The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1886-08-25
F0RSAKlNG THE OLD PATHS.
GENERAL JOHNSON HhG0OD PLEAD,
FOR a MIXED III sBANDRl.

An Essay Rcnd Before the Sinic Agricultural
Society aud The state Grange at Their Jn,nt
Summer Meeting on August 4, 1886.
1t is doubtful whether, i'll all the time
since South Carolina was the hunting
ground of the Indian, any single fifth Of
century has witnessed within her bord-
crs a relative progress in material welfare
equal with the last. 1t needs no com.
pilation of statistics to show this Look
at Columbia, tho beautiful city in which
you arc holding this summer meeting.
Compare her in 1865, sitting amid ashes
and her population feeding on tic refuse
cattle of Shcrmans supply train, with
her condition to-day. Sec her waste
places rebuilt, often more substantially
thc II before; her homes once moro sur
rounded with the comforts Of life, and
her people on the streets and in the
marts again steadily asserting themselves
in the battle of life. Columbia in this
but represents the State, and in the dc
gree of her rehabilitation does not more
n, w
''i"n o'lo"i 'hc general progress. Inc
uncomplaining fortitudc, the incompara-
bic energy of the South in The struggle
to restore her fortunes, broken in the
late civil war, has been witnessed with
admiration by all and to my mind presents
as much of the heroic element as any
thing in her history, from Sumter to
AppomattoX.
AGRICULTURAL DEPRESSION
Yet, notwithstanding this successful
progress, and at its close, our agrcultu-
raj interest finds itself depressed, the
chief product of its industry selling at
best with no sufficient margin OF profit,
and often, III individual cases, at point
below the cost of production, which i'm
pcrlls the accumulation that has been
made. The agricultural mind is earn
cStly and with justice demanding the
reason why.
1t has been suggested that it is to be
faund i'll oncrous financial legislation and
wastcful public expenditure. Others,
going deeper into the analysis, have
sought the chief cause of the trouble in
the faulty business system upon which
our industry Is based. There is perhaps
truth III both these suggestions and each
deserves attention, but as to thcir rcln-
tive and practical importance in the con
sldcmtlon OF meeting OF South Caro-
lima agrlculturalists few thoughts
occur. The taxes paid to the General
Government, indirect though they be,
arc probably the largest levied upon our
pursuit; but i'll their levy and cXpcndi-
turc we have an interest and control in
common with fifty millions OF people.
/ iii A.,
tain what we actually do pay; and cX-
tcnsivc community Of interest both com
phcateS It's elect upon our special indus
try, and makes the desired change hard
to accomplish. With an overwhelming
voting majority at the polls, and with
ordinarily majority OF representatives.
IN the State Legislature, State lcvics and
expenditures nave Dccn and remain
witlllh our immediate control. The sup
port OF HoVcrnmcnt Is u necessity, but
every cent taken from lhc taxpayer be-
YONG us economic ana clllclcht aum!nlS-
tratlon Is oppressive. Does the present
management OF the state Government
iaVoraDly meet Ilc requirements OF tins
Propositloh! thlhk 1t does 1t Is not
pretended tllat 1n|rc Is no room Tor re-
rcnchment and reform. with some
spccml opportunities OF observation 1T
has seemed to me that improvement may
be sought III the direction OF more
simpie ana cheaper county admlnlstra.
toh; OF colhh'h8 thc disbursements OF
inc charltaplc ihsuttitionD OF the state,
which exclusive OF the interest on the
Pnplic dept consume ohc-third OF the
state levy more riSidiy TO those VINO are
proper recipients OF charity, and IN max
ing inc ihDor OF c0hvic'S u source OF I'll IN
come' 10 inc reiiei OF tile taxpayer me
inequality obtaining in the assessment
ior t1Xatlon ana t4e i'ilirc OF me Tor
feited land laws TO enforce the collection
oi uiAcs oPErato inJuS'icc ''ii uchi''Ii''
reafcS'. All Oh IleSc may DC Iookcd 10:
Whe!l - poSilloi 10 90 So nave hySclI
urged mem upon thc "t.oItioi OF ON
ihw-making power poI IL nus hot Deci'
indic''tea wl'eio lolrehGlliilo!i M am reform
10 IN extent at npLIeciapiU an IN .iilS ;m cGnloc
tion' can 20 loI'iicl II: inns tililc w wl!NouV