The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-06-17
FARMERS CONVENTION.
a BUGLE BLAST. FROM GEN. BRAT
TON, OF FAIRFIELD.

ical and Unreasonable and Utterly Re
cardless of the Difficulties and Conn
plications of the Situation in South
Carolina.
In 4 letter to the Winnsboro' News
and Hearld Gen. John Bratton explains
his position in reference to the Farmers
movement. He says:
desire to be distinctly understood as
according to che advocates of the tarmss
ers movement the honesty Of purpose
and good faith that claim for myself,
and indeed have ever. claimed for the
sturdy farmers Of the land in public
matters. The expression ito the man
ner BORN" with all the devoted fidelity
to country that it carries with it. has
ever been associated in my mind es-
pecially with the owners and tillers Of
tie soil. Their interest are as fixed as
the soil itself. They cannot be stored
2 in safes. or boxed and sent off to foreign
vaults in the time of trouble. They
must abide the fate Of their country,
whether it be devastated by an invading
foe. or rrent and torn by internal dlssen-
sions and class conflicts. or calmly rests
under the peaceful reign of law based Oh
mutual concessions. If they are not true
in their hearts to the best interest of the
State. where are we to look for fidelity:
With no doubt as to their motives |
hoped and expected that the Convention
would be all effective agency ofagltatlon,
and bv ITS consideration and discussion
Of the agricultural situation reach some
intelligent conclusion as to the close of
the depression. or at least, throw some
light on the subject and to that extent
allay the unrest and discomfort which
seem to prevail. 1t was with feelings
of disappointment and regret that1 found
myself unable to concur in the action Of
the Convention or in the assumptions
on which it seems to have been pred!c-
ted. say seems. because in the publish
ed proceedings the ground on which the
action was based are not clearly and
definitely stated. There seemed to be
a vague, indefinite idea that the body
polite was afflicted with leprosy and
honeycombed with rottcnness. and that
amid this rubbish of leprosy and rotten
ness. concealed somewhere, is masked
enemy to the agricultural interests OF
the State. / cannot concur in these
assumptions. I cannot concur in the
idea that is tioatcd on the air, not fixed
and located, that injustice has been
Gone to, or justice been withheld from,
the, farmers of the State by any>other
class in the State. or that the agricul-
tural depression prevailing is IN any
5saape or. form attrilStshle a. ST. 2
conduct ofour State Government. The
administration Four Government since
,76 has never been eXcelled in purity or
in fidelity to constitutional obligations.
and il will continue to be an honor and
blessing to the people of the State as
lonr as it is controlled by political Or
canization which combine in harmonious
union the conservatism, the intelligence
and the character of all classes OF our
people. whether the offices arc filed by
farmers or not.
If there is an individual, or class,
organized or disorganized, in the limits
of the State, in hostile attitude to the
agricultural interests OF the State, l will
venture to say that he or they are so
closely masked as to defy the skill OF
the best scouts Of the farmers army to
locate them. TO my mindsit is all
baseless assumption---putting up an
imaginary enemy in order to get up a
fight.
But grant the correctness OF these
assumptions-do the measures proposed
reach and cure the evils? Do they tend
to generate or call into service healthy,
sound, elevated, liberal and enlightened
public sentiment? This is the only
reliance-the single and sole agency by
which rottenness in a Government like
ours can be reached and eradicated.
To meet the assumed condition (Which,
by the way, has strayed entirely away
from the lncipient object of the Conven-
ton. namely agricultural depression and
its cause) the farmers arc called upon to
organize as q class to enforce class leg
islation-to capture the Legislature to
take what legislation they want. They
arc to call convention Of the pco-
pie, and reorganiZc the Government
to suit their views. In the meantime.
such institutions us the assembled
wisdom of eli classes of the State
have been able, with patient and
earnest labor IN adinsting complications
and surmouuting difficulties, to build Oh
the ashes of our runs, are to be tcllcd at
one blow as State institutions. and.
without regard to cost. converted into
class establishments. Ii the farmers or
ganizc Tor such Il fight they will inaugu-
rate class conflict in which the actions Of
men are governed, not by moderation
and wisdom and calm consideration for
the common veal. but by passion and
prejudice. Will this. submit to the
organizers. call into action that sound.
healthy public sentiment that YOU need
to cure rottcnncss III the Government:
1t seems that one Of the purposes Of
the movement is to take by legislation
sor the benefit Of the farmer their just
share of the public treasure. When tho
,,ouor j.. nbtoiun1 hv surh means to ,1o