Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1889-09-05
SWALHALLA, q,
BYTMoMpsoN, snIirH 8 JAYNEs.

BY THOMPSON, SMlT - ia
organization the farmers are not felt,
either in commerce, politics or in
the great transportation lines of
sonlless corporations. They charge
just what freights they please and
the poor farmer pays them. tits all.
nonsense to talk about the merchant
paying the freights. He may do SO
in bulk and directly, but the farmer
pays them all back to him indirectly,
for they are estimated in the
cost Of the goods. The producer
and consumer have to foot the bill.
They pay the costs and profits, too.
Organize and in your State ALI
ance you can regulate these things.
Say boldly what reformation you
Want, and then vote Tor tilo men
who will enact the laws you need.
One farmer trying to fight these
trusts, combines and corporations
is like the gnat on the BULBS horn in
Hsop's Fables. The gnat was
about to fly and warned the bull of
his fight, who replied: "You fool, I
didn't know you was there" But !
tell you million gnats would have
made him hustle. just so million
farmers can organize and make these
bulls below.
We have got the majority Of
votes. We are the great consumers
as well as the producers. We feed
and clothe the world, and ought to
rule it. We are the foundation Of
all government and society. The
whole superstrnctnre would crnnhle
and fall to ruin without us. Let the
Angel of Death pass throughout the
land this night and breathe in the
farmers face; some one would have
to rise and take his place.
Yes, but some will say you are
running into politics, and you must
not do that. Who? None but those
who are eating the rich political
chicken pie. would have you
study politics. I do not mean low
and dirty politics. despise that. l
do not mean paying a mans taxes to
get his vote, nor buying it with
whiskey, but I mean the policies
of our government. deem it i'm
portant that you should study politi-
cal economy. Study men and mea-
sures, so that you can act independ-
emily and vote intelligently.
Look at the laws of Congress.
They are all in favor of the million
aires and against the farmer. See
how they foster fat corporations,
trusts and combines, all at the
expense Of the farmer. By tho
rough organization alone can these
things be remedicd.
Tho farmers pay eighty per cent
of the taxes of the government, and
deserve some consideration. Let us
organize and demand our rights.
We can do it. 1t is incumbent on
lis to help each other and do our
whole duty. No one will help us
if we do not help ourselves.
do not believe in class feeling.
Men of sense should never be go-
verned by prejudice. Vote for the
best men, it matters not where you
find them, whether on the farm or
among the professions. Do not vote
against man because he is a lawyer
or doctor. Let your vote be 60
verned by your reason and judg-
ment. take the rules of jefferson.
ask, first, is he honest? Second,
is he intelligent? Third, has he the
courage to do his duty? One-half of
the Georgia Legislature are to-day on
a hot gridiron. The capitalists are
pulling them one way, and if they
yield, they are afraid they won't get
the farmers votes next fall. In a
word, / would define tho man you
should send to the Legislature and
to Congress-the gentleman. And
if you have no gentlemen left in
this community you are in n bad fix.
If you elect gentlemen to Office, if
you send gentlemen to the Legisla-
ture and to Congress, you stand in
no danger of being robbed or mis-
represented. can always trust the
honest, intelligent, courageous gentle
man, wherever / find him.
The farmers are hopeless and help
less without organization. 1t takes
tho power of organization to accom-
plish the good at which we aim. 1t
can't be done without it. You meet
together in the sub Alliances. You
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