The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1886-03-24
that we pay the s25,00O, why let us
keep what protection we have.

that we pay the $4,000, why let us
keep what protection we have.
Now, fellow-farmers, do you find
the words of truth and soberness' in
this 'call?' Can you conscientously en-
dure the deductions, statements and
language in which this matter has now
been carried on for some time? Do
you believe that "four bad crops out
of five are the results of bad leglslat-
ion, dishonest officials, &c? Do you,
as a mass, plead guilty to pursuing
san insane system OF farming" as you
stand charged in this call? If you
have been oblivious OF that fact until
now, are you in condition to be
helped BY fellow-lunatics; because, if
we have come to this pass, where are
we to find anybody sane enough to
take care of himself, much less of his
fellow sufferers?
Can convention do any good? 1t
may do harm by antagonizing differ
ent classes. Can it raise the price of
cotton, to create demand for manu-
factured goods? Can it start the
wheels Of trade and commerce
throughout the world: in every quar-
ter of which stagnation and low pric-
es are the rule? Can a convention
convince a people of the necessity Of
Giving under their OWL vine and fig
tree" and eating their own home-rais,
ed food, and can uproride naoneyto pay
their back debts and "run" them for a
gear free of charge, so as to give them
a fair start? Even if it proved, to an
absolute certainty, that it is not only
cheaper to raise than buy our own
horses, food, &C., but imperatively
necessary, in order to save the State
from bankruptcy, why, it could devise
no method nor supply any means for
attaining an end so desirable. 1t
would be as near accomplishment as
the mythical ssforty acres and a mule"
of twenty years ago for the negro
There is no denying that the con-
dition of the bulk of farmers is crit
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 a con-
7ention, or legislation change the
whole system? Not title !
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 Viii
admit to membership parson, but
no 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 diaboli-
cal practices In fact, every class is
represented as being in league against
the unfortunate farmer! Lawyers
have usually been credited with more
than ordinary sagacity and some abil-
ity to see through wall, but it would
seem they are failing in wisdom, or
they would give the poor farmer a
rest, nurse him up, get little flesh on
his bones and some money in his
pockets, and there would then be more
pleasure in squeezing" him! There
is neither pleasure nor profit now for
merchant, doctor, lawyer or parson,
because he is out Of money, out of
temper, and almost void of hope.
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 "call" and pre-
vious letters and am satisfied that an
impartial and cool examination Of the
mass of charges, assertions and pre-
tended facts will convince them that
the farmers welfare is quite a secon-
Diary matter, and that their so-called
convention, if held, will simply be a
political caucus Of some aspirants for
offices, for which they may or may not
be qualified, and which they hope to
reach by throwing dust in the eyes of
class whom they call insane. It re-
mains with the farmers to decide
whether or not they will attend con-
vention called under such fattering
terms and full of misstatements. Can
they, without sacrificing all self res
pect, join such a body when its organ
izers have declared again and again
that for ten years past farmers Leg
islature and executive Offices, and the
''minions" of both, "many of whom
are farmers" have been robbers, in
competent, corrupt and oppressive?
Are the charges true in any single
case? II not proved, will the mass of
honest farmers tamely submit to such
an insult to themselves and to the
men whom they have chosen from
time to time? viii shey actually join
hands with their traducers and help to
place them in Office? These Ques-
tiohs deserve our serious attention,
and no doubt have occurred to thous-
IL. l,oeo,. IL;e Will ,>,oo4 II, o;,1-o