Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-06-21


fight than any other newspaper be-
cause 1t put Charleston into line and
gave the straightout sentiment Of the
city a voice which reached through
the state. With its news end allowed
to trail, however, it could not hold its
place by editorial power alone.
Gradually 1t passed out. The young
who are here never heard Of 1t. The
elders recollect 1t vaguely. 1t did its
work and its part and went the way
of all newspapers managed by direct
ors. 1t had its opportunity and miss
ed, and my friend, Hemphill, today Is
at the head Of a prosperous and pow
erful newspaper because there was no
efficient management for the opposi-
ton thirty years ago. The Journal OF
Commerce somehow vaguely drifted
into my hands. Toward the last I
used to write locals and editorial par
agraphs, and then take the paper In
my arms and run from East Bay to
Line street to catch the mails. 1t had
quit paying wages regularly long be-
fore that.
Last Expense Account.
In October, 1875, induced a guile
less citizen of Chester, named Buch-
anan, to cash a draft on the paper
and in December following met him
in the state house at Columbia and
asked him If the draft was all right.
He said that he had been holding 1t
in his safe as cash, and advised him
to forward it Immediately. So far as
7 am informed that was the last ex-
pense account the Journal OF Com
merce paid. l know we reporters
used to sit around like buZzards when
we thought somebody was likely to
die, so that we might collect the fu-
neral notices as they came in-in
Charleston then the funeral notices
were cash always. We were courte-
Gus to each other-we reporters and
sub-editors-but when a citizen ap-
peared, looking as If he had a funeral
or death notice, we elbowed each 9TH
er politely and there was much gen.
teel jostling and hurry carefully mask
ed. It did not amount to much after
all. The rule was that the man who
got the dollar had to buy the drinks
for the staff at the emporium of Fritz
Stelling, next door, where the credit
of the last one of us had been ex-
hausted long ago. So 1 headed
strike for wages overdue and when
the time came walked out alone and
presently got work with the News and
Courier, the hated opposition. Au-
gust, 1878, a year later, the Journal OF
Commerce expired quietly, and unos-
tentatiously ceased publication with
total deficit of about 100000 for the
two years Of its existence. going out as
mysteriously as 1t had appeared.
The gallant and stanch old Colum-
bia Register followed more than twen-
ty years later, and many of the news
paper men who stood to the guns for
state and people in that nerve-rack-
ing, heart-inspiring year have gone.
Most of the old newspapers remain.
May their familiar names and faces
continue during all time to come to
gladden. and guide the homes to which
they have been welcome these many
years gone. May your members OF
the South Carolina Press association
keep ever before you that you have
high example to follow, noble tradi-
tions by which to live. The press OF
your state has always been trusted by
the people and has been true to the
trust. In fifty years the scandals af-
fecting South Carolina newspapers
have been few. Their general tone
has been pure and clean, honest and
courageous as the general conduct or
them has been exceptionally able. 1t
is not likely that the state ever Will
see another 1876. Heaven grant that
she may not. Yet dangers more insid-
ious and even more deadly may come.
Increasing wealth and power OF
wealth, laxity in moral and social
standards, may assail the sacred and
essential inner life Of our people, and
the very foundations Of our civiliZa-
ton. Prosperity and peace and ease
come thronged with new perils. II
such time comes I can hope nothing
better than the press Of the old state
will stand as unit once more for
clean and approved principles. for
comprehensive patriotism, for unfal-
tering fidelity to truth and the real in
terests Of state and people, regardless
Of powerful influence on the one side
and clamor Of the crowds on the 9TH
er. and that the triumph Of thirty
one years ago will be repeated.