The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1912-09-26
The Recent Priamry.

Editor The Bamberg Herald: ::
Surely, everything in this world has a
use and our recent State campaign
has been no exception to this rule.
In just such crises as these types are
developed which have heretofore
either lain dormant or have never
existed before, weaknesses and vul-
nerable points in our political morals
become clearly visible and are lnten-
sifed by comparison. Another thing
which has stood out clearly and con-
vincingly to the one who has given
the subject even small study is the
fact that every man has his price,
somewhere, somehow. To illustrate
this fact we do not have to seek be-
yond the confines of our own lmme-
date vicinity. Look about you and
see how many of your neighbors fit
this description. Here is man, let
us say. who has been the trusted SER
want Of the public for many years,
holding and enjoying the emoluments
of an Office which is, perhaps, the
most powerful and most important
one in the gift of his constituents, a
man whose every act socially has been
above reproach, whose official acts
would bear the closest scrutiny with
out detriment to himself and man
to whom we would all instinctively
turn in crisis for patriotic leader
ship. Years may pass without any
disturbing element appearing in our
body polite and this mans hold on
the public confidence is undisturbed.
The test does come bye and bye and
then let US see how our trusted
friend measures up to our standard
of patriotism. The shrewd dema-
gogue, taking advantage of a llstless
and unsuspecting public, sees an op-
portunity for attaining some selfish
ambition by arraying class against
class and steps into the imelight and
proceeds to appropriate to himself the
support of honest men who, in their
bewilderment incident to sudden
awakening from lethargy, believe
that their rally is to patriotic cause.
What should our trusted and honored
fellow citizen do under such circum-
stances to measure up to our stand
ard of patriotic endeavor? Should
he not be the fiFst to use his hold
upon the public confidence and his in.
fiuence with his constituency to re-
store them to the sane and proper
way of thinking, to disillusion those
who are deluded by the demagogue> S
ringing and adroitly yelled appeal TO
prejudice when a misstep might
plunge an entire commonwealth into
chaos? We are all of one mind there.
We say he should. Let us see then
how this theory works out in prac-
tice. We will assume that in the
past this peace-destroying dema-
gogue has had occasion to be of SER
vice to this particular citizen in Ques-
ton; perhaps through the exercise
of executive clemency, as in case OF
a governor, which has been extended
to some member of this citizens
family whether closely or distantly
related, the merits of which case
need not be discussed because the
principle involved is not affected
thereby, and let rs assume that it is
merely limited that the granter of
this favor" will expect in return
for that which is not salable under
the law this citizens suffrage and
influence. Does our much honored
citizen refuse this offer of a bri5e?
History says he does not. The DEM
agogue has found his Vulnerable
pO1ut duO pays LIS ~ w. Wi @ANAN
ored citizen becomes a bribe-taker
and sells his political birthright for
O. mess of pottage. And what price
he pays! He gives in return for
that to which he is entitled, if his
cause is a just one, something which
is not even his own but which is
given him as a sacred trust, he sac
rifces his own self respect by fore
ing down his own throat that which
is abhorrent to him personally in Or
Ger to feel that he has discharged
an illegal obligation which he has
taken upon himself. Would that
these men were as jealous in dis
charging obligations of patriotism.
What are we coming to, or at what
have We arrived?
WILLIAM C. PATRICK.
Suit cases and handbags 25 per
cent. off. Write F. G. MERTINS,
Augusta, Ga.