The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-04-08
On the Situation.

Editor Times and Democrat:
In my previous article l cOntended
that the farmer, under the present sys-
tenn of farming, saved no money, and
tried to show who got the benefits of
his labor. On every side we hear COM
plants of times being harder now than
ever before and that money is scarce
and supplies scant. The question,
what can be done to restore the good
condition of the country lis often ask
ed by members of every profession. 70
remedy an evil, you must first destroy
the cause Of the evil seems TO be the
wiser course just now.
The lien law was evidently intended
by its originators to be great relief to
our people in their great poverty dur
ing the decade Immediately succeeding
the war, but its abuse has certainly
been the root, or foundation, Of ell our
financial troubles. From the time it
was first enacted until now, it has been
abused by speculating parties-the
Aa1dholtler, the'merchant and the liener
or laborer himself until it has become
alarming to interested property holders,
and, if not stopped or modified in some
way speedily, will ultimately affect
seriously all parties. The country is
now packed full ofhorses, mules buggies
and wagons belonging to irresponsible
parties who have no money or supplies
on which to live, and nine out of every
ten never experience the pleasure of
paying cash the year round for their
supplies.
Mr.. Tillman, backed by few follow
ers, have stirred up the country to such
degree that convention, to be COM
posed of farmers only, has been called to
meet in Columbia for the purpose of
deliberating upon matters pertaining
to their interest. In this call practical
professional men are excluded because
in such body they would have two
strings to their bows-one as a farmer,
the other us Il professional IMAM, which
might .complicate matters more than
would be desirable.
l blame our leading men, from the
lowest to the highest, to whom we
looked as the guardians and defenders
of the peoples interestSand especially
so of the agricultural department be-
cause this is the foundation of all pro-
gresS. From their daily experience
they should have seen the evil effects
Of the lien law upon both the landhol-
der and the laborer and shonld have
repealed it long ago. 1t is stated that
the farmers are in the majority in the
Legislature; if this is SO, these, as prac-
tical men, should have known that the
ruin of the whole state was only a
question of time. Considering the]
hard times and, particularly, the tinan-
cial condition Of the farmers or tax
payers, very nearly all our officials are
paid too high. Our trial justice sys-
tenn is partly swindle upon the peo-
pie; our free schoal system is money
thrown away; and our road law is
worse than all, giving us good roads
only in the summer season when there
is little or no hauling to do. The
small night-shops, which spring up all
over the country in the fall or harvest
season, demoraliZe the labor and harrass
the producing farmer; and our taxes
are one-third or one-fourth too high.
The Board of Equalization, another
nuisance made by the Legislature, and
paid by the people, comes behind the
taxpayer to say whether or not he
swearS falsely on his return Ga regular
slur upon any taX-paying community
Upon all these points our people have
complained and claimed redress at the
hands of those who were in positions
to give it. After all these wrongs
heaped upon us year by year, can you
blame the people for seeking redress by
whatever means in their power.
FARMER.