The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-05-02

capped and cut off from any Improvement
along that line by our Radical Constitution,
while our very existence as free people Is
jeopardzed by the ignorant horde OF voters
watching and praying for split In our ranks.
sity of a Constitutional Convention to secure
needed economy In county affairs, the aboli-
tIon of useless offices. and to throw stronger
premacy before the seeds of dlscord shall
sprout and grow.
THE PEOPLE MUST BE AROUSED.
To accomplish all this our people must
arouse themselves from their lethargy and
take more inteligentand aotIve interest in
political affairs, and here we would warn
them te see to IL that set Of greedy poltti.
clans and office seekers shall not again, as in
past years, nominate a State ticket out OF
hand without having canvass or: even ex-
preston OF sentiment on these and other i'm
portant 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 be-
half, then, Of the farmers whom we rep
resent, and as one Of the best means Of bring
Ing about these reforms, we insist on a can.
vass by those whose ambition 1t Is to con.
troll the Sta te 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, yet feel that If they seek denomination
the summer most profitably In discussing be-
fore their constituents these and any Other
questions of public interest. Thus they can
show wherein we are wrong II they disagree
| with us, or giveus the advantage OF their ap'
proval, II they approve.
| FARMERS, KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN.
See to 1t then, fellow citizens, those Of you
| who sympathize with our objects and aims
that no tricks be played upon us In the May
Convention. Farmers are too busy to give
m I1oh tn hoi r,ph
can and should, at least, demand, and they
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 o.
making needed reforms In the State Govern
ment, rests with the coming Legislature
Our experience with the one just adjourned
teaches US to beware Of demagogues and fence
straddlers and weakened individuals with
out f1rmness of character or any convictions
of their own. We should, therefore, advise
and urge the absolute importance Of select
Ing candidates Of firmness and capacity; and
Of requiring of them to define and explain
their positions. II candidate Is too good OF
too unf1xed to pledge himself to any line ol
policy demanded by the people. he can and
should be left at home and when a candi.
date. after having pledged himself and been
elected, breaks that pledge. as did goodly
number in the last Legislature, he is no long
er 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, to aid US in our efforts
to secure equal justice and equal advantages
to all, to purify and elevate our politics and
to bring about amore economical and efficient
government in State and county, We are re-
spectfully,
D. X. Norris,
B. r. Tillman,
H. r. Thomas,
W.Q. NJ. Bixby,
E. p. Moore,
John Morrah,
J. B. Morrison,
Executive Com'tee Farmers Association
Columbia. October q, 1888.