The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-05-06
THE FARMERS IN COUNCIL.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE STATE CONVEN.
TION IN COLUMBIA.

A Large Body of Good NIoke-Up-NcarIy All
the> Counties Representative Proceedings
I'm Detail.
Pursuant to the call heretofore pub
lished, the State Convention of Farmers
met in Agricultural Hall, Columbia, on
the 29th ult. Promptly at IL o'clock the
Convention was called to order by Capt.
A b. n. Tillman, of Edgefeld, who pro-
ceeded to deliver an address in substance
as follows:
IfI were much in love with myself,
this manifestation of approval you have
just given me might turn my head and
make me egotisticnl. L hope to prove
before I conclude what have to say that,
while L am man who entertains positive
opinions and am not afraid to express
them unequivocally when occasion de-
&mands, yet still [ know who l am and
what am. L have been asked to call
this convention to order, and state my
views as to the objects to be gained and
the proper mode Of proceeding to attain
what we have in view. In some respects
am thus placed in a peculiar and en-
barassing situation. There seems to be
current opinion that [ am dynamiter,
communist, who stands ready to sub
Q vert society and overthrow the Demo-
cratic party. The newspapers and the
politicians have striven hard to thus pic
turc me i'll the mind of the public. I
have been christcncd the "Moses," " and
the name has stuck and will continue to
stick. The application was first applied
to me III derision by Colonel ID. p. Dun
'' can, and it was taken up by the newspa-
pcrs, and has constantly been connected
with mo and the movement which /
I'M the honor of having originated.
But am not ashamed to bear the name
My friends even call me Moses. hope
sincerely that [ may, if even in the very
smallest degree, resemble the great law
glver and leader of the Egyptians; and if
L shall be able, like him, to benefit my
people-thc whole people of the State
without regard to any one class-I will
. feel that [ have accomplished my highest
object. This is my mission, and has
been since, at Bennettsvillc last August
l started this movement. Selfish little
men-politicians and cditors-have i'm
pugncd mymotives, thus seeking to i'm
pair my influence and bring me into bad
odor. shall nevertheless continue to
move onward till L reach my goal. You
must reform the farming before you can
reform the farmers. There must be
. among us more thought, more brain
phosphates. This agitation has already
broadened into formidable proportions;
1t IS now grand reform movement
which will and must triumph over all
obstacles. The cry is ever heard shat if
we are not very careful how we proceed
we will injure the Democratic party and
divide our people. No man man in
South Carolina is a trucr Democrat than
y am, but if necessary would not finch
even if our grand reform movement
should go into politics and rcctify the
abuses in the Democratic camp and wash
it's dirty linen.
1t was feared that L would be very
violent and comm,mistic md advocate
the rcnding aslndcr of al prevailing in
stitutions, but all l have 10 say is, that if
every man in this convention is as con-
, servativc rs I am, no class of our citizens
will have any cause to complain of the
action Of this body.
He had somewhere seen q cartoon
which had amused him much, and which
had impressed on him an important les
son regarding the attitude of the office
holders and rulers of the party toward
this farmers movement. 1t represented
large enclosure of glass; in which there
were number Of rats each enjoying a
piece of cheese. On the outside was q
c.su endeavoring to get in, and mad at
the failure of her efforts to effect an en-
trance Beneath the picture the legend
ran, "You Can't Get H." There were
hungry political cats in South Carolina
who were mad because they could not
get into the Farmers Convention, but
the farmers were inside just now; for
once they held the keys, and they i'll
tended TO stay in, and as they were in
they had better take nibblc at the
cheese, just to see how it tastes.
The farmers had been SO long accus-
toned to the condition Of dependence
nAd Vassalage to the mfnvorable condi-
tions around them that they had reached
q state where they were unwilling to
make an effort to release themselves or
to respond to an effort to secure deliver
ance. lie told the story of Stelne, who,
while walking near the Bastile in Paris,
beard plaintive cry like that of o. wo-
man or child, 81 can't get out! 81 can't
get out?" His compassion was aroused,
and following the sound he discovered
r that it proceeded not from human pris-
oncr, but from q Gagged startling, and, yield
ing TO the feeling OF oommiseration OK
cited by the cry and the sight of the
captive bird, he opened the door of the
cage. The bird hoped from its perch
to the open door, surveyed the fields
around the prison, on which no single
tree offered n refuge TO tempt it to try
) its long unused wings in flight, and then
turned discouraged book lpto the cage,
With the dospairing ory, 81. can't get
outI" This has been the condition -