The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-02-03
THE FARMERS FIGHT.

IhA FAhNlGhD HULL.
CAPT. B. R. T1LLMAN ON AGRICULTURE.
An Open Letter to the Farmers of
South Carolina .-- ''Measures and
not Men, the WatchwOrd.
To the Editor of The Ners and Courier: 1
ask space in your paper, which reaches every
nook and corner of the Slate, to say few
words to my fellows who belong to the de.
srised and oppressed c;ass called farmers. I
cannot take time to reply 10 all the letters Of
sy mpathy and approval I am receiving I
take this method Of letting the writers know
appreciate their words OF thanks and EN-
couragement, and will continue to battle for
our rights as occasion offers.
Without anticipating anything Of the Kind
circumstances or fate has pushed me into an
unexpected prominence as leader in the
movement which has as an object the eleva-
farmers of the State. have spoken nothing
but the truth, as saw 1t, and have contcnded
for simple justice. Justice is all we ask and
nothing less should satisfy us In making
this demand I have touched a chord which
vibrateS from Georgetown to OcOnce. The
pent up Indignation Of the farmers has found
voice through me. and the masses OF our
people are ready to follow any one. however
u
did not commence this agitation with any
such expectation but should be coward 10
refuse to lead. at least, till we organize. The
farmers can TIM eh1ose M their own n
to direct the storm have raised till such an
organization Is perfected.
The way Out of this wilderness Is very plain.
Even can lead you out, but cnnnot either
drive or carry you out on my back. "Who
would he free himself must strike the blow"
have worked you up and shown some or the
wrongs and impositions lleaped upon You, no1
all by any means. But one sharpshooter,
however bold, can only annoy our masters
These mon say: Farmers won't stick to-
gethcr, they are such fools and "this thing
will soon blow over,' 'Just keep quiet and
these farmers will go to sleep again presently
and we can continue our msrule and rob.
berry" But my brother farmers. we must not
60 to sleep again. We cannot afford It. No
Skirmish line. however, can take this fortress
or obtain redress for our grievances, ! have
most progressive farmers OF the State ns
Col. Duncan call them, and those who should
be leaders in this movement arc banded with
rfdicule, deception, any and every artlticc will
b. nsch to se2arnte and divide us.
The ring which dominates our State has is
that must say 1T. many Of them are farmers.
We must pit organization against organiZa-
tion or we hal as we'll not commence the
fight. Twenty-Five intelligent, earnest men
They caI lcven the whole mass and prove In.
v,n"i lc in any just Quarrel Were farmers
rights are involved, provided theJ show teclr
diSinereStedness Ivy not running for any office
All we ought to do is to demand guarantees
on certain well-dcfined points and then vote
for "Old Nick himself" If he gives the ncces-
sary pledge. But be sure they are given pub.
licly, repeatedly and in unmistakable Ian
guage measures and not men" must be our
watchwOrd, and remember "everything iS
possible to the man who works and waits, y
even the farmer. Victory Is not doubtful in
such q con test.
And this is, perhaps, q fitting place for me
to say TO those who still doubt my own mo
tivcs. that If shall indeed become an ''agr!-
cultural Moses" and be the instrument to re-
deem ana rcgencrate our languish!nS ana re-
trogradng farming interests, shall lie con-
tent, like Moses Of old, to die before reach
the "promised l:,nd' of office. Make me
trustee OF genuine agricultural college, like
Gen. stephen D. Lees. and ask no more.
Had sought an office would have Joined
the State Agricultural Society anu become an
humble worshippcr Of the luminaries whose
orbit circles around the State House. know
so dehnSe my manhood. I thank God can
make my living, even as a farmer, without
Scrambling for place at the pub lie crib. III l
ever get an office VIII walk 10 IT. IKE a man.
not it. However, am standing candidate
for trustee OF a real Farmers college" -.
To obtain that, and to have board of agri.
culture ''composed Of farmers electedby farm.
els and devoted to the interests of farmers
alone" without lawyer and merchant as
ovcrsccrs-to have ourselves protected against
fraudulent fertilizers ami punish the rulpri Is
10 reduce our taxes, or have them spent for
the whole people and not for Il class or local,
ity-thcsc and many other things can only be
brought about by unity of purpose and con.
cert OF action. We are told we have not got
sense enough to do this Perhaps not, but
an wiliiDo n ho1javp IT, What Is every.
body's business Is nobody's. Many of us arc
too busy or too stingy 10 spend the time and
money to bring this about Most Of us are
too poor, but we will grow poorer II we ftil to
you are " farmer this Is your business as
much as mine See to it! II you feel incom,
petent 10 lead, be ready to follow, and If you
cam exactly have your own way don't sulk'
ing chosen your leaders follow them and obey
orders. All this may sound presumptnous,
Tut 1t Is common sense. am giving lnstruc'
tions like a general, nut am ready, willing
and anxious to get in the ranks If others will
take the lead. am fighting for q purpose,
and victory is what want, not position.
In order to bring about this unity OF action
we ought to hold, at an early day, farmers
convention, to take into consideration the de-
pressed condition Of our n5ricult tural interests
and the causes therefor; and TO consider
what remedies are necessary to make our
farming more remunerativc. increase the val
ue of our lands and stop the waste now going
on, aud to render our farmers more independ-
ent and enlightened. ThesiXty thousand white
voters who are farming for Il support, whose
all is cropped Up In land which Is constantly
growing poorer, and who pay three-fourt hS
of the taxes, have right to demand such aid
from the State as they may deem necessary.
And If we meet In convention and formulate
our demands, then make those demands is
sues in the Democratic nominations next
summer, we will have our wishes respected as
they should be- We are no begga"s asking
aims, but men claiming our rights, and If we
wish a college to educate our sons as farmers
we want to sec the candidate, fr IN Governor
down, who will dare stand up and tell lis We
shall not have it. Suppose it does cost mon
ey, from whose pockets does the most Of the
money in the treasury come? For whose
! benefit Is so little Of it spent? Oh the 1nso-
lence and cffrOntcry of some MN Is almost
unbcarahlr. But forbcar.
| l will not assume the responsibility OF isSn-
who have urged me to continue this crusade
with the assurance that the farmers were
"with me to a man. If the Thoughtful. loyal,
| true men who want reform and are willing to
| fight for 1t will send me their names and
make suggestions as to numbers and appoint
ment of dclega: es, time and place of meeting:
&C, we will call such 4 convention soon, ana
| the news after the next election will be "lhc
! Dutch have taken Holland" The farmer Will
have to come to his own again. This is q
farmers State and farmers should govern 1t.
| B. r. TILLNAN.
| Hamburg, January %.
Pure NeanncSS.
LdurenS Advertiser.
! To our mind, nothing is more cOntcmptlble