The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-12-18

farmers have organized in their own be.
half they see their brother farmers stand
ing aloof and with folded hand refuse to
act with them. Why is it, Worthy
Master, that we cannot appreciate our
own Importance? Why can we not see
that we are at the very foundation of all
wealth, of all prosperity.
For the last six years, we as a people
have endured one of the most general,
widespread and severe periods of financial,
industrial and business depression that
this country, has ever experienced. Idle
ness, poverty, suffering and crime, have
held high carnival in the high and in the
low places ofour land. Politicians, legisla.
tors, statesmen and political economists
have thought, talked written and labored
to find panacea for our country's i'll.
Creditstrengthening acts, resumption acts
contraction acts, refunding schemes, silver
bills and anti-silver bills have been dis:
cussed pro and con, have been adopted
as specifics for our business troubles, only
to leave US just where they found us.
One wise man said poverty was the
cause, another that oYer-production
had ruined us. One said we had not
enough money, another that we had too
much. One said extravaganza and prodi-
gality had brought our ills upon US, an
other that the few had absorbed the
earnings of the many. And so one cried,
10 here, and another, 10 there, and the
people ran after them. But brothers and
sisters, all the legislation of the last
eight or ten years has removed not one
of our burdens or disabilities. The wealth
producers of our country have grown
steadily poorer, year by year. At length
a cry of hard times, little work and low
wages come to us from over the sea
then fears of short crops; then the reali-
zation of those fears. Europe sent
across the great waters the sad, wailing
cry for bread the meat and bread, or we
perishl What was the response, what
do we see? What did national bankers
bondholders, politicians and legislators
do for their starving brothers? Nothing
Then the great. west stretched out her
giant arms and with her hard horny
hand illed with plenty, loaded every
dfdlldulO llCiSut IoA, S'Siy SoA eo"s
every steamship and merchantmen, and
in every city of Europe warehouses are
filled as if by magic with meat and bread
from the farmers of America. Gold
flows back, business revives; steam en-
gines revolve; water wheels turn forge
fires shine; smelling works roar; labor
is employed, and all the land is musical
with the busy hum of reviving industry.
The great financial problem is solved,
and the "mudsills" have done it all.
And now with cool and insulting effron-
terry politicians come up and tell US they
have brought it all about. Suppose for
a moment that the United States had been
the buyer instead of the seller of SOC, ,0OO,-
900 dollars worth of meat and bread, what
theu?' tell you brothers and sisters,
we don't claim our rights. When panics
prevail no class suffers more than ours,
and when they are removed none contri-
butte hundredth part as much toward
the grand result. When others need us
they use us, and then forget US till they
need Us again. We don't claim enough,
are not aggressive enough. Do not
place ourselves where we can make our
power felt. Let US make the Commits
ioner of Agriculture cabinet officer,
make q majority of both houses of Congress
farmers, demand just and honest in
come tax, reduce salaries to fair pro.
portion with other service, abolish all
sinecures, make it states prision crime
to assess an officeholder, or clerk, for
party purposes, demand a general law
forbidding common carriers to make
any unjust determinations and fix such
a penalty for the first violation that no
one can afford to disregard the law, and
last, but not least, make it q states prison
ofense for any officer, agent or employe OF
anyrailroad, to offer any legislator, exc
cutive or judicial officer, a free pass over
their road, or for such persons to accept
such pass.
Do you think this radical? Very
we'll, radical it is. These are radical
times. Whom the gods destroy they
first make mad. Designing men have
excided the passions of the people and
made them forget their burdens and disa-
bilities, and party leaders ride rough
shod over our heads. The money power
exerted through syndicates, corporations,
monopilies and bankers has proved it.
self too much for the people. Nothing
but our ballots will redress our wrongs,
we as farmers hold the balance of power
in each of the great parties. IF we can
but act together we are safe. If We but
look after our own interests in our own
party We can give character and direc-
tion to that. I do not wish to dictate the
way it shall be done, but in Heavens
name, let US make our strength and in
huence felt in some direction. For my
self, have been partisan all my life
long. I claim now to have some clearly
defined political principles and ideas, but
I tell you, brothers and sisters, so long as
I live I shall never again vote for any
candidate unless 1 have some reason tor
so doing. When occasion calls we must
rebel against the tyranny of the ring.
King caucus must lose his despotic pow
er. Public servants must be in sympa-
thy with the toiling masses or they must
be retired. When a monied aristocracy
is created the next step will be titled
aristocracy. five would avert the one
we must prevent the other. Oh |! says
one you are talking politics. Who is it
says so? Who is always the first to cry
out against consideration or discussion
of questions of general interest? Who
is the first to hold up is hands in pious
horror at the idea of the mudsills of So
ciety discussing questions ofgoyernment-
al polity or political economy? Who is
it? Is it not in every instance the ring
worker, the machine politician, the man
who makes politics his trade and the
manipulation of rings and caucuses his
business2 And who is it they thus seek
to deprive of the high privilege Of decid-
ing for whom or for what measures their
ballots shall be cast? Do not farmers
control more than three-fifths the votes
in the country? And yet but hand
full of politicians and lawyers control us.
Not pleasing thought is it? Brother
farmers suppose we look after our own
interest and put those who criticise and
IL L.