The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-01-26
Farmers on the War PAIN.

The farmers Association Of South Caro-
lima has determi lel - ma lage ths Doii,i-
cal affairs OF that state. IL doesn't like the
way they arc ma a ei now, aud it believes
itself to be strong enough to olst those now
in power. Il has called a convention 20
meet in Columbia, March y, to nominate
full state ticket. Its int ition is to make
fight inside of the Democratic party,
and the ticketit dominates therefore, viii be
submitted to the reyulir democratic state
convention for ratification or rejection.
There are reasons for thinking that the
farmers will win the fight they are making
II they are united they will certainly do so.
They have the vo.ing strsng b, and they are
so much n earnest that they will not have
much difficulty in gett n: out all their
voters at tie primaries. They will 60 to the
primary meetings in force, and they will
make the political bosses VIII sit around the
village stores aad loaf in the court houses
take back seat.
The proclamation which they have issued
has the true fighting ring. 1t shows that
they mean business. They have had one or
two tuasels with the politicians and have
won some victories. Their successes
have increased their confidence in their
ability to get control of the state and
hold it. The reforms which have been
adopted by their efforts have proved to
be 50 beneficial that they insist upon other
reforms.
IL the statements in their proclamation
are correct, they have grieva ces which
ought to be reneiied. They declare that
there is lack Of efficiency and economy in
the administration af the government, and
that more attention is paid to higher
education for the benefit of the
Children Of the few who are
rich than to common education for the
children of the poor. Tney want the masses
educated with the public money, I'd they
therefore want better commol schools. In
this they are right. 1t is not the duty of
the STATE to provide higher education. 1t
ought to support only schools in which are
taught the rudimentary branches of an
English education. Those who want bet
ter educational advantages should pay for
them.
The farmers don't like having ths rail-
roads of the state gobbled up by Wall
street syndicates. These syndicates, they
say, regard South Carolina las lem III to
be squeezed" and their purpose is to get
all they can out Of the state without giving
anything in return. The farmers looked to
the railroad commission to protect them,
but the commissions hands have been tied
and the commissioners have nothing to do
but draw their salaries
The farmers blame those who administer
and execute tina laws for the lynchings
which have occurred and for the failure to
punish criminals. They attribute much OF
the lawlessness in the state to the lax maa-
ner in which the laws are enforced. Per-
haps the farmers themselves are in a
measure responsible for the failure to
punish criminals. They are large clement
in the juries. and if juries fail ID find YER
diets OF guilty, in cases whers guilt is
proven, judges and sheritfs are not wholly
TO blame if crime is not checked.
This fight which the farmers have inau-
gurated IS going to be an interesting one.
They are beginning to understand their
power and to use it, not only in political
affairs, but in other IN ttters, and they are
becoming active in other states tlan South
Carolina. They are cooperating in all
parts of the country. May they have sue
cess as long as they are guided by justice
aud correct principles