The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-07-13
MIR. THEODORE DeHON.
A GOOD AGENT FOR A GOOD NEWSPAPER
HIS LOVE FOR CHARLESTON.

! T1lS LOVE TOI>
Mr.. Theodore DeHon, an active agent
of the News and Courier, was in town
last week and we had the pleasure of a
call from the enthusiastic friend OF
Charleston. He has level head from
our standpoint of the compass, and his
paper could not be represented by
a better man.
He had heard that We had written a
reply to the Anderson Mail in defence
of Charleston, and was greatly pleesed
thereat. He insisted upon seeing the
piece. His disappointment was pain
full to US. We were sorry that we could
not write as would better please the
enthusiastic friend of the city. But
when we are reminded of Charleston's
former greatness and Charleston's
goodness in the past, 1T is like rubbing
the hair the wrong way.
We want to hear nothing more of
Charleston's indefinite greatness in the
past. We want to hear nothing more Of
Charleston's glamour and glory in for
mer days.
The thing we do want to hear is,
what of Charleston to-day?
Ali our people naturally love Charles
ton and want to be on good terms with
the good old city, but it is not wise to
call to mind memories of the past.
We owe Charleston nothing. Not in
a single instance do we remember
where Charleston has shown herself
friendly to this people. AS long as
this generation lives and as long as the
evidences of the wrecked fortunes Of
our people are in sight we do not care
to revive old memories.
When we remember that the News
and Courier some time ago boasted
that Charleston had spent thousands
and hundreds of thousands to build
up distant communities, and when we
remember that Charleston refused to
invest single dollar with Abbeville
when we were in supreme struggle
to build a cotton mill, we fail to see
wherein Charleston has been neighbor-
ly or friendly to this people. When
we say that Abbeville was in supreme
struggle, let it not be forgotten that
with taxable property amounting to
about eight hundred thousand dollars,
we put one hundred thousand, or about
twelve per cent. of our money into one
enterprise. This, too, in the face of
the fact that some of our own people
stood aloof and gave nothing at all.
If any other community had done
as Abbeville has done in putting twelve
per cent. of her entire wealth in one
enterprise almost any friendly enter
prising newspaper would have recog-
nized the fact. Petty spite at a
community is worth little to any
newspaper.
In the Centennial issue of the paper
other towns had great boosts, but if
the name of the county Of the editors
nativity received any conspicuous
mention the fact has escaped our notice.
If anybody desires unity and harmo-
ny of feeling between Charleston and
the country people it can be brought
about by Charleston acting as though
she were a part of the State, claim
ing nothing more than she is will
ing to accord to others.
But we place this prediction on re-
cord, that Charleston will never be
held in loving consideration by the
country people as long as she reminds
US of old things. The old things are
not pleasing to this people.
If Charleston is desirous of living in
touch with the rest Of the State let
that good old city cease to remind US
of her greatness, and let her cease to
remind us of the fact that the people
of this part of the State who traded
with her years ago are now broken in
fortune.
If Charleston has ever in single
instance, shown itself friendly to Abb
beville county we would be pleased to
be reminded of the fact.
In what does Charleston's greatness
consist?
While other cities have made great
progress in material matters and in
creased in population, what has
Charleston done? Quite time for the
swell old city to act modestly or to
take seat not too near to the front.
Charleston seems to rest on her lau-
rels in the past, while she is inactive
in the living present.
We would not willingly be unjust
to Charleston, but we do want the old
city to be one of us-to be people just
like the remainder of the people OF
the State.
But if that good old city and the
people of that great old town are better
than the rest of us, then be it so, we
are content for them to enjoy the goot
opinion of themselves.
The fact is. we should not write this
piece, and would not do so, except
that we are anxious to be regarded by
the people of Charleston as though w
were citizens of the commonwealth