Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-10-07
said and done, so that the Democrats of York
county may see and realize what is before
them.

county may see and realize what is before
them.
THE GREENBACK MEETING on MONDAY.
On Monday last, according to notice which
previously had been, publicly given, members
of the Greenback party in York county met
in the Court House for the purpose of hearing
an address by Mr.. j. Hendrix Mclean, of
Fairfield, candidate Of that party for Congress
in this district, and also to make. nominations
for members of the Legislature and county
officers The attendance upon this meeting
would not perhaps give any indication Of the
strength of the party in this county.
When the meeting was called to order, there
were present, in the room, 50 whites and 9
Negroes large majority Of the whites being
Democrats, who were present through curios-
ity. AS the meeting progressed, the crowd in
creased until the room was very nearly filled
but the number Of Greenbackers was not in
creased by any arrivals after the speaking COM
menced. The local headlights tf the party
appeared to be Messrs. Jonathan II. McElwee,
Jr., Miles Wallace and Russell Hope-the lat
ter of whom was reported as delegate in the
last Republican County Convention held here
Mr.. Miles Wallace initiated the proceedings
by moving that Mr.. Jonathan N. McElwee,
Jr., take the chair.
Mr.. McElwee declined the honor, insisting
that his friend, Mr.. Wallace, should preside.
Ar. Wallace thereupon took the chair and
announced that the object of the meeting was
to make arrangements whereby we may be ben
eftted-to consult for our own good-to the
molestation Of no person but to- sustain our
own rights and privileges on an honest basis
We propose to introduce to you Mr. Mclean,
after hearing whom you can decide for your
selves.
The chairman then took his seat, and
slight pause ensuing, Mr.. McElwee removed
the awkwardness Of the situation by formally
introducing Mr.. Mclean, Greenback candi-
date for Congress, who was here to explain
the principles of that party.
Mr.. Mclean then appeared, and commenced
by reviewing the history of the different polit-
ical parties from the organization Of the Gov
ernment down to the present time. This
brought him to the greenback feature of his
discourse. He said the greenback currency
was one of the results of the war, forced upon
the country in time Of great peril to the
United States Government, when it found it.
self involved in war and no funds in the treas
ury. Paper money was issued to meet the
wants of the Government, and UP to the time
Of the reduction Of this vast volume of money,
the country enjoyed degree of prosperity
never known before or since.
he instanced the year 1866, when the South,
although we had emerged from disastrous
war, everybody had plenty of money, and no
man was so poor that he could not buy any
thing he wanted, and even land. But in 1866,
Congress passed a law calling in four-ffths of
this currency from circulation, which wasfund-
ed in interest bearing bonds, in the hands of
capitalists and spectators, who care not for
the prosperity of the country, SO they draw
their interest This vast amount of money is
dormant, lying idle, and is depressing to labor
and to the material prosperity Of tlecountry-
creating set of money mOn0pOlists, Who hav-
ing the money of the country converted into
boEds and locked up in their safes, can con-
troll the prices Of labor as well as the products
Of industry. His argument was to the effect
that all of the vast sum funded in interest
bearing bonds, should he re-coIverted into
lcrculating medium.
Under the present system, the bondholders
are reaping the benefit Of the labor of the toll
ing millions, who pay an average Of $27 to
each voter for the support of a financial sys-
TEN borrowed from England, and which, If
pursued, will make serfs Of the laboring people
| Of she United States. He said we can have
no nome rule, because we are ruled by a money
ring-fastened on to the people not by acci-
dent; but by the deliberate legislation of lead
1 ing members Of the two great political par
| ties Democrats and Republicans alike are
disposed to perpetuate the system, and hence
the new party is the outgrewth Of this action,
under which our property has shrunk nearly
OMe-half in value since 1865 He had been
Democrat, and in 1875 labored for the success
of that party, but found that it did not give
that relief promised to the people The green
back movement was born Of the necessities of
the people, who demand that the bonds now
idle, or as so much locked-up capital, shall be
changed into legal tender currency. He said
the movement is popular with large number,
bnt they express the opinion that is it rather
early-that it would be best to wait two years
longer. If we go into the party now, colored
men may be elected to Office.
He then referred to the Maine election,
which he said was carried by q Greenbacker,
though the Democrats claim the honor of it.
The cause is growing from Maine to Texas,
and our own State is wheeling into line.
He said the State Convention, held in Ches-
K last week, was composed Of the most re-
n arkable body Of men that ever assembled in
the State-honest, gray-headed men; some OF
whom rode in their own conveyances, not on
free railroad passes a distance Of one hundred
miles, to frame platform and make nomi-
nations.
He thought the only way to obtain the relief
required, is for the best elements of the two old
parties to crystalize into the Greenback party
that either Of the old parties is now powerless
for affording the country the relief demanded.
When Mr.. Mclean concluded, I. D. With.
erspoon ESQ.,, asked permission to respectful
ly ask question, and that was wherein has
the State government failed to keep any prom
:, .ise made to the people9
MI. Mclean replied that one promise of the
Democratic party was that they would not
know any party; that they would make no
distinctions as to race or color, and that every
man should be respected in his right to vote.
Again, that fence law had been passed for
some sections of the State-notably in Union
county-when people were petitioning against
it.
Mr.. Witherspoon replied to this, explaining
that in counties where the fence law had been
passed, it was done on overwhelming petitions
from those counties. A running debate en-
sued between the gentlemen, in the course of
which Mr.. Mclean referred To the letter of
Gen. Hagood to Mr.. Holiday, of Kershaw
county, in which he evaded answering three
questions propounded by Mr.. Holiday, but
did answer two. Mr.. Witherspoon produced
tine letter and requested Mr.. Mclean to read
it, which he did, commenting upon it as he
read. ~
Mr.. Mclean also gave as another objection
to the party, that the last Legislature not