Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1893-05-04
Reply to the Living Question Of Immi.
grafton, in The Greenville Daily
News of April 80, 1898.

EDITORS KEowEE COURIER: The Hon.
II. B. BUST, the President of the State
Horticultural Society and q legislator
from eenville county, in the issue OF
The Daily Ne,os of the 10Th ultimo, por;
trayed in glowing colors the advantages
and flattering inducements the Palmetto
State offers to the sturdy immigrant who
is seeking home in the land of liberty
and plenty, and judging from the great
number who turned the backs upon
South Carolina it would be fair to pre-
sumo that something undoubtedly is
rotten in our State, and, therefore, detri-
mental and disadvartageous to the home
seeker.
While nature has favored this State
so bountifully with natural advantages
and resources, the disadvantages of our
fanatical and hypocritical laws, together
with the prohibition craze, nave built
Chinese wall around our borders, and
thereby have kept intelligent and thrifty
immigration from Being second time
bamboozled; and it reminds nc (as an
immigranD most forcibly of the song,
Won't you step into my parlor?9 says
the spider to the fly" which, l am grieved
to say, has happened to US immigrants
who came to this State in former years,
under the most flattering inducements
held out to Us, an6 foolislly invested
our all in grape growing and other hor-
ticultural pursuits. but, in consequence
of the passage of laws by the last
and former Legislatures, we are virtually
ruined and would fain join the tide OF
immigration Westward, (that you are
trying so hard 20 induce to settle among
us). provided we could dispose OF our
property at half its cost to us. Mr..
Buist is reported to have said on the
floor of the legislative hall in 1891 that
he considers the making of wine sin,
but consider it sin of greater magni-
tude to ensnare our fellow-men, as has
been done before.
The grape and other fruit growing
industries cannot profitably be carried
en- when hampered by such despotic laws,
as the making of pure wine and cider
goes hand inland with the marketing,
canning and preserving of fruits; and
according to the dispcnsary law, going
into effect on July 1st, 1893, the making
of wine and cider is monopoly by the
State, and only favored few will be
benefited by this act.
The New York Sun warns our people
that it is time to bestir ourselves if we
want to take the front rank in agricultu-
raj progress, and asks the question, "Why
are so many going West and so few to
the South9' And being of foreign birth
answer. the intelligent immigrant ex-
poets to seek home, not only for him.
self. but future generations. where he
can enjoy at least the same liberty in
JnOuSnC ana dCllOu dS III uio Ait'olfS Z AoAi'S'
Not only are such liberties held out to
them by the progressive Western States,
but still greater inducements are offered
them by the exemption of taxation on
lands St ,ut in vineyards and orchards.
How did the South Carolina Legisla-
ture of 1892 treat the petition of the
grape growers of the State when they
humbly asked for protection for privi'
leges assured them9 Ianswer, with silent
contempt and the dispensary law.
TIE intelligent immigrants have en-,
loved for their children at home school
facilities for twelve months in the year.
What do the rural districts of South
Carolina offer them? Three months IN
the year in windowless cabins, slab
benches and hickory switch.
No, no. gentlemen; the intelligent
Immigrant can and will 90 f.. ther and
fare better. Respectfully,
G. MANNER,
Proprietor Vine Hill Vineyards and Sec
retary State Horticultural Society.
Walhalla, S. c., May l, 1893.