The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-06-04

Mr. EDlToR.-We read u short while since,
with great interest, n report Of the proceedings
Of the Farmers Convention, which met in
Columbis, OH the 10Th Of last April. We were
impressed with the idea, that the meeting was
one of grave import; as it was meeting Of
large number of the respectable citizens Of
South Carolina, coming from all parts of the
State to discuss the unfortunate condition of
the agricultural interests Of the State: and. if
possible, devise remedy therefor. 1t was,
therefore, matter Of surprise and Indignation
that the proceedings, shoull have been TO
some extent, held up TO rdiculc, by the hippant
not TO say, contcmptuous tone Of tho report
1t goes without saying. that these gentlemen had
Il right to hold this meeting. had right to dis
cuss any subject they chose: certainly that Of
agriculture, which is OF paramount Importance
in the State, and politics, we'll; us politics and
the interests of agriculture, are incxtricaby in-
terwovcn. Then wherefore the slightly sncering
tone Of the report
The outcry, that the farmers should not
discus politics is utterly ami foolishly ab-
surd. If this hc So then is the Government
Of South Carolina free. only in name. Any
man who says such thing, is either ignorant
himself, of the fundamental principle, which
lies at thc foundation of free institutions viz
that ''thc people are the source of all power in
the State, or he takes it for granted. that the
people are denscly ignorant Of their rights as
| frecmeu.
| 1t Is 4 new thing in South Carolina. for any
class of her citizens to bc told that 'ihcy must
moi Il n1l ticS ia,
| ccllor' Of Germany, Prince Bismarck, tarcs
| not forbid free discussion Of the measures OF
| the Government, in the German Empire lf
the right does not belong TO the farmers, then
| it belongs to no class Of citizens in the State.
| Il it is not theirs. then farewell to free nsttu-
| tions And South Carolina has fallen back 20
| the times of an hundred years ago, when George
| The third of England, warned his colonists, ito
| let politics alone that was h'S business their
| business was to dcvelopc the resources OF the
| country.
| We had fancicd that these days had gone by
forever. But this is precisely the advice now
| given to the mass of the citizens of the State
when the farmers, who constitute the great
majority of the people are warned mot to dis
cuss politics.
| MANY thanks, gentlemen. VIC reply, hut as
| we are ircemcn, as we arc the source Of all
| political power in the Commonwealth, as we
are sovercigns here, and Yo" are rcponsbc 10
| as, not ,c" to yoW, as we have waited patiently,
bu, in vain for the fulhllment of the promises
made in 1876 we propose simply 10 exercise
our rights, in taking the political affairs of the
State, into our hands
That after an hundred years of FREQ govern
| mcnt, administered for the benefit of tho
| whole people, any portion Of the citizens OF
the State should be told mot to discuss politics.
| is II grave symptom of the diseased political
condition Of the tmcJ which calls for prompt
remedial measures.
The farmers. have on every "round n right
to discuss politics as thei. welfare is, in every
way, inexricably involved in the legislation of
the State. Just and equitable law. secure the
prosperity of the people. Where the people
arc unprosperous, and discententcd, IN op-
pressive government il the cause of the trouble
Never have the people of South Carolina mur-
| murc,l, when they were fairly deal, with That
| they have risen again in widespread revolt
| against the state Government aS at present
| conducted is proof positive that they are suf-
fering under unjust, and oppressive legislation
and that affairs have reached II point, where
| ''Endurnncc ceases to lie virtue
| The farmers are, also, warned mot to an
| tagoniAe other classes To this they answer
| promptly that other classes have not hcSitatcl
to antagonzc them without mercy. Must
they give themselves las sheep to the shcarcrs,
| and like sheep, remain dumh?' Most as
suredly, they hare right to autagonizc any
class which OpprcsscS them, or unjust laws
which have completely prosrrarcl the interests
! Of agriculture, thereby reducing themselves
and their families. to hopeless poverty. They
arc forc'd to antagonizc other classes, or sub
nit to wrong, and gross Injustice
| Gov. Thomson, in his address to the Farmers
Convention: kindly assured them. ttbc farmers
that "apprchcnsions had been entertained, tha
| the Convention, might. in some way by it:
| action copardi2c the welfare of the State -
| but that he had entertained no such apprchcn
sions. The farmers arc vastly obliged tc
| Gov. Thomson. 1t is not likely that a man viii
| set fire to his own house, with his wife anil chill
| drcn in it, Repeatedly since the Farmers Move
mcnt was inauguratci, have the Farmers o
| the State been spoken of. in most singular
| way. They are spoken Of, a> if they constitu
| ted class apart inferior ignorant, inca
| pable and seem 10 hc regarded in some
! quarters. as really q dangerous class some
thing akin to Anarchists, and Socialists Could
| anything be more absurd
But ''thc unhindcsr Gu; Of all. was the dose
OF wisdom, administered ro The farmers in
the shape o! rye cchcc. with sorghum sweet
| ening, - Heavens we can hut cry out at
this
Throw rhysic TO the dogs
or we might ask