The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-09-20
Extracts from o Speech Of Hon. Ben Terrell,
before the Farme-s Alliance at UIiou,
ep;ember 4, 1889.

Extracts from q Speech Of Hon. Bon Terrell,
before the Farme-s Alliance at Uiiou,
september 4, 1889.
REPORNEo DY ]. L. STRAIN.
Major Terrell spoke substantially ~ fol-
lows:
Ladies and gentlemen, and members Of
the Farmers Alliance of Union County: Il
affords me great pleasure 10 meet and speak
to sush q representative body Of farmers rs
l meet here to-day. I, too, am . farmer,
advocating the interests oc farmers, and 1
feel that in you l have an audience who
will bear testimony with me as to tho actual
wants Of the farming classes. These will
attempt to speak OF and inquire into tho
causes that lead TO them. But in the first
place will say that the farmers can effoct
nothing without organization. Every man
whose interests a % identified with tho farm
ing class should seek admission int, tho
Farmers Alliance, for it is the only or.
gap:zation on earth where they will be
properly guarded and respected. AL other
professions are practically arrayed against
the farmers. Merchants, lawyers, doctors,
and in fact every profession is moro or less
organized for self-protection, and We don't
blame them. But we as farmers claim the
right to follow their example and the
Farmers Alliance is the only body that biis
fair to protect the farmers interests, and
prove blessing to the country at large.
With the history Of the organization you
are familiar, and it 10 unnecessary to speak
on that point.
The oredi, system and the meroilsss
power of moned men aud oorhqratians
have ground out the life Of the farmer, aud
made his time-honored profersion degr sd
ing. So much so, that the youths Of the
land who have any ambition arc looking to
other fields for employment, and hence,
bone, sinew, and brains are driven from the
farms, where they are SO much needed.
Tho Alliance proposes to antsgonize no
class or profession. It's objeo. is self-pro-
lection, and it only requires study Of the
history of he past quarter of O oeutury to
convince every reasonable man that ne
oessity does exist for a change Of front.
twenty-five years ago tho farmers owned
half OF the country, now they own but one
fourth OF 1t. Then we had no mortgages,
but now at least fifty per cent. Of the prop
CITY is under mortgage. As the monied
powers have been pressing harder and
harder continually, the farmers position
has steadily been becoming more aud more
embarrassing. twenty-five years ago the
farmers controlled the Offices and finano-s
Of this country, aad owned the products Of
the SOIL Now things are changed, and
monied men own all and give only o small
pit.ance, (if anything,) IN return. Thus
we see how things have been going on and
on, and If the farmer submits to this he is
unworthy to be called man, much less Q
farmer.
1 must admit that some of the newspapers,
have treated this matter with spirit VI
liberali;y, but in many instances they have
been against us. They are dir ectiy or in.
directly controlled by mOnieL powers that
are allied with corporations who's. object
and interest is to keep the farming classes
poor and dependent.
The politician, lawyer, merchant, and in
fact NIL classes Of men, are upposeI 10
trusts. All suffer, more or loss, ty them.
Why should any one object to the Alliance
when it opposes no one, but is simply for
the building up Of the agricultural interests