The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-03-11

terest which feeds and sustains all
others. The negroes used to be the
"mudsills" of our economic fabric; but
thousands Of white men-land owning
farmers-fnd themselves slowly but
surely sinking beneath the waves to be
added to the foundation upon which
a few men and corportions are erecting
their fortunes. Impending bankruptcy
stares thousands in the face, While
other thousands are overseering their
own plantations for their victuals and
clothes.
An insane system of farming largely
prevails and our lands are growing
poorer year by year. Large areas of
South Carolina are being made desert
to feed negroes, while the landowners,
giving no thought to the future them
Selves and children, stand idly by, or
assist and direct this skimming of a
State, which, by reason of soil, climate
and geographical position, might be
made veritable Garden of Eden. The
negroes will "go West" wheRthe bones
are picked. What will we1do? We are
farming towards despair in thus con-
tinuing to impoverish our lands by
ignorant culture, but nothing is done
by our Legislature, or its creatures, to
stop it, or to try to teach the people q
better and wiser system. Forty thous-
and dollars are spent annually in the
State, three-fourths of it paid by far
mers, to educate men for other profess
sions and pursuits; the farmers get
nothing, and are left to grope their
way towards the grave in ignorance
and its consequent poverty. Even the
pittance donated to educate farmers by
the United States Government is taken
from us and appropriated to sustain
the institution at which our future
masters are being trained. How thank
full we should be to the good Lord for
such generosity and wisdom among our
statesmen, so-called
Again, we pay S25,O00 annually by
specific tax, which comes out of tbs
farmer alone, to sustain department
Of agriculture. A good slice of this is
spent to collect the phosphate royalty,
which goes to support the State Gov
ernment, and the rest is frittered and
wasted, so far as we can SEQ, the only
benefit received by the farmers being a
partial protection against fraudulent
fertilizers.
A majority of the board of agricul-
ture are not engaged in farming. Who
wonders, then, that so little has been
done ny it to benefit our farming in
terests?
-Four bad crops out of five and the
consequent poverty Of the farmers cry
aloud for economy and reduction of
taxes. But this cry, which came from
every county, was ignored by the last
Legislature, which also perslstently
refused to obey plain mandate of the
Constitution to provide for a reap
portionment of representatives by hold
ing census. 1t is small wonder, then,
that nothing was done to protect far
mers against robbery by dishonest fer
tilizer manufacturers.
The Legislature which recently adj
iourned, though not corrupt, has been
very negligent Of the public welfare.
The thoughtful and intelligent far
mers of the State cannot afford to elect
another such body of law makers and
Constitution breakers. Nor can they
afford to allow the agricultural inter-
ests of the State to be subordlnated to
everything else, and no effort made to
foster and protect them. Other States
with less expenditure than we are
making, are doing ten times as much
to encourage and assist those engag-
ed in farming. But the money spent
is not entrusted to politicians or to
those elected by politicians. The far
mers manage and control it themselves.
Believing, therefore, that the crisis
demands prompt and united action on
the part of the true and loyal farmers
of the State, and that convention of
such can only rebound to the benefit OF
agriculture and consequently of every
other interest and calling, we call such
a convention to meet in the city OF Co
lumbia, Thursday the 29th ofneXt April,
to take into consideration the question
touched upon in this address, together
with such other matters as they may
deem of importance to the political,
social, educational or industrial inter
ests of the farmers and of the State.
Each county agricultural society is
requested to send five delegates.
Each local or township agricultural
club is requested to send one delegate.
The farmers of each county are re-
ouested to send five delegates over and
above those from organized societies,
and to effect this it is suggested that
those in sympathy with the movement
call mass meeting or county conVen-
tion OF farmers in their respective
counties to appoint said delegates.
II the wisest and best Of our farmers
thus assemble we feel and believe there
is enough of both patriotism and states
manship among us to find remedies for
those evils; and, without trenchlng
upon the rights of others. manhood
enough to demand and obtain proper
recognition Of our rights and needs.
While this S essentially farmers
movement we invite the sympathy and
moral support of good men of every
calling. Agriculture is the basis OF
our economic structure and supports
the rest. 1t cannot rise without carry
ing with it the superstructure.
There is among the politicians II