The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-10-09
South CarOlina's Need.

south CarOItua'S Need.
The Manning Times comments upon the
course attributed to the News and Courier In
giving prominence TO all the little filings and
misrepresentation againt McLaurin" that
may appear In other newspapers.
We are unable 10 understand why a great
paper like the News and Courier should
choose to make itself offensive to a large part
OF the people.
Nobody would have the News and Courier,
or any other paper, conceal or Withhold its
own opinions. The people expect an editor
TO speak his convictions, but those who differ
from him are entitled to both respectful con-
sideration and fair treatment.
Ifanybody can give good reason why the
the opponents OF McLaurin should make them
selves offensive to those who differ from
them, We should like 10 see 1t. We be breth.
rem. We all love South Carolina. People OF
all degrees OF political faith are loyal to the
old State. Patriotism Is not absorbed by any
one party. Love OF public honors and the de-
sire for public office ia found everywhere.
with only here and there an exception. In
truth and candor we presume that MoLau-
rims aocusers would claim for themselves
neither greater love for the State. nor more
ability or more honesty Of purpose than is
possessed by the believers in McLaurIn's
politics. 1t has not been shown where any OF
his enemies are better than he Ia.
We do not know why the AntiMclaurin pa
pers are reduced TO the necessity OF making
bsrefaced and unsupported charges against
the supporters OF McLaurin, while the
makers themselves could not lay their
hands upon their hearts and say they spoke the
truth when they claim a super-abundance Of
public spirit, and charge that McLau.
rim and his supporters have appropriated all
the evil qualities. For instance:
Would Col. Hoyt OF the Greenville Noun
taineer claim greater patriotism and more re-
speotability than an impartial jury would
award to Editor Wallace Of the. Newberry
Observer?
Would the Yorkville Yoeman claim to be
better and purer than the Carolina Spartan?
Would the Laurens Advertiser assume de-
gree Of patriotism superior to and in excess OF
that possessed by the Yorkville Enquirer?
Would the Orangeburg Patriot place its
own loyalty to South Carolina above that OF
the good old Keowee Courier?
Would the Laurens County News assume
to be better able to speak for the people than
the Bamberg Herald?
Would the News and Courier and the State
lay claim to monopoly Of public spirit, and
charge that the Evening Post, the Daily
Record, the Greenville News and the Spar
tanburg Herald were short on this most high.
ly priced quality?
The News and Courier and The State are
partizsn, and constantly give cause Of offense
TO the supporters OF McLaurin, while the
other four papers are for MoLaurin, but fair
to all.
Ifit were possible for the News and Courier
and The State to represent the whole people
ofthe Common W eath, instead OF q faction, II
would be a consummstion devouty to be
wished. These papers are published at the
great centres in this State and 1t would be a
blessed thing II every man In the State could
regard both with friendly consideration, how
ever much they might differ In politics. The
same is true of the county papers. The peo-
pie expect and desire the editors TO speak not
only their convictions, but to proclaim tho
reasons for the faith that Is within them, but
all the people have right to be treated with
decent respect.
South Carolina needs newspapers that cali
be. fair Partizan feeling, and the misrepre
sentation of the other side, is not our ideal or
the highest journalism. We cannot believe
that the News and Courier doubts the honesty
and the sincerely OF those who support Nc
Laurin. We cannot believe that the News
and Courier would seriously claim to be
more hon est and more patriotic than McLau
rims supporters Believing that the News
and Courier would not be 80 egotistical, We
fail to see wherein that paper expects 10 gain
anything, or hopes to be more influential, b.
simply rubbing the hair the wrong way, and
reducing the circle Of It's friends, instead OF
printing for all the people, and making
friends Of all the people. No newspaper
county or State, need circumscribe It's In
fuence or reduce its friends to only its follow
ers. What the people want Is reason. The
time has passed for attributing everything
evil 10 our neighbors that we may lay claims
TO monopoly Of all the virtues.
The false accusations against MoLaurin and
his supporters will avail nothing. The peo-
pie are not natural born fools. They recog-
nize fools when they see them, and the
newspapers might just we'll realize the stu
alton, and place themselves at the head of the
procession in the march to wider fields and
greater sources Of Industrial development.
The people are determined to advance in
material prosperity.