The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-08-28
energy and perseverance it has raised it

self.
In the absence of Gen. Connor extem-
pofe speeches were called for, and Mr..
w. Knight followed in speech on Lib
erty I've think that was the theme; We
did not hear it accurately.)
After q short interval, at the solicita-
ton of some visitors and the rociferous
clamor of the assembly, Col. Simpson
came forward and addressed the audi
ence. He briefly, but clearly and forci-
bly, laid bare the designs of Northern
monopolists. These men wish to concen-
trate the government at Washington,
where they will have it more completely
under their control and can procure leg
islation in their interest to the detriment
of the people. To illustrate, he said :
Some time since these men procured the
withdrawal of silver from circulation.
This took 500 from the price Of every
bale of cotton. Their object is to enrich
themselves at the expense of the people,
and to do this they 60 to their tool, the
Secretary of Treasury, and procure a
contraction of the currency. Then,
when money is scarce and small guam
tity will purchase great deal, they pur-
chase immense quantities of bonds, stocks
and other things. Then they 60 again
to the Secretary of the Treasury and pro-
cure an expansion of the currency.
Now, when money is plentiful and every
thing is high, they sell their bonds, ETC.,
and pocket the difference. These capi-
talists are opposed to Democracy because
Democracy is opposed to monopolies,
and in the next campaign these men will
throw all the weight Of their influence
against us, and we may expect no child's
play in 1880. But there are monopolists
nearer home with whose movements we
are, if possibly, even more concerned.
Take the single item of phosphate mo.
nopolists. Phosphate rocks were found
in the navigable rivers of the State, and
belonged to the people. During Radical
rule Chamberlain, CorbiD, Geo. w. Will
liams and others 6ribsd the Legislature for
Sl10, 900 to give then, the ercluaire right to
mine these State deposits. These monopo-
lists tried to make it appear that they
were working merely for the good of the
people, when it 1Uas k1ao,On positircly that
one of the companies aras clearing one
hundred per cent. on all their Investment,
and all this gain was at the expense OF
the farmers of our State. Again, these
companies export immense quantities OF
the crude rock to England, and since
there can be no fraud here they ship the
best rock to Europe, and supply our far
mers with the refuse, and that, too, at a
price so exorbitant that it would be
cheaper for US to purchase in England
what is sent from South Carolina than to
buy it at the works. AS computed by
the best chemists in the United States,
the valuable ingredients amount to from
50 to S12 in the ton, and the farmers are
fraudulently robbed of the balance Of the
price. Shall we submit to such wrongs
silently and patiently? These monopo-
lists are using all the power they can
command, both with the press and the
Legislature, but the people cannot and
will not much longer suffer this extor
tion. They will rise up and assert their
rights, and by the intelligent use of the
elective franchise they will secure them.
He then went on to speak of the impor-
tance of our militia. He quoted Gov.
Hampton as saying that agents will be
sent down from the North to stir up
strifes between the negroes and the
whites, and the time will come when, not
satisfied with stirring up political strifes,
these agents will incite the negroes to
open violence and general insurrection
The time will come when the Republi-
can party will attempt to hold power by
force, and any outburst of violence in the
South will be seized as propitious op'
portunity for its exercise, especially il
| the State governments cannot preserve
peace. That government alone was re-
spected, he said, which had the power tc
enforce its laws, and the force of our
States consists in our militia. Let us
then, not look upon our organization as
useless, but regard them as the surest
bulwarks of peace, and as the protectors
of all of both races who wish to live un-
der stable and efficient government.
The crowd then dispersed TO thei.
houses, we'll satisfied that the day had
been neither wasted nor perverted.