The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1886-03-24

dition of the bulk of farmers is criti.
cal in the extreme; and it is equally
plain to find the cause-bad crops,
low prices, enormous sums spent in
guano, labor and food! Can con-
vention or legislation change the
whole system? Not title!
What does negro and family cost
a planter per annum now, as COM
pared with unte belLuna days, and
what does he produce? He will now
be paid, with q working family, some
thing like 5000, won't he7 Formerly,
when most Of his food and clothing
were made at home, he would
not cost more than S25 to $50 per
haps, and each plow would probably
produce six bales, about the average
now. It takes six good bales to
bring $240 this year, Sc that the
wages of one hand and family, with
interest on mule, would swallow up
the whole proceeds. leaving nothing
for rent, food, taxes, plow, ginning,
&c. Is there any wonder that pow
erty dogs our daily operations? Of
course this is only the aggregate,
many making much more.
We are constantly urged to assert
and maintain our "rights.'' What
are they, and who has deprived US Of
any? I see some farmers meetings
trying to define what is farmer"
Some will admit to membership q
parson, but 20 doctor or lawyer need
apply! The latter class seem to be
the incarnation Of evil, and '.blue
laws may be looked for in order to
suppress their diabolical practices.
In fact, every class is represented as
being in league against the unfortu-
nate farmer! Lawyers have usually
been credited with more than ordi.
nary sagacity and some ability to see
through a wall, but it would seem
they are failing in wisdom, or they
would give the poor farmer rest,
nurse him up, get little flesh on his
bones and some money in bis pock-
cts, and there would then be more
pleasure in "squeezing" hint -Thssas
is neither pleasure nor profit now for
merchant, doctor, lawyer or parson,
because he is out of money, out of
temper, and almost void ofhope.
With no wish to impugn the mo-
tives of any man, I would ask the
farmers to carefully study all the ut
terances, both in the ''calP' and pre-
vious letters and am satisfied that an
important and cool examination Of
the mass of charges, assertions and
pretended facts will convince them
that the farmers welfare is quite a
secondary matter, and that their So
called convention, if held, will SIM
ply be political caucus Of some as
pirants for Offices for which they may
or may not be qualified, and wLica
they hope to reach by throwing dust
in the eyes of a class whom they caA
insane. 1t remains with the farmers
to decide whether or not they. will
attend convention called under
such fattering terms and full Of mis-
statements. Can they, without sacri-
fcing all self.respect, join such a body
when it's organizers have declared
again and again that for ten years
past farmers Legislature and ex-
ecutive officers, and the s'minions''
of both, "many of whom are farmers,
have been robbers, incompetent, cor
rupt and oppressive? Are the
charges true in any single case? If
not proved, will the mass of honest
farmers tamely submit to such an in
suit to themselves and to the men
whom they have chosen from time to
time: Will they actually join hands
with their traducers and help to place
them in Office? These questions
deserve our serious attention, and
no doubt have occurred 10 thousands
before this will meet their eye.
A. FARMER.