The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-07-11
Volcano James in Full Eruption.

To the Editor Of the Watchnaan and Southron:
Is it possible that you have at last become
concerned about the elements which poEtend
internal discord But why place the trouble
so far away from home? That does not show
a disposition to grapple the problem, at least
j, so strikes me. May be accuse you wrong
fully May be you are ignorant OF the con-
dtion OF your own people If so, then can
we account for the great distance to which
yon have carried your charity for exercise.
Let me tell you something, ] won't say a
word about the half-starved aud half-psked
whites and negroes throughout the county,
because assume that you do not concern
yourself with their distress, but will mention
the fact that country real estate would not
sell at auction for cash for as much as it wenid
bring in rent in one year. We understand
that place near your town sold recently for
one hundred dollars which a few years ago
was by disinterested parties valued at three
thousand dollars. And further a ruthless
speculator of your town has cleared thirty
thousand dollars this year by buying in at
Sher:ff-s Sale real estate.
Do you know man who for the lack OF
few paltry hundred dollars has lost his place
and q now a tenant at will? Ia there among
your scouaiutances those who have not clear
ed dollar in the last Eve years? Or may be
you know some clerks around town working
at reduction, aud may be some out OF job.
Now you admit that we are tast drifting to d
"bloody test; Why can't you 60 further
and admit tbat when all the elements which
such s',est" would release meet, South Car
oliua would be there, and Though, while it
would be TO her everlasting shame, must
give it rs my opinion, she would be on both
sides. 1t is strange to me that you should
broach such subject. being as you are
Cleveland -Izlar democratic majority action
supporter, and further admit, that this coun-
try was facing stern fact, and the strangest
part of 1t all, you being modern democrat
90 fertile in excuses, so unerring 10 pointing
out all causes did not tell your readers why
such condition exists nor yet suggest rem-
edy.
1t must occur 10 your readers that you
propose sitting on the fence with your d'mo-
cratic friends, who had nothing 10 do with
bringing on such state of affairs, and re-
cord the result of the "bloody test" But
that is not the proper course to pursue but
YOU ought 10 assign a cause and labor TO re-
move it. but for the sake of a long.sufering
populace do so without mentioning the word
s'democrat." Don't couture by that word
any more, i, is meaningless, but come out
plainly and tell us whether the cause OF hard
times is hostility to corporations, or the low
price of whea, and cotton, or the action of
Wall Street, or the action Of the dead "silver
men. or the fear of free trade, or the fear OF
TOO much protection, or the exorbitant de-
mands of labor, or is it the creditor, or Is it
the debtor, or is it the laws passed oy me ke-
publican party, or laws passed by the Demo-
cratic party, or laws passed by both, or IS 1t
lack of constitutional power, or is 1t the
Povulist party, or is 1T whisky, or is It the
devil?
Help us in this matter it you can, and If
you can't confess it. W. A. JAMES, JR.