Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-05-22
"THE BEST PEOPLE"
Model of Some Folks When
Uncertain.

Alleged Model Of Some Folks When
Uncertain.
Greenville Piedmont.
The most contemplate Of human be-
ings Is the hypocrite, but the snob runs
him close second for that unenviable
distinction. Snobbery has many ways
Of showing itself. To our notion, 1t is
snobbish for man to assert that the
best people" think as he does, or act as
he does, or vote as he does. Who are
the best people?" That is a hard
question to answer. Certainly they are
not grouped together by party or fac
tional lines, or social circles or creeds
or possessions. Money does not make
"the best people," for there are rich
scoundrels and poor gentlemen and
vice versa. Education does not make
''the best people," for there are edu-
Gated fools and illiterate wise men.
Birth does not make the best people"
for there are men Of ancient lineage
who are contemplate, while there are
men who do not know their fathers
"HO are uODicIucI. 1HclC oil IiCi VIM
consider themselves the best people"
that we would think it an insult to be
considered like. 1t is very seldom a
man refers to any set Of men as "the
best people" unless he makes it clear
that he groups himself with them.
With that SNUG satisfaction some men
state that "the best people"-them-
selves included-favor this or oppose
that An old friend of the writer Of this
article, when irritated by anybody,
would say to that person, You ought
to be kicked by jassack, and I'd like
to be the one to do it." That Is this
writer's feeling when he hears a man
describe those who think or act with
him as the best people"
Frequently those who consider them
selves the best people" are actually
the reverse thereof. Saul Of Tarsus,
measured by superficial standards,
while prosecuting the early Christians,
probably considered himself one OF
the best people" He was Jew OF
good family and also Roman citizen,
a great distinction for person OF
other race, living in one Of Rome's pro-
vinces. He had the best education
possible in his times.
And then came his miraculous con-
version on the road to Damascus.
Thereafter he was known as Paul-the
meaning Of which is little" There
after he sided with the poor, and OPP
pressed, supporting himself by the Ia
Dor Of his own hands.
At which period Of his career did he
probably claim to be one OF the best
people" and at which period was he
really one of the best people?"
Our present partisan politics has
caused some people to assert that the
best people" are against a certain can
didate for governor or senator The
writer Of this article has never voted
for Cole L. Blease for any nomination
he has sought, but does not regard that
as giving him a badge as one Of the
best people" He knows others who
have done likewise whose financial en-
gagements he would not care to have
unless recorded in black and white and
duly witnessed. While there are blind
tigers and gamblers and other law
breakers who have voted for Blease ne
has had the sincere support OF thous-
ands of honest, upright people-or he
could never have become governor.
There is no monopoly Of goodness on
the part of those who oppose or sup
port Blease. There are good people on
both sides-and likewise bad ones.
John NJ. Cannon, whose tragic death
the other day has called the usual post
mortem attention to his many virtues,
supported Blease, but he had the con-
fidence Of both factions in Laurens
county, for he was square, honest
man, who had advanced in the world
by reason Of brains, character and
hard work. He was not the only man
of that class who supported Blease.
Putting salt in raw wound is not
half so irritating as the assumption or
some people that those who train with
them socially, politically or religiously
are the best people, Such talk Is
that tends to put venom in our fac
tionalism and perpetuate and intensity
THE best people" should
frown down that kind Of talk.
1t were we'll for every man to carve
these lines in his memory:
Honor and shame from no conditions
rise;
Act we'll thy part, there all the honor
lies"