The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-12-17

line Beit0n actlOn was, We tnlnk, entlrely
commendable in purpose and happy in
its results.
Mr.. EDITOR: Our--State is passing
through very critical epoch in its his
tory, and il it passes: the crisis without
some great convulsion, it will be because
the people choose "rather to bear those
ills they have" than take part in the con-
vulsion which seems to be the natural re-
suit Of. our present legislation. More
dissatisfaction is expressed with our leg
ialation now than has been heard since
1876. WHY'S this? 1t is because the
government of the State seems to ignore
demands made for Legislation from classes
that have right to be heard; aud the
legislation of the State seems to be more
in the interest of the few than of the
many.
The farmers Of the State are beginning
to awake to 8. realization of this fact
They have repeatedly attempted to se'
cure the repeal of the lien law, but their
repeated requests have been denied
The House of Representatives, coming
more from the farming classes, have twice
repealed this law, but the Senate seemst to
think that they know better what the
farming interestsrequire, than the farm.
ers themselves, and it now remains to be
seen what they will do with the Bill re.
Gently passed by the House repeating the
said law. The. demand for repeal of
the lien law has, 1t seems, never reached
the ear of the News and Courier, yet the
demand for a College of Farming recent.
ly made has elected from the said Jour
nal the following:
"The general election in South Carroll
ma takes place next year, and the farm.
ers hint that they will make themselves
felt, If they fail now to make themselves
heard. They are power in South Car.
olina when they are in earnest, and their
difficulty will not be 20 much in obtain
ing the assistance of tho politician as in
escaping the consequences of too much
help"
The Ne,os and Courier might apply the
same words with as much or more force
to the repeal of the lien law. The far.
mers are more in earnest in securing the
repeal of this law, which affects the
country generally, than they are in the
College Of, Farming, and the deaf ear so
often turned to their appeals by our leg.
islators cannot fail to cause them to make
their power felt at the proper time.
Another illustration of the fact that
ourIlegislation is not in the interest of
the people, is the refusal of our Legisla.
tors to permit, the people to settle for
themselves whether intoxicating liquors
shall be sold or not. Where very large
proportion of the citizens of any county
ask the privilege of deciding this quea.
ton by vote, why should it be denied,
except on the principle that the.:people
have not sense enough to decide the
question, and that If they decide for pro.
hibition it will be against the interests of
some of the few in which our Legislature
seem to take more interest, than in the
rights of the people. Another serious
cause of complaint, that heretofore our
State College has been run in the inter-
eat of favored few by making tuition
free. The people feel that comparatively
few of our citizens can avail themselves
of the benefit of free tuition, and gener.
ally those who do, are those most able to
pay for it. There would not be SO much
ground for complaint, if those who are
able were required opay for their tuition,
allowing one or two beneiciaries from
each county, who are really unable to
pay tuition. This would be just to the
taxpayer, the other colleges, and what
justice and equity in the premises would
seem to dictate. If free tuition is con-
tinued in the State College, those COM
planning will. be very submissive, indeed,
If they do not, in some way, manifest
their dissatisfaction which will be felt
throughout the State. These are some
of the instances of the disposition of our
legislators and rulers to disregard the
wishes of the people, aud of the ten.
dency towards an aristocratic government,
and they need not be surprised if the
people rise in their might at the next
election, and show that they are more
powerful than The politicians that now
control tho State. There is too much
legislation in the interest of the strong