Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-03-26
Ihinus as They Should Be.

II Is no part of the piedmontS buSi-
ness to defend or malisn the admins
tration oil Governor Manning.
The Piedmont does not concern itself
with the fortunes OF an admtnistra-
tiUn. but rather with the good or ili an
administration has accomplished.
Men and newspapers who have Tor
frited their individuality and sunk
their identity in definitely bound po-
litical organization known in this state
AZ Il faction" either lend their blind
SUPPORT and approval TO the Manning
administration regardless oil It's faults
and cxtravagances. or else condemn
il utterly regardless of its virtues and
the good 1t has accomplished.
Since Mr. Manning has been in Of
flee the state tax levy has been IN
creased from To L. mills. Whether
this inrrcaS,. may justly he charged 10
Mr. Manning or TO the members OF the
general assembly Is Il question not
quickly decided. TO bc iair 10 both,
one is safe in dividing the shame or
honor between them.
The defenders Of this iuCrr;iSc. hav-
ing ho other argument 10 support their
defense. assume that all criticism
comes from men and newspapers VINO
are auhcrcntS of the opposing faction.
no foundation in truth; they know that
intelligent men of all factions resent
this uniuStitcd increase. but there has
grown up among the -l3lcasr men
and newspaper organs q habit Of bel
lowing "tnclcan." whenever opl,osi-
tion or criticism is heard.
Among that class OF people who do
lalsulutcly no thinking for themselves.
,hvrr is Il sort OF snohhcry that leads
them To take their opinions ready
made from the class of South Caro-
lima society that owns bank stock and
has no acquaintance with ovcralls.
AS Il result. all that is required To
keep them in line. to discourage
thinking and prevent criticism. is TO
let il he known that hc who suggests
that the anti Blcasc faction is less
than perfect is himself a Bleaseite and
therefore beneath the notice OF nice"
people.
This policy-this traiilckin%", in an
absurd human nrdKncss-may avail
Il. he siIcncing Of criticism for n
time, but eventually the most timid
conformer will begin to ask ques-
Piedmont.
That. In our deliberate opinion, is an
accurate description OF deDroratfg po-
litical and social conditions in South
Carolina: but where is the satisfac-
tion of realizing deplorablc social
and political condition so long as there
IS no one to point the way ont?
Eventually" encourages the Pied
mont. "thr most timid conformer will
begin to ask questions" but what an
intcrminablc time ii may bc until
"cvcntually."
We do not exactly approve the
fling at the class of South Carolina
society that owns bank stock and has
no acquaintance with ovcralls." II is
hardly to he denied that there Is some
thing to that suggestion: but the
figure is not entirely adequate.
1t is too true. all too true. that there
South Carolina--too much OF the shah
10y gentecl--too little realization of the
fact th;t no man can receive satisfac-
tory consideration unless he gives sat
ifactory consideration: that those who
expect justice must do justice.
But all South Carolinians are not
snobs. by any means. nor are all South
Carolinians political simpletons. There
are thousands and thousands in this
state who DO their own thinking with
out asking any odds of anybody, and
vote their convictions. regardless of
narrow factionnlism. They are willing
TO do their part in advancing the best
intcrCs, of their state as they see that
best interest. and who. before they
give their allegiance to any candidate
OF would-hc leader. must b. shown.
Nor, than once the people have gone
wild after some blatherskite who had
one way and another won support
through pi omise rather than perform
ance. hut if our Judgment is worth
anything along that line. there will be
less OF this kind of thing in the fu-
turc than there has been in the past.