaper we are
compelled 10 be equally deficient in respect
for that paper.
1t would be charitable to charge the Green
Vile News with ignorance. rather than with
desire to wilfully misrepresent the facts.
There are very few men claiming modcum
OF intelligence who do not know that judge,
a magistrate, q sheriff, or other officer of the
government does not initiate proceedings.
The office OF Governor is far removed from
the Office of detective.
We do not know II the constables are dis
charging their duty, but the Greenville News
seems to speak advisedly, or learnedly, on
the subject. II that paper is conscious of
speaking facts 1t might give the Governor the
names of the inefficient constables, or point
to circumstances which would enable the
proper authorities to ferret out the names OF
inefficient officers or constables. -.
We know Of no one better able, or more dis
eliminating than the News, and we feel sure
that Governor McSweeney would be de-
lighted at having so efficient an informer az
the News would make. II the News would
thus lend It's valuable aid in enforcing the
law about which the Governors critics know
80 much and about which the average citizen
knows so little, the whole dispenssry system
might be purified, and all the inenicient con
stables could be discharged. This would be
a much more creditable act on the. part of
the News than making ugly charges or in.
situations, the truthfulness of which IT has
not attempted to prove. -. -
II 1t be true that Governor McSweeney has
been derelict we have no doubt his aocussers
will thank him for the opportunity to testify.
II he is innocent then the fact may be estab-
lished out OF the mouths Of his enemies. The
News need not say this is sarcasm. We were
never more in earnest and shall urge the Gov
ernor to let his accusers have hearing.
The News says:
"Col. Hoyt did not say, he would dismiss
the constables."
Will Col. Hoyt deny that at many Of the
meetings in the campaign he claimed that he
would dismiss the constabulary and would
enforce the law by public sentiment. Or will
he deny that at many meetings he WAS
twitted with trying to enforce the law with.
out oonstabulary force, and did not deny II,
but still claimed that he would en- force pro.
hibitory law by public sentiment through the
Sherif1s. Trial Justices, and their constables ?
= We note what the News says Of "pert and
irrelevant remarks about appointing con-
STABLES who are not candidates for such places,
anda who would not have them, II appointed"
NoG II any volunteer informer ever
attempted to do anything more than do
. lot ON talking, we have never heard OF the
fact. When it comes TO business the informer
for POLITICAL purposes is not In it.
Not 80 long ago the Sheriff OF this County
was asked to break up q blind tiger. AL
though the Sheriff expressed his readiness to
proceedj Immediately, the informer, like the
News might have done, declined
70 make the necessary affidavit.
z The News is eminentIy correct when it says
tSitionists do not want to assist in ferret
ting lout violators of the law. And
this fact furnishes indisputable proof that
no ptohibitory law could be enforced. It's
friends will not enforce 1t. Its enemies do
not want 1t enforced.
If the Greenvile News Is half as well in.
formed as 1t would make appear, that news.
paper knows that neither the Constitution
nor the Statutes contain anything which
authorizes a State officer In molesting or
arresting citizen, without warrant, except
for q violation Of the peace in his presence.
Governor McSweeney's g enemies say that he
did not enforce the dispensary in Charleston.
These enemies as rule, live far from
Charleston. and It may be reasonably infer.
red do not know what they are talking about.
The newspapers Of the city, however, fur
nish abundant evidence that many arrests
have been made under charges OF violating
the dispensary law. The same newspapers
furnish proof that the cases were thrown out
OF Court by the grand jury. But suppose 1t
is admitted that the dispensary was not en-.
forced in Charleston? Is 1t anypody's bust.
ness? II Charleston should intermeddle in
the affairs OF Greenville the News would like
ly be indignant at the act OF the oficious pre-.
sumption OF the seifconstituted guardians Of
the city.
The News says:
'"Tne officers OF the law should enforce the
law" &c.
VIII the News kindly state an instance
wherein any officer has failed TO do his duty ?
That paper ought to know what 1t is talking
about, or else 1t does a very evil thing in
making serious charges.
Even in the case Of the constables-who
are not officers, but should be called de-
teetiyes-they can only find out the facts and
learn the names OF the witnesses. Their own
word Is discounted in Court, and they must
furnish witnesses to prove their charges and
we know Of no more swift witnesses than
some Of those who have been writing for the
newspapers. ..
We think it dscreditable for prohibition
ist to know too much about the Illicit liquor
business. ~. ..'.
And 1t Is no special honor for prohibition.
ist, or other good citizen. to have too great q
familiarity, or to know too much about, dis
reputable places In the cities which they sci.