The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-06-08
GONZALES AND JOHNSON.
Editor of The State Takes Notice of
Unfair Personal Fling.

The following communication by
Capt. William +. Gonzales appeared
in the News and Herald Of Winnsbo-o
last Tuesday in answer to a statement
issued in that paper by w j. JOHN
son. member of the senate from Fair
field county:
Editor The News and Herald
Some time ago YOU published
card from w. j. Johnson, senator
from Fairfield county, in which he as
serted that The State had refused to
print an article wherein he proved it's
! editor "a liar" You published it for
him. Mr.. Editor YOU were imposed
upon. w. ]. Johnson did send a
card to The State to which publicity
was not given, because The State is
under no obligation to open its col
umns TO articles containing offensive
personalities, or bordering on black
him. as the one point Johnson made
calling for correction by The State
was given conspicuous correction on
the editorial page.
In the card YOU printed, w. ].
johnson refers to me as "the smiling
Cuban. His purpose is to prejudice
the ignorant and to create resent
ment against the position Of The State
toward public questions affecting
South Carolina. by implying that the
paper is owned and edited by for
elgners.' And by so doing he know
ing!y, maliciously, grossly and absurd
ly falsitied. as others Of his stripe
have disseminated falsehood wit,
similar intent for months and years.
/ have never before made reference
to lineage; it is rarely done with good
taste. neither lean upon nor ad-
mire those who go for support or
shelter to family trees. No favo-s
have been asked by us Of South Car
fEna on account Of family history,
r,.,litary service, or otherwise. None
will be. But since falsehood has been
told by the senator from Fairfield
county il is the right of the people
of that county to know the truth.
While Cuba has contributed men
to the world whose names would hon
or the roll of patriots Of any coun-
try. am South Carolinian; a
South CarOlinian by right Of $50
years residence Of my people; bound
to Its soil and to the loftiest senti-
ments of the State by their honor
able part in every epoch Of colonial
and State history. including the sign
ing of the Declaration Of Independ-
ence. Lands coming to them as
grants from the lords proprietors
are theirs today. My great-gran6-
father. William Elliott, whose name
was given to me, was. according to
|ODonnells standard work, History
of Cotton" the grower Of the first
successful crop Of cotton in South
Carolina in 1890. A hundred years
previous to 1890 that cotton growers
great grandfather was planting in
South Carolina. and a little later was
bly,"
F'ifty-odd years ago when my faith
er. then long a citizen of the United
States. land owner and slave holder
in South Carolina, and carrying scars
OF battle in the glorious cause of lib
erty. volunteered for South Caro-
lina's war against the United States,
there was no cry Of Cuban. When
he, with others of the staff. was pub
licly thanked by General Beauregard
FOR service at the reduction Of Fort
sumter none cried Cuban" When
he was chief of artillery for South
Carolina, Georgia. and Florida, and
built forts and personally got cannon
to mount in them to protect our long
coast line from the enemy's menac-
ing fleet, the only cry | find recorded
in the press of that day in rega, 1 to
him was one of thankfulness that the
energy and skill of A. j. Gonzales
We're standing between the people of
the interior and the would-be invad-
ers. When he. Il half century ago.
was, by appointment. the personal
representative of the governor of
south Carolina in military affairs on
the coast of this state. il was not as
a "Cuban."
When As j. Gonzales surrendered
(irppp u.n.l.. ,,,,,