The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1890-01-29
THE COMING CAMPAIGN.
A CONTEST PROPOSED WITHIN THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

An Address TO the Democrats oil sou''
Carolina. Issued By Order OF the Execa
tive Committee of the Farmers Associa
tiou of south Carolina.
To the Democracy of South Csrolins:
For four years the Democratic part,
in the State has been deeply agitased
and efforts have been made at the prlma
ries and conventions to secure retrench
ment and reform, aad = recognition Of
the needs and rights of the masses. The
Srst farmers convention met in april,
1886. Another in l1ovcuber of the same
year perfected a permanent organization
under the name of the "Farmers' Asso-
citation of South Carolina" This ssso-
ciatior, representing the reform element
in the party, has held two annual sessions
since, and at each of these four conven-
lions, largely attended by representa-
tive farmers from nearly all the Coun-
ties, the demands of the people for
greater economy in the government,
greater efficiency in its officials and a
fuller recognition of the necessity eor
cheaper and more practical education,
have been pressed upon the attention OF
our legislators.
In each of the two last Democratic
State Conventions the Farmers move
mens" has had large following, and We
only failed Of controlling the convention
of 1888 hy a small vote-less than
tverty-hve-and that, too, in the face of
the active opposition Of nearly every
trained politician 10 this State. We claim
that we have always had o majority OF
the people on our side, and have only
failed by reason of the superior political
tactics of our opponents and our lack of
organization. In proof of this We point
to abbeville and Chester, the only Coun-
ties except Charleston which had not al
ready appointed delegates to the State
convention before the campaign meet ]
inps two wears ago at which Governor
Richardson spoke. Both Of those Coun-
ties, after hearing the Governor deteno
his policy aad that!of bis faction repudiat-
ed him and it, and be received only two
votes from them.
The executive committee of the Farm
. ers' Association did not deem it worth |
while to hold any convention las: No |
vember, but we have watched closely |
eYery move of the enemies of economy
the eaeruies of agricultural education,
the enemies Of true Jefersonian Democ- |
racy-and We think the time has come
to show the people what it is they need |
and how to accomplish their desires. |
We will draw up the Indictment against /
those who have been and are still gov
nering our State, because it is at once the
cause and justification Of the course we /
intend to pursue.
NO REAL REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENT.
South Carolina has never had real
epubllcan government. Since the
LAY of the 'lords propFietors' 1t has been
In a,istocracy under the forms OF de-
cocracy, and whenever champion OF /
Be people has attempted to show them
gheir rights, and advocated those rights,
Al aristocratic oligarchy has bought him
with an Office, or failing in that, turned
loose the food gates of misrepresentation
and slsnder in order to destroy his In
Ruence.
The peculiar situation now existing IN
the stste, requiring the united efforts OF
every true white maR to preserve white
supremacy and our very civilization even,
has intensified and tended to make per
nanept the conditions which existed
before the war. Fear of division
among US and consequent return Of negro
rule has kept the people quiet and they
have submitted to many grievances I'M
posed by the ruling faction because they |
dreaded to risk such division.
The farmers movement" has been
hanpered and retarded in its work by
this condition of the public mind, but
we have shown our fealty to race BY
submitting to the edicts Of the party,
snd We intend as heretofore to make our
fight inside the party lines, feeling as
sured that truth and justice must finally !
prevail. The results of the agitation !
thus far are altogether encouraging.
Inch BY inch and step by step true
denocracy-the rule of the people-has
won its way. We have carried all the
outposts. Only two strougholds remain |
10 be taken, and with the issues fairly !
made up and put plainly to the people |
we have no fear of the result. The |
House of Representatives has been car
lied twice and at last held after des- |
perate struggle.
The advocates of reform and economy
are no longer sneered at as ''Three-for-a
Quarter statesmen" They pass measures
of economy which four years ago would
have excited only derision, and with the
farmers movement to strengthen their
backbone have withstood the cajolery,
threats and lmpotent rage OF the "ring
bosses" The Senate is now the main
reliance of the enemies of retEenchment
and reform, who oppose giving the peo-
ple their rights. The Senate is the
stronghold of 'se1issing institutions,
and the main dependence of those who
are antagonistic to all progress. As We
captured the House We can capture the
Senate; but We must control the Dem
ocratic State Convention before We c.n
hope to make economy popular in Co.
lumbia, or be assured of no more pocket
Ystoes. The General Assembly is large
II influenced By the ideas and policy of
the State officers, and we must elect
shose before we can say the farmers
movement has accomplished its mission.
It is true that We have wrenched from
rhe aristocratic ceterie who were edu
Gated at and sought to nonopolize every.
thing for the South Carolina College,
the right to control the land scrip ard
and Hatch fund and part of the privi-
lege tax on fertilizers for one year, and
we have $4,000 with which to com
mence building separate agricultural
college where the sons of poor faSmers