The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1888-05-03

out looking to the taxpayers at all, it and
the experimental stations:
Landscrip Fund. nd......."............."s $3.50
Hatch fund.-. ................ $4,000
Privilege Tax-say ay................ $4,000
Total. .................................S50, ,750
With this sum We can keep up an
excellent agricultural school at Fort
Hill, worthy of South Carolina, worthy
of Calhoun, and last, but not least,
worthy of Mr.. Clemson. But there are
also other reforms and economies imper.
atively demanded before We can lift the
burden of taxation to any marked degree.
We have too much and too hasty legisla.
tion, and we believe it would be economy
and wisdom to have our Legislature meet
biennially instead of annually, as at
present. and to change the date of its
session. That the burdens of taxation
are not equally borne is too evident, and
those taxpayers who are honest in their
returns are gievously imposed on. Gov.
ernor Hagood long since pointed out that
our county governments are both inefi.
cient and extraVagant, nearly as much
being spent on them now as in Radical
days. We are handicapped and cut off
from any improvement along that line by
our Radical Constitution while our very
existence as a free people is jeopardized
by the ignorant horde of voters. watching
and praying for split in our ranks. We
earnestly urge the importance and neces.
sity of a constitutional convention to
secure needed economy in county affairs,
the abolition of useless Offices, and to
throw stronger safeguards around the
citadel of white supremacy before the
seeds of discord shall sprout and grow,
to accomplish all this our people must
arouse themselves from their lethargy
and take a more intelligent and active
interest in political affairs. And here
we would warn them to see to it that q
set of greedy politicians and office seekers
shall not again, as in past years, nomi.
nate State ticket out of hand, without
having a. canvass, or even an expression
of sentiment, on these and other impor-
tant issues. Public discussion is not
only the best means of educating the
masses, but is also the chief safeguard Of
our liberties and the only guarantee Of
our rights. In behalf, then, of the
farmers, whom we represent, and as one
of the best means of bringing about these
reforms, we insist on aS.~ass by those
it is to control the State government
during the next two years.. before they are
nominated, so we can know just how they
stand. Recognizing the ability of the
present incumbents, and in no wise
intending to cast any reflections upon
them, we yet feel that if they seek
denomination, they could spend some of
their leisure during the summer most
proftably in discussing before their con-
stituents these and any other questions
of public interest. Thus they can show
wherein we are wrong if they disagree
with us, or give us the advantage Of their
approval, if they approve. See to it then,
fellow citizens, those of you who sympa-
thize with Our objects and aims, that no
tricks be played upon us in the May
convention. Farmers are too busy to
give much thought to their public
duties. But they can and should at
least demand, and thus will obtain, the
right to select their officials knowingly,
and make no more leaps in the dark.
/ But in the end the whole matter, both
of establishing the agricultural college
and of making the much needed reforms
and economics in the State government
rests with the coming Legislature. Oul
experience with the one just adjourned
teaches us to beware of demagogues and
fence straddlers and weakened indi
viduals without firmness of character OF
any convictions of their own. We would
therefore advise and urge the absolute
importance of selecting candidates o.
frmness and capacity, aud of requiring
them to define and explain their posi-
tions. Ifa candidate is too good or toe
unfxed to pledge himself to any line O.
policy demanded by the people, he Car
and should be left at home; and when 6
candidate, after having pledged himsel
and been elected, breaks that pledge, al
did a goodly number in the last Legisla
ture, he is no longer worthy the conf
dence and respect of any intelligen
voter.
Appealing, then, to good sense ant
patriotism not of farmers alone, but Of
all classes of our people, to aid US in oul
efforts to secure equal justice and equa
advantages to all, and to purify and ele
yate our politics, and to bring about