The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-09-26
The "Sinews OF War I"
TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEWS.

NDANSNS AA~~S
|. In m odern elections as in modern wars, the
contest is frequently decided in favor Of the
party whose purse is the longest and most
freely used. The calls for money to provide
for the legitimate and necessary expenses Of a
campaign are almost endless, yet the large
mass of the people, especially in the country
districts, look to few Of the leaders and aspi.
rants for Office, to provide all the money that
may be used. In contest like the present,
in which principles affecting the material pros
perity Of each and every individual are in
volved, and in which few If any can look for
Office to reward them for the sacrifices they
may make, dependence must be had on gene
raj contributions. The members Of the execu-
tive committees Of the various district clubs
experience the utmost difficulty IN inducing
any Of the members TO assist. So much 30,
that measures which ought to be adopted
have to be neglected, and thus the success OF
the cause is lmperilled.
In view Of the probable c,osenoss Of tie con-
test between Seymour and Grant, anu the pos
sibillty that the siN electoral votes Of South
Carolina may decide the 6 lme in favor Of one
or the other party, and that the judicious ex-
penditure of small amount of money in each
precinct might turn the scale and relieve us
not only Of the incubus Of negro supremacy,
but OF the intolerable system Of taxation that
now oppresses the masses for the benefit OF
few, it behooves every man, however limited
his means may be, to offer his mite to the
cause, without waiting to be imPortuned and
solicited by committees or individuals.
Nor ehould such contributions be looked on
as gifts or money thrown away, but as invest
ments which would be returned to him hun
dred-fold, by his being relieved from taxation,
direct and indirect, and by the increased pros
perity OF the country enabling him to earn two
dollars where he now earns one.
Few persons ever trouble themselves to
think OF the enormous sums exacted from the
South, under the present administration of the
government, to swell the Golfers Of the rich
citizens of the North. AS the South has been
impoverished and desolated by the war, it is
held that the North has to pay the taxes. So
they do, just as the merchants or the manu-
facturers pay sums which are reimbursed to
them by their customers.
For a single item, look at the tax we are pay
ing for the use Of circulating medium under
the existing system OF national banks. Think
for moment how many Southern bank bills
have ever paseed through your hands? Have
you ever seen oneP Now money ia not loaned
without interest being paid for it. Some one
has to pay the interest Who is it? AS
matter Of course, those who use the money
II we are not mistaken. before the war So ,OOO,-
600 was required in this State to furnish
circulating medium for the people. We will,
therefore, suppose that $4,000, 900 are now re-.
quired. The average rate of interest paid for
this paper money has probably exceeded ten
per cent. Consequently 100000 has to be
drawn annually from the hard earnings OF our
people to pay this interest, and large pro-
portion goes into the pockets Of the Puritani-
cal New Englander.
Rhode Island has seventy-seven dollars bank
circulation for each inhabltant, and Massachu-
sets fifty-fve dollars. No wonder they Can
roll up such heavy Republican majorities, and
are, willing to contribute largely TO keep up
such system.
This is but one instance in hundred which
might be mentioned of the means resorted to
by the crafty politicians Of the Republican
party 10 foster their own in erests at the ex-
pense Of others. But q few years ago We de-
nounced boldly and loudly the Injustice Of
taxing us to pay the bouuties offered to the
New England fishermen as being sectional i'll
its character. That policy is now extended in
hundred directions.
To relieve ourselves it is necessary to have q
change at Washington. In this view the black
man has an interest in Seymour's election as
we'll as the white man, and were proper means
taken to enhghten them, the large proportion