The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-11-25
GOOD FOR A G0LDITE.
EDWARD ATKINSON SPEAKS TO
SOUTHERN EDITORS.

and Suggests their ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
verItes Present Grievances.
RICHMOND, Nov. 1S.-The Southern
Associated Press met in annual session
at the jefferson hotel, this city, this
morning, transacted considerable rou-
tine business and re-elected the old Of
ficers. Mr.. NJ. Glennaan Of the Nor
folk Virginian was added to the exec
utive committee.
Mr.. Edward Atkinson, of Boston,
who was in the city, addressed the
meeting at some length and among
other things said: 81 need make no
excuse for being here. 1 came here
for rest, but when I find myself before
the Southern Press association there
is word which must be said. have
NY finger on the centre of the nerve
of the southland whence the influence
may come that may make or mar the
mighty future of this nation. L know
not what all your views may. have
been; with some of you have held a
somewhat bitter contest IN the !ate
war; others have been with me-iet
the dead past bury its dead At the
beginning of the financial reconstruc-
ton of this nation on you falls a stern
responsibility.
''Several years since the president
of the largest bank in - came TO my
Office. He put to me this question:
sWhat will be the end of the purchase
of silver bullion under the Sherman
: act9' to which I replied: "A financial
panic such as this country has never
seen and paralysis of industry such
as we have never Witnessed
"'When will that happenT To
which I replied: No man can fix the
date; when the doubt passes through
the land of the ability of the treasury
of the United States to maintain the
payment of all its obligations of the
lawful unit of value-a dollar made
OF eold.' He noted this prophecy and
went away preparing like myself for
the future. That crisis has come and
from that paralysis we are now eraerg-
iug-the verdict of the nation has
been rendered. I impute no wrong
full motives to those of your section
who have sustained the acts which
have brought on this contest. 1t is
ended; let the dead past bury its dead.
May we not join together hand to
hand in the efforts to restore condl-
tions under which all may make pro-
gress to prosperity alike2 Years ago
thought that had found in the re-
strictions upon banking the cause OF
the danger which we have just sur
mounted. In our section of the coun-
try we have more banking capital
than we can use. In your sectien and
in the far west it is lacking. Your
people are distrustful of banks and
bankers, not knowing or believing in
the service which banks render to the
community, yet subject yourselves to
the worst and most costly system, be-
cause you have no other. Your peo-
pie depend upon traders at the four
corners, taking advances from them at
excessive rates of interest, put yourself
upon obligations to sell their products
to them at as much as they may tix
and paying to them double price for
all their supplies. People cannot
prosper under these conditions and the
restrictions of the present bank act,
suitable for the period of war, and,
perhaps. justi6able, preventing, that
mutual service which banks and bank
ers might render to your community.
1T has been difficult for the men OF
the north and east to comprehend the
real grievance under which you have
suffered while they deplore your mis-
taken effort in the recent election to
bring bad money not only upon your
selves-but upon us-money which re-
quired force bill or act of legal ten
der to make it circulate at all.
"We now ask you to formulate your
needs, to state your case and to join
with us in such a reconstruction Of the
banking system of the country as shall
make this nation unit, knowing no
sectional wrong to prejudice, each
serving the other according to its abil-
ity and its needs. There are many
methods by which this can be done.
The adjustment is matter of detail.
Are we such incapable people that,
possessing the greatest resources of the
world, we are smothered in our own
grease because we cannot organize
system by which we can serve each
other?
1.-THE lawful unit of value. surviving
centuries of struggle throughout the
world is now the unit of commerce, to
which this and every other country
must adjust it own conditions, or else
suffer loss. Shall not our unit of val
ue, the stand of our commerce, be the
equal of any in the world2 Then, as
said, let the dead past bury its dead
Let us join hands. The solid south is
broken, even color line is broken. It
is the most hopeful period that I have
witnessed since the civil war. Right
minded men may now lay away their
prejudice with the struggle that has
just ended. Find out wherein we may
reconstruct the financial system OF the
country and then join together, and by
the force of the united public opinion
bring about the removal of the artif-
cial construction to our mutual bene-
fit. Of all the issues which must come
to the front in the immediate future, /
believe that the reconstruction of the
banking system is the most important.
Had that been undertaken when it be-
came so manifest to the few as it did a
few years since, we should have had
no silver craze, or we might have been
saved the disaster and panic of recent
years.
upon you rests the great response
bility. As you may mould public
opinion of your section through your