The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1888-11-01
VINO WOULD CHANGE ?

In October, 1867, the Public Treas
urer reported the State debt, principal
and interest, at S15. 238. 040.50. In
November, 1870, only three years la
ter, Treasurer Jenkins reported the
debt to be ,OS4,641.75.
The Republicans had been in three
years, and had added 81, S46, 601.25
to the debt.
In 1870 the Democrats got control
of the Legislature, and whilst the
State was in no condition, after three
years of Republican misrule, to pay
any of its debts, they prevented any
increase of the principal. They did
reduce taxes, restore the common
schools and re- commence the coDstruc-
ton of the Western North Carolina
Railroad. By 1875 they had reduced
State taxes to 29S cents.
In 1877 the Democrats took entire
charge of the State. They found the
State debt, principal and interest,
amounting to $41, 7S8,71O.45. The
prospect of settlement seemed almost
hopeless to creditor and debtor. But
the debt has been settled satisfactorily
to both parties interested. The States
six per cent. bonds are selling at 1923,
and its four per cent, bonds at $93,
the interest ON all being properly
paid.
Under the system of county gov
eminent, restored by the Democracy
in 1877, the counties are nearly all
in good condition their large indebt
edness-the results of Republican mis-
rule-nearly all paid off; and in the
eleven years not dollar of taxes has
been lost to the State by default of
any sheriff.
The Western Railroad has been
completed to the Tennessee line and
has effected its connections with the
railroad systems of the country and
it is making rapid progress to its 9TH
er terminus at Murphy. 1t has
brought into the State already two
millions of dollars, ano two millions
more will be used tor its completion.
Some two millions of dollars or more
have been brought into the State and
expended upon the Cape Fear and
Yadkin Valley Railroad.
The best equipped and most useful
Agricultural Department in the South
is another result of eleven years of
Democratic rule.
The system of public schools is
thoroughly established.
Normal schools for both races are
provided fer every section of the State.
Asylums for white and black have
been built and thoroughly equipped.
In 1869 the State tax was 80 cents.
For two years the State tax was %
cents.
For two years it has been 20 cents.
One year there was no State tax.
Who would change?
It is a good thing to reduce the
peoples taxes and to diminish the
public expenditures when it can be
done without damage to the peoples
interests; but after all, the matter for
the people do consider, and which SEN
sible people to consider, is not how
much has been spent, but how it has
been spent, and whether more has
been spent than was necessary to the
protection and advancement of the
public interests. He who employs a
man and pays him $1,000 TO run his
plantation, and at the end of the term
of service finds that there are no crop
returns that his lands have been al.
lowed to go to gully that his fences
are down ; his stock unfit for service
and his barns and out houses gone to
rack and ruin, is not likely to re-em.
ploy that man after finding that 8
successor makes good crops, keeps the
lands in trim, the stock in good
working order and the buildings il
good repair, even if the outlay to Sc
cure these profitable results were az
great or even greater than that which
had yielded him no returns anc
brought his farm to the verge Of ire
parable ruin.
Twelve years ago this great "planta
tion," North Carolina, had been pref
ty well "done for by its high-pricec
Radical overseers. To-day it is il
better condition than ever before
yields bigger and better returns, ane
costs less than ever to run it..
Who would change this state o.
things? Who would re employ tht
Radical applicants for overseers
places?