The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1874-01-28
The Mass Meeting.

On Monday next, the Taxpayers Of
Fairfield will meet or the purpose of
selecting delegates to the State Con ,
9ention to be held in Columbia on
the 18th Of February. We trust
that all ae,tions of tho County will
be fully and ably represented. If
there ever oan be time when a
Union of our people should be effect-
ed, to contend against tho corruption
Of the 'Radical party, it seems to US
That now is s'that time. AS q people,
the intelligent taxpayers of South
Carolina have lost much since the
war, but more especially since
tho inception Of our present regime
, by tardy action in matters demand.
ing the Utmost energy and resolution.
This occasional ap,thy has been most
gladly awaited Of ly the Radical
press rs indicating, as they pretend,
that no real dissatisfaction exists
among our people in consequence of
the burdens hoapcd upon them, but
Chat tho com plants are confined to
discontentcd and disappointed poll
ticians, and through them 6ud their
way into the public prints.
! Is this true9 Are our people in
deed so lost to all the dictates of self
interest, all sense of right, all love
for our once proud and happy, but
now ill.used and well-nigh ruined
State, as to view with folded arms the
rapid progress we are now max
rbg on the road to political and
material ruin? Will the Intelligent
taxpayers of Fairfield any longer
furnish their enemies and the enemies
Of honesty and good government with
so f.ir II pretext for surprising, or
pretending to suppose, them to be
callous to the corruption with which
our political atmo phere is ko dread
fully tainted7 Or, do they indeed
regard their condition hopeless, and
any effort or resistance on their part
usoless2 We submit these points to
the Intelligent people of our County,
and hope that what VIC have said may
at least awaken a desire to ameliorate
our condition through some united
effort of our own, and that this desire
may find full and fearless expression
in the approaching meeting.
1t is by no means our province to
dictate to the citizeus of Fairfield
what should and what should not be
done at tho coming gathering : this
must be fixed by the people them.
selves. Itmay be, for aught we Ger.
tainly know, that majority Of
tho taxpayers of the county are
averse to giving expression to their
views in tho peculiar form Of what
was termed the "Taxpaycrs' Con
yention 5" it may bo that 1t
will prove desirable to initiate q
policy somewhat different from that
adopted by the convention of 1871
.. these arc matters which can be
discussed and determined ut the
meeting. But Of the abstract i'm.
! portan ce, nay, the stern necessity OF
immediate and Concerted action Upon
the part of tho intelligence of South
Carolina, no reasonable man can On.
tcrtain the remotest doubt. And, in.
deed. should there be any so blind
or so lethargic as not to realize ou,
present need, it wcro bottor for them
, to bear in silence the wrongs they
: claim not to fcol, and to tread silent.
ly and unostentatiously the suicidal
path they havo chosen to take
+ While we cannot but regret that
= there is such an element in our State
" yet we rejoioe to think that it is
8 limited in extent, and powerless ir
2 influence. Wo have confidence ii
y patriotism Of the conservative portion
8 of our population; and wo believe
= that their united and patriotic actor
can yet redeem South Carolina from
f her present degradation. and restore
Il hor to much, if not all, of hor pris
!. tine glory and honor and fame.
j.. Citizons of Fairfield; can you con
0 ceive of d noblcr work in which t,
engage than that How Ibid opon tc
!. you : Can you Conceive of richer
5 heritage to leave to your sons, than
3 q citizenship in commonwealth
o rescued from ruin and .rejuvenated
), by your patriotic efforts And wher