The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-04-02
Change Needed.

That man must be either very dull or very
careless observer, who does not see that things
are in a tangled condition in South Carolina.
The people of our Stale are extensively en-
gagged in agriculture, or, to speak more correct
", agriculture is the only avocation of the
people Notwithstanding this fact, the people
are by no means skilled agriculturists. To say
that no system of tilling the soil has been adop-
ted by the people, would be saying too much /;
because for perhaps a century there has been
in existence a system of farming which is
rigidly, except in few isolated cases, scattered
over the State, practiccd to-day by all classes
of people. We cannot better describe that
system than by saying, that it is system OF
destruction. A large farmer in South Carolina
resembles an English lord in one particular.
Both have large farms. There is this great
difference. An English farm IS cultivated III
the best possible manner. The land Itself Is
regarded as valuable property. Every means
In South Carolina, land is not regarded as per-
manent property. 1t is considered property
for 50 long a period of years as it can be worn
out and rendered unproductive. In all the
cotton growing States the idea of wearing out
the soil seems to be prevalent. A farmer buys
plantation with the determination of wearing
it out, and then buys another and treats it III
the same way 1t was possible once, when Ia,
Dor was property, to carry on this system OF
destruction but at present it is impossible.
Every thing seems to indicate the necessity OF
change in the system of farming IN this
State ANY man who will make an cxamlna,
ton of the farms of the State generally, VIII
discover that the houses, fences, and, IN fact,
improvements of all kinds, are in dilapidated
condition This is not ALL For several years
fine crops have been made, and fair prices real
lied, and vet money is scarce, and times are
hard. Every year seems to increase the pres
sure, and bring us nearer the point of breaking
down. If the present system continues to be
practiced for few years. startling results will
he made. Vast numbers of men will be forced
to pass through an ordeal that tries mems souls.
large amount of property will change hands,
and that. too, under circumstances by no means
pleasant.
The change necessary is simply that each in
dividual conform to the new condition of things.
The negro is free, and is using his freedom in
such way that it is of but little advantage to
the State, and less to himself He has politics
and Office on tile BRAIN and rags on his back,
and emptiness in his stomach. Both the negro
An his former master have mistaken the mean
ing of the word freedom. The whole country
is Experiencing the consequences OF this mis-
take. The property holder must learn that he
is dependent upon the laboring class, and the
laboring class must learn that it is dependent
mon The property holder. This radical
change is absolutely necessary to the prosperi-
! tv Of the country. 1t is of far more impor-
tance than politics. So soon as this change is
made, change in politics will take place.
| YorkuiUc Enquirer.