The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-03-25
q. B. MURRAY, Editor.
THURSDAY, j MARCH 25, 1886

ERn1s:
Ssssss ES e. .....................S1.50.
SIX MONTHs...... .... . ............... 75c.
So. 1umber1of farmers publish this week
cali for a Mass Meeting of the farmers
Anderson County in the Court House
on saleday in April, and we hopethatas
:napy Of the farmers of the County will
at,endS as possible, and that they will
:sssls 6Es-ef the wisest and most discreet
resentatives that they can secure to
tend the State Convention in Colum.
.; Hsia in April If properly directed this
onyention may, We think, accomplish
rood for the prosperity of the State.
direction, in our judgment, will
kmeeting to the consideration
subjects, and the direction
b of Congress and our
6re to the changes in the
she farmers of the State by
ives may, after mature delib:
slude viii be conducive to
y of agriculture over the
. recommendations would go
Legislature with every pros
optjfu, and would at least
espectfnl hearing in Congress.
- fsfhe Convention should be
he prosperity of the farmers,
them Of fsthe State; and in
this, it will be necessary to
lhe condition -four agriculture,
4ea; if possible, its causes. To
begin with our farmers must know that
iegiS!ation cannot make agriculture q
oGtable business. All that it can do
to provide such rules of government
asSwiill give those engaged in agriculture
theoppo portunity to conduct their business
Jas little interference, and as light
s. ssssszation, as possible. The Legislature
cannot make its people rich, butt may
giiys the protection Of Law, without inn
posing onerous burdens upon the people.
this in mind, let US see what
slaNssare' now bearing most heavily upon
Ssthas rodncers Of: our country. In Fed
efal legislation the maintenance ola
4 tariff upon q war basis is, the greatest
est legisla eburden which rests upon the
people. Itadds at least twenty per cent.
I'd othe cost Of liyingin this country. It
Z is, however, heaeast noticed of all our
burdens because it's not seen, and our
.speprle bear it without thinking Of the
fact that one dollar out of every six
they spend is required of them in
sconseqlenee Of an unreasonable tariff.
sonr State government we do. not think
4 lsgislat has been unfriendly to the
s s dasmsrs of our State, but our government
cumbronsi and expensive because Of
our Constitution, which is q relic of rad
ieaiisrl It has given US asmost expen-
siss system Of Courts and of County
SIgcY$Tnmant, which can be reduced with
Injury to the public service, in our
indgEent If we could have a Constitu.
/ StioDaI Convention. We;have too much
legisla.ion, md We think; the expenses
for this department Of our government
Nigh be reduced by having only bien-
nia meetings of the Legislature. The
HDrss featti7e about our legislation is ths
faiInre to egualize taxation, aud the
remit is that some Counties, like Ander-
| ssons for instance, are paying more than
their part Of the State taxes. Of course
81 this bears heavily upon the sections of
the State which are thus oyer-taxed.
ne would call attention of our
ssEmers TO the fact that theevJs specified
- The address which aspublished relate
oaly to two things-the South Carolina
Jniyefsity and the Agricultural Depart
smens: We do not approve the details
sol management of either of these
institutions but we unhesitatingly express
The opinion that they cannot be, and
ought NOT to:be, abolished. Their man
agement should be changed 80 as to
Increase their efficiency, and make them
sorth TO the State what they ought to
s worth. It will be very difficult for
lnrf friends to get any considerable sum
In which they can economic the expen-
sessof our State government. The cele.
bfated caucus Of the economical mem
lhers of the last Legislature had to give
:Fs;iit up as. a bad job, and adjourn without
finding single reform that they. could
unite upon. The State government re-
anires a considerable sum of money, it's
& true, but every other institution does
that also. Our farms themselves require
money tornn them. It is easy enough
To- stsnd off and claim that there is ex-
travagance, but when one comes to put
7 tue finger upon. particular items of ex-
tragagance, the task is not easily accom-
splished, as was demonstrated by the
caucus to which We referred. Now, 'hav.
ing noticed some Of the troubles growing
out Of existing laws-Federal and State
may not be amiss to enquire what
/ ara.the directions in which there is press
ing need for new legislation. In our
opinion, at the very threshold Of this
enquiry, we meet the greatest need again.
i'm, the. department of Federal legislation.
Therff is now a system of dealing in all
staple agricultural and farm products
5by q class of capitalists who treat them
as 80 many. paper chips with which to
s gamble, as. completely and as absolutely
1 as men would bet on a game of cards or
sother event Of chance, and the products
of the labor of this country are yearly
bought and sold in advance of the very
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