The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-08-18
THE POOR MANS PLASTER,
Some Strong Arguments In Favor OF tho
Lien Law.
Correspondence Of the Neu, u,,a tau,i1


ADBEvILlE, August 8.
crave small space in your column,
to review the objections TO the Lien Law
as presented by the farmers in council a
Greenville and reported by your CORES
pondent on July q. propose to writ,
few short articles on the following
points introduced by them on that occa
sion, and perhaps on some collateral
subj ccts:
lst Does the great number of lien.
filed or the vast amount secured by then
prove the necessity Of the law, or does i,
prove its worthleSsness as a means o.
credit.
I'd. Is it true that merchants charge
such ruinous profits on advances undo,
the law as is stated and if so would ;he
repeal of the law remedy it?
"a. Is 1T more profitable to the labor.
ing man, or to his employer to work fo,
wages, than to rent the land and till hi.
own farm.
4th. Does the law encourage extrava.
gance and idlcncss, or does it promote
economy and industry.
9th. Are the laboring people doing
better IN States whero there is no lien
law than they are here? l shall
endeavor to confine myself in the presen,
article solely to the first proposition, and
hereafter to take up each of the succeed
ing questions and treat them separated,
and distinctly.
What more conclusive evidence could
be produced to show the necessity and
popularity of the lien law than the fact
that over $4,000 small farmers avail
themselves Of its use? No palmer dc.
monstration of its Importance could be
made than the fact that such vast r,ul-
titude Is fed and clothed under its protec-
ton. 10 make reasonable estimate OF
how many are dependent on it for their
daily support would be to allow seven
persons to each lien, or nearly 5OO.OOO
human beings. 1t is no light matter to
ruin and at one fell swoop to destroy the
credit OF such large number of small
farmers. 1t would be very unjust
measure TO deprive any set Of men of
their credit, but it would not only be an
unjust but most cruel measure to rob
Mt least one half of the Inhabitants of the
state of their credit and means of SUP.
port, anu thereby plunge them into the
lowest depths of destitution and make
paupers of half million people, who
are now living comfortably and content
edly,. supporting themselves and their
loved ones, and doing injury to no one,
and who are the best tenants the world
over produced, paying from 20 to so per
cent. annually on the land they cultivate
without fail and without ,nurmur of
complaint. Such are the people that
would be oppressed by the repeal of this
law law people willing to make any sacri-
neo oi .tnlc or convenience TO favor or
gra'iiy their landlords or their employ
.ss. Us Ih1uiu they not be pardoned if
10y uo ouy little too much sugar and
oHnees ot OF other luxuries, or if they
suouiu Hn pay little high for their whistle I?
~ ~ oulu 1t not be dark and gloomy day
i, tnese people, driven to desperation by
the sutferings of their families, should
commit robberies and turn out to be n
rowing multitude Of outlaws, spreading
devastation throug hout the country, now
peaceful and prosperous, making the
horrors of the grave more desirable than
the calamities of the living? Neither
penitentaries, bloodshcd nor gibbets will
have any terrOrs to restrain men who feel
they can suffer no greater tortures than
those they endure from hunger and des-
titution in their families, when they see
how ruthlessly and needlessly they are
oppressed by those who should know and
do better. 1t would be far less cruel
experiment to confiscatc their property
for the use of the rich than to DEPRIVE
them of their credit for the same pur-
pose, when the council of conscript apri.
culturists shall have forced the small
farmers to work for wages or starve, or, as
the reverend Georgia farmer expresses it.
ito live OH hard pan and ash cake,''
mostly hard pan. What will be the re-.
suit they 80 much desire? They answer
cheaper and more oppressed laborers.
Ii that be the result, no mode of exodus
or migration will be 80 severe or irving
as to retain the "bonc and sinew" in the
land that forces them to starve or to go
into bondage.
II there were only few persons de-
pending on the law for employment and
support then it would matter but little
what was done in the case, but do not
burn the bridge until the great masses
are over or have somo other opportunity
of crossing. Provide means of escape
before you remove the very mud sils of
their safety. The same 100000 mouths
will be to feed, and bodies to clothe. do
what you will, and they will remain so
until there is some other material used
IN their construction.
The number of liens taken and tho
amount secured by them would indicate
that lien on the crop is good security,
and one that is within the reach of every
honest, sober and Industrious tiller Of the
soil. 1t is the least expensive of any
security that can be given; fee of fif-
teen cents makes it the first claim on the
property secured by it, while the collec-
tion of claim under the lien law costs
less than any other mode of collecting p
debt by law. 1t is the least oppressive
of any security that can be given, and
only lasts for season. 1t requires
promptness in settlements, and induces
men to be methodic and punctual in pay
ing their debts and in complying with
their contracts. 1t is a conceded fact
that there is less money lost on lien Gus
toners than on any others, while the lien
customer is always first to pay and fre-
quently anticipates the maturity of his
BILL.
If availability aud utility are to he ia
ken into consideration, then it is the only
reliable and universal security that can
be given by n large number of farmers
that will enable them to get every nee.
essary assistance in cultivating or gath.
ering their crops, while it gives the ad-
vancer q lively interest in the:. success.
l close this first article by asserting
tnat the number OF liens given and
amount secured by them fully proves the
great necessity of the law to the masses
OF our improvident people, and in some
future articles l expect to show that the
law is not the cause of their improvidcnce
and that its abuse does not justify its
repeal. GRAccuTs.