The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-03-25
TILLMAN vs.. LIPSC0MB.
HAMBURG EDGlNG FOR SECRETARY
OF STATE LIPScOMB'S CLOTHING.

OF STATE LIPscoMB's CLOTHING.
Mr. Tillman Hits Back and Tells About
the Farmers 1Iovement-He Has No
Political Ambition to subserve.
Since the publication of my recent
ssopen letter to the farmers Of the State"
L have been the recipient of many cour-
tesies from the newspapers and their
correspondents. I am like King Lear.
s'The little dogs and all, Tray, Blanch
and Sweetheart. See! they bark at
me.'' I have been accused ofnearly
every sin mentioned in the decalogue,
and many others besides, and I doubt If
ever a column Of plain and lucid English
has been so variously construed or had
so many different interpretations put
upon it. There has certainly been
'tring'' firing at me, whether there be
political ssring'' in South Carolina or
not-and 7 seem to have pinched many
peoples toes Of whom I was not even
thinking. Such a broadside from politI-
clans and pap suckers has not been
heard in the State in many long day.
We farmers can now locate the enemy
and govern ourselves accordingly. But
I feel under lasting obligations to the
gentlemen of the press for so literally
advertising "a farmers convention"
gratis. '.The agitation Of thought IS
the beginning Of wisdom" Farmers
need only to think, to wake up. and all
will be well. They, are doing this, l
hope and believe, and am therefore
more than satisfied with the situation.
The firing has almost died away and
things are growing quiet. But hush,
bark! what deep booming sound is IL
that breakes the stiffness at this late
honr Of the bombardment? Hamburg
Noses" ''Moses Tillman." islander"
err stcrank." ''dreamer" and "dema-
gosue," who somehow feels uneasy at
being the innocent cause Of all this tur-
moil, and who is trying to make out
why simple suggestion to the farmers
to organize and demand a redress Of
grievances should create such commo-
ton. ssMoses" picks himselfup, shakes,
feels for his head, and finding he Is not
hurt looks around to see by whom this
ssair gun" was fired. There was no
bullet in it, or certainly Edgefield would
have a funeral on her hands. A burly
form as fat as porker on official pap,
and as red with impotent rage as a
turkey gobbler, stands ready to claim
that he Killed "Cock Robin" s'Moses"
has been begging with tears in his eyes
for some s'Richmond'' from the agrlcul-
tural bureau to answer his arguments
and disproye his facts; but our belated
warrior who at this late day appears
upon the scene and fires the gun it
: s...lalsan ssij,, =aL.zae lrsanshs4 to- load:
ignores argument, pays no attention to
facts, dishes out abusive epithets like a
fish wife, claims to be the only original
and possible agricultural Noses" and
winds up with pitiful appeal to the
farmers and people not to punish him
because he refuses to accept ''Moses
Tillmau as Il leader" Oh how these
men who are sucking the public teat be-
gin to squeal when they feel or fear they
are about to lose their hold! It is heart
rending. Col. Lipscomb has oeen nurs-
inc his wrath to keep it warm and it is
certainly very hot, but it does not burn
ssMoses" because he has only told the
truth, and Col. Lipscomb must disprove
the charges of incompetence, extra
vagan ce and inattention to duty made
against the board of agriculture before he
can iniurc ''Moses" by fllnging mud. I
shall not descend into the gutter and
fight this doughty granger with his
chosen weapon. a negro can beat US
both on that line. I prefer decency and
courtesy, although / am accused. Of
s'outraging" both. Col. Llpscomp must
prove these charges 'ere they will harm
me. have been severe but parliament
tary, and have always attacked the Off
cal acts of men and not the men them
selves; and although my words were
thus interpreted by many, I have never
said anything about the State officers
except the agricultural bureau and their
administration. Of their trusts. They
arc not the ''ring" to which !. alluded,
but may and doutless do form part Of
it, and Col. Iipscomb's ready anger at
the mere suggestion Of such a thing
makes one suspect that his conscience
accuses him. 1.-THE wicked fee when
no man pursueth, but the righteous is
bold as lion."
Ivoted for Col. Lipscomb for secreta-
ry Of State in the State convention in
1882, and have never denied that his
motives are pure. But the possession
of Office has strangely emasculated and
sllenced the sturdy advocate who was
wont to make the welkin ring while he
depicted the wrongs and abuses heaped
on farmers. He spoke for my resolu-
tions al Bennettsville, but it was with
bated breath and in general terms. He
was mild; and while l have written
nothing since which was asseverc as that
speech, no farmer enjoycdit more or COM
plimented it so highly as he did. Let
him deny This if he can, and explain
why he has since changed front. l said
little there about the board of agriculture
l. ~1o,, =