The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1890-02-06
The South Carolina Farmers
New York SIM.


The Executive Committee of the
Farmers Association Of South Carolina
has issued u long address attacking
the management Of the Democratic
partv in that State. The Farmers
Association Is composed Of OfDemocrats,
but the State otticeholderS do not be-
long to it, and the Legislature, espec-
ially the State Senate, Is not controlled
by it.
Ever since 1856 the farmers have been
trying to control the Democratic State
Convention, and they came very near
doing so last year. Next May they
will hold Il Convention Of their own.
and nominate L State ticket which will
be submitted to the Democratic State
Convention. Apparently the farmers
expect that their ticket will have to oe
taken by the other Democrats this
time.
The announced purpose OF the Farm
ers' Association is TO "secure retrench-
ment and reform, and y recognition Of
the needs aud rights Of the MASSES" y
recognition Of the needs and rights OF
members of the Farmers Association
to hold Office is implied, but not en-
pressed. If the assertions Of the address
are true, the Democracy OF South Car
0!ina needs stirring up and 4 vigorous
course Of rotation III office. "Soutl
CarOiina,n we are told, has never had
real republican government. Since
the dav of the Lords PropiietOrs II has
been an aristocracy, under the form Of
democracy, and whenever Il cham
pion of the people has attempted to
show them their rights, and advocated
those rights against the ariStocratic
oligarchy, it has bought him with an
office, or falling in that, turned loose
the hoodgates Of Misrepresentation and
slander in order to destroy his Influence.
The fear of division among Us and the
CONSEQUENT return OF negro rule HIS
kept the people quiet. and thry have
submitted to many grievances imposed
by the ruling faction because they
dreaded to risk such Il division"
There certainly used to be All dig
archy or aristocracy in South Carolina,
and it produced many famous names,
but the war put an end to it, except in
so far as il may still cherish social
rrelansionS. iii politics the names Of
some OF the families that ruled the
Palmetto State in the days when Cot
ton was King are still distinguished,
but We must suppose that under the
new conditions such distinction is the
work of personal merit and not OF m
heritance. If, however, there are dry
bones that need shaking up and cllques
of cf1icehuders that need the appllca-
ton of rotation, the movement OF the
farmers may deserve encouragement,
although any attempt ut political
solidarity on the part Of 4 single IN
terest will bear careful Watching.
Probably it vii! be news to good
many South Carolina Democrats that
they are not living under a govern
ment by the people. If the members OF
the Farmers Association are right i'll
asserting that the State is governed hy
an aristocratic oligarchy, they ought
to have no trouble in putting the dig
;lrchy fiat on its back.
III view Of the remarkable political
activity which has for some time brc!l
displayed 10y various organizations OF
farmers in the Southern States. it may
be possible for the opponents of the
Farmers Association OF South Caro-
lima to show that by government by
the peonic the association me;tnS GOV
ernnent 10y its members.