The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-08-29
Wednesday, Aug. 20, 1900.
Spartanburg Herald.

Spartanburg Herald.
The editor Of the Spartanburg Herald
thinks the edstor OF the Press and Banner Is
erratic, and on the subject of the Charleston
Exposition proceeds to deliver us lecture IN
these words:
ut ia all very we'll to urge people to patro-
n,ze home Industries to keep their money at
home, but TO carry this principle 70 sncn an
extent as indicated above Is 10 oullo Cnlneee
of the Oldest settlement in this State. 1t Is
located In the heart Of a magnificent farming
country. 1t has had every advantage ana
yet 1t merely backwoods town. TDat IL De-
cause the people Of Abbeville have been
taught to be narrow, selfish, and illiberal.
They never spend "hve dollars out OF Aooe-
Vile In twenty years" and no man out OF 40
beville spends five dollars there II ne can
help II. Selfshness does not pay. No COM
munity can be built on the dog In the manger
spirit. II the people Of Abbeville would go
out into the wide world and realize that they
are part and parcel OF this great State. keep
they might benefit other communities, but
certainly not at their own expenses"
In what follows we would not be under
stood as complaining of Charleston. We DO
nothing of the kind, but we would forfeit our
own selfrespect If we did not object to Char
leston's proposition to tax the State for the
benefit OF her show. Abbeville owes Char.
lesion nothing. The State owes Charleston
na,hing. And If that city will not seek to
2 raid on the public treasury, We shall
Ient.
(rouble with Abbeville has been that
e devoted too much of our money to
!lding up OF other towns.
Il Another trouble is, we are not united peo'
pie. While nearly every man in town would
like To see enterprises established, nearly as
many make 1t condition precedent to their
contributing to 1t that they, or some OF their
kin, shall get good office In the corporation.
Our people In too many instances buy their
goods abroad.
Abbeville, in former years, took stock In
Newberry, Greenwood and Greenville mills
but never man from these towns helped rs.
Abbeville has had much experience in deal
ing with Charleston and other cities. AT
present Charleston owns considerable per
cent Of our property. No other city owns
cent here. We are not blaming anybody be-
cause our business men may have been out
classed, or unfortunate. The changes ol
ownership came in the ordinary way. But
these buildings stand as monuments or re-
minders OF our former business relations
with Charleston. We are further reminded
OF these facts when any effort has been made
to further the interests Of this town.
We do not blame anybody for not investing
with MS. But when the News and Courier
boasts that Charleston owns three-fourths Of
the cotton mill interests Of this State, the
statement accentuates the fact that no man
in Charleston would take single share In
our cotton mill. 1t will be remembered, too
that former citizen of this county, who was
born and educated here. but who is now q
citizen OF Charleston, was appealed to as g
matter Of friendship to his old home. to sub
scribe for two shares. He gave us the marble
heart.
The tracks from Abbeville seem to have
been toward Charleston with never one
coming this way. Even In the poor little
advertisement OF the Citadel Charleston nips
off share OF the amount that should go to
the country newspapers.
Charleston overrides the liquor law OF this
State, and her grand jurles refuse to indtct
violators Of the law, even in the face OF the
strongest evidence.
Charleston refuses to collect the liquor
revenues to which she Is lawfully entitled,
but that grand old city is not averse to a
State appropriation for her Exposition with
q big name.
Charleston wants, by Legislative enact
nent, to levy tribute from the mountain dis
tricts 10 support her old show, which ts1n-
tended to draw trade and business. II 1t
draws from Abbeville, as did the Atlanta
show, 1t will materially a1Iect the trade OF
some OF the business men In this town for at
one season. And to that extent the great
: Charleston Exposition will hurt Abbeville.
Abbeville may be an old town, and this
editor may be erratic, but Abbeville gave
100000 out Of total value SSOO,0OO to her cot
ton mill. Did any town on the face Of the
earth show more public spirit? This money
was contributed by portion OF our people
while large per cent. Of them gave little, OF
nothing.
Mind you, while our people were straining
their credit, Charleston never helped us 10
one cent, although IT was proposed to lend us
money at ruinous rates. New England sub.
scribed $3.50 900 in stock.
Our neighboring town OF Spartanburg has
been equally fortunate in getting New Eng
land money.
In one OF the Spartanburg $500 900 cotton
mills we learn that New England took 1885,.
900 while great big city of Spartanburg SUBJ
scribed, or holds, s65. 900.
If q rich community like Spartanburg, can
build cotton mills with one-eighth her own
capital, and seven.eighths New England
capital, then we see no reason why Spartan.
burg should not grow and prosper.