The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-07-29
PRESIDENT POLK SPEAKS.
He PLEADS FOR MORE MONEY FOR
THE COUNTRY.

He COUN KY.
The 4 ,iiance VIII Not Form p Third Party
Unless Forced to DO SO by the Intoler-
ance of the Democratic Leaders-The
Speaker Is Received With Enthusiasm.
SpARTANBURG, S. c., July 22.-This
afternoon, however, a public meeting
was held and an address was made by
President Polk, ofthe National Alliance,
to whic!, everybody was invited. The
audience was composed largely OF farm
ers. President Polk spoke for two hours,
and was given good attention and fre-
quently applauded. He presented for
chilly, and IN good tone and spirit, the
demands of the farmers and their griev-
ances. The entrance, during his speech,
Of Governor Tillman, who had just ar
rived from Fort Hill, was greeted with
applause.
President Polk was introduced by
President Stokes as man who needed
no introduction to the Alllancemen of
South Carolina, as he was already well
Known.
President Polk said he cherished no
recollection more fondlY than the kind
less received at the hands Of the people
Of South Carolina. 1t were needless to
refer to the ties which bind the two
Carolinas gether-they were witten in
the best blood Of both. If he were to
evade or suppress the truth in regard to
the great issues Of the day he would be
unworth Of confidence or respect. The
farmers have been fed on tahy long
enough; let US have truth. The growth
of the Alliance was the marvel of this
age. 1t had no parallel in history. 1t
had fourished in thwty-siX States, and
had 5000, 900 members. The great and
underlying cause, as argued by the
speaker, which had given this wonderful
growth to the Alliance, was the financial
policy Of the government and the distress
and suffering among the laboring peo-
pie, caused ther by. All the Alliance
asked was an open field and fair fight.
Take the railroads and manufacturers.
the growth of towns and cities, the
amassing Of colossal forlunes-all these
were never known to flourish more than
at present. But when in all your life
known the agricultural interests to Ian
su:sh as at present? From 1850 to 1860
the farmers owned 10 per cent. Of the
wealth Of the country; today less than
90 per cent, four-6fths Of which was un-
det mortgage. From 1870 to 1880 the
agricultural population increased 20 per
cent, while the value ofproperty owned
by them had decreased. In 1880 the
total taxable property of the country
was s43,500, 100000, $4,000, 100000
OF which escaped taxation, and the farm
ers paid on sl4;000,0 100000 Of the re-
mainder. II l had my way, said the
speaker, I would pass a law in each
State requiring every assessor to carry
with him sea! and attach it to every
note or mortgage on evidence of indebt-
edness, and any paper without this seal
l would declare non-collectable by law.
Farmers can't put their land in vaults,
and assessors always find it. The time
was when 1 accepted as true what the
big men of the country said if they be-
longsd to my party: but now, the
bigger the man the more question the
statements made by him. We have been
IN the habit Of swallowins whatever the
politicians gave US and swear 1t was
good, and holler ourselves noarse. But
that time is over. When there was S52
per capita in circulation times were
flush and everybody got on well. The
farmer who sold his cotton in Spartan
burg had to pay profit to eleven men
before he bought it back in cloth.
Speaking OF the purchasing power OF
money, he said you don't wont to know
how much dollar will buy, but how
much debt-paying power that dollar pos
sesses, In 1870 ten bales of cotton
would pay one thousand dollor debt;
now it took thirty bales to pay the same
debt: and it cost as much to raise cotton
today as then.
Wall street, backed by Lombard
street, London, has taken hold OF the
government. The government OF this
country has gone into silent partnership
with Wall street. You hear great deal
about fiat money. would like to know
where you could get any more fiat money
than national bank bills, based upon
bonds which are based only on the power
of the govern nent to tax the people to
redeem them, with no gold Or silver back
of them. The national banking system
lends to one class money at one per cent.
and license the ba Ks to charge eight
and ten per cent. for it. l believe that
if this government would stick its name
to piece Of leather, or paper, or gold,
or anything else, and call IL dollar, it
will pass for one hundred cents anywhere
iu this country.
He read from the Ocala platform on
the silver plank, and remarked: Il am
not waiting for Grover Cleveland TO tell
me how to vote, and l intend to stand
with the majority Of the white people OF
the South and vote against Grover
Cleveland" This statement was greet
ed with applause. In support Of the
sub treasury plank, he quoted from
Jefferson and Calhoup.aSsd said if the
Jehersonian straightoulswanted to learn
,,ure Democracy they had better come
into the Alliance and take their lessons
over. The Ocala platform was good
Jenersonian Democracy and Llncolnian
Republ canism, which made mighty
good com bination. l believe that plat
form will conduce 10 the greatest good,
and intend to stand on 1t.
The tariff is not the great issue. Lit
were reduced 25 per cent. you wouln be
no better off in five years. We are not
to be sidetracked by the cry Of niger,
bloody shirt or anything else. We went
to congress and asked for relief; we
wanted more money to do the business
of the country. Practically we were
told % 90 home, work harder. live clos
er, keep out Of politics. and all would be
well. Farmers have gone into politics,
and gone there to stay. The Alliance