The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1890-07-03
"Lct Your Moderation be Known unto all
-----.- Man, ------.-- =

Mr.. Ep1ToR: Allow ME through your
columns to saw few things to my friends
and fellow-citizens. For once in life.
time of more than half century I ven
ture to address you, friends and citizens,
through the press. Heretofore I have
been content to exercise my rights and
discharge my duties as citizen in quiet
way, but the present excited condition of
the public mind in regard to the political
issues of the day, end the deep and abiding
interest which feel in the welfare of our
State. has induced me to depart from my
usual course, and ask to be heard this one
time.
wish to say, in the beginning, that [
am farmer and the son of farmer-al-
most all of my relatives are farmers. l
am fully identified with the farmer and the
farming interests of our common country.
While this is true, think can go even
farther, in saying that claim to be q
Christian patriot so speak to my BROTH
er .farmers, my Christian brethren and
fellow-patriots, and beg, in the name OF
alive hold dear as citizens OF this grand
old State, that you speak and act thought
fully and wisely at this critical PERIOD IN
our history. One who takes calm ana
,dispassionate view of the present political
agitation and excitement in our state, can
but fear the results which must inevitably
follow, unless the people stop and think; !;
and this is what J. beg thns you do--stop
and think.
We glory in the fact that the government
under Which we are privileged to live is
'of the people, by the people, and for the
people, While our citizenship secures
to us the right as individuals to assist In
shaping and directing the government un-
der which we live, it also imposes solemn
duties and responsibilities upon US. This
no one can deny. This, then, being true,
we should guard against any undue ex.
element which would in any way disqual-
ify us for discharging those grave and re-.
sponsible duties resting upon us as cltl'
zens. Do not allow yourselves to be
carried away, by men or measures, to such
an extent as that you may not be able to
keep invio1ate the trusts committed to you.
I wish to say to the Christian men OF our
County that there are duties resting upon
you which you cannot disregard with i'm.
punity. In that Book which was given
from Heaven as guide in all the relations
of life-in that Book which you prize
above all other books-we And these words,
so eminently applicable at the present
time: ..sLet your moderation be known
unto all men," And again: blessed are
the peace-makers, for they shall be called
the children of God" Yours is a religion
of peace and good will toward men, not
one of anger, strife and bitterness. May
we not expect you, at this critical moment,
to be known as. men of mod deratlon Your
Heavenly Father requires 1t OF you; your
fellow.countrymen have q right to expect
it of you. It is not yours TO disturb, put
to pour oil upon the troubled waters.
Christian men Of South Carolina. act upon
the principles and in the spirit OF the re
lipion which you profess. By your peace
making spirit and efforts let yourselves be
known as the children of God. To one
and all: citizens and voters of the State, let
us avoid the extremes in actions or utter.
ances which engender strife and discord,
which arouse feelings of bitterness between
brethren, neighbors and friends, from
which no good can come, but "a vast amount
Of harm.
Farmers, as class, have never figured
largely as leaders in politics before, but have
rigen, as if by magic, in their strength, and
nropose to accomplish much, as they be-
<fieye, for the good of the State but let us
bear in mind our want of experience in
these things and act with great caution,
lest We bring reproaoh upon ourselves
lest we do things, in the midst Of excite
ment, of which we would be ashamed in
the moment of calm reflection. Let us
select our best men to fill the offices, let
them be who they may. We want good
men, true men-men who can rise above
and get out of self; men who, in their pub
Lie capacity, can really and truly be the
honored servants of the people. Our State
is one of the best in the Union-her people
as good, as noble, as patriotic ss can be
found anywhere and with the reforms and
corrections that can be- easily brought
about by wise and judicious management,
our State government will, be all that :, we
could reasonably expect. Remember, that
our State has been; is now, and will be,
what the people make it. -.
Let me, in conclusion, urge moderation
in the present political crisis.
Honea Path, S. O.