Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-02-04

be tolerant and charitable in the judgments
| we pass on our contemporaries, even though
they are our political opponents?
Cali of US sooner or later must claim from
the living the tender recognition which we
now bestOw on the dead"
Senator Hampton spoke warmly of the
political and private virtues of the deceased
Nice-President.
MR.. TILLuAN TO THE FARMERS.
From the News and Courierl
ask space in your paper which reaches
every nook and corner of the State, to say
few words to my fellows who belong
to the despised and oppressed class called
farmers. cannot take time to reply to all
the letters of sympathy and approval
am receiving. / take this method Of let
ting the writer's know l appreciate their
words of thanks and encouragement, and
will continue to battle for our rights as oc-
casion 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 elevation, encouragement and pr0tec-
ton of the farmers of the State. | have
spoken nothing but the truth, as | saw it
and have cOntended for simple justice.
Justice is all we ask and nothing else should
satisfy us. In making this demand l have
touched a cord which vibrates from George
town to Oconee. The pent up indignation
of the farmers has found voice through
me, and the masses of our people are ready
who has the boldness to lead. l do not
commence this agitation with any such ex-
pectation, but 1 should be a coward to re-
fuse to lead, at least, till we organize. The
farmers can then choose their own "NIos-
es." l feeIit is my duty to do this much and
to try 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 l can
not either drive or carry you out on my
back, "Who would be free, himself must
strike the blow" I have worked you up
and have shown you some of the wrongs
and impositions heaped upon you-not all
by any means. But one sharpshOOter how
ever bold can only annoy our masters.
These men say: Farmers won't stick to-
gether, they are such fools," and "this thing
will soon blow over" "just keep quiet and
these farmers will 60 to sleep again and we
can continue our miSrule and robbery"
But, my brother farmers we must not 60 to
sleep again. We cannot afford it. No
skirmish line, however can take this for
tress or obtain redress for our grievances.
l have mortally offended many of the 'lead-
ing and most progressive farmers of the
State" as Col. Duncan calls them, and those
who should be leaders in this movement
are banded with our enemies. Cajolery,
Misrepresentation, ridicule, deception, and
any and every artifice, will be used to sep
arate and divide us.
The ring which dominates our State has
its allies and minions in every county, and,
alas! that must say it, many of them are
farmers, We must pit organization against
organization or we had as we'll not COM
mence the fight.
Twenty-Five intelligent, earnest men who
will work are enough in any county. They
can leaven the whole mass and prove in
vincible in any just quarrel where farmers
rights are involved, provided they show
their disinterestedness by not running for
any office themselves. Let who will have
the offices. All we ought to do is to de-
mand guarantees on certain well-detined
points and then vote for "Old Nick him
self" if he gives the necessary pledges.
But be sure that they be given publicly, re-
peatedly and in unmistakable language.
measures and not men" must be our watch
word, and remember "everything is pos
sible to the man who works and waits" !"
even the farmer. Victory is not doubtful
in such contest.
And this is, perhaps, a fitting place for
me to say to those who still doubt my mo-
tives, that if l shall indeed become an ag-
ricultural Moses and be the instrument to
redeem and regenerate our languishing and
retrograding farming interests, shall be
content, like Moses Of old, to die before
reach the "promsed land" of office. Make
me a trustee of genuine agricultural COL
lege like Gen. Stephen ID. Lees and ask
no more. Had | sought an office would
have Joined the State agricultural society
and became an humble worshipper of lu-
minaries whose orbit circles around the
State House. know how to get an office,
but God forbid | should SO debase my man
hood. thank God | can make my living
even as farmer, without scrambling for
place at the public crib. If ever get an
Office | will walk to it like man, not crawl
like spaniel, and it will seek me and not
me it. However, | am a standing candi-
date for trustee of farmers college,"
TO obtain that and to have a board of ag-
riculture "composed of farmers elected by
farmers and devoted to the interest of farm
crs alone" without a lawyer and merchant
as Overseers-tO have ourselves protected
against fraudulent fertilizers and punish the
culprits-tO reduce our taxes, or have them
spent for the benefit of the whole people
and not for class or a locality-these and
many other things can only be brought
about by unity of purpose and concert OF
action. We are told we have not got sense
enough to do this. Perhaps not, but am
not willing to believe it. What is every
body's business is nobody's. Many of us
are too busy, are too stingy, to spend the
time and money to bring this about. Most
of US are too poor, but we will grow poorer
if sve fail to do it. l say to every man who
reads this, if you are farmer this is your
business as much as mine. See to it! If
you feel incompetent to lead, be ready to
follow, and if you can't exactly have your
your own way don't sulk. Either quit
grumbling or "fall in," and having chosen
leaders, follow them and obey orders. All
this may sound presumptious, but it is COM
mon sense. l am giving instructions like
general, but am ready, willing and anx-
ious to get into the ranks if others will take
the lead. l am fighting for purpose, and
victory is what want not position.
In order to bring about this unity of
action we ought to hold at early day, a far
mers' convention, to take into considera-
ton the depressed condition of our agricul-
tural interests and the causes therefor; and
to consider what remedies are necessary to
make our farming more remunerative, in
crease in the value of our lands and stop the