The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-03-19
Mr. EDrron: III had not known you SO we'll 1

| Mr.. EDIroR: III had not known you so well I
should have felt sure that you had used doctor s
certificate at drug store, before composing the
| EDITORIAL published in your issue Of the 9th /.
Have you forgotten the series of articles you
obligingly published for me, from the LIST of
January to the last one, 50 surely and uniustly
and recklessly reviewed by you in that editorial.
Why do you fout me with what farmers clubs.
from Texas to Union Co., have adopted in their
rules Of organization? s.Rose colored, - absurd
ridiculous, impracticable, impossible to prac-
tice as they are, though, l am told by the presi-
dent Of the club here, your quotations are ex-
planned away in subsequent provisions; all this
away.
Inform the people Of Union in my first that
in my opinion the only hopo Of restoring the
great principle and protection Of liberty-no
taxation without representation and no privi-
legged class-which had been contemned and ig-
nored by tho last General Assembly, was by
united action of the producing classes, composed
as they ore of conservative elements, honest and
economic views. and being three-fourths or
more of the tax payers of the Slate and POSSESS
| ing the power to rule. l also inform them that
the taxes Of this county, within my memory, in
| Gov. McDufe's administration from about i've
thousand (S5,0OO) dollars had increased to near
| fifty FIVE thousand 1855, ,OOO) dollars now; that
democratic platforms. for the last twenty years
nearly, had contained pledges to reduce the
number and pay of Office holders, that these
had increased, instead of being reduced, from
year to year, until they had become devour.
ing swarm; that we were living still under tho
Radical constitutional system devised by our
enemies for our destruction, and not our pro-
tection,-and that the acts of ihe last legisat ure
justified in speeches and debates under their
constitution, was ou,-heroding Herod.
| You say, sir, further, that the slow remedy
of politics does not suit the condition Of our
people, that they require speedy relief"
What speedy relief-provding something to cat,
and something to driuki We're provisions ever
cheaper were the merchants evcr making small
ler profits than they now are? Such an idea
does seem to me absurd and ridiculous. And
you, sir, obscurely hint that have an axe to
grind boldly and freely declare tha have,
and that every taxpayer in the State should
| have, and that you should have, that all the
| axes of every citizen should be made sharp, to
cut away the rotton platforms instructed at the
Metropolis and the capital Of the State, and all
| other stragglers and camp followers leagued with
! them, to tax the people without representation,
| and uphold the privileged class. Do you not
see the dark shadows of ignorance and poverty
looming over our people? DO you not see the
elements Of darkness and the lurid flashes of
discomfort and despair, created by distress and
| almost hopclessness, not only in our State but
but in almost all the States? These evils were
| planted in Grants administration, ty reckless
disregard of constitution and law. Don't you
see the flaming elements kindling around the
great temple Of Liberty everywhere, and is there
any power anywhere to confront the fearful
dangers that threaten us, save one? That
great conservative power which interposed
| and Cincinatus was called from his plough and
Washington from his farm, to head. the great
conservative element of every country, the pro.
ducing element.
You council peace and quiet when there is no
peace or quiet. You council no agitation,
when complaint and trouble pervade every
home. your ncighbors house were on fire,
or burglars rfling it, would you advise no
erty, perhaps your life, is menaced and i'm
2erilled your only hope Of relief is by Political
remedy.
Your Governor in his last message informs
you that more than three millions of acres of
land in the State are paying no taxes, this in
increases the assessment upon all others that
do pay. Like n rope of sand, taxpayers are
m
and increase of salaried officers, grow under the
manipulation Of q renegade and recreant legis-
tnre, at every annual meeting, and your abili-
ty TO pay decreases MS the tide of time rolls
over you. You have no uniform system of
assessment ofproperty for taxation, you live,
it may be, by liberation, under corrupting influ-
ences constantly radiating from that great CEN
tire of corruption, Washington City, where no
constitutional restraint has o reception but
reception OF the White House are throng-
ed by corrupt politicians and almost
naked women, until three hundr rod
thousand dollars are abou. to be appropriated for
the acco mmodanon of the di,s olute and sbame
less asse mbnges. At your own State capital
and metropolis, these degrading temptations,
in all their attractivcness Of fluids and solids.
have been brought to bear upon your repre-
sentatives, and pledges end promises inconsis-
tent with their fidelity solicited and, tried by
the rule, ."By their fruits ye shall know them"
been too successful
Three-fourths Of the honest aud pure min
ded men ofthis State, the greatest number, be.
come recipients of the greatest good in accor-
dance with the principles of our system of gov
ernment, can and ought now and at once to rouse
and bestir themselves, upgrade and forward to
the rescue Of the principles and foundation