The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-09-03
SLIGE AT SARDIS.
BE is Amused at the SewDerry Editors and
Boom the Subtreasury.

Clinton Gazette, August q.
At 1890 the chairman, Capt. ]. andy
Jones, came forward ard announced
that DR.. +. NJ. Settler would open the
proceedings with prayer. This cone,
the chair in troduced as the first speaker
Of the day, Rev. J. A. Sigh, member
of the House of Representative from
Newberry, a widely known agitator in
behalf Of he oppressed farming inter-
ests of the State, and much and popu-
lar gazetted orator and Allianceman.
Mr.. Sligh's address was lengthy, elc-
quent and full of soundness Of princi-
pie. He by way Of fprelude, made some
most dattering remarks respecting the
noble qualities of the good people of
Laurens County. He said: "You of
Laurens County have done as much,
if not more than the people OF any
other county in the State to redeem
and uphold the fair name and welfare
of grand old South Carolina.
Instead of my coming among you to
teach you regarding the situation and
to lay before you the issues involved in
this great warfare against the wrong, 1
should be at your feet learning more OF
the source Of this great revolutionary
upheaval that is now quaking the
foundation not only of South Carolina,
but of the whole country. The people
are beginning to think and to act for
themselves; the people are learning fast
and are the faster asking for more IN
formation, for light, for truth; and you
ought to do it for your own benefit. 1t
ir revolution, it is on US, it is IN our
hearts; and it must, it shall come. 1t
will not be smothered until it has ac-
complished its purpose, as sure IS ma
tions have their rise and fall. Mark
my words, it will end in a peaceable
revolution and then, and not until then,
will there be peace at last. There Is no
class Of men under the blue canopy OF
heaven, superior to the farmers in pa
triotisnn, loyalty, honesty, and truth
fulness. And when we as class rise
up in our might and majesty as one
mighty man, restless, and will not be
silenced, thsre is cause; there must
be a remedy. There is q cause; cause
produces effect. The opposition blame
Tillman, Shell and Others including
myself, for the entire restless condition
of things IN the State. Well, Tillman
and others did start the ball rolling
that opened the eyes of the oppressed
anu set the people to thinking for the
public good.
lam right well amused at the editors,
especially those of Newberry. They
always cry out against man wnen the
farmers put him forward as their leader.
These same editors, you see, wants to
boss the Job themselves. They want
the high plac, ond the fat of the land.
A Western speculator will say, it's an
overproduction Of corn, or wheat, that
causes low prices. Over one million OF
bales of cotton are on hand yet await
ing better prices; but who bnows? 1t
may be caused by underconsumption,
lack of business to take up and con-
sumo the cotton that causes the present
depression in prices. Myself and family
would use more of cotton goods if we
had the money, but how shall we get
it? The Alliance wants the farmers to
have more money; there is not enough
money in circulation. Others talk
about what the farmers ought to do
to avoid overproduction of cotton. L
want to know whether or not the
present state c., things came Of overpro-
duction. Whoever heard of overpro-
duction coming from lazy man? The
farmers are often dubbed "lazy" when
he goes to town. The falmers lost
much more time last year attending
| political gatherings and learning about
| the condition Of things than in any pre-
| vious year, and they made last year The
largest cotton crop of record. 1mrae-
| diately after the war there was plenty
of money; cotton sold at from s to 20
cents per pound fifteen years ago.
There was no trouble to make money
then: but now we are growing rapidly
FROM bad to worse. Property was
| worth more year ago than it is to-day,
with cotton selling at 6 cents. No
| money in the country, money becom-
i2g scarcer every day, no property
| wanted, no prosperity in the country,
| your home mortgaged, and that to be
{ foreclosed giving the shylock leader a
title. And general l0"s Of confidence
all round.
| Very few men, including our Congress
men, know much about the financial
condition or problem. After the war
there was about so ner capita; more
money in circulation in '66, '67 than in
'91. The population has doubled since
then and there is less money to conduct
| ~