The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-03-02
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SBLF-SUSTAINING FARMS.
THE EVILS OF sPEcULAT1NG IN FUTURES
Speech OF Hon. II. Il. Tiii7nnn at New.
berry Last Saturday, February 20.
1899. in Which He Tells Some
Wholesome Truths In the Most
Emphatic Manner He IN Afraid
the Row OF Promise Will Depart
From Us.
News and Courier.

From Us.
News and Courier.
NEwBERRY, February 27.-About six hun
dred persons assembled in the opera house
here Today to hear an address from Governor
Tillman. He was Invited by the County Al
lance some two or three weeks ago to discuss
the question OF the reduction Of the acreage
OF cotton and kin drcG subjects. and not TO
discuss politics. There were a good many
coored people present. The Governor was
not look Ing well, and did not speak with his
usual win and vivacity, but the audience
gave him the best OF attention, though there
was no display and but little enthusiasm.
The large part OF the audience was from the
country, but there was good sprinklins of
lOWITreOple.
President Slgh, Of the County Alliance
presided over The meeting and introduced
the speaker He explained the object OF the
meeting and spoke OF the various conven.
tions that had been held by the farmers Of
the cotton-growing safes TO DISCUSS the
same question. IL was pleasure TO him pre-
side over this large meeting and to introduce
the distinguished speaker,a man well known
throughout other Slaies; a farmer to speak
To farmers. The very fact that he is here
shows that he takes an Interest ~ you and
has an appreciation of the people over whom
he has the honor TO exercise the functions of
Chief Magistrate. (Applause and hurrahs Tor
Iillman.)
Governor Tilman said that he was just out
of bed: that yesterday he. had ventured out
for the first time in ten days, and but for the
fact that he did not want the people To come
here aud be disappointed he would not be
present. Il am always glad correspond to the
confer with them on any subject affecting the
public. / am here to discuss the agricultural
outlook and kindred subjects. 1t is broad
question. Agriculture Is the basis OF all
wealth, the foundation on which society
rests. am also told that am not expected
to touch on politics. The subject is a very
dry one, although Of far more Importance
than any other. II affects every household;
I,yn hi ftn M n q
good counsel. Shak espeare says II can ensier
tell twenty men what were good 10 he done
than TO be one to follow my own teachings"
We are confronted by u condition
that is gloomy indeed; never, at least
since 1865, has IL been more so. l have heard
1t said in the iortes similar condition ex-
listed, so far as the price OF cotton Is con-
cerned. But then every regulated farm was
self.sustaining. They had nothing TO buy ex-
cept some luXurieS, shoes tor the family. etc.
We have reversed the conditions then exist
Ing, and in large measure looked TO one crop
TO buy almost everything we are compelled
to have. The present condition of over-rro.
duction Of cotton was ioreSeen by me several
years ago, and predicted in n public speech NJ
Bennettsville seven years ago, when 1 nn-
dertook to bring about a change so far as dis
cussion could do It,.
ave have almost driven our people TO the
culture OF cotton alone. How? One OF the
was the enactment OF the lien law. which
placed credit on the future crop, even before
it. was planted. II placed the honest and the
dishonest. the intelligent and the ignorant
men on the same basis.
IT placed The raising Of the crop In the hands
of those who make profit out OF 1t by specu-
atIng in the product. Our rents look for SD
much cotton, and the liens look for SO much,
and as q consequence our people were forced
10 raise H..
soar legislation is largely responsible for
our condition. The effort 10 make that Will
which TO buy everything else, especially
rho hn ~ NJ
n demand for livestock law. I'VE concluded
that we couldn't make any money ont of
stock, and VIII? keep up the fences? am
strong advocate OF the law aud believe II To be
Il blessing If properly used, but after the law
was enacted the effort TO raise stock ceased.
Thereafter we turned our attention more TO
cotton and the blessing WAS turned INTO
curse.
ave need summer pasture. We can pro-
luce bacon and beef rs cheap here as in the
West. have raised hogs myself and kept
much as the Western bacon, hut there are
other It's. We spend for guano alone, In this
State, over SSG'O.O0O annually. The making
OF home manure has become forgotten art
We kill grass nine months In the year and
then turn around and buy Northern hay.
"Foreseeng this condition, we have endeav-
cred to put on fout Clemson College, where
our young men can be taught the Importance
of Il diversified Industry; but what are We 70
do now while we are waiting for Clemson TO
start? 1t Is q very simple case. The on road
we can now follow with safety is TO produce
less cotton and make our farms selfsustain-
ing.
Speculation and depression in the money
market have in some degree caused the low
price,. but we have produced more cotton than
the world will consume. But you say we are
In debt and cannot get money except out OF
cotton. Can YOU pny debts when you pay
more for raising cotton than you geL for IL (?
If there Is not radical change starvation Is
inevitable. That Is the long and short OF II
and the whole oft.
1.-The condition Is produced by two things.
Too much time Is wasted In idling and hunt
ing game and running rabbits. We must
wor,; six days In the week. Too much time Is
lost that should be devoted 10 making ma
nure and improvements. There must he more
industry, and you must raise your rations ut
home and make cotton The surplus.
"As to the flnancia. question there aro two
causes for the low price of cotton. One was
the decentralization OF silver, and the other
the. conduct of our national affairs in the In
used as hewerS OF wood and drawers Of water
10 max a few men richer. Wrare largely re-
sponsibe for this state OF affairs. We should
practice economy. ! have pointed nu, what
we should do at home; but what ahonL the
iother? This Is n big country. Vast interests
are involved; diversified and conflicting in
tereSts. The agricultural Interests. by reason
ofa lack Of orsnn iZation. and on account OF
ignorance, Is being Systematically rOhhed
through the tariff in the interest OF Wall
street.
'lIe RIIllnceSpTang lulO LDp HTPun ike "
giant, and spread over the State like fire
through Sedge field. hit does not go too far
and ask unreasonable things; II IL does not
demand Capitalization, as some claim II does:
IL its demands are not unreasonable, and
there Is the danger. great and lasting benefits
will follow. am afraid that the bow of prom
se will depart. II W. are reasonable and sub
sidize The newspapers With the tru tn. II we do
not get all we ask We will at least get some
thing. We must not quarrel about the means,
but we must gel there.
"Look al the condition of affairs in Wash
ingtOn. The Democrats with Il large ma jor-
Ity are split into laciiouS. There comes In
your diversified interests. What suits the
Democrats OF Massachusetts does not suit the
Democrats Of South Carolina.
"Whethcr there shall be split from the old
parties Or not l cannot say hut certainly the
trend OF hings is In that direction. Until II
does happen, we, who are To-day confronted
by the Repub leans with their force bill and
negro domination, have got to stand by the
Democratic party The Northeast, who have
helped us rO prevent these things. There
Shond be and can be no just antagOniSm be-
tween the faf mers and any other class. un-
less the farmers are prosperous every other
interest must suffer. There may I've dispute
AS to how We are to reach certain points, but
for Gnd'S sake don't lei US quarrel about reach
ing that point"
Speaking about tie st. LOUIS Convention
and the Third Party he said that hr did not
believe we would have any Third Party In
South Carolina yet; buthe did not know what
might come. Seli-intercSt might force us 10
go with the Northwest: but until that time
did come we had to stand together for God,
for home and for native land.
The Governor spoke Tor thlrty-tive minutes.
Only once during The delivery OF his speech
was he interrupted by applause. His speech
was well received.
President Sigh presented some resolutions
on the cotton acreage question.
Col. Ellison $. keitt, who was In the audi
ence, rose TO speak on the resolutions. He
said he recollccird the time OF 49, when cot
ton was at its lowest price. and that he could
20 even farther back than that time spOlt en- OF
by our distinguished Governor. He did not