The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1890-02-07
THE ISSUE FOR THE FARMERS TO
DECIDE.

maplx,fisht, xna to refer toas wise its proPo-I
sitio6 To- operate entirely within the Do:pos'
cratic party,
The fight waged is emphatically "bold,
open and manly, "and while to settle all IS
sues inside OF party lines is unquesfionabiy
wise, we are impclled, from motives inspired
by a sincere desire for the real and perma-
ncnt advancement of the agricultural interests
of the State, to enter our demurrer to the plan
proposed We do not believe it to be wise
plan for several reasons
In the first place, the position of those
who have uttered the address. and of those
who endorse it, is inconsistent and illogical.
The address is made ITO the Democracy of
South Carolina" and yet by the plan propos-
cd a very large, and in many instances friend
ly, proportion of the Democrats of the State
arc to be excluded from any participation
or voice in the selection ofnominccs for State
officers. II would be at best the nomination
of n State ticket by the members of the Far
mcrs' Association, independently of the
rights of all other Democrats, however friend
ly they may bc to the measures ofrciorm the
farmers propose. True, the nomination of
ticket in this manner would be by Demo-
Gratis, to the exclusion Of members of other
political parties, but such a proceeding would
A2t bc, in the proler sense, inside the Demo.
constitution which prcscribcS the manner
and process of selecting its candidates, and
when il is proposed that only the farmer
element Of il shall constitute the party i'll
reality, and shall dictate to all other Gle
mcnts how they shall cast their votes,
there are many gool Democrats in every
community who will very naturally and
properly feel that they are to be dcpriv-
cd of vcay sacred right-tho right Of
voting as they please as Democrats, the
a. 81 in bn Sn1r nF In
necs ofthc party.
There is only one way for the farmers to
carry their mSaSurcs inside the Democratic
party, and that is to- submit them fairly
and squarly To the Democratic clubs, and to
appeal TO them as fellow Democrats and
patriotic, iair-mindcd, libcry-loving men,
to vote, in their clubs, in the selection of
delegates to the party convention. and in the
primaries for men who can be depended on
to execute the will of the Democratic majority
Any other method of management will be- in
aihT t P ts spytf @
c~oNuaiuY raN--~rN rneuiScrs OF tho
organization so acting. If we have Il major
lty OF the Democratic ties We can out-votc
all opposition, and carry whatever measures
we decide upon. If the majority he against
us, then we must b dc our time or be denied
our rights "insidc the Democratic parry"
The farmers of the State. we are sure. do
not expect the reforms they dcmani from
any other source; and if they are in dead
earnest tahd II they are not we arc badly
fooled for oncc). they will get their rights.
INSIDE the party in the regular way. with
peace and harmony, and with honorable and
b:nding submission on the part of those who
oppose them, aS the Farmers themselves have
so long and hon"rably submitted t. Il dcuial
of them.
We respectfully submit that the reason |
the iarmcrN "i the State have not long agn
go'icn all they want and all they have :,
right L" ai the hands ola better State govern
mcni under Democratic control. lies in the |
fact that they have not gone about il in n
determined, practical why, by uniting upon |
ana putting the light men in Office In the |
simplicity cf their honesty and confidence
they htvc Npcnoc0 too much upon "a, crcs-IJ !
prepared petitions ard resolutions express
ing 'ihc sense of the meeting without even
following these up with wcll-hircctcd, but
ton-holc work. They are beginning now to
realize that the ballot is thu cr,uhincd lever
and iulcrum for the cXrrc; .'r their power.
They are better organized 'ay than they
have ever been in the hist. nt the State
since occasion arose for such organization. |
and when the proper time comes they will |
without "St"mjalion begin the hlllUt snow |
drift thrt will 50 purify the political atmoS-
phcrc that their rights will he at once aSSur- |
cd. The opposition Ia fair and honest rule |
will bc showed under. And it will hc done
inside party lines. regularly and fairly and
wisely and without injustice To anybody or
The party and its plans and poll
cies will be purified without harshncSs or
or personal warfare. the I'M
wisdom of which is recognized by all right /
thinking men,
The address Of Chairman Shell, so far as
3 relates to measures of reform, is n very
houghtfu: and well prepared paper but in
and unwisey Sfesrnsa i .s,, il vi Liberal
was doubtless intended for effect il arous-
lRs the farmers from supposed lethargy. !
We do NOT thiok IL either wise oc necessary,
however. Tho farmers are already aroused, !
but dispassionrely. They arc sentimental |
enough, but their sentiments mean business |
rather than bad blood aud sectional c!trange- !
ment. Their purroscS are not 10 be de- |
stroyel in madness. They are cool III the
cultivation Of wisdom. and they vii! vote
tight when the time comes.
Important concessions have been
made To the demands of the flrmers
of the State within IHc pu>t few years.
Their pans have been oppose and thwhricl |
in several instances. iu; step b" stcr the |
farmers are gaining gr,nnd. frnm every |
fight they mc~gc win At least u plrriIl vic. !
tory. All they can demand w,thn the I
t,uuGs cf reason - within lEci: r.&ch III :
side the Democratic party, strictly. Win Is /
pr cScnt machii cry in oprra'i III. |. the /
farmers calmly aGl coily decade upon the /.
rcfrrms they desire. au; + they do url
carry them through Il VIII lr lc'ou,c they .
are not united. Aul ANITA unity prcra..S
nothing viii tc accomplished hy this mcHns
or that. Thcy are in t1r mi Ir.iy. nai n"