Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1890-04-17

push their individual aims and ambi-
tions in the gnisc of active reform
crs. Men again who are ever ready
to pull down what has been already
done and begin anew arc danger
Gus element in every reform, how
ever wholesome and however need
full,
SO that if we had to group states
manship in the fcwcst words, We
would say that it was patient watch
fulncss in the conduct of affairs.
Slccplcss vigilance is indispensable
in such Il government as ours. Self
government is tho most difficult of
all the forms Of human government,
and it is only by watchfulncss in the
conduct Of things that a free people
can trust either themselves or others
with the rule in their hands. The
possession of power has dcmorali-
zing effect on most all men, so that
it is essential to keep n close watch
on affairs, it matters not in whose
hands they arc entrusted. But
above all, a free people need the cx-
ercisc OF patience, which is one of
the most superb capacities of the ac-
customcd freeman, as it is one of the
trucst tests of the clf-govcrning at
tribute of any people. Human gov
crnment cannot be reduced to Il syl-
logism. 1t cannot be set to rights
by a political dogma. No set of po-
litical principles arc altogether right
or altogether wrong, so far us practi-
cal government is concerned. We
must give and take in the wise con
duet OF Il State according to some
controlling sense of good fellowship
and common sense.
Now then, with these views the
Rcyi,ter does not blame the farmers
of the State for showing an active
watchlulncss in the affairs of their
State government. Ear from blam-
ing the farmers for so-doing, we hail
it rs full Of good for the State at
large. We insist upon it, whatever
is good for the farmers is good for us
ali, and whatever is bad for them is
bad f"r us all. 1t matters not, then,
who is son ,op,' we arc bound to get
right.
The Farmers Alliance, kept
within its legitimate purpose, the
Register hopefully watches as a
grand mstrumcntality for the good
of the farming class and to that ex-
tent good for us ALL This great
Alliance, as u secret body and class
organization, puts itself inexorably
out of the pale of politics. But there
is no reason why the members of the
Alliance, rs citizens and without
reference TO their membership q! o!
lnat body, may not, as they are
trained and educated in the best in
tcrcstS of their class within the Ali
Ancc, come out among their fellow
citizens to discuss and urge such
legislation rs is right and proper to
protect and defend the best interests
OF their class from unjust and hurt
ful combinations in the body of So
c;cty.
1t is plain to see that the huge
moncycd corporations in the country,
in all the various avoCations of life,
have driven the farmer in Il corner
so that he must stand and make fight
or be driven to the wall for all time.
Should this great organization stand
fast to what is good and fair and
just and above rcproach between
man and man, and avoid in it's lcgiti-
mate policy OF sclf-dcfcnse the very
evils OF which il justly complains in
others, to wit: the restraint and in
tcrlcrcncc with other mems homes
earnings, it will prove blessing to
the whole country.
But there is one essential attribute
that the Alliance must nurse at its
heart to advance its grand purpose,