The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1901-08-28
MATTER OF RIGHT AND JUSTICE.

Because Tor the hrst time In tne
history Of the county Lexington hos
seen fit to put forward one Of he'
brightest and most intelligent sons
as cardidat. FIR The seat Ia Congress
made vacant by the untimely deatl
of DR.. J. Wm. Stokes, some Of the
other candidates for this position
have raised the cry cf sectionalism
and are endeavoring to weaken Mr.
Levers chances of receiving the nom
ination.
Now, prithee, on what grounds
must Lexington press the claims Of
her favorite son? All the candidates
are men Of ability, the nomination OF
either one of them would not off, ci
the material interests of the District;
on National issues there is rematk-
able unanimity amopg them, not even
upon q single one Of the great
National issues which are now eD
gaging the public attention do they
differ. The first one who speaks
announces his platform and the other
four chime in with the refrain Of
s.me too, hence there can be no
choice of men or measures and there
is nothing left for the voter to make
his choice between them but the
claims of the county from which th'
candidate came Of having the honor
of naming the candidate
We notice, thel efore, that oui
Sumter contemporary is urging the
nomination of Mr.. E.. D Smith,
solely on the ground that be is SOD
of Sumter. The Patriot is making
the same claim and upon ide enticall!
the same ground for Mr.. Brantley,
namely, that he is an Orangebure
man and should, for this reason re-
ceive the support of the county. The
Press and Standard is urging the
voters of G ,lleton to turn out and
vote for Major Howell on no Other
consideration than that be is Col
Teton man, then where is the impro
priety or the seetioDalism in MIR
Levers claim for support on the
ground that he is a Lexingtonian?
Lexington's claim to name the
candidate for this position at thia
particular time is SO plainly appear,
ant that it cannot help but be
recognized and appreciated. Al
though the only county in the Dis
,rict having had all along large
Democratic majority she has failed
to press her claims and has given the
full measure of her strength to
candidate named by another county
This was not. because she had no SOD
who was fitted by education. expe-
rience and moral worth to worthily
discharge The duties of a Congress
man, but from the fact that the en-
yironments were such that the most
perfect harmony in the ranks of the
Democracy were absolutely essential
to success. The times were such that
it was necessary that the utmost eau
fion was necessary to maintain white
supremac, and even the faintest
shadow Of disaffection could not be
tolerated without baing dangerous to
she interest of the Congressman in
holding his seat in Republican
house at Washington For these
reasons Lexington patriotically
waived her right for the time being
and permitted the other counties Of
the District to name the candidate.
hence we fud that Charleston. OF
which Berkeley and portions of Dor
chester were parts, sent O'Connor and
Brawley; Orapgeburq selected Dib-
BILE, and Izlar, and Stokef; Sumter.
which was then in apotber District.
conferred The bouor upon John S
Richardson; and as TO Colleton and
that portion Of Richlapd within the
District, while not having one of their
sons to represent them. enioyed that
protection that CHARLESTON aud the
other counties received by Lexipg-
tons large Democratic vote which
was the only bulwark that stood be,
tween them and negro domination
Now Lexington feels that she can
consistently and appropriately ask
the other counties to give her thst
support which is necessary to have
Mr. Lever elected to Congress. Mr.
Lever possesses oil the ability neces-
sary to make useful and efficient
Representative. His experience is
wide, bis perseverance indomitable
and his energy tireless. In asking
support for Mr.. Lever we are conf
dent that not one of the other candi
dates can possibly reflect more credit
upon the District than will the can