The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-12-30
AN ADDRESS
BY President Stokes to the Alliancemen
Of south Carolina.

The following address has been IS
sued TO the Aliancamen of South Car
olina by Hon. j. ". Stokes, President
of the State Alliance:
need not tell you that sore distress
prevails throughout the borders Of our
State among all laboring people, but
especially among agriculturists. The
fine prices year ago stimulated actiVi-
ty and confidence, and with bounding
hope they in many cases passed the
limit of prudence in contracts for fer
tiliZers and labor.
In most sections of the State the
crops are very short, while the receipts
at the ports would indicate not only an
unprecedented but an incredible gener-
al yield. Large fertilizer contracts, a
short crop, and prices below the cost of
production, while the manufactured
article has actually advanced in price,
tells the story with very many OF our
people. From mountain to seaboard
their plant distress comes up to this Of.
fee; but to the honor of those who
write it must be said that there is little
OF the spirit of repining complaint.
The spirit of those who write IS the
spirit of those masses for whom they
write.
To the everlasting credit of our peo-
pie, be it said, in most cases they are
paying up their contracts just as far as
their lnited crops Will reach at pre-
vailing ruinous prices. The spectacle
of an Industrious man surrenderlng his
| last blade of fodder and bushel OF corn
toward the liquidation of his debt, COM
pels admiration even IN the abstract;
but when that man turns his steps
homeward empty-handed to al empty
corn-c crib End flour barrel, knowing that
| he must look into trusting eyes, brlm-
ming with anxiety and foreboding, or
dulled into dumb patience under bur-
dens long endured, inevitable, the case
assumes tragic phase.
A hard thing to do, that; but it is a
superb thing, because it IS the right
thing, the honest thing, the manly
thing. The contract was to pay to the
extent OF the crop; and the contract
should be met as made. It matters not
that in some cases there was extortlon;
or that the living for which the pro-
duct of a whole yea-'7 labor and indus.
try was pledged W. -.meagre living OF
the plainest sort. The contracts were
made that way and should be met as
made.
This is the right course; and it is also
the best policy. Accommodations for
another year will be more easily OBJ
tatned if the accounts for this year are
equitably adjusted. It puts matters in
better business shape to close the ac'
count for the year by settlement, even
| if the needs of the customer require the
re-opening of the account next day. L
trust, however, that as far as possible,
our people will avoid going into dett
next year, even if they have to hire out
for a season or for whole year.
Let US take counsel with each other
in this season of sore distress-a COM
mon suffering should make a common
cause, q common helpfulness. Let our
people cling closer together and thus
strengthen each others hand, and cling
closer to our organization. Great
wrongs have been heaped upon agri.
culture, under which it is languishlng
or painting for life. Shall we desert the
only organization that promises help?
Shall we desert its principles and SUB
nit in dumb patience like beasts OF bur-
den, because our efforts TO help our
selves have stirred up opposition?
Rather let US knit ourselves together
with closer tie. take courage from the
righteousness of our cause, attend our
meetings, discuss these broader ques-
tions as well as our individual needs,
and solution will be found IN Gods
own good time. "All things come to
him who can wait" is an old pro7erb.
No question Is settled until it is settled
right. We know that existing conU-
tions are unequal; and no man OF intel
ligent honesty maintains that they are
right. The general concensus OF opinion
is that they are not right. however wide
" they may differ as to the causes and
the remedies, and general awakening
of the public conscience upon a given
matter, Is the sure precursor OF better
things.
Attend the meetings, then, and dis
cuss these broad Questions OF prJaclple
as well as your Individual Ills ano
needs. Let the stronger lock arms Win
the weaker and thus make stronger
union, that will tide US over the lm-
pending crisis.
DO all this; but especially should each
Alliance man attend his Sub at the las5
meeting in December; let each talk
freely 10 the end that delegates to the
County Alliance may be posted fully as
to the conditions and needs of his mem
bers. AS soon as delegates are appoint
ed let the secretary beinstructed to send
their names and post offices to this Of
fee.
Then let every member, whether de.
legate on not attend the jam ary meet
ing OF his County Alliance. Matters OF
especial interest will be there presented,
and it is hoped that every member, who
possibly can, will be there. Let the
January meeting of the County ALI
ance be a general rallying ground, to
the end that in the multitude of counsel
the safety of our people may be assured,
and the proper measures Of relief be de-
vised from the difficulties that environ
us.
Brethren, let US all bear with forti-
tude the evil day, bear like men the
burdens we cannot shake off, do our
QUGy. w I'LL c4u 6UlCluS lc1LL 1A eA1O
righteousness and justice of our prlncl-
pies, and in the existence of our God, a
righteous and just author of the affairs
of men, we shall obtain the relief we
seek.
Let US attend the December meeting
of the Subs and the January meeting
of the County Alliances, as far as posi-
BILE; and bend our thought and effort to
the establishment of better things.
Fraternally,
J. WM. STOKES.
Pres. S. G. State Alliance.
Orangeburg, December II, 1891.
An Ugly Report Denied.
The Augusta Evening Herald, of the
10th instant, published the following:
The Rev. Thomas Leitch whose SER
mons during the past two years have
startled sinners in South Carolina and
Gaoroia and mt them on the Way