Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-03-18
FARMERS TO THE FRONT.
CALL FOR IN ANAGRICULTURAL CONTENTION
AT COIUMBIa.

TO the Farmers of South Carolina: Seven
ty-six per cent. of our States population are
actively engaged in agricultural pursuits.
At least one-half of the remainder are de-
pendent upon the farmers for the means of
livelihood. We may justly claim, then,
that we constitute the State, yet we do not
govern it, nor are the laws administered in
our interests, and few are passed for our
benefit.
We pay taxes and vote and there is no
further use for US. These taxes do not grow
any less, while our ability to pay them
grows smaller year by year, and nothing
worth naming has been done to foster and
encourage that interest which feeds and sus-
tains all others. The negroes used to be
the "mudsils'' of our economic fabric; but
thousands of white notwithstanding far
mers-fnd themselves slowly but surely
sinking beneath the waves to be added to
the foundation upon which few lnen and
corporations are erecting their fortunes.
IMPENDING bankruptcy stares thousands in
the face, while other thousands are oversee
ing their own plantations for their victuals
and clothes.
An insane system of farming largely pre-
walls 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 thoug mt to the
future of themselves or children, stand idly
by, to assist and direct this skimming of a
State, which by reason of soil, climate and
geographical position, might be made a
Veritable Garden of Eden. The negroes
will "go West" when the bones are licked.
What will we do? We are farming to-
wards despair" in thus continuing to impov-
erish 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 a better or wiser system. Forty
thousand dollars are spent annually in the
State, three -fourths of it paid by farmers, to
educate men for other professions and pur-
suits; the farmers get nothing, and are left
to grope their way towards the grave in
ignorance and it's consequent poverty. Even
the pittance donated to educate farmers by
the United States Government is taken from
US and appropriated to sustain the institu-
tion at which our future masters are being
trained. How thankful we should be to
the good Lord for such generosity and wis
dom among our statesmen, so-calied.
Again, we pay $25, 900 annually by specific
tax, which comes out of the farmer alone,
to sustain department of agriculture. A
good royalty, which goes to support the
State Government, and the rest is frittered
and wasted, 50 far as we can see, the only
benefit received by the farmers being par
tial protection against fraudulent fertilizers.
A majority of the board of agriculture are
not engaged in farming. Who wonders,
then, that SO little has been done by it to
benefit our farming interests?
Four bad crops out Of five and the conse-
quent 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
persstently refused to obeya plain mandate
of the Constitution to provide for a reap
portonment of representatives by taking
a census 1t is a small WONDER then, that
nothing was done to protect farmers against
robbery by dishonest fertilizer manufac-
turerS.
The Legislature which recently adjourned,
though not corrupt, has been very negli-
gent of the public welfare. The thought
full and intelligent farmers of the State cam
not afford to elect another such body of law
makers and Constitution breakers. Nor
can they afford to allow the agricultural in
terests of the State to be subordinated to
everything else, and no effort made to fos-
ter and protect them. Other States with
less expenditure than we are making, are
doing ten times as much to encourage and
assist those engaged in farming. But the
money spent is not entrusted to politicians
or to those elected by politicians. The
farmers manage and control it themselves.
Believing, therefore, that the crisis de-
mands prompt and united faction 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 convention to
meet in the city of Columbia, Thursday,
the Goth of next April, to take into consid-
Grafton 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
interests of the farmers and of the State.
Each county agricultural society is re-
quested to send five delegates.
Each local or township agricultural club
is requested to send one delegate.
The farmers of each county are requested
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 coun-
ty convention of farmers in their respecl-
i've counties toappoint said delegates.
If the wisest and best of our farmers thus
assemble we feel and believe there is enough
patriotism and craftsmanship among US to
find remedies for those evils; and, without
trenching upon the rights of others, man.
hood enough to demand and obtain a prop
er recognition of our rights and needs.
While this is essentiallya farmers move
ment we invite the sympathy and moral
support of good men of every calling. Ag-
riculture is the basis Of our economic Struc-
ture and supports the rest. 1t cannot rise
without carrying with it the superStructure.
There is among the politicians in South
Carolina an up-country and loW-country.
There is no such line Of division among the
farmers. Our interests are one. Let us
come together from the mountains to the
sea, and, exercising the God-given right
that the majority should govern, organize
as farmers and obliterate this line forever
j. IT. Hanna, j. l.. Bryan.
S. S. Newell, J. a. McAllister,
J. Jameson, G.. NJ. McDavid,
r. r. Beatty, NJ. B. Williams,
j. NJ. Egin, ID. +. Saddlcr,
j. A. Gray, J. I: Cook,
b. +. Duncan, }. Watkins,
VIM. Wilkins, J. l.. Wofford,
A. +. FAINT, VIM. Jetferies,
j. l.. Walker, j. n. Major,
r.. p. Clinkscales, VIM Cooper,
y. l.. Erwin, }. G. McCutchen,
ID. n. johnson, Ben. S. Williams,
II. p. Duvall, Z. \. Berry,
B. II. Montgomery, +. G. Smith,.
IT. B. Martin, Albert Harris,
J. b. O'Landrum, +. S. Allen,
G. G.. Tut. \. p. West,
II. r. Thomas, b. Gauze,
n. l.. Houces, r. j. Betsil,
r. b. Lyons, }. II. M0psey, ST.,
II. II. Gooch, W.D. EVlns,
J. H. David, w. b. Drake,
j. II. Lane, NJ. d., r. NJ. Peagues,
J. T. Covington, Chas. Crosland,
l,,ln lnnl.