The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-07-01
Wednesday, July 1, 1896.
Shall Our Laborlng People Have
Pewter Dollars and Idleness; Or,
shall They Have Employment At
Good Wages in Gold?

The Times does not believe that the free
coinage OF silver ia the only relief the coun-
tion and possibly the first step that can be
taken now. The body Of the Democrats OF
the country believe in the free coinage or sll,
yer and the very lowest tariff possible, and
we must con fess that we are surprised TO see
such an ably edited paper as the Press ana
Banner at such utter variance WIN these Two
most important principles. - MCCORMICK
Times.
The number Of citizens in Abbeyille Coun-
ty, who favor or disapprove Of public ques-
tion, has no sort Of influence with this editor
We are guided only by the light of reason
and the impulse to do the right, as VIC see II.
We admit that we know very little OF the
financial question now agtating the puonc
mind, but we are opposed to the disturbance
Of values and we would dislike 10 orlns
about changes In our money system WHICH
may ruin thousands of our people WlthouI
benefitting anybody. If we need money that
is not of real value in itself, let there be more
bills issued Bills are not money, but II they
represent money, and the proper safeguards
are placed around them, they are rs good as
gold, for the purpose Of circulating medium.
1t has not been explained TO us what is TO
become of the deficiency of the precious
medal in the sixteen-to-one dollar If d sill
yer dollar represents nothing more than the
intrinsic value Of the specie, how Is 1t possi-
BILE 10 get dollar for it?
If bushel Of wheat, which has four pecks
in 1t. is worth sixty cents, how could bushel
with only two pecks in it, be worth sixty
cents?
We have seen 1t stated that one third of the
money-the gold coin-would be immediate
ly Withdrawn If the pewter dollar should be
adopted. If so. would there not be panic?
If creditors loss confidence in the money
would they not demand their money and
oppress the debtor class?
AS to protection. 1t has been boasted that
the present low tariff, by increased importa-
tions, has put more money in the Federal
Treasury than was put there by the higher
tariff OF former years. Increased importa-
tion means the reduction OF manufactures
in our own country. The closing Of our
manufactures means the throwing out OF en-
ployment thousands Of mechanics and labor
ers. The closing Of a ufactory Is far
reaching In its effects. 1t effects the coal
minor first in the reduction Of the demand
for coal. In like manner the demand for
iron, wood and other articles that go into
manufactured goods is effected.
If the imported goods which paid such In
crease Of revenue had been manufactured In
this country, millions of laborers, mechanics
and tradesmen would have had employment
at good wages which would be paid in gold,
but as it was they have been idle.
The error which our politicians make Is In
demanding pewter dollars for the people, in
stead Of laboring TO restore this country TO a
prosperous condition, by giving people pro-
fitable employment. rather than trying to
keep them paupers by denying the op-
portunity to work for good money. Laboring
people should resent the proposition to with
hold employment while palming of pewter
dollars on them.
The people want work and not pewter dol
lars.
The high tariff would close the doors to
foreign manufactures and give the work to
our own people.
Employment, and not pewter dollars, is
what the honest people Of this country want.