The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1919-04-18
FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 1919.
LET THE MONEY COME.

contracted for the erection OF resi-
dence in Abbeville, the contract
price to be paid in installments as
the work progressed, with the last
installment payable after'the work
was completed, and had he paid the
installments as the work went along,
and until it had been finished, and
then refused to make the last pay
ment, we imagine, whatever ne
might think of himself, the contrac-
tor would think him unmindful of
his obligations, and his neighbors
might think him entirely dishonest.
Some two years ago the people of
this country commenced greater
enterprise than the building of a
residence. They believed that the
German government was making war
on this country in defiance of inter-
national law, and that our people
were being murdered on the high
seas without q shadow of an excuse.
So believing, we declared state of
war to exist between this country
and the German government, and
we set about to put an end to the
unlawful proceedings of the people
of the latter government.
For the accomplishment of the
task which we assigned ourselves ev-
cry man had duty to perform. The
government of the United States is
nothing if not the spokesman for the
people of the country. When our
representatives spoke in congress
they spoke for all the people of the
country. They spoke for YOU and
for Me.
To the men between 18 and 81
was assigned the duty of going over
seas and fighting the Hun according
TO his own standard of warfare.
They went, and right we'll have they
accomplished the task assigned
them. The men, most of them, after
many days have returned to the peo-
pie of this country. The men who
went out from Abbeville and who
fought as never men fought before
have come back to us to take up
the work as civilians where they left
it off. They gave up much, they
have lost much. :iaMl
But what of the people at home?
Did we not also undertake to do the
work assigned to US? That work was
to finance the war, and to pay the
bills until the last man had recrossed
the sea and had been safely fsturh-
ed to his home. Did we not Hndetr
take to pay until the wounded were
healed, and until the gallant dead
who sleep on Flanders field, in the
Argonne Forest, at Chateau Thierry,
and on all the battlefelds where
our soldiers fought, were brought
againi to America and tenderly plac-
ed in the land for which they gave
their all? Did not the people Of
this country agree to see the war
through until peace was made, and
until the German people and the
people of Austria-Hungary were
forced to sign the terms of peace
which were proposed? Did we not
undertake TO see that France was
r:ghted, and her just claims granted?
If we did, why should we not pay
the bill? Why should we say now
"The soldiers have finished the fight
and peace is in sight and we will
quit; why should we scoff at the
idea Of paying? Can we so say if
we be honest men? Are we not
bound as citizens, of this great repub-
lie to see that every demand made
upon us by the government under
which we live is granted, and that
every dollar necessary to finish the
war is paid? Our duly authorized
representatives at the head of
the government have made
the, obligations, and it is ours to re-
deem them. Thisa anatts cannot