The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1886-06-16
Gen. Bratton's Opinion of
The Farmers Convention.

1 desire to be distinctly understood as ac-
cording to the advocates of the farmers move
ment the honesty Of purpose and good faith
that claim for myself, and indeed have ev-
Ell claimed for the sturdy farmers Of the land
in public matters. The expression ''to the
manor born" with all the devoted fidelity
to country that it carries with it, has ever
been associated in my mind especially with
the owners and tillers of the soil. Their
interests are as fixed as the soil itself They
cannot be stored in safes, or boxed and sent
off to foreign vaults in the time of trouble.
They must abide the fate of their country,
whether it be devastated byan invading toe,
or rent and torn by internal dissensions
and class conflicts or calmly rests under the
peaceful reigu of law based on mutual con-
cessions. Ii they are not true in their
hearts to the best interests Of the State,
where are we to look for fidelity?
With no doubt rs to their motives hoped
and expected that the Convention would be
n effective agency of agitation, and by its
! consideration and discussion of the agricul
tural situation reach some intelligent con-
clusion as to the cause Of the depression, or,
at least, throw some light on the subject and
to that extent allay the unrest and discon-
tent which seemed to prevail. 1t was with
feelings of disappointment and regret that
found myself unable to concur in the action
on which it seems to have been predicated.
l say seems, because in the published pro-
caedings the grounds Cd which the action
was based are not clearly an d definitely stat
ed. There seemed to be a vague, indefinite
idea that the body polite was afflicted with
leprosy and honeycomed with rottenness
and that amid this rubbish of leprosy and
rottenness, concealed somewhere, is a mask
ed enemy to the agricultural interests of the
State. cannot concur in the idea that is
foated on the air, not fixed and located,
that injustice has been done to, or justice
| by any other class in the State, or that the
agricultural depression prevailing is in any
| way, shape or form attributable to the con-
duct OF our State Government.
The administration of our GOV.
ment SINCE 10 has never
been excelled in purity or in fidelity to
constitutional obligations, and it will con-
tinue to be an honor ahd blessing to the
people of the State as long rs it is controlled
| by political organization which combines
in harmonious union the conservatism, the
intelligence and the character of all classes
Va Jul peopAC, MuSSICI tA4S S&nSSo I'll AlAACo
| by farmers or not.
Ii there is an individual or class, organ
lied or disorganized, in the limits of the
State, in hostile attitude to the agricultural
interests of the State, will venture to say
that he or they are so closely masked as to
defy the skill Of the best scouts Of the farm
ers' army to locate them. TO my mind it is
all baseless assumption-putting up an i'm
aginary enemy in order to get up fight.
But grant the correctness of these assump-
tions-do the measures proposed reach and
cure tue evils? Do they tend to generate or
call into service q healthy, sound, elevated
liberal and enlightened public sentiment?
This is The only reiance-the single and
sole agency by which rottenness in Gov
ernment like ours can be reached and Grad
lcated To meet the assumed condition
(Which, by the way, has strayed entirely
away from the Incl pient object of the Con-
rentlon, namely, agricultural depression
un3 its cause) the farmers are called upon
to organize as Il class, 70 enforce class legis-
tion-to capture the Legislature to take what
legislation they want They are to call a
convention Of the people and reorgauize the
Government to suit their views. In tIe
meantime, such institutions as the assem-
bled wisdom Of all classes of the State have
been able, with patient and earnest labor in
adjusting complications and surmounting
difficulties, to build on the ashes of our
ruins, are to be felled at one blow as State
institutions, and, without regard to cost con-
verted into class establishments: If the farm
ers organize for such fight they will inaug-
urate class conflict, in Which the actions ct
men are governed, not by moderation and
wisdom and calm consideration for the COM
mon veal, but by passion and prejudice.
Viii this, submit to the organizers, call in
to action that sound, healthy public senti-
ment that you need to cure rottenness in the
Government?
1t seems that one of the purposes of the
movement is to take by Legislation for the
benefit OF the farmers their just share of the
public treasures. When the power is OBJ
tanned by such means to do that, who is to
determine what the just share Of the farmer
class is? Who IS to measure the grab +?
Where is the authority for distributing the
public treasure, justly or unjustly, among
the classes of our people? When was it ever
done in our country, unjustly and indirect
ly, as is proposed here, by class legislation
the great source to which some of US trace
the depression Of our industries? I mean
Federal class legislation, however, not State.
But push on a step further. We make this
class fight and win. And what do we as
farmers, or our agricultural interests gain to
remuneratc US for the wounds and scars with
which crippled and debased political sent
iuent emerges from the conflict?
We will have lowered our standard Of ed
ucation. especially that of the farmer, by sub
stituting, regardless Of expense, set Of
snecial class schools for our State University
system. BY special class education we will
secure the perpetuation Of the class dissen.
sions and strife which we have inauSurated
The State will not be allowed to concentrate
her educational strength, and, in her inl-
poverished condition, exercise the highest
and wisest economy in atfording opportuni-
ties for the moral and intellectual culture Of
her sons, ard, breaking down class lines,
train up to one hearty, healthy, strong fam
ilv mutually dependent, mutually support
ing and always struggling together for the
welfare, honor and glory of their common
mother. How this Is to benefit the farmer
as an individual, or the farmers as class, or
the agricultural interests OF the State, 1t will
be difficult to show.
There is one assumption that I neglected
to mention, which is correct; and that IS,
that the farmes constitute the majority OF the
dominant political party of the State. This
is a tirst-class ground for not organizing as
farmers for political purposes, as IN that do
minant party only can they WELD their ro-
1itir,l STRENGTH Wisely for the welfare of the