The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1886-03-24
3. S. DlNKlNS; Editor.
FARMERS CONVENTION,

FARMERS CONVENTION.
The 29th OF April next at Columbia IS
the time and place fixed upon for the
farmers convention. Opinions differ
as to the object aud purposes inhuen-
cing the agitators and promoters OF
the call for this meeting.
The call, springing from the
vituperative speeches and virulent
writings Of the self styled "AIoses in
Egypt and his converts, has created
a deep feeling Of distrust among a
large number Of farmers, and people of
other classes. We are, and have been,
heartily in favor of agricultural asso-
Citations, whether they are local, State,
or National organizations, and the
TINES, from the beginning of its ca
reer, has been earnest in its endeavors
to arouse the farmers Of Clarendon to
the Importance OF forming, among
themselves, agricultural societies as a
means for their higher enlightenment
and greater prosperity. But believ-
ing the aggressive crusade inaugural
ed bv MN Tillman to be highly iniu-
rious to the true interest of the farm
er, and calculated to create strife and
enmity among the people and even
the decentralization of the Democrat
ic party, the TINES has opposed him
and his measures. Clarendon with the
State at large is country Of farmers;
fhe interest of the farmer is the inter
est of other avocations-in fact, the
various industries derive their exis-
tence and support from the produc-
ton OF the soil, the result of the farm
ers' toll; il the farmer prospess other
trades flourish in proportion Then
as a natural consequence law inju-
rious to the agricultural interest is as
damaging to other pursuits.
The falsity Of the harangue by Mr..
Tillman and his companions, that the
farmers are mere serfs and have no
part or parcel in the government has
been clearly established. The Ne'cs
and Courier of the 18th, of the pres
ent month, in very able article on
this convention call, shows by stats
tics that since 1880 in the House Of
Representatives the farmers have had
an average majority of "a members,
with an equal number of representa-
tives in the Senate, and farmers large
ly preponderating in the other branch
es of the Government, except in the
Judiciary. And our own local County
government-our Sheriff and Clerk
of the Court are farmers; two of the
county commissioners were called
from the farm TO Office and the other
has been a farmer till late years the
School Commissioner is g farmer;
the County Auditor was farmer
and became lawyer after his cleo
sion to Office; the County Treasurer
is a doctor; two of the Trial Justic-
es of the County and the Probate
Judge are lawyers; our Senator is a
farmer; one of our representatives
is q farmer and the other has been
farming to a greater or less extent the
whole of his lifetime. Thus we see
that the farmers of Clarendon have
not only fair representation but al
post the entire monopoly Of the Of
Aces. These facts are enough to con-
vince the people that the aggravated
evils complained Of by Mr.. Tillman
and his followers have no foundation,
and are used only as stepping stone
to lead them to power.
The laws, the creation of man, are
far from perfect, and there are griev-
ances affecting the agricultural as well
as other classes, but whatever the
causes are the farmer will find surer
and more speedy redress with the as
sistance of his friend and helper than
by ostracising him, and following in
the footsteps of demagogues.
The convention in question can do
much good for the farmer and country
or its effect for harm can be immeas-
urably great. An Agricultural Con-
vention where the modern methods Of
farming ETC., are promulgated by dis
cussion among the farmers would be a
lasting good, but q political assembly