The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1889-12-19
Sound Views.
Cor. of the News and Observer.

HALIFAX, n. c., Dec. :, 1889.
In regard to the meeting held here on
the Sd. 1t was large body of men, who
were anxious to get hold Of some plan by |.
which they could make living for them |
selves and their families; and while the |
plan suggested was adopted. many here
do not think it would work for the benefit
Of those who are actually in need. Sup
posing the legislature were to grant the
power, and the county were to borrow
the money, is it the plan, then, to give
the money to the people who are actually
suffering: learn that it is to be loaned
out to them on security at per cent.
interest. The objection to that is that it
does not benefit those who are unable to
give security. And those who are able
to give security, can get it elsewhere.
Why put the expense upon the State Of
an extra session of the legislature to do
what can be done without, and what in
the end may entail an extra tax by the
county, to meet the debt?
Our people need being taught economy.
Let them live hard and work more, and
at the end Of next year the county will
be better off. If, and 1t is not denied,
our people are in such distress, let our
county curtail expenses. Instead of
paying the chairman of the county COM
mis3Ioners $50 extra (he is an excellent
gentleman; there is no wish to harm him
in the least, let that amount be put in
meat and bread for the poor and DISTRESS
ed. Instead Of paying one attorney $500
(te too is nobjectionable) let them pat
that amount into meat and bread for the
poor ASK the gentlemen of tAe bar if
they are not willing to advise the board
free of charge for one year in order to
help the poor in the county. The board
has cut down the salary Of the superin-
tendcut of the poor house from $40 to
SD 80, barely enough to board him. He
too is very limited in this worlds goods.
Then why not cat i'll everything and apply
the funds to the support of the poor.
The trouble is that our people do not
stop to consider the cause of their cOndi-
ton. 1t is in not making farms sustain
ing. They say they cant make corn and
small grain and make money. The con-
verse is true, only those farmers who
make something. to eat are thriving.
They can certainly make no money out
Of cotton as the last twenty years has
proven. When we get to be self stains
ing then we can begin to tank Of luXu-
lieS, See how we go on, Instead of
I buying wood to burn from our farmers,
who are anxious to sell it at 81 40 cord,
and employing one Of our county men to
cut it thereby enabling him to make a
| living as well as the farmer, we send on
North for coal, thereby sending the mon
ey out of our reach and depriving the
| farmer and chopper of living. 1t is true
this is a small item, but many Titles
make a quantity. Instead Of being sat
iStied with plain clothes, such as are
made in our State, we send on North and
pay fancy prices for fancy clothes there
sending another little out Of our reach.
There is probably more money spent
in whisky than in anything else; we don t
even buy that in the State, but send on
North and buy probably an inferior
liquor, to that produced by US. have
heard that whiskey made IN this State
is Shipped North at one price and
bought at a higher price and brought
back here.
1--we would raise our own grain we
could raise our own meat and then there
would be no need Of meetings to relieve
the poor. If we would only look at the
little things instead of turning up our nose
at these as being of no consideration, We
could 90 better.
Itis better TO check these expenses
than to be sold cut at last and be made
beggars. These applications for help are
merely the cravings for more to spend
like the drunhari, who says If you vii
only help me now. | Will stop drinking
and do better" and as soon as he IS Or
his feet will make for bar room. No
let US DO better first and then we won
need this help.
One OF TIE PEOPLE,"