The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-03-10
DIVISION IN OUR RANKS.
ENTERING WEDGE WHICH WILL DIVIDE
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
An Address Setting Forth the GrieE-
ances of the TilIers Of the Soil ana
Urging them to Rally for the Pro-
lection Of their Rights and the
Prnmotiou Of their Interests.


lection Of their Rights and the
Promotion of their Interests.
To the Farmers of South Cnrolina: Seventy
six per cent of our States population are ac-
lively engaged in agricultural pursuits AZ
least one-half of the remainder are ullcctia
dependent upon the farmers for tue means .h, ol
that we constitute the State, yet we 90 not
govern it, nor are the laws administered IN
our Interests, and few are passed for Our pene-
We pay taxes and vote and there is no fur
ther use for us. These taxes do not grow any
less, while our ability to pay them grows
smaller year by year, ana nothNS "orlh
naming has been done to foster ana encoui, u,
age that interest which leeds and sustalns an
| others The negroes used to be the mud
sills' of our economic fabric; but thousands
of white men-land owning furmers-hnd
! themselves slowly but surely sinking beneath
the waves to be added to the foundation upon
which a few men and corporations are erect
ing their fortunes. Impending bankruptcy
stares thousands in the face, while other
| thousands are overseeing their own plahta-
| tions for their vctualS 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 thought to the ~
ture of themselves and children, stand luiy
by. or assist and direct this skilnlning OF y
State, which, by reason Of soil, climate ana
table Garden of Eden. The negroes will, go
West" when the bones are picked. What
will we do? We are farming towards de-
spair" in thus continuing to impoverish our
done by our Legislature, or its creatures, 10
stop it, or to try to teach the people a better
and wiser system. Forty thousand dollars
are spent annually in the State. thrce-fourths
Of it paid by farmers, to educate men for
other professions and pursuits: the farmers
get nothing, and are left to grope their way
towards the grave in ignorance and ltS cOnse-
quent poverty. Even the pittance donated
to educate farmers by the United States Gov:
ernInent is taken from us and appropriated
to sustain the institution at which our luture
masters are being trained. How thankful we
should lie to the good Lord for such generosl-
ty and wisdom among our statesmen, So
called!
Again, we pay $4,000 annually by specific
tax, which comes out Of the farm alone, to
sustain department of agriculture, good
slice of this is spent to collect the phosphate
royalty, which goes to support the State Coy
ernnent and the rest Is frittered AND wasted,
so far as we can see, the only benefit received
by the farmers being partial prOlectlon
against fraudulent fertilizers.
A majority of the board of agriculture are
not engaged in farming. Who wonders, lhen,
that SO little has been done by 1t 10 Denent
our farming interests?
Four bad crops out OF five and the conse-
ouent poverty of tine farmers cry aloud for
economy and reduction to taxes. But tnls
cry, which came from every county, was lg-
nored by the last Legislature. which also per.
slstently refused to obey plain mandate OF
the Constitution to provide for a reapporllon-
mcnt of representatives by holding a census.
| II is small wonder, then, that nothing was
done to protect farmers against robbery by
| dishonest fertilizer manufactures.
The Legislature which recently adjourned. .
though not corrupt has been very Negligent
intelligent farmers of the State cannot afford
| to elect another such body of lawmakers and
Constitution breakers. Nor can they AFFORD
| TO allow the agricultural interests OF the
state to De subordinated TO eyeiStnlniE, ,, e,Se'
and no effort made to foster and protect them.
Other states with less expenditure than we
are naking;are doing ten times as much 10
encourage and assist those engaged in iarm'
ing. But the money spent is not entrusted to
politicians or to those elected by politicians.
The farmers manage and control IT them
selves.
believing, therefore, that the crisis demands
prompt and united action ON the part of the
| true and loyal farmers Of the State, and that
convention of such can only rebound TO INC
benefit of agriculture and consequently OF
every other interest and calling, We call
such a convention TO meet in the city OF Col
umbia, Thursday, the 18th of next April; 70
take into consideration the question touched
upon in this address, together with such
other matters as they may, deem OF impor-
lance to the political, social, educational or
industrial interests Of the farmers and OF the
State.
Each county agricultural society is request
ed 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 affect this it Is sng-
gestcd that those in sympathy with the move
ment call q mass meeting or county conveii-
ton of farmers in their respective counties to
appoint said delegates
If the wisest and best Of our farmers thus as
semble we feel and believe there is enough
OF both patriotism and craftsmanship among
us to find remedies for those evils; and, with
out trenchi ing upon the rights Of others, man.
hood en-, ug to demand and obtain proper
recognition Of our rights and needs.
While this is essentially Il farmers move
ment we invite the sympathy and moral sup
port of good men OF every calling. Agricu.
lure is the basis OF our economic structure anc
supports the rest. 1t cannot rise without car
ryng with 1t the superstructurc.
There is among the politicians in South Car
olina 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, eXercis-
ing the God-given right that the majority
should govern, organize rs farmers and oblit-