The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1886-03-31
Some Suggestions TO the Farm
erS.

0lS.
A number of farmers publish thi
week a call for a mass meeting Of tn
farmers of Anderson County in tn
court house on saleday in April, AM
we hope that as many of the farmer
of the county will attend as possible
and that they will select five of th'
wisest and most discreet representa-
tives that they can secure to attent
the State convention in Columbia il
April. If properly directed this con
vention may, we think, accomplish
great good for the prosperity of thu
State. Such direction, in our judg
ment, will confine the meeting to the
consideration Of agricultural subjects
and the direction of the attention O.
Congress and our State Legislature
to the changes in the law which. the
farmers of the State by representa-
tives may, after mature delibcratlon
conclude will be conducive to the
prosperity of agriculture over the
State. Such recommendations WOULD
90 before the Legislature with every
prospect Of adoption, and would at
least receive respectful hearing in
Congress. The object Of the con
yention should be to build up the
prosperity fthe farmers, and through
them of the State; and in order to do
this, it will be necessary to examine
the condition of our agriculture, and
trace, if possible its causes. TO be-
gin with. our farmers must know
that legislation cannot make agricul'
ture a profitable business. All that
it can do is to provide such rules OF
government as will give those en-
gagged in agriculture the opportunity
to conduct their business with as
little interference, and as light tax.
alton as possible. The Legislature
cannot make its people rich, but it
may give the protection of law, with
out imposing onerous burdens upon
the people. Bearing this in mind
let US see what laws are now bearing
most heavily upon the producers of
the country. In Federal legislation
the maintenance Of tariff upon a
war basis is, the greatest legislative
burden which rests upon the people.
It adds at least twenty per cent. to
the cost of living in this country. 1t
is. however, the least noticed of all
our burdens, because it is not seen,
and our people bear it without think
ing of the fact that one dollar out OF
every six which they spend is re-
ouired of them in Consequence OF an
unreasonable tariff. In our State
Government we do not think leglsla'
ton has been unfriendly to the farm
ers of our State, but our government
is cunbrous ard expensive because
of our Constitution, which is a relic
Of radicalism. 1t has given US a
most expensive system Of courts and
of county government which can be
reduced without injury to the public
service, in our judgment, if we could
have a constitutional convention.
We have too much legislation, and
we think the expenses for this de-
nartment Of our government might
&c reduced by having only bIenna!
meetings Of the Legislature. The
worst feature about our legislation is
the failure to equalize taxation, and
the result is that some counties, like
Anderson, for instance, are paying
more than their part Of the State
taxes. OF course this bears heavily
upon the sections Of the State which
are thus over-taxed. Now, We would
call attention Of our farmers to the
fact that the evils specified in the
address which was published relate
only to two things-the South Caro-
lima University and the agricultural
department. We do not approve the
details of the management Of either
yof these institutions. but we unhesi.
.. tatingly express the opinion that
e.they cannot be, and ought not te be
abolished. Their management should
;pe changed so as to increase their ef'
Eciency, and make them worth to the
litate what they ought to be worth,
! will be very difficult for our friends
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