The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-19
surplus stock. Such las not been the
case with our products and we must
look elsewhere for relief.

can government Known 10 the world.
Our crops are DOW sold before they
are planted and the price is fixed by
gamblers and spectators a year in
advance. The currency Of our conn
try is allowed to be restricted or Inflated
at the caprice Of the bankers aud bond
holders, and it is Invariably restricted,
indeed to such an extent until now a
dollar buys almost one hundred per
cent, more cotton than it did two years
ago. BY the imposition of an uncon-
sIltutional tariff and unconscionable
pensions the fixed charges upon our
farms have almost been doubled, until
bankruptcy now stares US IL the face.
We are fast losing our position as an
independent State and are becoming
to the North what Ireland is to Eng
land, dependent province. Our large
plantations are being bought up and
converted into bunting preserves by
the rich barons who reap the profits of
honest labor under a protective govern
ment.
We welcome capital to our State in
any shape or form, but we cannot but
deplore the hardship of our own peo-
ple who are forced to part with their
homes under circumstances that should
not exist.
1t is indeed painful to me to picture
to you this gloomy outlook, but the
time has come when the South and the
agricultural classes of the nation must
strike for their preservation and exls-
tence. The agricultural armies must
move and must be led.
The party which has been true to US
in the past and to which we must look
in future has suffered defeat from one
extreme OF the nation to the. other.
My prediction to you has been fulfilled,
and there is not Democratic State
North of Mason and Dixon's line. The
Northeast seems deaf TO our appeals,
and the ray of light which we had
hoped to see in the West has proved to
be as tickle as an aurora borealis.
South Carolina has led in every
great moral, social and political
reform and it remains for US now to set
the pace for the nation which will
ultimately bring relief to our entire
people. You should encourage the
organization of every interest in the
State; by this means alone can the will
of the concurrent majority be obtained
and an ideal govers ment be established.
The only intelligent mouthpiece Of any
class is an organization composed of
individuals who constitute it. When
these organizations are complete it will
be an easy matter to marshall them
under one banner, bearing the motto,
Equal rights to all and special priv
leges to none."
We of the South are powerless, but
we must not allow shackles TO be placed
upon US without an earnest and solemn
protest. It is the duty of the General
Assembly to set forth in unsuistakable
terms, that the world may read South
Cardinals ordinance against the op-
preston Of her people and the efforts of
plutocrats to centralize government and
convert the Republic into a syrannical
despotism for the protection of boarded
millions. I will not presume here to
suggest a plan for the organization of
the agricultural and industrial interests
of the nation. I can assure you, how
ever, from the history of past nations
that no emergency has ever arisen,
however greet, that some bold leader
did not come forth equal to the occa-
sion. Let your memorial be prepared
by those who feel what they say, and
the messengers Of peace will bear it TO
the sympathetic hearts and hands Of
the nation. a victory grander than
that by force of arms will thus be won
peaceabiy at the ballot box. Communi-
" of Interests must unite the South
and the West, and agriculture will be
rescued from slavery.
THE STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
7 desire to call your attention to the
State Agricultural and Mechanical So
ciety, better known as our State FAIR
Association. This organization has re-
ceived a.G from the State until few
years past, wien to its management IS
due the mistake of introducing politics
into it. On this account the society has
lspguished and almost died. You must
rescue it. Nothing is 80 beneficial to
society and good government as the
assem- bling of the people to indulge in
friendly rivalry in the arts of peace.
This Fair has become an annual volks-
fest, where our people meet and know
each other, where the black eyes meet
the blue and the State becomes for the
time being one happy family, with no
thought but for the common welfare of
South Carolina. I know of nc State in
the Union where similar organization
is maintained, and this in great mea-
sure is responsible for the maintenance
of our striking individuality. A small
appropriation is all that is needed to
rescue the society from death, and l
am sure the money will be we'll Invested
and 40 true citizen will begrudge it. l
would suggest that the society be in
corporated, and that the Governor and
State officers be made ex-oficio direc-
tors, so that it may become quasi
State institution, and at the same Time
give the people guarantee that the
money appropriated will be directed to
the proper uses.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
T congratulate the people upon the
fact that constitutional convention is
at last to he called in response to their
desires expressed at the ballot box. This
is victory which means more than l
shall express TO you. 1t IS the most
important matter with which you will
have tc deal and should receive
your earnest thought and attention. 1t
should be called at time most con-
venient for our farmers. Remember the
stringency of money and the poverty
of our people, and limit the number Of
delegates to the number of the Generol
Assembly. None but patriots should
be members of this convention, and the
pay of delegates should bs SO small as
not to make it an in6ucement for candi-
dacy. Two dollars day and the same
mileage as allowed members of the
General alAssem oly is sufficient. Less
than this amount would not support a
delegate in the city of Columbia. I see
no reason why the session Of the con-
vention should last over forty days. If
this plan is adopted, the cost ofthe con-
Ven. ion should not exceed S25, 900, i
small pittance indeed to pay for eternal
liberty and white supremacy.
EDUCATION IN THE STATE.
It has been truly said that the best
educated people are the happiest and
easiest governed. This principle has