The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1886-03-24
HAMBURG EDGINGS
FOR SECRETARY OF STATE LlPS-
COMBS CLOTHES.

COMES CLOTHES.
MR.. TILLMAN HITS BACK AND TELLS
ABOUT THE FARMERS MOVEMENT.
To tie Editor 9tthe News ond Cou.
Tier:
Since the publication of my recent
"open letter to the farmers Of the
State" / have been the recipient of
many courtesies from the newspapers
and their correspondents. | an like
King Lear. The little dogs and all,
Tray, Blanche and Sweetheart. See
they bark at me- l have been &C
cused of nearly every sin mentioned
in the decalogue, and many others
besides, and l doubt if ever column
of plain and lucid English has been
so variously construed or had so
many different interpretations put
upon it. There has certainly been a
"ring' firing at me, whether there be
a political "ring' in South Carolina
or not-and seem to have pinched
many peoples toes Of whom I was
not even thinking. Such q broad
side from politicians and pap-suckers
has not been heard in the State in
many a long day. We farmers can
now locate the enemy and govern
ourselves accordingly. But l feel
under lasting obligations to the gen.
tlemen of the press for so literally
advertising "a farmers convention
gratis. "The agitation of thought is
the beginning of wisdom" Farmers
need only to thtnk, to wake up, and
all will be well. They are doing this
l hope and believe, and l am there
fore more than satisfied with the sit
uation.
The firing has almost died away
and things are growing quiet. But
hush, bark. what deep booming
sound is it that breaks the stiffness
at this late hour of the bombardment?
Hamburg Moses" "Moses Tillman,"
''slanderer,' "crank," ''dreamer' and
"demagogue," who somehow feels
at being the innocent cause
of all this turmoil, and who is trying
to make out why simple suggestion
to the farmers to organize and de-
mand redress of grievances should
create such a commotion. Moses"
picks himself up, shakes, feels for
his head, and finding he is not hurt
looks around to see by whom this
''air gum was fired. There was no
bullet in it, or certainly Edgefeld
would have funeral on her hands.
A burly form as fat as a porker on
official pap, and as red with impotent
rage as a turkey gobler, stands ready
to claim that he killed "Cock Robin"
Moses has been begging with tears
in his eyes for some "Richmond"
from the agricultural bureau to
answer his arguments and d!sprove
his facts; but our belated warrior who
at this late day appears upon the
scene and fires the gun it has taken
him three months to load, ignores ar
gument, pays no attention to facts,
dishes out abusive epithets like fish
wife, claims to be the only original
and possible agricultural Moses,
and winds ~ with pitiful appeal to
the farmers and people not to punish
him because he refuses to accept
Moses Tillman as a leader" Oh how,
these men who are sucking the pub
lic teat begin to squeal when they
feel or fear they are about to lose
their hold! It's heart-rending. Col.
has been nursing his wrath
to keep it warm and it is certainly
very hot, but it does not burn "Moses"
because he has only told the truth,
and Col. Lipscomb must disprove
the charges of incompetence, extrav-
agance and inattention to duty made
against the board of agriculture be-
fore he can injure Moses" by fling
ing mud. 1 shall not descend into
the gutter and fight this doughty
with his chosen weapon. \
negro can beat us both on that line.
prefer decency and courtesy, al
though I am accused of 'outraging'
both. Col. Lipscomb must prove
these charges ere they will harm me.
have been severe but parliament
tary, and have always attacked the
official acts of men and not the men
themselves; and although my words
were thus interpreted by many. /
have never said anything about the
State officers except the agricultural
bureau and their administration of
their trusts. They are not the ring"
to which I alluded, but may and
! lo,Lt1occ AZ fo-,, n ,oo,t of - op1