Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1888-05-09

lege IS built 1t would have the f0l-
lowing income without looking to
the taxpayers at all to run it and the
experimental stations: $50. e.,
Hatch fund........ ............-........Sl5,O0 900
Land scrip......-............. $3.50
Privilege tax. ......................... $4,000
Total. ....... ....... ....... ..,...- $50, $50
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. ys
STILL OTHER REFORMS. "
But there are also other reforms
and economies imperativeiy de-
manded before we can lift the burden
Of taxation to any marked degree.
We have too much and too hasty
legislation. We believe 1t 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 equal
ly borne is too evident, and those
taxpayers who are honest in their
returns are grievously imposed on.
Governor Hagood long since pointed
out that our county governments are
both inefficient 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 free people is leopard
lied by the ignorant horde of voters
watching and praying for split in
our ranks. We earnestly urge the
Importance and necessity of a Con-
stitutional Convention to secure
needed economy in county affairs,
the abolition of useless offices, and to
throw stronger safeguards around
the citadel of white supremacy be-
fore the seeds of discord shall sprout
and grow. '...
THE PEOPLE MUST BE AROUSED.
To accomplish all this our people
must arouse themselves from their
lethargy and take q more Intelligent
and active interest in political af-
fairs, and here we would warn them
to see to it that set of greedy poll
ticians and off1ce-seekers shall not
again, as in past years, nominate
State ticket out of hand without
having a canvass or even an express
sion of sentiment on these important
issues. Public discussion is not only
the 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 a
canvass by those whose ambition 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 du-
ring the summer most profitably in
discussing before their constituents
these and any other questions Of pub
lie interest. Thus they can show
wherein we are wrong if they disa-
gree with US, or give us the advan-
tage of their approval if they ap-
prove.
FARMERS, KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN.
See to it then, ellow-citizens, those
of you who sympathize with our OBJ
iects and aims, that no tricks be
played upon US in the May conven-
ton. Farmers are too busy to give
much thought to their public duties,
but they can, and should, at least,
demand, and they will obtain, their
right to select their officials know
ingly, and make no more leaps in
the dark. But in the end the whole
matter, both of establishing the Ag-
ricultural College and of making
needed reforms in the State govern
ment, rests with the coming Legis-
lature. Our experience with the one
just adjourned teaches US to beware
of demagogues and fence straddlers,
and weakened individuals without
firmness of character or any convic-
tions of their own. We would,
advise and urge the abso-
lutte importance of selecting candi-
dates of firmness and capacity; and
of requiring of them to define and
explain their position. If a candi-
date is too good or too unfixed to
pledge himself to any line of policy
demanded by the people, he can and
should be left at home !; and when
after having pledged him
self and been elected, breaks that
pledge, as did a goodly number in
the last legislature, he is no longer
worthy the confidence and respect
Of any intelligent voter. ...
Appealing then to the good sense
and patriotism, not of farmers alone,
but of all classes of our people,
20 aid US in our efforts to secure equal
ustice and equal advantages to all,
% purify and elevate our politics and
% bring about a more economical
md efficient government in State
md county, we are respectfully,
D. K, NORRIS,
B. R. TILLMAN,
H. R. THOMAS,
l. w. 9. M. BIXBY,
E. P. MOORE,
JOHN MoRRAH,
J. B. MORRISON,
Ex. Com. Farmers Association.