The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-06-24
THOSE MEXICAN DOLLARS.
The Cones Make Stab at Free Silver
and Freedom of the Ballot.

To the Editor: As reported by your
special correspondent in Sundays issue
OF the Observer, the cotton mills at
Greensboro controlled by the "Cones,' =
of the Cotton Plaid Trust" did pay
oil their hands on Saturday hast in
Mexican dollars at the value Of fifty
cents each. 1t is well known that Mex
lean dollars cost in the market more
than fifty cents, but the loss sustained
in this Mexican dollar deal was first
provided for, by cutting the wages OF
the hands ten per cent, so that the fac
tory hands, and not Mr.. Cone, bore the
loss OF the transaction.
The Cones claim to have introduced
this innovation to our business circles,
as an object lesson to their employees
on the subject of silver, stating that, il
free silver prevailed in the coming cleo
tons, the American dollar will be
worth no more than the Mexican dol.
lar of to-day.
To our mind, this very ''object-les-
son. teaches that it is not by virtue of
the metal, that money value is given 10
our coin, but by virtue of the stamp of
the United States mint, for while there
is more pure silverin the Mexican than
the American dollar, the latter is worth
nearly two Of the former
This new departure in finance, fol,
lowing closely or the heels of the am
nouneement of the Republican Nation
al platform, and led by the moguls OF
a big trust doubtless means political
warfare on new lines in North Carolina.
that is that the manufacturing interest
as far as the Cones can control it, shall
be arrayed on the side of gold mono
metallism as against every other inter-
est iii the State, a condition, which
must be deplored by every conservative
business man, be he merchant, farmer
~ manufacturer
For twenty five years, the manufa.-
turing interest Of North Carolina has
rapidly grown and developed, untram.
eled and unfettered by adverse legis
lation. Il has aeen legitimately par
sued, and legitimately succeeded, and
unhappy indeed viii be the day in this
State, when this great interest shall
be dragged inc lol.tics.
The power of large corporation is
great. often oppressive, and sometimes
cruel, but Southern people cannot DC
driven into measures, and our labor
ing classes, though poor, will not barter
their manhood for scanty food and raj
ment. There will be rebellion against
political seryitude, then another cut
in wages, then a strike, then bayonets
to guard property, then legislation to
settle differences, shorter hours of la
Dor and impose other limitations, in
short, a repetition of all the distur~
Dances that have cursed the manufac-
turing interest in New England for
ten years.
| sincerely trust that better coun-
sels will prevail, and bitter disturban-
ccs be ayoidec. Let every man. how
ever humble or whatever his politics
vote unintimidated, the ballot that ex
presses his own convictions and the
strong arm OF amy man or any corpora
ton OF men, that dare to interfere
with this idiyidual ana constitutional
right, should be forever paralyzed by
a statute on our law books making
such interference punishable by fin.
or Imprisonment. liberty was dearly
bought, let it forever be the heritage
Of the poor, as well as the rich.
w. II. LAND.
Greensboro. Y. G.. lime %.