The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1884-07-17
LETTER TO THE LARhERs.

July contains IN open letter from
Mr.. D. p. Duncan, President of the
State Agricultural Society, to the
farmers of the State, from which
we take the following extract:
We are an agricultural people.
Oar agricultural statistics show
that we have in the State $4,000
people engaged in all classes of &C,
cupations. OF these $4,000 are
engaged in agriculture. We have
$4,000 farms; $4,000 are cultivated
by their owners; $4,000 are rented
for fixed money rental and $4,000
are rented for share of the pro-
ducts. Would it be nnreaaona bio
to expect one out Of every ten Of
the 10000 farmers who 1.-Two upnn
and cultivate their own farms to be
members of the State Society? And
shonld not each and every one OF
them belong 10 some county agri-
cultuial organization?
Our roll has the names Of 26O
odd members. Is this not mea
gre showing? When wo have 4
people four-ffths of whom afc en-
gagged in ono occupation, can 1t be
anything less than serious mis-
take for them to fail 10 have any
organization, association nr concert
of action as to their socia. or busi
ness interest and advAl cemen ?
Ion find the other onc-iilth thor
onshly organized, with their nniona,
cubs and associations, to which
they are in a great degree indebted
for much of Their progress AID pros
pcrity. The attendance at our
State Fair meetings, as fsr as num-
hers is concerned, is all that onr
most sangnine friends could nish,
and yetat such time OF crowd and
rush it is impossible 10 discuss
many questions of vital interest and
importance TO the tanners ut large.
The State Society should be OF
snch number and influence as to be
able to discuss and settle definitely
such issues as are of uuqnestionable
use and Importance to its business
interests and calling. Don't do as
we have done for yeurs-pass rcso-
lulions that the lien law must be
repealed and then return homo and
vote for men we know will vote just
the other way. | simply mention
this rs an example, but really and
truly hope never to hear this sub
ject mentioned in the Society
again, where it has been SO thor
oughly worn threadbare. But
there is the educational question
now so much agilated that could
be ventilated, as we'll Us many
others OF equal OF less Importance,
which, after q free discussion by
representative men from all parts
of the State, would enable decis
ion to be reached Us the one most
suitable 10 all sections and all clas
scs, and one which would have
much weight in shaping the future
termination of these events.
Pho fsrrIzIer tJus DO to wugc
no fight to make against any per-
son or class. 1t is true that from
time immemorial he has entertained
an idea that he was in some myste-
rious way Oppressed by every other
kind OF business, that he was being
devournd Ivy all kinds Of corpora
tons and monopolics; but the truth
is, he has no greater enemy than
himself. If whilst in one sense be
lies supinely by, fighting his game
of life in his imaginary indepAn-
dence, single-handed and Above,
this one-6fth by its greater intel.i-
gence, it's thorough Organization
and its business tact shall make the
four-fifths the ''hewers of wood and
the drawers Of water" who, say,
has he to blame bnt himself: Let
the farmer organize, seek to have
the same intelligence, the same ce
pabilities in his business that other
people have in theirs, formulate his
opinions and decisions for the good
anil progress Of his calling. and he
will have the satisfaction Of seeing
himself and the whole country pros
pering, and there will be no man to
make him afraid.