The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1888-03-22
rBEFARMERs' MOVEMENT.

We publish in this issue the action Of
the Mt. Bethel Farmers Club Of Lau-
rens County, and the resolutions adopt
ed at its recent meeting. 1t will be OBJ
served that the club requests that these
resolutions be publishedin certain news
papers designated by the club. This,
we presume, is meant TO indicate that,
in the opinion of the club, these news
papers are friendly to the farmers. We
have no doubt they are. There arc very
few papers that we have seen that are
not friendly to the farmers, and al Of
US desire the prosperity Of the farmers.
We all depend more or less upon the
farmer for our patronage. The success
Of the farmers means our success. We
have had occasion to say this much be-
fore.
The HERALD AND NEWS has criti-
cised the methods of Mr.. Tillman in
aeitating the farmers movement, be-
cause we thought he indulged III too
much wholesale denunciation of men
and things without being more specific
At the same time We have always
claimed that this agitation would event
ually result in good. All agitations
will do good. 1t creates discussion and
makes men think.
We have never thought that Il sepa-
rate and distinct agricultural and me
chanical college was the thing most
needed to bring prosperity to the tarnl-
ers. and we have not hesitatcd to say
so. At the same time we have due
respect for those who think otherwise.
We want to see our farmers indepen-
dent in every respect. First, they
should strive to be independent finan-
cially, as they can be, and following
that will come independence Of
thought, expression and action. We
want to see them know their rights and
then demand them, and not be the pli-
ant tools of any sect or set of men.
Tie Greenville News we'll says:
''They ought to keep their organiZa-
tions and independence, talk, think
and act for themselves, and assert and
maintain their proper position as mas
ters, demanding explanation of pro
posed legislation and party action, and
urging such reforms as they may think
best for them"
This is right and proper, and the far
mers should require this much Of those
who aspire to public position, but IN
doing so it is no use to entera whole
sale bill of indictment Of the powers
that be. The Greenville News further
says on this subject:
sThe cause of the farmers is the cause
of the people. Every interest in our
State is founded on agriculture, and
must stand or fall with the farmer
There are no really conflicting interests
among the people. We are all IN the
same boat. When the farmers show
that they have grievances to redress,
rights to maintain and purposes to exc
cute and the strength to work together
for the accomplishment Of their pur-
poses, they will find the overwhelming
weight Of public sentiment and action
with them, and will surely secure a
progressive, economical, simple admin
istration of our government for the good
of the people, and not for the bene1t OF
few skillful log rollers and trading
demagogues.
We endorse these sentimentsand have
endeavored on former occasions to give
expression thereto. We hope to see the
farmers organization kept alive and
active. When the farmers of Mt.
Bethel club, as we'll as others in the
State, show the people that they have
grievances, and what these grievances
are, and what remedy will effect cure,
they will find an overwhelming major
ity of the people on their side.
The merchant, the lawyer, the news
paper, and in short, every trade and
profession desires the success Of the far
mer. For the success Of the farmer
means the success Of every other trade
or profession.