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 tho Alliance is doing for the
moral and material welfare of its men,
bers and the business interests Of tho country
generally. IL is accomplishing moro for the
Farming class than any homestead, lien or
other so-called relief law could ever do In
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 exorbitant 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 raying 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, selfdenial and dependence upon
others for the necessaries of life for themselves
and families.
To-day, usdcr the Alliance organization,
those high prices are tumbling down to q
"live and let lve' 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 h something ahead to help them
through the ncxt year ON nearly IL not
sAs sAsA 1ssisAiSAs sasis iHas ss( Il ~ 1ss;:i
cent. and we hope the next legislature hi
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, heightened and patriotic
people.
Business methods, rs we said some time
ago they would, are changing and becoming
moro satisfactory to the buyer and seller by
resting on a sounder basic. 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
entegrity of character, industry and business
abilities, will be recognized and encouraged
in business circles, and their characters re.
ceived as guarantees OF fdelity in business
transactions, and they enabled to successfully
enter the field Of competition with their
high characters rs capital, against the money
and credit of wealthy capitalists.
Heretofore, under the lien law, nearly all
the mercantile business of the country was
arbitrarily confined to and controlled by men
who could command capital and credit based
upon tho highest rate of interest the laws
would allow, and their customers were made
to psy it-hcnce one Of the great causes for
the high prices paid. But few men had the
means within themselves to conduct anv
amount of business upon years credit, and
such business was liable to SO many unfore-
seen dangers that it was always considered
too unsafe, for capitalists to risk their
money none in 1t without being secured by iron-
R9ssssasitSlaQ sashighest prirSs,,1a,