The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-03-17
SHALL BEN TILLMAN Be GAGGBD??"
MANLY BLOWS IN HIS DEFENSE STRUCK
SQUARE OUT FROM THE SHOULDER.
'ESal Parks and "R. Bigwater..'
What the Farmers Propose to Do.
Noble Tribute to q Departed SOL
dier and Civilian.--VigOrOus Eli
gliSls.
CoKEsBURY, March lG, 1856.

CoKEsBURY, March lG, 1856.
Editor Press and Banner:
Ben Tillmans plain, open and sensible iet-
terS to the farmers of this State have prouuc,
conditions of people--from the high slate Of
ficials down to those whose business IL IS 10
'sgude the OK or turn the mellow glcbe,' the
earthquake has been felt.
have attempted replies to Farmer truman 8
letters, but Tillman. although an humble TILL
er OF the soil. isa man of nerve ana brains
and knows what he is talking about-what
the farmers need, what they get and what re,
form is necessary to check the doWn1all OF OF
Agriculture, the foundation upon which all
our interests in this State rest.
That the farmers are getting poorer every
farming on that account is languishihg and
dying is natural. These facts are self eVldent:
Can there be any reform ? Let us see. w nat
about taXes-that theme over which every
but taxes are as high now as they were in rad
icnl times. Out of the ground or from the
farmer directly or indirectly the taxes nearlJ
all come. High taxes affect him more than
any one else. don't believe in stinted, mi
serly economy either in private or public mat
tcrs, but do believe that taxes should DC
lower and that the wants and necessities OF
the class of people who paythe taxes prlncl'
pally, should have more attention: stop Gre e,
ating offices for aristocrats and the sons ot
aristocrats. Let them provide for themselves
whether they belong to this or that society.
When q man is a candidate for an Once now,
Democratic party in rs. Why laud him? I
think nearly all of us did our duty then.
Some have been rewarded, some left In the
cold. There was one man OF extraordinary
brains and ability, to whom this State was IN
debted for noble work In rs and yet when ne
asked for bread a stone was gwen him, De-
cause perhaps he was a man of the people,
didn't belong to any clique or ring. This man
was Gen. NJ: W.. Gary, whose memory y,,, VIII nn1
his great military and stateslnanilke traits
Of character.
Now because Ben Tillman belongs to no
ring or clique is he to be gagged IN the good
dorsement not only Of the farmers. but other
classes OF men. Now and then you find q
farmer kicking but this can be easily explain
'e "Sai Sal Parks' and "R- Bigwater," (perhaps
Deepwater) don't believe ever hoed q row OF
cotton or plowed q row Of corn. Bigwater
notwithstanding his great ignorance knew
too much about the priority of!the lien iaW:'
icule were laborious If not effective. This is
saying as much as can be said for them.
1t is true that the farmers as class are not
rs polished as the office gentry. yet q great
many OF them are polished men Of education
and ability and the vast majority are men OF
good common sense. They know right from
wrong and are willing to act that way anu
should look to their interests. The object OF
this farmers movement is not to array one
class against another, but simply to see that
the necessary reforms be made. Let the
farmers OF al beville county meet IN conven'
ton at some point and elect good and true
men to the State Convention of Farmers
which meets on the 10Th Of April. And If Mr.
Tillman or any other representative farmer Of
brains and integrity can lead them as MO
ses" out of the wilderness of debt ana de-
Spair which now encompasses them, let them
follow him like true men. -
BACKWOODS