The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-09-16
THE MANNING TINES.
WEDNESDAY September Is, 1891.

" A0BGSGHu n&e t0Fa0E1e tVl tSsu
An open Letter From DIR. Easterling OH
the Political Situation.
70 my Political Friends--Gentle-
men: When, by order OF President
Andrew Jackson, the public money
was removed from the Bank of the
United States in 1888, that bank was
thereby forced to contract its loans,
which resulted in commercial pres
sure and scarcity of money. The
above statement proves that any sud-
den. interference with the fountain of
trade must not only stagnate the
source, but also its minor streams
Now since very vast amount OF
Southern wealth was destroyed at one
fell swoops by our national govern
ment, can any one be surprised at the
presenS unhappy pecuniary state of
affairs in the South and elsewhere
Suppose the same amount of North
sern property had also been destroyed,
would not our national poverty have
sbeen twice as great as it is? Let US
cool down and look at facts as they
really are. Suppose our conhscated
property had been turned into good
money and handed to US, would we
sthen not have stood upon as solid
foundation as that of the North? ?
Don't tell me that the war, the tariff,
and monopoists were the sole causes
of this wholesale poverty in our land.
That these causes acted as blighting
assistants do not doubt for one mo-
raent; am even willing to grant
that the tariff is potent enough to
keep us just where we are, though l
am Far from admitting that it, with
its.other assistants, could have put US
IN our present deplorable condition.
Our country had been through three
wars, and the North and South, de-
spitesof wars, tariffs, and monopoGsts,
not only recovered, but they also pre-
served their wealth in proportion to
their population. The wars alluded
TO are the Revolutionary, that of
eighteen hundred and twelve; and
the ! Mexican. The public money
which had been removed by order of
President Jackson, having been
placed in certain local banks, paper
money became so plentiful that ruin
Gus speculations were very recklessly
kindled, which spread like fire turned
gloose in a prairie. This money which
had been taken from the Bank of the
United States and put in these local
banks, became the foundation of high
prices, cheap paper money, and spec
nIation. The government, in self-de-
fence, was forced to interfere in be-
shalf of an honest specie circulation,
that it might wind up this expanded
paper speculation, and also demand
gold and silver in payment of dues on
pubic lands. The local banks Of
course contracted their paper circula
tion, as the government demanded
geld and silver instead of their cheap
paper. Another sudden disastrous
interruption of business followed,
which was somewhat relieved by the
enactment of just such sub-treasury
bill as our country needs to-day. We
had been through two wars, and were
surrounded by tariffs and monopo-
lists and yet the North recovered
.-eshe South having scarcely felt the
blow, and her wealth and prosperity
in the course of time became as gen.
seral as it formerly was.
Wars, tariffs, and monopolsts are
dangerous foes, indeed. But when
government lays her hand upon the
property of q conquered people, and
literally scatters it to the four winds,
infhe name of misguided philantbro-
s py, We gaze with wonder and amaze
ment at the catastrophe, as we point
to the prime cause of Southern pow
erty. I write in no spirit of COM
plant against our government at this
Late. day, but I am not such slave as
so SHRINK from using the unanswera-
eargumeat against Democrats los
ing confidence in each other.
Friends and foes must alike admit
that the permanent destruction OF
wealth VIII inevitably entail more
lasting poverty upon a people than
viii It's mere suspension. With only
land and personal property left to the
! Southern people, they were forced to
resort to liens and mortgages They
were also governed by unprincipled
radical knaves and fools, who taxed
the very bones of the Southern States,
as they clattered in the presence Of
these sstrife-born hyenas. Northern
Democrats were our friends; North
Sern Republicans were not our enc
mics. The one rejoiced and assisted
IN our liberation; the other had no
tears to shed over it. Let US allow
facts, uttered by the voice of reason,
to proclaim the true cause of our pow
erty. Let US never forget that politi-
cal education which results in party
spirit between Democrats, is sadly
wanting in Democratic harmony.
Many have been the efforts to break
up the Democratic party, but it will
@eEer prove fortress too strong for
: successful attack. It's spirit is purity
its commander is patriotism, and
Its soldiers are Democrats. We will,
as did Jefferson, Calhoun, McDuhie,
: and Hayne, defy its enemies. Let
them do their worst; we will forever
act together, as q band OF political
brothers. As a national party its
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