Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-01-31

ditional promise of punishment, fear Of
punishment, public applause for duty
we'll done, public condemnation for
failure, and so on through the list.
But the most effective guarantee of
faithful service that has ever existed,
or that exists now, is the innate hon
esty, integrity and virtue of the indi-
vidual. Where these qualities exist,
no promise of reward or fear of pun
ishment will seduce from the correct
path, and where these qualities do not
exist, hope of reward, assurance of re-
ward, nor no other consideration will
guarantee absolute faithfulness to
duty.
The leading inducement held out to
public officials of all kinds for faithful
service, are pecuniary compensation,
honor and applause; but in addition to
these it has been in all times past and
still is found necessary and desirable
to exact a still further and higher Sc
curity in the form of a solemn and
binding oath.
A man who will take an oath and
keep 1t, is not only worthy of, but will
command confidence, and likewise a
man who will break an oath. or even
tamper with 1t by equivocation or at
tempted evasion. cannot possibly COM
mand either his own respect or the
respect Of other people.
We do not consider the matter of
holding two offices, Of itself as very
important-not applied to such in
stances as are known to exist in this
state. OF course, such thing as hold
inc the offices of governor and circuit
judge would not he tolerated for mo-
ment; but where the same man Is a
United States senator and a school
far as the proper discharge Of either
duty is concerned.
This, however, Is not the question
The constitution of South Carolina
prohibits any man from holding two
offices, and it especially and particu-
larly prohibits any member of the gen.
eral assembly from holding any office
or position of profit or trust under the
state or United States. No man can
hold any office in this state until he
has publicly subscribed to a solemn
oath to support and obey the consti-
tuition, and nothing that we know of Is
more harmful to the public or to the
usefulness of an official than the COM
mon knowledge that such official is liv-
ing in open and fragrant violation OF
his solemn oath.
We cannot conceive of any condition
that would justify such a situation
nor can we conceive of how man who
holds two offices, and claims to have
doubt as to whether he is violating his
oath can conscientiously reconcile that
doubt in favor Of his own inclination
and desire, and continue to keep both
jobs in question.
The governors reference to what
looks like an effort on the part of the
supreme court to evade the constitu-
tional requirement as to filing decis-
ions is not, in our opinion. at all out OF
place. The same criticism has been
made all over the state, and while we
are not prepared to say that anv harm
has resulted in this matter, still the
constitution should be oheyed. If the
court cannot comply with this provi-
sion of the constitution, it would seem
70 he the proper thing to ask the peo-
ME for a provision it can comply with
Governor Rlease's message No. Z. was
received in the general assembly with
some sarcasm and ridicule; but we are
not in sympathy with any such atti-
tude, to grave and important
matter. We believe in full and COM
rlete Submission to both the letter
and spirit of the law in all things. and
no matter what may he the governors
motive, which motive we do not ques-
ton. and no matter who may he hurt
or who may he helped, politically. So
cially, pecuniarily or otherwise, this
message has our complete and unQual-
flied approval throughout.