The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-01-01
EDITORIAL NOTES.

The construction of the railroad from
Cheraw to Columbia, via Camden, is
another strong agrument for ou'd'ng
the road from Sumter to Camden.
That road must be built, or Sumter
cannot keep up with the procession.
It will be much better to borrow gold
from Russia than from the Wall Street
syndicate, but better still to issue bonds
in the form of a popular loan to the
people Of the country at large. Better
than either, however, would be reform
in the fiuaocial system that would prevent
speculative raidiug on the treasury.
This couotry cuts sorry spectacle
aounderiug around helplessly 10 the
financial mire while the gold bugs.
mosqseto-like, drain the treasury OF
gold. which, under the present condl-
t;ons has become the life blood of the
financial system.
Tne Republicans have commenced
tinkering with the tariff again, and are
making the excuse that the Treasury
deficit and Cleveland's appeal for 6nan-
cial relief Legislation made such increase
in the tariff absolutely necessary.
They Sc, up the claim that the new tariff
bill is not tariff bill, but a revenue
measure. This pretext will deceive no
one for the increased revenue is not
needed, and Secretary Carlisle has SO
informed them. The relief the Treas
urv needs is relief from the gold reserve
bug-a.boo. What the country needs
and the people demand is reform 10
the financial system that will relieve the
Treasury from toe clutch of the money
kings, wao now have it absolutely at
their mercy by means of the gold re-
ser7s requirement. Tee Republicans
hav, loag been daft on the subject OF
tariff as we'll as thoroughly under the
influence of the protective tariff baroos.
The Republicans are not giving the
country relief, but instead. are 'ocreas-
ips the burdens that the working
classes have to bear.
The Republicans are already at work
getting ready for the National con7en.
sion. Tae politicians in the South all
van, to have a seat 10 it, and they are
working harder than the rest. 1t Is
bevopd doubt mos, profitable thing to
be a Republican delegate from the
South to a nominating convention.
We suggest to tho City Council a
Nov Year resolution: Resolued, that
tho houses cf Sumter be numbered be-
fore this municipal year expires. lfth's
be done toe people ofSunter will all be
deeply grateful to the retiring C0uoo'''
The Meusp phis Cotton Exchange has
taken timely action in bringing torcloly
before the Cotton Planters the folly OF
increasing the acreage 10 cotton. ioe
high prices paid for cotton this year
were brough, about by the reduced
acreage and the unfavorable seasons IN
Texas. A short crop 10 Texas means
short crop for America, and unless
the same conditions prevail next year
there will be a large crop produced and
low nrices will result. The only posi-
Bile chances of keeping the price OF
cotton up to living figure is to reduce
the acreage, for short crop 10 Iexas
is the exception and cannot be couoted
on once in FIVE years. We trust the
farmers of the South generally. and OF
South Carolina especially, will have the
wisdom to plant cotton as surplus
crop, reducing the acreage to the lowest
limit. and raise everything else that
they need. for the prospects are that the
nrice OF cotton will be low again nex'
year.
Years ago the navigable waterways
na,oral and artificial. we're the deter
mining fsc:oss in the volume and d.
rect;on Of commerce, and the location
ooctrec. Dut the raplC