The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-10-06
The Press and Banner.
ABBEVILLE. 8. @.
Wednesday, Oct. 6, 1886.
Cheeky Charleston.

We copy into the Press and Banner an arti-
Gle from the Ncws dntt Com'ic' calling for an
rxtra session Of the Legislature todeVlse ways
md means by which the country people shall
he called upon to shoulder responsibility for
The losses which Charleston has recently sus-
tanned by tho earthquake. That article. we
presume, is intended to represent the feelings
and wishes Of the people of Charleston. and If
we understand the matter, to make n hurried
appeal TO the people, In the moment OF their
Generous sympathy, to involve themselves In
I, debt which our children may never live to
zee paid It will be noticed that when Char-
lesion or Columbia wants anything the Ola
stereotyped cry about 1.-THE interests OF the
State" is brought out In bold relief. we thlhk
our people have had time to get useo 10 tha'
old story. Neither Charleston nor Columbia
su far as we recollcct to have seen, have ufSeo
"the interests Of the State" in the furtheTance
OF any project which the people may nave uh'
,lcrtaken in tho up-country. If VIC want
convicts to build railroads, they assume an
immense deal OF Il am better than thou" and
I'm order TO embarass us in the building of rail-
roads, charge us with diSgraceful cruelty TO
the convicts. They also, If not in words, by
trio,ism In our most praiscworthty efforts,
and seek to bring odium upon us by charging
us with the building Of Georgia railroads
for the purpose OF carting trade from
Charleston to Augusta and Savannah. They
would. Il seems to us, make il treason to build
:. railroad elsewhere than to Charleston. To
make any effort to dcvelope this part Of the
State they think an evil which mustbe checs-
e,l or abatcd at oil hazards, or under whatev-
er prctcXt.
When the up-country people asked
The same encouragement for railroads, thht
had been given to Charleston capitalists IN
She building of factories. the Charleston peo-
nle. If the Ncscs and Courier reflects their SEN
fiment, were indignant at the idea of the
State "assuming the Indebtedness of the up
country Railroads. This was only year
ago. Vow, VIC are appealed to, ever so gently
and ever SO swcctly, to assume responsibility
for the recent damages which Charleston mas
sustained by the earthquake.
What have the people Of the state
done, that they, in their poverty and in their
distress, should assume liability for the loan
nf money to restore property TO the people OF
Charleston The human heart everywhere
goes out in tender sympathy to the distressed
but why should the State Of South Caroiina
undertake to eXtort from one distressed CLASS
of her citizens the money with which TO en-
able another set to live in a1fluence? A poor
man Is a poor man, no matter whether lie
lives in the city of Charleston or in the coun-
ty of Abbeville, and there is no law based on
Justice or humanity which would levy tribute
In Ahheyille
unfortunate man in Charleston.
The Ne,os and Courier says:
"a heavy loan at or S per cent. would be
crushing blow to bear when added TO the our.
den of State and municipal taxation. "hat
is really needed is the ability 10 Dorrow, on
absolutely good security, three or tonr millioii
dollars mt q rate of interest not exceeding
per cent.
Charleston gentlemen cannot afford 10 pay
or per cent. for money! They want 1t at
four cent! Did any man in the country ever
got Charleston money at anything like that
rate? We think not. Country people must
pay them ten per cent. interest, and ship cot
ton to them, so that If the losses sustained In
shipping to Charleston, instead of selling IN
more desirable market, is taken into consider
alton, the money will cost the country mer
chant or country farmer something like 20 or
.5 per cent. for the use OF money for traction
al part of the year.
II Charleston was disposed to act "for the
good of the State" why does she not propose
10 aise money for the country people at the
same rate-i per cent. The distressed coun-
tryman is as much deserving of consideration
from the State. US are the property owners OF
Charleston. The State can as we'll aid the
countrynan as it can loan money to the city
owner of real estate. Will anybody gainsay
this? There are hundreds of homes In Abbc-
willie county over which hang ten per cent.
MORTGAGES. Does the Ne,cS and Courier say
word in behalf of such people? No; not
word, except to further embarrass such homes
merely for the reason that the Charleston man
may be enabled to borrow money at four per
cent. A poor man is poor man. no matter
whether he lives In Charleston or on CesarS
Head. The one is entitled to no more consld-
Grafton than the other, and the State Of South
Carolina will have lost something Of her sense
OF justice when she assumes 10 build up one
set of her citizens ut the hazard OF another.
1t remains to be seen whether our representa-
tives will eudanser the property Of their con-
stitucnts to enrich the people of Charleston.