The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1886-08-25
FORSAkING TIE CID PATHS.
GENERAL JoENs0E tiGocD E....iE''
FOR \ a:iXE3 E:VsHAHSEa.

GENERAL JOEESO-s t.2NoSo ..--'--'
FOR \ MiXE1 I:lsgANSEA.
An Essay Read Before ;hc STATE .::;c;e;;;;fi;2f
Society and the STATE Grange a; i::":' "":-.'
Summer Meeting cn AEs,:s; :. i""S.
It is doubtful whether, in al tic tine
since South Carolina was the hunting
ground OF the Indian, any single isSth OF
century has witnessed within her bod
ers relative progress IN material welfare
equal with the Last It needs 10 COM
pilation of statistics to show this. Look
at Columbia, the beautiful city il which
you are holding this summer meeting
Compare her in 1865, sitting amid ashes
and her population feeding on the refuse
cattle OF Sherman's supply train, with
her condition to-day. See her waste
places rebuilt, often more substantially
then before; her homes once more sur
rounded with the comforts OF lie, and
her people on the streets and il the
marts again steadily asserting themselves
in the battle of life. Columbia IN this
but represents the State, and in the de-
gree of her rehabilitation does not more
than equal the general progress. The
uncomplaining fortitude, TIE incompa1a-
ble energy Of the South in tle struggle
to restore her fortunes, broken in the
late civil war, has been witnessed with
admiration by al, ,and to my mind presents
as much OF the heroic element as any
thing in her history, from Sumter to
Appomattox.
AGRICULTURAL DEPRESSION.
Yet, Notwithstanding this successful
progress, and at its close, our agrlcutu-
ral interest finds itself depressed, the
chief product OF its industry selling at
best with no sufficient margin OF profit,
and often, in individual cases, at q point
below the cost Of production, which I'M
perils the accumulation that las been
made. The agricultural mind IS earn
estly and with justice demanding the
reason why.
It has been suggested that It IS to be
faund in onerons financial legislation and
wasteful public expenditure. Others.
going deeper into the analysis, have
Sought the chief cause OF the trouble in
the faulty business system upon which
our industry is based There is perhaps
truth in both these suggestions, and each
deserves attention, but as to their re-a-
tive and practical importance IN the con-
sideration Of meeting OF Soush Caro-
lima aericulturaists a few thoughts
occur. The taxes paid to the General
Government, indirect though they be,
are probably the largest levied upon our
pursuit; but in their levy and expendi-
ture we have an interest and control II
common with fifty millions OF people.
Indirection makes it difficult 20 ascer-
tain what we actually do pay: and ex-
tensive community OF interest both COM
plicates it's effect upon our special indus
try, and makes the desired change hard
to accomplish. With al overwhelming
voting majority at the polls, and with
ordinarily majority Of representatives
in the State Legislature. State lcvies and
expenditures have been and remain
within our immediate control. Thesup-
BORT of Government is 4 necessity, but
every cent taken from the taxpayer be-
,ond its economic and efficient admins
tration is oppressive. Does the present
management Of the State Government
favorably meet the requirements OF this
proposition? think it does. It IS not
pretended that there is no room for re-
trenchment and reform. With some
special opportunities OF observation it
has seemed to me that improvement may
be sought in the direction OF a more
simple and cheaper county adlninlstra.
ton: of confning the disbursements Of
the charitable Institutions OF the State,
which exclusive of the interest on the
public debt consume one-thild of the
State levy, more rigidly to those who are
i,roper recipients OF charity, and IN MAX
in.- the labor Of convicts a source of IN
come. to the relief of the taxpayer. The
ineouahty obtaining in the assessment
for taxation and the failure of the for
feited land laws to enforce the collection
of taxes operate injustice and demand
redress. Al OF these may be looked to.
When in position to do so, l have myself
urced them upon the attention Of our
law-maldng power; but it has not been
indicated where retrenchment ana reform
to an extent appreciable in this connec-
ton. can 90 further at this time without
in NV Judgment impairng the efficiency
of the public administration, or curtail.
ing expenditures in the best Interests OF
the people. Be this as it may, however;
take things as they stand, and let us con-
sider. Tie State and ordinary county
taxes, together with the two-mll school
tax, are, one year with another, about
ten mills, upon valuation Of property
e+ little over one-half its selling price;
and estimating them per capita they are
obonf me and two-thirds dollars to the
population. How much can the burden
of such a tax affect any healthy industry:
Now subtract t,,om the sum thus taken
from the farmer what he must pay for al
efficient and well ordered government, Il
ANS be not such, and you have the meas
ure of practical retrenchment; but IN the
infnitesimal proportions OF the sa;ns
made when distributed among the lndl-
vidual farmers have YOU found adequate
relief from the widespread depression OF
our calling?
There are other assessments upon the
industry OF the tanner and hens upo1;,
his Land which pass under the name Of
and are collected as taxes. These being
in no lust sense taxes, breed confusion