The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1893-08-17


they already have II does not mee
tie situation To -ay that apprehension
in regard 10 the futnre of on. finance.
l. grotindie,, ard that There il NJ
reason for Lack of confidence III rhs
purpose or power Of the government il
the premises Tie very existence o
this apprehension and lack Of conf
dence. however caused. il menace
which ought no. for moment 10 be
disregaried Possibly if the undertaking
we have in hand were the maintenance
Of a specific known quantity OF silver
AZ q parity with gold orr ability 10 do
40 light lie estimated and gauged. and
perhaps. in view of our unparalleled
growth and resources. might lie favor
ably passed upon Blu; when onr
avoNcd endeayor j. to maintain such
| parity in regard 10 an amount of silver
! increasing III the rate Of fifty millions
Of dollars yearly with no fixed telmina-
| ton TO such increase it can hardly be
said that a problem is presented whose
solution Is free from doubt.
! SOUND AND STABLE CURRENCY.
The people Of the United States are
entitled to a sound and stable currency
ard to money recognized as such Oh
every exchange and in every market of
the world. Their government has no
right to injure them by financial exper-
iments opposed to the policy and prac-
tice of other civilized States, nor is it
justified in permitting an exaggerated
national strength and ability to jeop-
ardize the soundness of the peoples
money.
This matter rises above the plane
of party politics. Ii vitally concerns
every business and calling and enters
every household in the land
THE WAGF-EARNER DEFENCELESS.
There is one important aspect Of
the subject which especially should
never be overlooked. At times like the
present, when the evil of unsound
finances threaten u. the speculator
may anticipate harvest gathered from
the misfortune of others the capitalist
may protect himself by hoarding. or
may even find profit III the fIuctua:ion
of values: but the wage-earner-the
first to lie injured by deprecated cur
rency and the last to receive the benefit
OF its col ctiOn-is practically defence
less. He relies for work upon the
ventures OF confiden: and contcnted
capital This failing him. his condition
is without aiIeyiation, for he can
neither prey on the misfortuncs of
Others nor hoard his labor
lone of the greatest statesmen our
country has known. speaking more than
fifty years ago. when a arrangement Of
the currency had caused commercial
distress. said The very man OF all
others who has the deepest interest in
a sound currency and who suffers most
bv misci,ievous legislation in money
matters is the man who earns his daily
bread by his daily toll These words
are as pertinent now as on the day
they were uttered and ought to impress
sively remind us that u failure III the
discharge of our duty at this time must
especially ini,re those Of our country
men who labor and who because of
their number and condition are entitled
to the most watchful care Of their
government.
IMPoRTiNCE or PROMPT ACTION.
1t is; Of the utmost importance
that such relief as Congress can afford
in the existing situation be afforded a.
once. The maxim. lie gives twice
who gives quickly is directly applica
bic. It may be true that the en1harr-
:essments. from which the business Of
the country is suffering arise as much
from evils appreiended As from those
actually existing We may hope, too,
that calm counsels will prevail and that
neither the capitalists nor the wage
earnerS will give way 10 unreasonlng
panic and sacrifice their property or
tl1ei. interests under the influence of
exaggerated fears Nevertheless. every