The Abbeville Press And Banner

DOUBLE HEADERS.

Many Hard Kicks - Seems to Have on His Fighting Clothes, and Jumps on Everything in Sight.

Greenwood, S. C., Feb. 15, 1895.

There has been almost a wood famine in town during the week, and dearth of news is quite as great, the one thing plentiful is snow. But we can't write on "the beautiful snow." Hence we turn our blunderbuss loose at random.

Mr. Barmore Raysor, Jr., passed through town Thursday en route to his home at Donalds.

Valentine's Day was celebrated only by a few of our young people.

Mr. G. M. Huckabee of Lowndesville is visiting his relative Mr. J. J. Moseley.

TALK ABOUT THE CONVENTION.

We have no quarrel with the Press and Banner nor any one else for viewing Senator Irby's primary differently from us. The records of this column will show that we have all along—even under the old ring—clamored for a free-for-all primary among our white people. From past experience with one of Irby's orderings, we must view them all with suspicion. However, we are accustomed to being in the minority, if in it on this question it will work no hardship, but anti-Irby primary is where we will stand—if alone we would not be understood as even intimating that because a lawyer seeks and obtains office he is of the less honorable of his profession. By no means, both are commendable where merit alone is depended upon. Abbeville has had in the past, and has at the present, some office holding lawyers whose ability all would acknowledge, and whose honor none would attempt to impeach.

RINGS AND RINGS.

We disclaim opposition to anything but ring rule which is the bane of good government and source of our present woes. We were opposed to the ante-Reform ring by which Columbia and Charleston of the old regime, ruled the whole State. The present one is none the less objectionable and even more baneful. As proof of our position our first choice for a delegate is a Tillmanite and staunch Reformer.

Chief of Police Riley seized ten gallons contraband whiskey Friday night.

J. W. Duckett, proprietor of the New York Store, made an assignment to G. A. Barksdale Saturday. Assets and liabilities unknown to the writer.

IN FOR PEACE FIRST—WAR IF NECESSARY.

As laboring men we will hail with delight any amicable terms the convention of the "Forty" will agree upon by which we can get men to represent us irrespective of factional bias, geographical position or any other merely local and sentimental consideration. After which we will ground arms, otherwise we will continue to run a free lance, in the meantime we will prepare for a contest if it must be made. The record of the Press and Banner, in behalf of the poor laboring man, assures us that it will not forsake us in this emergency.

CAPT. MATTISON.

Capt. G. M. Mattison had many personal and political friends here who deeply mourn his death. Greenwood always delighted to honor him with her vote, not for special favors but because he made a faithful, efficient and impartial public official.

A VARIETY OF WEATHER.

The latest weather forecast we have heard of is that for Greenwood it will be fair and cold, warm and cloudy.

THE CONVENTION—DELEGATES.

A majority may favor the dispensary, a three dollar poll tax and the disfranchisement of poor white men; if so we submit with an amen, but we know a majority does not want any self-appointed bosses, nor a constitutional convention dominated by ringsters. To this end, therefore, let us work and watch, making the question of a man's ability paramount to every other consideration.

THE EASY WAY.

I am nothing but a rough and uncouth paragrapher having no acquaintance with the art by which rhetoriticians can call a man a liar so smoothly that if he happens to recognize it in print he will consider it a compliment. This I hope is sufficient explanation for much of the seeming rudeness so often found—so I am told—in this column.

BRANCH AS A WEATHER PROPHET.

Everybody enjoys Tully Branch's witicisms, for which he has an extended reputation. We understand he has entered the field of weather prognosticators and if reports be true bids fair to rank among the foremost. He is quoted as saying that if the mercury stood at five everywhere else it would be three in Greenwood. This was prophecy for it reached exactly that point the next morning after he made it.

NOSE RINGS FOR THE LITTLE FELLOWS.

The county ring operates on instructions from the State ring. You all know where it is and who composes it in this county. Keep your eye on it. Its first move will be to ram a ring primary down your throat. The primary will go down but the ring with a string to it will stop in your nose. When the ringmaster will say presto change, thenceforth you will be a junebug-citizen going so far and no further.

NO LEADING STRINGS FOR THIS SCRIBE.

For years the laboring men of this State have been voting under the party lash, for fear of negro domination. Just now no such danger confront us. We are absolutely free to vote as we please. We owe allegiance to no party and very few of us are under any obligations to individuals. Things are going at loose ends, and everybody seems to be at sea without a rudder. Let us all remain free and register so that when the time for action comes our lamps will be trimmed and ready for the fray. For one and for this year at least I will be nobody's flea with a string to it. I will remain in the chimney corner or get out in the big road and bark according to my feelings, the condition of the palings, and what I see to bark at.

Mr. — Crymes of Williamston is visiting his brother Dr. T. J. Crymes.

We see that a Zulu Prince disguised as a tramp is traveling through this State gathering data for the publication of a book. If he has been out during the past week exposed to the icy weather he will have a good joke on the Sunny South to publish. (This joke is borrowed.)

Sleigh riding and snow balling has been the sport of the week.

NO PATIENCE WITH DR. POPE—FARLEY SUPERINTENDENT OF AN INFIRMARY FOR OLD MAIDS.

We have less patience with Dr. Pope and General Farley than with any of the rest of the horde of traducers who started out at the same time and who remain true to their profession. These two gentlemen would doubtless have been with them yet, if they had gotten office. None were more bitter in their denunciation of Conservatives than Dr. Pope. While General Farley went through that campaign of abuse, and heard his friends and allies, malign, slander and abuse Sheppard and Orr and their respectable followers without uttering a word of protest or of reproval he must have known more of the workings of the machine then than he does now. He knew that in their denunciations they were falsifying and only did it for its prejudicial effect on their hearers. Yet he opened not his mouth. For this cause we took no stock and found no pleasure in his belated desertion. We are truly glad he is trying to return to his first love. We have noticed that when he is in office he is as dumb as an oyster. To the end that he might discontinue his semi-factions but tri-column interviews and letters we wouldn't mind seeing him appointed superintendent for life of a cosmetic laboratory or an infirmary for old maids.

DISGUISED AS CLOD-HOPPERS.

Look out now for anonymous communications. They invariably proceed from a ring source. You all remember them in the past. We have two in our mind now, written for prejudicial effect. One was signed "Clodhopper," the other "Rural Democrat," both were misnames. We know them to be pettifoggers who never worked on the farm a day—nor anywhere else much—in the fifteen years we have known them. The only thing common with them and the laboring man is they pay poll tax.

BURYING THE DEAD.

Rev. Mr. Gresham passed through town Friday with the remains of his wife who was drowned while crossing Broad river ten days ago. Dr. Forrester accompanied him to Pendleton where Mrs. Gresham was buried. His thirteen year old son who was drowned at the same time was found Friday evening.

ABOUT THE SIZE OF IT.

As working men we needn't care a baw-bee about the success or failure of the dispensary law. If a majority think it the best solution of the liquor problem, all right let it stand. Whether sold by the State or individuals we reap no pecuniary benefit. We get none of its lucrative jobs, and if the profits to the State amounted to a million a year we would still have to pay our $1 poll tax, and if we fall into the clutches of the ring may thank our stars if we don't have to pay $3 and be disfranchised to boot. It is our privilege, our duty and should be our aim, to be personal and individual teetotalers; further than this we have no special interest in the liquor business.

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF A LAWYER GOES TO THE STATE CONVENTION.

We have no quarrel with the lawyers. In the main they are highly honorable gentlemen of an equally honorable profession, having furnished many of our most illustrious citizens, grandest statesmen and greatest soldiers. While this is true it is also true that in this, as in other professions, there are a few who do it no credit; these are called pettifoggers. They begin by taking one lesson in law, two in political intrigue, and three in office getting. They preserve the ratio to graduation, consequently are most proficient in the latter. They are the vultures who prey and flourish on dissensions and strife. They are the vampires who, while fanning the flames by anonymous communications are sucking the life-blood and sapping the very foundations of our social and political structures. If one of them should be a member of a constitutional convention and afterward happen to get a moneyed client whose interest required that some parts of it be declared unconstitutional he wouldn't hesitate to go into the Supreme Court and have a law of his own sanction set aside. It is done repeatedly with reference to legislative enactments. Fellow laboring men, how can we trust our rights and liberties with such shysters. We can but view with suspicion everything emanating from such a source however nicely it is disguised by sugar-coating.

Capt. Dodson of the Southern Railway dropped in on us Saturday. His name is Jim and his home is in Donaldsville.

REFLECTIONS AND COMMENT—PATRIOTISM MANHOOD, PURE ROT.

Including wage earners, tenants, renters and small land owners who work as hard as any of us we have in this county probably several hundred fellow-laborers. To these we would address ourself, leaving the large land lords, merchants and bankers to look after their own interest, which they have never yet failed to do. Like the negroes we do not expect a representative from among our number and would not get it if we did, nevertheless we have vital interest to be looked after at the approaching convention. There are plenty of men in other vocations who are great enough and broad enough to guard ours equal with their own. It behooves us, therefore, to remain free and prepare ourselves to vote for a man not because he is an anti or a Reformer, nor because our employer or merchant who sells us goods wants us to vote for him, but, over and above all, let us spurn with indignation and contempt any attempt of a ringster to vote us. This is not or should not be a factional question so much to us as it is one of far greater importance than which set of the contending politicians shall have the offices. Besides Tillmanism and anti Tillmanism are dead issues with us as laboring men. Any attempt at persuasion to the contrary is rot, pure and simple.

THE BEST SOLUTION—THE WAY TO GET A REGULAR LOVE FEAST.

We haven't the remotest idea what solution of our difficulties the convention of the Forty will offer, and we would not anticipate it, but if asked to solve it in this county we would suggest that the antis meet in convention and without any questions or pledges nominate six Tillmanites. The Tillmanites in turn meet and in the same way nominate six antis, then turn the twelve loose before the people and the six highest be declared the delegates. The result would be a Waterloo for the ring, the election of the most conservative men on their merit, and we would witness—in the early millennial dawn—an old time election and a political love feast. If adopted the antis would probably nominate Dr. W. M. Grier, Hon. J. T. Robertson, Dr. A. J. Speer, Messrs. T. J. Britt, E. W. Watson and J. L. Carr or their peers.

The Delineator for March has arrived and the fair sex have enough interesting reading without bothering with these prosy political prognostications.

AN ORIGINAL JOKE—ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

If the general government would impose a license on the weather prophets maybe winter would stay where it belongs in the region of the poles. (This is an original joke.)

Little Pearl Marse has been quite sick with pneumonia but is better now.

KRANKINESS.

Editor Bacon of Edgefield will deliver his lecture "An Old Man's Kranky Kaleidoscope" in the opera house to-morrow evening 21st inst.

There are a few cases of destitution in town but no suffering being promptly relieved by a citizens relief committee.

Our plan for the settlement of our political differences may seem far fetched—an innovation in these abnormal times—but is feasible and involves no sacrifice of principle.

ANOTHER ORIGINAL JOKE.

The Intelligencer's prophet predicts that this weather will not last all summer. Next to Tully Branch he is the best heard from. (Strictly original.)

Mr. William Aiken Kelly, Jr., and Miss May, daughter of Dr. J. A. Clifton, will be married in Bethel Church, Charleston, this (Wednesday) evening. To our young friend and former townsman we extend congratulations.

THE NAGGING EDITOR.

When quite a small boy I was seized with a burning desire to do something, or be something of whom and for which the newspapers would say lots of nice things. Whether laudable or not this youthful ambition was aroused on seeing a highly eulogistic article in our county paper concerning the achievements of a soldier and patriot of General A. M. West of Mississippi. I knew General West—he was our neighbor—and although just learning to read I read this "puff" (as I now know it was) over and over again because I knew who it was about. I thought how nice and gratifying it must be to see your name in print and have a great big editor to tell people whom you knew so many great things you had done and could do.

It never once crossed my youthful mind that an editor would for any consideration tell a lie, but as the years rolled by and I advanced in Webster's blue back spelling book and Davie's arithmetic I began to learn better, and before I was out of my teens, I knew that, as prevaricators the columns of some papers were second only to tombstones. I had observed that they often sold their editorial columns to the humbug shows, quack doctors and politicians for so much per inch.

This had a chilling effect on my aspirations from which it has never rallied. I often wonder now how many dollars General West paid editor Hoskins for that half column of panegyric.

BAD ON IRBY.

If Senator Irby will get a half dozen responsible Anti-Ring Reformers to vouch for his primary who will guarantee it to be a real, not a bogus one and that we will have an absolutely free vote and fair count, we would consider it. Until then we will serve it like Dr. Pope used to treat the State.

REDUCED GUANO—IT WAS EVER THUS.

Only about one sixth as much guano has been received here as was for the corresponding time last year.

We are told there was not as much snow in Abbeville as in Greenwood—See.

Vigilant Bill (that is our new fire bell named in honor of Bill McKinney) sounded the alarm Friday evening, caused by a defective flue.

Mrs. R. E. Gibbs of Columbia is with her brother Mr. C. G. Waller.

Greenwood's contingent on the road all spent Sunday at home.

THE WAY COUNTY RINGS ARE MADE—SOME RESULTS FROM MISTAKES.

We may not be aware of it, but it is a fact nevertheless, that we as laboring men furnish succor for all past, present and future rings, because less suspecting, more credulous, and more easily prejudiced, to all of which the demagogue has long since discovered he could appeal with good effect. A State or county ring never has more than three fourths as many members as there are offices. So that after being provided for they will still have one fourth to be distributed among their nominal or honorary members for services rendered.

They never seek an alliance with strong men, preferring the support of fifty men controlling ten votes each than one man with five hundred at his command. The reason is obvious, but in further substantiation of this proposition we will cite some instances in which our Abbeville ring—and it is typical of them all—refused men because of their strength before the masses. A few years ago they counted Dr. P. H. Adams out because he was strong enough to be elected without their assistance. A little later they rejected Hon. J. T. Robertson because of his known strength, but two years after took him in self-defense, as an honorary member only, because he was too strong to leave out. They at first allowed Hon. Isaac McCalla full membership, thinking he could only control a few votes, over in that Fork, but they found they had made a woeful mistake, for he developed strength with surprising rapidity and was soon teaching them new tricks in compounding noxious medicines. Nor was Colonel McCalla ignorant of his strength. He knew that people would consider him a natural born fool to continue to give the ring-masters all the offices—or even compromise on their terms—when he could just as easily secure one of the fattest for himself without their assistance. So he parted company with them honorably. You all remember the perfidious methods they employed to defeat him and how uncomfortably near they came of doing it. Wasn't it a master stroke when one of their number wrote an anonymous communication, attempting to discount Colonel McCalla with the masses by making them believe he had acted in bad faith with the people. The truth is, if he had acted badly with anyone it was the ring, and the writer of that communication knew it. Bear in mind there were no issues in any of these cases, all were Reformers. We tell you, fellow laborers, these are cunning fellows, capable of deceiving the elect themselves. They are ever wary of the strong, but watchful for every avenue of approach to the weak, knowing that "in union there is strength" for themselves.

S. E. F. GILLIARD, TAILOR.

Has moved, and occupies the room recently occupied by J. L. Clark, the gunsmith, and is now prepared to do all kinds of repairing and cleaning of gentlemen's clothes on short notice.

Samples of suits always on hand. Charges reasonable.