The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-11-17
BILL arr BeFoRE TAKING.

BILL ARP BEFORE TAKING.
Inseeruption of the Nervous System
Causes ParaIysis-Money is tho
Same as.Nerve.
The doctors tell us that paralysis Is
tho loss of the function OF motion from
an Interruption Of nervous influence.
Trade, commerce and Industrial pur-
suits have nerves, too, but they see
70 be paralyzed. The spinal marrow
Is diseased and muscular power has
become stagnant What has caused
this unnatural condition we know not
with any certainty, for the political
doctors disagree, but 1t is believed by
many that it is owing to the lack of
circulation OF tho blood-that Is, IF
money, and that the characterization OF
silver Is at the bottom of 1t. Whatever
IL is, the patient Is in a bad fix. The
other day l rode out with q lady friend
In the suburbs OF Atlanta to look at
some of the cottage homes. She wanted
to buy a home for herself, and we spent
parts Of three days in examining and
pricing properties. There were hun
dreds OF them and they were cheap
enough, but what struck me was that
q building and loan company had more
for sale than anybody. This company
had loaned money four or five years
ago to improve suburban lots. They
loaned not exceeding one-half the value
OF the vacant lot and have had to fore
close their mortgages because the bor-
rover could no longer pay tho interest,
and so they bid in the property and
have held it. hoping to get their money
back, but they can't and are now seek
ing buyers at less than the property
opot tho,n nnl Ia ~, Loo, tlD-
the original loan. A lot that four or
five years ago was worth 81 900 and has
on 1t a house that cos 5000 or $500 Is
offered for 81 200, and perhaps 81, 600
would buy 1t. The company stand
1t, but what has become of the poor
fellow and his family l know not. They
had hopes and were looking forward to
the time when their humble home
would be paid for, but this paralysis
overlook them and swept their home
and their hopes away. The Merchants
Bank has long been regarded as n of
the solid, conservative institutions of
Atlanta, but it advanced money on real
estate and could not realize. This is
the condition all over the country.
Trade is paralyzed, especially in real
estate. Financiers tell us That there is
as much money in the country as there
rel was, but 1t does not move. The
etagnation not only continues, but gets
worse. Three years ago q man offered
8 $1,000 for an eligible town lot in Gar
tersville. A year later he bought it
for $500, and now he could not get $500
for 1t IL he wished to sell. Is it any
wonder that the people have lost
confidence and are willing to make any
change that is offered? The patient is
awful sick and will even take strich-
ntnc IL 1t is prescribed.
But the long agony Is nearly over and
we shall see what we shall see. The
people are ready for the ballot, and the
ballot will settle the nations will. 1t
Is the masses against the classes-the
same old story And David fled from
Saul to the cause of Adullum and all
>%ho were disconnected or in debt or
distressjoined him there" That was
a sorry lot to iii quo Il iai rnhgT but in course
OF time they were victorious.
But I don't believe that capital is as
much alarmed as it was q month ago.
The banks have hedged and are pre-
pared for the change If any comes.
Certain 1t is there will be no collapse
If Bryan is elected and there will be
no relief II Mckinley is. This govern
ment cau't be ruined by a change Of
rulers. The civil war cleaned up the
South pretty well, but in ten years it
had rallied and in fifteen years hardly
q trace of the war could be found. Then
let us not be alarmed at the situation.
If Mckinley is elected and a Republi-
can Congress, and something is not
done to relieve the people they will be
ignominiously hurled from power four
years hence. Distress and discomfort
are growing things. While capital is
all the time concentrating to the few,
debt and discomfort is spreading to the
many. Capital will not turn q wheel
as long as 1t can be loaned on mort.
cages at a good per cent. A few months
ago some of our public spirited citizens
determined to build a cotton ,nill that
would give employment to the children
of the poor. The stock was all sub
scribed, but before any contracts were
made the times got harder and money
more valuable, and 80 one by one the
stockholders dropped out and the mill
died in childbirth. .
But why worry about these things.
There Is no good sense in brooding over
trouble. l had rather read a good book
or plant out strawberries or play with
a ~grandchild than to talk politics. L
. was in Atlanta yesterday and was in
troduced by a mutual friend to a mem
Der Of the legislature. He got the idea
that was an Office seeker and asked
tho Whdo was IuiulhB lOF. NOGn-
ing" said I, nothing at all" He
seemed relieved and said I was q
curiosity and asked me for my picture.
| will say this and can prove it {:
. There are better men out than In and
always will be. When niger Bob
came back from the penitentiary, after
serving his time, he declared that "dar
was some as bad folks in dar as dar was
outen dar and dar was some as good
people outen dar as dar was in dar."
There are some mighty clever mon
holding Office and the people were
pleased to honor them, but 1t is q rare
thing for q modest gentleman to be
elevated. The day of C~incinnatus will
never return. BILL ARP.