Year: 1876

II
capital article from the Kingstree
Star on the above subject, which we
hope our readers have carefully
Weighed. The subject is one of such
paramount Importance at the present
time that it deserves to be kept be-
fore our people. Our County in 1869
was thoroughly organized and the
white people voted for several years
almost as q unit in the election of
State and County officers. Frequent
defeat in other parts of the State has,
from failure to reap the expected
frpits, produced dissatisfaction, then
dependency and finally disgust, re-
eulting in disorganization and an al
most hopeless prospect of reorgani>
zetion. This is to be regretted, for
organization has at least given us
good County officers, and this is OF
no small consequence. 1t is fact
shat evil county governments with
heavy county taxes and county debts
have In many parts of the State
proved a more intolerable evil than
Che State Government, and for this
reason our county has received con-
slant accessions of good citizens from
other counties in the State. Apart
from monetary consideration it would
not be pleasant for our citizens to be
necessarily thrown into contact with
discoorteous, incompetent or corrupt
officials in the transaction Of their
business. We do not say failure to
organize will necessarially result in
the election OF unsuitable persons to
Office, but no one should forget that
an ounce of prevention is worth a
pound of cure, and organization is
the only sure prevention in this mat


ter: The history Of the two preced-
ing contests affords no proof of the
absence of danger, for in both these
cue Republicans wero divided and
run two tickets. apart from this &,
vision tour yeare ago certain defoat
would have resulted in several i'm
por!ant county offices. This is
matter for the people to consider and
determine for themselves, and we
will acqniesce in their decision. We
have no personal interest in the mat


ter except as citizen seeking the
good of our county. We think we
can therefore speak with @ disiDter-
ested mind. Why do the people teel
any opposition to organization2 What
can any good citizen desire farther
than that trustworthy and competent
peraons shall fill the State and Coun.
~ of5cesa This is of the highest inn
Portance and should be above every
consideration of private Interest,"
This thorough concert of action can
surely be attained, while without it,
itmay be lost. We know there are
many who consider the giving the
controlbef their votes to the wish OF
majority as yielding up their sacred
liberties, and in one view this IS true
but is it not better to do this in our
present condition than to have foisted
over our liberties of person and rights
OF property incompetent or corrupt
officers by an ignorant minority
Shall we as an intelligent people, by
scattering our votes suffer defeat at
the large but solid minority cf the
Republican party of this county,
This wcpld be sacrificing the sub


stance to the shadow of liberty; the
patty pleasure OF voting for frend
doomed to defeat to the true interest
OF The county. We are living 10 OK.
traordinary times and in an abnorm-
al condition of the political world of
South Carolina. We require therefore
extraordinary and abnormal action to
avert anticipated evils. We are not
situated as in ante-bellum days and
cannot safely submit to the guidance
Of ante-bellum experience. Even