The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-03-11

MY DEAR SIR:-Inere was uO
liberty taken in your writing to me as
YOU did in yours of the 18th, and no
apology needed. I am glad to receive q
letter expressing such consideration tor
me and recognizing my honest efforts in
the past in behalf Of agriculture and the
farmers Of the State.
It was, and is labor Of love to me,
and after some thirty years spent in that
way feel no inclination or reason to
1change: ann Just rs deeply interested
in and as Loyalty devoted to the agri-
cultural interests and clarses of the
State and country now rs ever have
been, and I am ready and anxious to
work zealously and Independently in
prompting their welfare. None know
better than you and your fellow farmers
of E how for years have urged the
vital need of organization ofthe State and
nation. This still deem most essen
tial to any scheme, policy Or plan that
will successfully advance their true
interest, and consequently the true and
best interests of the entire country and
whole people.
To secure this, should say that, as
an important auxiliary, cooperative
machinery, or strengthening adjunct, a
convention composed Of farmers, repre-
senting farmers, knowing what is due to
farmers, and at the same time due to
others-ready to demand what is due
themselves and determine to accept no
less; ready to recognize and respect the
rights of others; ready to assume a
policy true, honest: just and fair; ready
to reform and improve the laws, GUS
toms and systems that govern and effect
agriculture and farmers, instead Of des-
troying them-would be extremely de-
sirable aud eminently beneficial. This
I. YOU and others have for years been
trying TO do through the Grange and
other agricultural organizations, with, L
contend, signal, though partial, success
Such q convention 1 shall hail with iov,
and to such will give my most cordial
support and Jealous aid.
But to convention to be called and
controlled, appointed and organized by
Mr.. 3. R. Tillman, who has outraged
all the courtesies and deccncies of life;
who has shown an utter recklessness IN
his assertions and insinuatlons as to
men and things. who wants to do moth
inc good but what you and l and many
other farmere have been for years work.
ING for, but fear desires to pull down,
destroy and obliterate everything and
everybody, from Hampton and Democ-
racy down to himself and chaos; who is
an ayowed destructionlst instead OF con-
structionist; who asserts that no man IN
the State, farmer or other, has ever
been nut IN office that he did not at once
and then become disloyal, corrupt and
vcnal; who proposes to destroy all the
institutions established for the benefit OF
the farmers by others, and has nothing
TO replace them with except college
with him as trustee; who from selt-dell-
cheney cannot realize TN any other purity
of motive or honesty Of purpose; to such
a convention, called and manipulated by
such a man for such purposes. l and
you. and the farmers Of the State, can
not look tor help or good. You say,
,sAir. Tillman wrote me he regretted
having to attack you, but could not help
it to keep from being personal towards
Others lie said you alone spoke for
his rcsolutions,' still he denies my hon
estv of purpose, purity of motive, 10y
alty to my class, and insinuates that
am a corrupt politician, working in the
harness of ring and for 1t betraylng!
the trust placed IN my hands by both
the farmers and Democrats of South
Carolina, Such man can be no Moses
for me, nor can he safely be for any por'
tlon Of the farmers of this State. So
for a real. simon-pure farmers conven'