The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1886-04-14
MR.. TILLMAN AND THE
FARMERS CONVENTION.

z EAh1EftS> SON En- 1lcANs
We saw with some degree of sur
prise in the Neacs and Courier Of the
9Th ult., where the meeting held in
Manning on the 5th Of April, in the
interest OF Farmers Convention, was
represented to be enthusiastic fol
Tillman.
Now we can see no reason whatever:
for such statement i'll reference to
what took place on the occasion in
question. To the contrary, one most
pleasing of the whole transactions oi
the day was the noticeable fact, that
his name was not mentioned at all,
in any connection, unless the writer
meant to denominate the movement
under a comprehensive term and call
it "Tillman."
We would have it fairly and fully
understood, once for all, that we have
no war to wage against any organiza-
ton of the Farmers Of the County and
State-to the contrary, we stand rea-
dy to aid in every way an undertaking
long neglected, and for which negh-
gence and want of concert of action,
untold millions have passed from the
s'horny handed sons OF toil' into the
Golfers of the better organized specu-
lators, as the price of their indifer-
ence on the subject. Agriculture is
the very fountain head q every indus
try-the mother calling-the one vo-
cation, to which every other must look
with the most abject dependence, and
from which is drawn all the wealth
and sustenance of the hordes living
upon it's bosom. That this enterprise
should ask aims or aid of any other,
ard yield the sceptre where it should
sway, shows condition of things en-
tirely abnormal, and operating out OF
its true sphere. The farmers, then,
should organize by all means; and no
honest and thinking man would throw
pebble in the way of old Cincinnati
as and his chariot wheels of conquest.
We favor all this, but think and be-
Ieve, that the entire enterprise is
handicapped, in the very outset, by
having such a champion as Mr.. TIL
man to lead them to an end so desira-
bic. Personally, we know nothing OF
the gentleman, and Judge him entirely
by his writing and by his utterances
in speech made at the Court House
in this place. No polar iceburg could
be colder than that meeting was, and
yet, he set down the entire State, from
mountain to seabosrd," as eferves-
cent over his movement In that
speech Mr.. Tillman exhausted his
billingsgate against every other 7oca-
tion or calling, and denounced the
greater part of existing affairs, and
men as snares, delusions and robbers
Had he spoken in soberness and truth,
as many who proposed to join hands
with him spoke, there would not have
been dissenting voice, so to speak,
in all the land, and every class would
have bid the farmers, who are really
the backbone of the country, a hearty
God speed. But when Mr.. Tillman
publicly brands every one except
farmers, with such ugly names as he
did in his Manning speech; when he
so violently assails tie existing state
of things as a fraud, and run in the
interest of a few, who reap golden
harvest; when he would pull down
and destroy, without pointing out a
single actual ground Of complaint, as,
a fact, except in reference to the AZ
,icultural Bureau-then we do not
raise our voice against the farmers OF
their organization, but, solemD,.y warn
them to be cautious how they follow
in the lead of such a p.an-a man
whose purpose as openiy avowed, is
to tear down everything and build up
on a basis furnished by him, a basis,
as declared tine and again, that will
have no regard to men; the only quail
Sication necessary being, as he has
said, an adherance to the Revolution
inaugurated. What new school oi
Politics is this, to foist upon US, when
measures and not men are judged:
Our contemporary, the Neus and Her.
aid, of Winnsboro, says Mr.. Tillmar
disclaims any ambition to lead orhold
Office, but that he has found so many
things rotten in the State, he should
be sent to the Legislature nolens role,a;
and required to point out the alarm,
ing ills affecting the people, and 6
remedy.
There having been some adverse
criticism as to our position towards
the farmers and their associations, VIZ
hope in the above that we have lef
no room for further doubt.
LABOR STRIKES.
As viii be seen elsewhere in these
columns, the labor strikers in the Wes
al Ca.li ~-o.1 lo-o oo~ts-,,S l.