The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-07-16
THE CURRENCY.
What Hon. j. S. Richardson Thinks
0f II.

In 1865 tho volume OF currency Of the Uni
ted States, as shownb By the Official treasury
statement, was in round numbers S9S',HO,0O
and when allowance Is made for the fact that
the South did not then participate IN the use
and benefits of that CURRENCY, It was ut the
rate of S39.W per capita. In 1873 1t was s7U,-
UG2, a:6S, and about $500 per CAPITA. In 1871, II
was S6SS, 507, 275, and at the rate or only ABOUT
sli.75 per capita. These figures are taken
they arc true, 1t shows TINT the currency has
been contracted since 1865 from sly per capita
TO Sl4.75 per capita in 1915; and from 81 per
capita In 1873 to Sli.75 rcr capita In 1878. Ii
this be true, then Inc whole nrgumen oil Tic
IT desired, l can and will furnish it"mized
statements of the correctness of the figures
give.
cicnt volume OF currency for the people oil
this country to do n thriving and prosperous
business on? Our population Is continually
increasing and our currency Steadl'y re:rcas,
Ing. Who is IT that does not know and rec,
that this is the principal cause of the r
times that has pressed down the energies ana
kept down the tOiling men and women all
over this land Of ours for years and ye'rs!
In this connection l wish 10 give the
amount OF currency in use In England, Ger
many and France In 1873:
In England 1t wa sbl7,A5,NO, and at the
in Germany i vas s4o,cs2.o0o, and at the
rate of $40 per capita.
In France 1t was 81 ,Gi2,O 0 600, and Mt Inc rate
of Si4 per capita.
These figures, when understood. speak VOL
umes TO the people Of the United States. Eng
many, like the United States, and about the
same time, dcmonetiZcd silver, about 1879
and both have suffered severely during the
long financial crisis which has existed since
ting whether they shall not retrace their
steps. England Is seriously considering the
r%ecOinage OF silver, with the prospect OF It's
being done. The Imperial Bank of Germany
has recently demanded the recoinnge o. sll.
yer rs an absolute necessity" and that greal
government has refused to part with any
more Of the silver bullion paid It. by France
But France, wiser than either, refused TO ue'
monrtize silver, and She has not only suler'
cd less and weatherpd the inancia storm bet
ter thnn either OF the governments which de
monctized silver, but she has also paid oil hei
enormous indemnity debt to Germany, anc
to-day Is comparatively thriving and prosper
Gus. Silver money and SiI.OO per capita saved
France. Why should not the free oinageo
silver and all Increase on Sl4.75 per capita bt
beneficial to the people of the United states;
Silver Is sour metal We produce more OF !
than any other nation. Why should We re
fuse to %remonetizc our own metal, and by sc
doing refuse to use and utilize that OF whlct
God and nature has given us an abundanG'
in our own borders? am not afraid OF SIT
yer money md q plenty of IT.. The people
need and demand financial relief. They vii
have 1t sooner or later from some source. !
1t Is refused them through such Wise ana san
measures as the silver bills now before Con
greSs, they Will demand and get IT. by othe
means. Iopenly declare myself, upon primer
pile and as Il mailer Of policy. In favor OF relic
being given to them by The warner and ste
phens bills, and any other equally safe ant
wise measures that can be devised. If TIL
declaration OF my views and purposes Is ad
| verse to the interest and wishes of my con
stituents, I will be the sufferer, and l shall b
content with their verdict.