The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-03-24
HILLMAN STRIKES BACK.
he REPLIES TO THE LETTER OF COL
LPSCOMB

he REPLIES TO THE LETTER OF COL.
LIPsCoMB.
The Farmers Convention to be ''No
Joint Summer Meeting Of Politi-
clans TO Make Slate"--.''Fewer
Laws and Better Ones"-.-The Pur'
poses of the Convention.
Since the publication Of my recent "open
letter TO the farmers of the State have been
the recipient of many courtesles rom tne
newspapers and their correspondents. 1 an
like king Lear. The little dogs ana an,
Tray, Blanch and Sweetheart. See! they
bark at me-" have been accused OF nearly
every SIN mentioned in the decaiosue, anu
many others besides, , and 6 aGuH' has IL eyer heen
80 variously construed or had SO many dllIcr-
ent interpretations put upon II. Inere mas
certainly been a "ring' firing at me, Wheiner
or not-and seem to have pinched many
peoples toes of whom 1 was not even think,
Ing. Such q broadside from politicians ana
pap suckers has not been heara IN tn nn H.1(e io
cate the enemy and govern ourselves accord
ingly. But feel under lasting obligations to
the gentlemen or the press for SO iiberally aa
1.-The agitation of thought Is the beginning OF
wisdom" Farmers need only to think to
wake up, and all will be well. They are DO
ing this, hope and oeiieve; ana "i.t oiieie
The firing has almost died away and things
are growing quiet. But hush, hark! what
deep booming sound is 1t that breaks me
% men:? Hamburg Moses "Moses Timan,"
.sianderer." "crank," ,"dreamer' and "dem-
ayogue," who somehow feels uneasy al being
the Innocent cause of all this turmoil, @ anu
icf t,,r q q
yestiOn to the farmers TO organize ana ue-
mand a redress of grievances should cre"tG
such a commotion. "Moses" picks himself
up shakes, feels for his head, and hndlns ne
is not hurt looks around to see by whom thls
lair gum was fired. There was no bullet III
it, or certainly Edgefeld would have luner-
al on her hands. burly form as iat as por
ker on official pay. and as red with lmp9tent
rage as a turkey gobber, stands ready to
claim that he killed Cock Robin" Moses
has been begging with tears IN his eyes 10 ior
some "Richmond' from the agricultural
bureau to answer his arguments and dlsproFe
his facts but our beated warrior who at thls
late day appears upon the scene ana nreS tne
gun it has taken him three months 10 dt' ioae'
ignores argument, pays no attention TO lacts,
dishes out abusive epithets like flSh Wile,
claims to be the only original and poSslo'e
''Asricultural Noses and winds up WIN ~. d
n pitlful appeal to the farmers and people not
to unish him because he refuses 10 accept
1'Moses Tlllman as a leader" on how these
men who are sucking the public teat begin 10
to lose their hold! 1t is heart-rendng. Coz.
Lpscomb has been nursing his wrath 10 Keep
1t warm and it is certainly very hot, out III
does not burn Moses because ne mas oh!y
told the truth and Col. LipScomb must dis
prov c the charges of Incompetence, eAtraSa.
rance and inattentinn to duty made against
the board Of agriculture before ne can lnJurs
Moses" by flnging mud: | Shall not desceno
into the gutter and fight this doughty granger
with his chosen weapon. A negro can beaI
us both on that line. l prefer deceney and
courtesy although am accused Oh "ontraS-
ing" both. Col. Lipscomb must prove these
charges ERE they will harm me. nave eeen
Servcre but parliamentary, and haVt always
attacked the official acts OF men ana nor tne
men themselves; and although my words
were thus Interpreted by many, have never
said anything about the State officers except
the agricultu tural bureau and thier adminlStra.
1ion Of their trusts. They are not the ring
to which / alluded, but MAY and doubtless do
form a part OF it, and Col. Lipscombs ready
anger at the mere suggestlon VI sucn lille LILLE
makes one suspect thas MS n o @ pu
sueth. but the righteous is blod as a non.
voted for Col. MpscOmb for secretary OF
State in the State convention IN No. anu
have never denied that his motives are pure
But the possession Of office has strangely
emasculated and silenced the sturdy advocate
who was wont to make the welkin ring Whlle
he depicted the wrongs and abuses heape1 on
farmers. He spoke for my resolutions at Ben
nettSville, but it was with bated breath ana
in general terms. He was mild, very mild !;
and while have written nothing since Wnlcl
was as serve as that speech, no farmer ENJOY
ed it more or complimented it SO highly as ne
did. Let him deny this If he can, ana eH,
plain why he has since changed front: salo
little there about the board OF agriculture
and only sought to enlarge it and increase its
usefulness. That is what propose now, ana
my efforts are not bent towards "puillnS
down and destroying everything ana every
body" &c, but towards building up, encour-
aging and protecting our AGRICULTURAL inter-
ests. We want a real agricultural college.
We want large and representative boarc OF
agriculture composed of live, progressive 1ar
n1ers. We want farmers institutes to teach
our people how to do better and increase the
general prosperity. We want fewer laws anu
better ones; we want fewer officers and more
efficient ones; we want a government OF the
people by the people and for the people; ana
as the people are. by large majority, 1ar-
mers. have right and it is their duty TO goy-
ern the State, and .'if this be treason nm make
the most of it," Such a government does nOt
by any means imply that only farmers ougnt
to hold Office or that other classes are TO nc
excluded altogether or imposed upon. Only
a dreamer or idiot would Imagine such
thing and only narrow minded, selfish bigot
would want it. The assumption that TINS
movement has any such object is entirely
gratuitous and only emanatcs from those
Who seek to bamboozle farmers and obscure
the real ISSUE "Divide to conquer has ever
been the tactics Of our enemies, and the same
old dodge ls being tried now. 1t may succeed
but hope for better things.
Col, Lpscomb felt obliged to acknowledge
that a farmers convention is right aud
proper thing and advocates 1t, but ne obJects
10 It because he did not suggest 1t and cannot
"boss H." and is silly enough to say 1t Will De
called and controlled, appointed and organ
lied BY Mr.. 3. r. Tilllnan. He does me 100
much honor. have called the conNen nc idoi Oh
in common with those who endorsed the ldea
snd.sent me their names. 1t VIII assemble
and chose it's own officers and viii. trust, re-
suit in great good to the State and entire peo-
pie. I will endeavor to get it TO adopt some
measures which deem highly important TO
our welfare as farmers; only this and MOTH
ing more and the idea that it Will be COM
posed of puppets to be 'bossed" by anybody
will think he only too clearly disproven
when it assemblies. :. 49,,
II will be no JOINT summer meeting OF pol
iticians to make sate.' There will be no
..free passes" and lacking these two familiar
features, perhaps Col. Lipscomb does well TO
turn his back on us. 'Tis pity, but sup
nose we common people must pretorce 40
Ywithout him. Let the farmers of this State
see that good and true men, not politicians or
oftice seekers, are sent to this convention and
twill mark an epoch in the history OF South
Carolina. If any county can 11nd q Detter
man who is not farmer than 1t can among
farmers. by all means let the farmers OF that
rornty send him. We want the brains ana
patriotism and honesty OF the Stale 10 COME
nf