The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-09-16
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SHOOTING AT CHARLESTON

SHOOTING AT CHARLESTON.
We knew that it would come soon
or late but we hoped that 1t would be
postponed until the first soreness of
the defeat had been Modified with ont
ment. Yet here comes the Greenyille
Piedmont declaring its belief in the
doctrine of States rights and suggest
ing that South Carolina should have
the right to segregate Charleston for
the vote given Blease' 1t would pe
lucky thing for Charleston, indeed, "
such thing could happen We have
known that old town for good many
years. We know that its people are
emong the best people in the world;
that they have never failed to do their
whole duty in any emergency; that
they have given most literally of their
substance TO every good cause that has
been presented to them; that tlay are
clean. spirited. long suffering
loyal sort. They are as much entitled
to their opinion on any question of
politics or religion or social conduct
MS the people of any other comnauni-
ty in the State.
The fact that they do not agree with
some of their neighbors is all the more
to their credit, If they believe sin
cerely. as we have no doubt they do.
in their own view of public questions
and religious faith. Yet they have
been the butt of the testing of every
cheap politician in the State and the
target at which all the shafts of in
fanny have been aimed--a small COM
munity of respectable people attending
= to their own business in their own
way, yet upon their devoted heads
mas been visited the insensate hatred
OF majority. Nothing better could
happen for them really than wholly
independent administration Of their
own political affairs. That would be
pure democracy.
In all time of trial and tribulation
they have remained true to themselves.
We know them through and through
their history, their traditions, their Pc
d
have been more msrepresented, more
misjudged and more maligned than the
people of any other community, or OF
all other communities in the State. The
time has come, it seems to us, when
this sort of misjudsment and mtsrep-
resentation should cease. 1t is nc
longer of the least direct consequence
to us, and, therefore, we can speak
plainly. as some one should speak
plainly, against the outrageous inter
and proper independence of those VIII,
live in Charleston.
----------------
THE PRINCIPLE, NOT THE PERSON
One of the correspondents of the Ap
pomattox -Virginian writes I
the last number of that papersconcern
Ing the amendments affecting tn
county and city treasurers and com
missioners of revenue. Among othe
things, he says: our treasurer an
commissioner are both popular non
est and capable, and / don't know tina
NE could improve on them
There is just where this correspond
ent has fallen into an error which ,
common TO many of our correspond
ents and contemporaries The fight 0
the amendments is Tight for primo
pie not an attack on men, We hay
no doubt that some Of the treasurer
and commissioners of revenue IN tn
y =. A.
and honest as men can be, but we sti
Insist that the principle Of allowir
them indefinite continuation in ofii'
is unsound, unjust and undemocrati
If this were a perfect government
perfect men. we should not fight II
proposed amendments giving indelini
tenure to these officers, but we na'
not yet reached the period who
l, can be claimed that no oflic
holders refuse to pervert the
than for the public good There a
good Office holders--and there are aor
that are not so good,
There are some treasurers who 8
minister their Offices strictly in acco
with the letter and spirit OF the Ia
there are some who do not carry o'
delinquent taxpayers from year
year In order to make henchmen
of them or for fear of incurrlng TN
dsspleasure; there are some wao ma
made no effort to build up perso
machines--but there are none
many such. There are commission
who do not make low and impro
assessments in order to gain the ga