The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1891-05-21
MIR. TERRELL'S SPEECH.

address in the Opera House last Thurs
day morning.
The day was cold and wet, and small
audience was present to greet the speak
er, but before the close others came in
until the auditorium Was nearly filled.
Men had gathered from all sections of the
County to hear the speaker, and the bus
mess men of town showed their interest
by attending. The Lecturer received the
closest attention throughout-an hour and
three quarters-and was applauded q
number of times.
The speaker was attractive and inter.
esting in his presentation, and made a
favorable impression on his hearers. he
said he desired to discuss all matters
without prejudice and honestly, and inVi-
ted questions from any one who wished to
ask them. he urged all to listen and
form opinions in the same spirit that he
would speak, viz, without prejudice and
with a desire to learn, so that broad
view of the situation might be taken.
AS one object of Mr.. Terrelis visit here
vas to instruct the County Lecturers OF
this District, a number of members we're
here from other Counties, and occupied
seats upon the stage.
The speaker was introduced by Col. D.
e. Norris, and an imperfect summary oi
what he said is here given:
The Farmers Alliance is q secret or.
ganization, but secret only that it may be
fraternal. 1t excludes no one in order to
hurt or destroy him in business. It is an
organization which seeks the advance
ment of its members mentally, morally,
socially and financially. The farmers
have paid too little attention to the cult.
walton of their minds. Education makes
the man. When its members are educa.
ted more generally and to a higher de.
gree, their condition generally will i'm
prove, and not till then. This is fun.
damental principle of the order.
The members take an oath on joining
to assist each other in bearing their bur
dens. Lend helping hand to your
brother in time Of need, and enable him
to better his condition.
The speaker said one of the greatest
enemies of the Alliance vas prejudice-a
prejudice which embittered its members
against those not members, or those en-.
gagged in other lines of business, and
proved barrier in the way of their own
success. Rid yourselves of this narrow
ness. Be broad in your views and toler.
ant toward the honest opinions of those
who differ from you. Rise above the petty
jealousies Of life. "Let the lamp of rea
son guide you in every enterprise" said
the speaker.
Mr.. Terrell said the National Commit.
tee had formulated four important prop.
ositi9ns, which they had announced as
demands" They we're that the govern.
ment control the public lands in such a
way as to keep them from being occupied
or owned by foreigners, so that they may
be preserved for citizens of America !;
government control of railroads; an equal
distribution of taxes; and an increase of
the circulation of money, 80 that it may
be $50 per capita.
As to the first demand, the speaker
asked, should foreigners own this country?
A thousand times no. Let our citizens
strive to own the land, and then they
will be loyal to the government, and pop.
ular government insured for all time to
come.
Such powerful corporations as the rail-
roads should be under government con.
troll. So great is the power of railroads
to oppress or destroy, that town in
Georgia had been killed by them, as they
refused to stop trains there, and estab-
hshed station few miles from it. They
can destroy any town, or build it up.
They can control the markets, or starve
out a town or section. This enormous
power should not be left in the hands OF
few individuals.
The speaker said that the burden OF
taxation bears too heavily upon the far.
mers. They own only about % per cent.
of the wealth of the country, and yet pay
SO per cent. of the taxes. They demanded
laws that will remedy this injustice.
The increase of the circulation Of mon.
ey was then talked Of, and in connection
with it the Sub-Treasury plan, and its
warehouse system, and flexible cur
rency. The speaker favored all of these
ideas and discussed them at length.
He said there was not volume enough
of money in circulation. The legislation
on finance had been made too much in
favor of the money men of Wall Street.
Money had been given power the foun.
ders of this country never anticipated
the power to oppress the masses when
thrown into the control of few. He
said the supply of money vas not equal to
the demand created by the products Of
the country. This evil would abate if
the circulation was increased, and the
Sub.Treasury adopted, so that producers
could deposit their products in the ware.
houses, and draw therefrom 80 or rs or
even so per cent of their value. Such an
arrangement would secure flexible cur
rency, thereby making the supply equal
to the demand.
As to the speakers political opinion
there is doubt. He said either the
Republican or Democratic party muat
come to the st. Louis and Ocala demands,
or cyclone would strike both, as the al.
lance was able to turn the scale in any
direction it pleased. He said he had al
ways been a Democrat, but was now
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