The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-04-07
THE FARMERS ORGANIZATION IS FOR
THEIR OWN MUTUAL BENEFIT.
nr- q. p. Hawthorne Reviews the FL.
nancfal, Agricultural, and Politf-
cal Situation.
Speech Delivered at Abbeville, April 9th,
1as6 Refore the Farmers Convention.


cu0us welfare. feel persuaded you are here
to-day not merely To crafty an idle curiosity
not for sarcasm, ridicule and buslesquc, TOO
much of that vile stuff already have found
outlets against us, but actuated with purer
fnccntive, TO give your presence and counsel
to stimulate aud encourage Il movement that
is on foot, from which, entertain the hope,
farmers, and other rocations of life, Will,
eventually, derive much benefit.
As you are aware, partisanshlp, or sectlonai
strife of Il political phase, is not the moVing!
impulse of this intelligent body. Weare not
in this forum of justice to-day for
the special purpose of re-organiZing the DEM
ocratic party, although the time is on its
heels. its character is Of a different type: Nor
do comprehend it to be an intended lnltla-
tory step taken by the agricultural fraternity
of the Palmetto State TO engender or foster
or broadcast the seed Of discord,
in order to produce a diSmemberment OF
"split' in the Democratic body polite. Nor
do regard it 4 design scheme hatched TO be
and cndcavor TO ride triumphantly into Of
flee. Such innuendOes, from whatever source
they have ertlanated, /; without scrnpleS, de-
nounce as otfSprings of ill-conceivcd ideas
claim the God :gfven right to try to vindi'
cate my humble Signature, when assatled,
which occupy a conspicuous position on the
list of farmers, which has preamblcd in an ad-
dress that intolerable grievances exist and re-
forms needed and designated period OF time
10th April instantly for a general representa-
tion of the followers of husbandry OF the State
to hold q convention at the capitol with the
view Of organizing us body and adopt meas
ures that we may see fit, will tend TO amelio-
being co-hcir Of the responsibility In lSsu.
ing this Call, embrace the present 0ppOrtune
time Of announcing above board that | am
not in quest of any healing balm to medicate
4 chronic sore on my Uranium. was inSti-
gated by no selfish or sinister motive. The
aspiration Of my ambition consists in lending
aid can to advance cause that l
conceive is we'll calculated TO promote the
vocation, which has been appropri.
ltely styled 1.-The nursing mother of all our
If the contemplated State convention can
succeed In lewiston some method by which
We can liberate us Of much of the burden OF
taxation and infuse new zeal and vitality in
the science Of a a-ricuture, and thereby an i'm
peiuS will be given to every branch of indus
Try, then my ultimate desidcratum Will be
achieved: There are ways, sir, in which We
iuctire OF much general good. All grades OF
digntaries have organized al
lances, presume for some good purpose ana
have peen convinced of their utility. And |
no imprOpriety, or want of dignity
in farmers holding Il convention for the pur-
pose of betterDg their languisbing condition
md keep pace with the progress of the age.
We are entitled to the same privilege to make
he effort TO reap fruits from associated action
and if we will prove true and loyal to the un-
I'll venture TO assert our labors
will be crowned with the wreath of success.
It Is O conceded recognition that the farming
motive power and could, by concerted action,
run the governmental machinery as far as
ballots are concerned. But, all much doubt
IS entertained as to our ability to furnish the
oil sufficient to lubricatc the wheels 10 keep
hem in good running order.
Does it not become us, fcllow-farmers, to
have our interest more represented and try TO
that doubling "profcssional class
hat we arc not entirely barren Of tellectual
resources? by organizing, we could add
much to our material prosperity, nat only IN
political economy, but agriculturally. the
OF ideas urd suggestions of prep.
lratiOn and cultivation Of mother earth, and
application Of labor-saving implements and
what commercial fertilizers that are best
adapted for our different kinds of soil, and ST.
The most ignorant farmer perchance,
might advanre an idea, if developed, wonld
revolu!f"nixe the agricultural world. And al
so; basis Of economy, in obtaining necesSa.
ry supplies. could be established, that would
afford inculablc relief. Hence, am an advo-
cate Of
CONSOLIDATING OUR INTEREST
in organizing farmers clubs in every. county
Ind township OF the State and rendezvous as
4 whole annually at some central point by
delegation, to discuss the merits and dement's
lf every thing that pertain to the f;Irning in
tcrcSt. l Imagine such cooperation would Sc
cure all the good results that naturally flow
from "unity OF action" in any equipped Or
yaniZation.
When 1 first pcruscd the letters that gave
birth to this honorable movement, penned
by that courageous and brainy exponent OF
humanity, b. r. Tillman, Of Hamburg. South
who is branded as an agricultural
Moses to conduct farmers
OUT OF THE WILDERNESS
Of terrestrial troubles was fOrcibly struck
with the magnitude of its importance and ad-
mired his ndomiiable, pluck! have no per.
Sonal knowledge of hfs moral worth, but the
thoughts and sentiments, that have been di-
vulged by his ready pen. are, regard, worthy
of the most serious consideration. The many
hurled at his head by outside archers. have
tell harmless at his feet. This con vention as
scmbled, evidently testify that remains I'm
scathed and stcadlaSt, ever ready to battle for
the farmers rights.
AS iutimated in the outset,
WE HAVE NOT FoRsAKES OUR DAILY RoU-
TINE OF BUSINESS,
nor have we assembled with hearts imbued
With Il reckless spirit Of rehelliOl TO form Il
preparatory to the. lynching of De.
or to inflict "a CHASTITY wound on its
body, hopeless of recovery. or even to furnish
a cleaving instrument 10 diminish it's Solidity
Of any Cf lis massive proportions, but 10 Dust
every grievance that bese our pathway and
substitute restraints, or remedies in lieu
thereof that our judgment will dictate, for
the advancement of the country'S general
good.
We are profoundly impressed with the un.
deninb!c facts. which has been announced In
the State address, that the farmers interest
the bone and sinew' Of the land, is greatly
ignored. FOrbcarance has ceased to be q vir-
tue in the matter and it behooves him to
arouse from state of ethargy and proclaim
freedom from oppression.
THE MULTIpLItIrY OF GOVERNMENTAL OF.
FItEs,
both State and county and high salaries afffx.
ed, are not In keeping with that unprecedcnt.
ed shortage and extreme low valuation, for
the last few years, Of the product Of his toll.
He has no part In fixing the valuation Of his
crops, others make the price OF what he sells
and exact the price of whnt he buys. Specu
tion keeps him bound hand and fool" be-
tween two grindStones. 1t matters not tc
what extend he may unavoidably be deprived
of realizing paying investment In agricul
tural pursuits,
OFFICIAL SALARIES AND PROFESSIONAL EX.
ACTIONS
undergo no reduction and have to be met
with his mcagre assets. They remain fix
ture az far rs dminution is concerned. Pub.
lie functionnrles, apparently, are not subject.
ed 10 "hard times" They draw full rations
from the public commissary, independent o
short crops, and pursue the even tenor oI
vcnience, hut uice versa get fat as O guinea
poker and sleek as n mole: In the memora
bic campaign of '76 no stone was LETT unturn
ed by party strife" in our supreme efforts to
dlsl0dge the pondcrouS "radical yoke" aud cs.
tabliSh Democratic form of government in
this State, and 1t appears q little inconsistent
the constitution, which was founded and rat
ifled by that corrupt party. Is adopted by De
mOcracy, as the chart and compass to point
out the reefs that obstruct the pathway OF the
Ship of State. DO not that guide instrument
of writing need overhauling, contains some
objections that ought to be cancelled, In order
to commence Alright i'm trying to effect q re-