The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1890-02-21
The Good Work Of the Alliance.

We have almost daily evidences Of the
good work the Alliance is doing for the
moral and material welfare Of its men,
bers and tho business interests Of the country
generally. 1t is accomplishing more for the
Farming class than any homestead, lien or
fact, it is fast correcting many evils which
those laws have inflicted upon every class Of
people, but in particular it is restoring that
high standard of moral honesty which was
the proud characteristic Of the farming class
before the lien law gave plausible excuse for
the cxorbitant prices charged for money and
supplies, and tempted honest men who were
compelled to avail themselves of the time which
the merchants gave them, under that law, to
practice doubtful methods to cvade aging the
enormous bills that met them and swallowed
up their crops at the end Of every year, leav-
ing nothing to encourage them but another
year oflabor, selfdcnial and dependence upon
others for the neccssaries of life for themselves
and families.
To-day, uslcr the Alliance organization
those high prices arc tumbling down to q
"live and let live standard; farmers are
seeing bright and encouraging prospect Of
lifting the mortgages from their farms and
getting square with the merchant for past
favors, wi solpcthing ahead to help them
through the ncx year on nearly Rnot "a, a.,
saslh saa Legislative l'qsis iGha iass year
cent, and we hope the next legislature VII
reduce it to the old standard per cent,
when honest dealing, peace and prosperity
marked South Carolina as one of the most
solvent States in the Union and her citizens
the most reliable, high-toned and patriotic
people.
| Business methods, rs we said some time
ago they would arc changing and becoming
more satisfactory to the buyer and seller, by
| resting on a sounder basis. Honest and
legitimate competition is putting prices down
to fair profits, merely demanding moro
economy, system and industry in business
| to secure profitable results. We are coming
nearer and nearer = cash standard of business
every year, whereby confidence will be re-
| stored and men of limited means, but with
entcgrity Of character, industry and business
abilities, will be recognized and encouraged
| in business circles, and their characters re-
| ccivcd as guarantees or ndelity in business
transactions, and they enabled to successfully
enter the field Of competition with theil
high characters n" capital, against the money
and credit of wealthy capitalists.
Heretofore under the lien law, nearly al
the mercantile business of the country was
arbitrarily confined to and controlled by mer
who could command capital and credit based
| upon the highest rate of interest the law,
would allow, and their customers were made
to pay it-hcnce one Of the great causes fol
the high prices paid. But few men had Tho
means within themselves to conduct any
amount of ofhusiness upon years credit, ant
such business was liable to so many unfore
seen dangers that it was always considered
tee unsafe, for capitalists to risk theil
money in it without being secured by iron
bound security and at the highest price. I:
was high priced money TO the merchau
ana, necessarily, Mgn rsTced -goSas to tn
| customer. - ssssa2- :
| The Alliance ia rapidly changing all this
and bringing about u more wholesom
state of affairs. in which ali classes will b
equally benefited. When prices at HON
have settled down to "livc and let live
standard, we believe we shall hear Of bu
very few car load, Of supplies being bougl
by the Alliance. The Farmers and Mcl
chants will come the conclusion that the
cannot he happy and prosperous by attempt
time, and buying and selling at high price.
to pay for loaf'ng about one half the yeal