The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1897-05-05
IFNE WANT SILVER RESTORED, WE
MUST DO IT OURSELVES.

The so-called ''silver men in the
United States have no desire to block
the way to just and proper inter
national agreement for the restora-
ton of bimetallism. If the monetary
system Known by that name is a good
one, or if it is better than gold mono
metallism, it follows, as of course,
that it cannot become bad thing if
procured by international agreement.
But we do not believe such an
agreement with the leading CONNER
cial nations is within the scope OF
reasonable probability under existing
conditions. The two nations whose
concurrence is deemed essential are
England and Germany. The fnan-
ciaI policy OF both countries is abso-
lutelv controlled by the creditor
classes. 1t is true that the best eco
nomic thought of Europe, both IN
England and on the continent, is IN
favor of bimetallism. But this sseco-
nomic thought" is not the controlling
force in European politics. While
the great arguments IN favor OF ol-
metallism are unanswered, and will
remain unanswered, it is not appar-
ent that any progress has been made
toward its re-establishment. In truth,
the tendencies seem to be the other
way. The reasons perfectly plain.
The monied men, who constitute the
worlds great creditors, are benefited
by the appreciation Of money. 1t
enables them to collect their pay in
money more valuable Il. e., of greater
purchasing power than that which
they loaned. Now and then we find
man whose generous instincts lead
him to surrender pecaniary advan-
tage. But such men are few, and as
rule they DO not belong to the class
of professional money lenders. The
latter are altogether insensible to ar
gument based upon moral and eqult-
able considerations if those consider
ations are opposed to their interests.
When dealing with the money lend
ers themselves argument in favor Of
charging the money volume IS sim
ply wasted.
These same classes are all powerful
in shaping the financial policy Of
their respective governments. There
is 10 form of wealth so potential as
ready money. We know something
of its power in our own politics. The
banker controls the business man,
the business man controls his en-
plovees, and together, they, in large
measure, control the elections. In
Europe, where universal suffrage is
unknown, where the governments are
either practically in the hands of a
single man or of select
few, 1t necessarily follows that
the distinctively creditor classes
constitute relatively greater ''pow-
err than they do here. They not
only influence the elections in coun-
tries where elections are held, but
they influence the leading states
men" and, in a large measure, dictate
their policy.
Note4he attitude of Mr.. Gladstone.
There are great industrial and COM
mercial interests in England that are
most iriuriously affected by the de-
monetization Of silver. Yet, even
when international bimetallism" is
suggested, he opposes it strenuously
upon the ground that England is a
creditor to the amount Of S10,000,-
OOO,COO, and would be injured by
the adoption Of bimetallism. He
understands that the demonetization
of silver raised the value of gold, and
that its RECOMMENDATION will lower it
again. So, ignoring all the other in
terests of his country and looking to
those of the creditor classes alone. he
sets his face firmly against policy
which will tend to lessen the value OF
the gold which they are wrlnglng
from their unfortunate debtors all
over the world.
Note again the attitude Of the
present British ministry. It is well
known fact that most of its members
are avoHedly bimetallists. Mr.. BAL