Newspaper Page Text
>0ii%ra fanner.
H. H. CARLTON, - Editor.
Terms of Subscription
$2 OO
l DO
BO
15 00
4 00
ONE COPY, One Year.
ONE COPY, Si* Months..-
ONE COPY, Three Months ....
LEGAL ADVERTISEMENTS.
Citation for Letter* of GuarJUMhlP-
Citation for Letter* of Administration....-,
Application lor Letters of Dlamlaaion Admin- # ^
AppliHtonforLetter*oiDUmUsion Guardian 5 25
Application for Leare to Sell Land* 5 00
Notice to Debtor* and Creditor* — ? ??
Sales of Land. Ac., per *?uare.............--..-~
Sales Perishable Property, 10 days, per *q
Estray Notlcos,30 day* - ® X
Sheriff Sales, per square....... *
Sheriff Mortgago ft. fa. *alea per square 5 00
Tax Collector’s Sales, per square ® ™
Foreclosure Mortgage, per square, each H.n*. 1 «o
Exemption Notices (in advance) f "
Rule Nisi's, per square, each time—....—
HIT Tlic above legal rates corrected by Urdinary
#f Clarke county.
Hates of A-clvertlsinj*.
Advertisements will be inserted at ONE DOL;
LA R per square lor the first insertion, and FIFTY
CENTS per square for each continuance, for any
time under one month. For longger periods a lib
eral deduction will bo made. A square equal to
NoticesTn* local column, less than a square, 20
cents a line.
The Silver Bill.
Tlie House bill known as the Bland
Silver Bill, and which will be found
in another column, passed the Senate
on Saturday the Kith inst., with cer-
tain amendments, by a vote ot forty-
eight to twenty-one, which amend
ments the House litis since concuned
in by a vote of 204 to 72, and
the bill goes at once to the Pres
ident for his signature. The benatc
amendments preclude the right ot
free coinage, securing to ihu Goveru-
mciit the protit; provides for a con
ference between the United States,
the Latin Union, aid other European
countries to determine upon an in
ternational and fixed relative value
between gold and silver; also limits
the purchase by the Treasury lor
coinage to fonr million dollars worth
of silver bullion per month. Various
conjectures have been made iu regard
to the Presidents action upon this
measure. Having passed both Houses
of Congress by a two-third9 vote in
each, with the popular sentiment
throughout the whole couutry so de
cidedly in favor of the bill, and with
the salutary effects already experi
enced in the stock markets and finan
cial circles, in anticipation of this
measure becoming law, it can scarcely
be believed that the President will
have the hardihood to delay its be
coming law by exercising his executive
veto. Such action on the part of the
President, as he must well know,
would only prove delay in the bill
becoming law, for the vote by which
it was passed in each branch of Con
gress, clearly indicate the requisite
constitutional vote by which it may
become law despite executive disap
proval. Then the Silver Bill may
safely be considered the law, and as
such it proves a victory over the Eas
tern Shylocks, at which the whole
country, especial the South, has cer
tainly, rightful and abudant reasons
for rejoicing. Notwithstanding the
antagonists of this bill uniformly and
universally staked their leputations as
financiers and statesmen, in the predic
tion that should such a measure be
come a law, the whole financial world,
wo far as influenced by American
finances, would become convulsed;
that gold would advance, and that the
stock markets would be glutted with
the bonds of foreign bond-holders,
disgusted and made reckless by a
violation of good faith on the part of
the Government, yet just the reverse
is true, while these prophetic states
men, these experienced and far seeing
financiers, constituting a hopeless and
most fortunate minority, are left alone
amid their disgust, with naught but
their own-measured wisdom where
with to console their disappointment.
The late telegrams inform us that
gold has declined, that United States
bonds have slightly advanced to the
gratification, albeit to the surprise, of
both American and foreign holders
thereof, and that the financial markets
are fast adjusting themselves to the
provisions of the silver bill.
These speedy manifestations of the
beneficial results of the restoration of
the silver dollar to its former position
in our American currenc)', are indeed
gratifying and well calculated to in
spire much hope throughout the whole
country. Especially is this true as
regards the South, which has so long
and so seriously languished for the
want of greater volume to our cur
rency. But we apprehend the long
contest over the Silver question, and
the great excitement which it has
produced throughout the land, has in
all probability created too great ex
pectations on the part of many of our
people as to the good that will result
therefrom, by way of relief to our
financial necessities and distress. That
the remonetization of silver will be
beneficial to the whole country and to
^ “ the South in particular, there can be
no successful denial. It will be worth
millions of dollars to our people by
preventing an unnatural aud undue
appreciation of the value of money.
It will of course increase the volume
of our currency, all of which will be
especially beneficial to the debtor class
But the questions which now address
themselves to eur attention, are, will
this legislation prove sufficient for our
relief? Will the remonetization of sil
ver and its restoration to its former
position so increase the currency a9 to
meet our most pressing demands,
making further legislation unnecessary
for the relief of our present great fi •
nancial embarrassment? These are
grave questions, which should at once
receive the serious and thoughtful
consideration of the people as well as
of our representatives in Congress.
Taking it for granted that a very
large majority, if not all, of our peo
ple must recognize the benefits
accrue to the country, from the en
actment of the silver bill, yet it is
hardly fair to suppose that those who
have studied the question closely ; who
remember that within eleven years our
currency has been contracted from
%1,800,000,000 to a little more than
$700,000,000 ; who take into consid
eration the fact that under the most
favorable circumstances our annual
coinage could not exceed fifty millions;
and who bear in mind the great ten
dency of silver to seek exportation, are
likely to anticipate, without further
action on the part of Congress, any
very speedy relief from the present
legislation touching the silver question.
In this view of the question of our
finances, our^hopes are strengthened
by reference to the Congressional
record. The bill for the repeal of the
Resumption act, which is now before
the Senate, will doubtless be passed
by almost the same vote which the
silver bill received, and while per se
it could effect but little relief to the
country, yet, as correlative legislation,
it is both wise and important. An
other important auxiliary measure is
the passage of the bill substituting
greenbacks for National bank circu
lation, making them receivable for all
public and private dues, except
where coin is expressly stipulated,
and further providing that they shall
be receivable at the Treasury at par
for four per cenl. bonds. Again,
let General Butler’s Senate bill,
which proposes the repeal of the ten
per cent, tax on all issues of bills by
banks, other than National banks, be j
passed, thus re-establishing free-
banking, and then with our currency
made more subservient to the great
law of supply and demand, may the
country begin fully to hope for that
financial relief which our necessities
so urgently demand.
But there is yet another matter of
legislation which should not escape
the attention of our Congressmen, and
which, in order to secure more cer
tainly the wanted relief to the coun
try, and gain for themselves the title
of wise statesmen and shrewd” finan
ciers, they should by no means o\er-
look, viz : the proper adjustment of
the national revenue and expenditure.
In the history of all nations, and in
the experience of all the best finan
ciers, and the wisest statesmen, there
has ever been recognized a close and
special connection between finance
and taxation. This relation, since
political economy has made such ad
vancement, has become closer and
stronger, showing that the taxes
which are the most productive and
the most easily collected, are not
always the best, looking at the gain
or loss of a nation in the long-run.
Hence, indirect taxation, such as
custom duties, etc., has gained great
popularity, since the importer and
the rfettttaraddfiiiem to the price of
the article imported and sold, the
fi naUpfirohafer ou^y realizing that the
article is dear without experiencing
the inconvenience and hardship ol
paying a direct tax. Turgot, the
able and talented Frenoh financier,
once said “ that finance was. the art
of plucking the fowl without making
it cry.” This system of taxation has
been advocated and sustained in the
history, of all governments, and has
achieved considerable popularity in
the financial legislation of our coun
try. But our experience, especially
within the past ten or fifteen years,
is quite fit vVrianec with this recog
nized principle of taxation as being
the best for out financial prosperity.
In many instances, and in many re
spects, indirect taxation has proven
much more deleterious to our trade,
our wealth, and our commercial
progress, than direct taxes."- In view
of this most important branch of our
national financial legislation, it is a
matter of consolation with the people
to know that Congress iff row pro
ceeding to its consideration l>y way
of the “tariff Ml” and a m asure
looking more directly to the question
of taxation. These are important ques
tions of government, in which the
w ^ jbially the South and
"eply interested, and the
people are anxiously, patiently wait
ing ( and .watching to see what will
btflthe Course of Congfess concerning
these measures, embraced in the
broad scope of the great financial
proposition. Wisdom and true states
manship admonish* us ot the gravity
of these questions, since in their just
and judicious arrangement and ad
justment may be stayed that conflict
between labor and capital which now
so seriously threatens the peace,
prosperity and general welfare of our
country.
Already have we extended this ar
ticle far beyond our intention, but
we cannot gain our consent to con
clude without briefly calling the
attention of our people to what we
consider and believe to be the more
certain, sure, and direct-ruffd to their
financial relief and material prosperity.
In the agricultural, mineral, manu
facturing, and various industrial re
sources of the South, is that unde
veloped and unapplied power, which,
if but properly utilized, will as surely
bring relief to our poverty-stricken
section, as that its neglect will con
tinue us easy subjects for the further
agrandizement of the great money-
centers of the country; unremuiier-
ated and impoverished “ hewers of
wood and drawers of water*’ for the
ever-increasing money-powers of the
Eastern and New England States.
Let us cease contributing our hard-
earnings for the further agrandize
ment of those sections whose opu
lence, thus increased, make them more
and more our selfish, unrelenting and
continual financial oppressors. With
out this reform, hard times and
scarcity of money will continue to
oppress us, although the volume of
our currency should be swelled to
redundancy. Let the vast horde of
agents, who are ever in our midst in
the interest of the various Eastern,
Western and New England enter
prises, return to their masters empty
handed. Let what of money is ours
be kept at home for the development
of our vast resources, for the estab-
foc the
lishment of manufactures,
stimulation of our agriculture, and
then with a “Solid South” made
independent and self-sustaining, we
will no longer suffer from that unnat
ural condition of things which enables
the speculative capital of the North
to control both the price of pro
ducing our cotton crop and its mars
ket value. T.-ct us change this order
of things. The. cotton crop of the
South is the true and real basis of
American commerce and of our finan
cial prosperity. Our cotton will
command the standard value of cur
rency in this or any other country,
be it gold or silver. Then, let us
get about such a self sustaining con
dition in our agriculture and in our
every industry as will enable us to
hold and control this staple product
of the South, and cotton will again
become the “King” of our relief,
the source of our wealth, and the
power through which the South will
again be respected, known and felt
as a most important and the only
truly independent section of this
American Union.
The increased commercial impor
tance which Atheus has attained
within the past few months, is not
only a matter of pride with every
Athenian, but a subject of universal
comment throughout the country.
The extent of trade done in Athens
this winter has doubtless far exceeded
the expectations of the most enthu
siastic citizens, and is a matter of
proibuud astonishment to the many
visitors to our city. That Athens
should be receiving a trade which
naturally and legitimately belong^ to
Augusta and Atlanta, is indeed a
most gra’ifying surprise to her peo
ple, as well as an indubitable evidence
of her enterprise and growing com
mercial importance.
What then, we may inquire, lias
given this great impetus to the pros
perity of our city, making her pros
pective interest seeond to that of no
city or town in Georgia, if not in the
whole South ? Need we answer, the
building of our Northeastern Rail
road ? This is a fact which all will
concede, and we apprehend no citizen
of our c ommunity, who feels an inter
est in the welfare of our town, has
failed to fully satisfy himself as to
how and why the building of this
road has brought such advantages to
Athens. Prior to the building of the
Northeastern Railroad, we were at
the mercy of the Georgia Railroad,
whose mercy showed i.ot itself, but
whose frightful and most unjust dis
ci imiuations against our trading in
terest rendered it impossible for
Athens to compete, commercially,
with her neighboring cities. With
the completion of this road to its
intersection with the Air-Line Rail
road, not only are we enabled to
control our freights, giving our mer
chants an equal and just showing
with those of Augusta and Atlanta,
thereby bringing great advantage to
the purchasing community iu the
reduction of prices, but with this road
has come an increased and most valu
able trade to A 1 hens, which, had it
not been built, »*..«! never could have
hoped to gain.
These are facts too patent to every
one for ns to dwell upon. Then,
the question for consideration is, if
such have been the advantages to our
town and people by the construction
of the forty miles of road to Lula, its
junction with the Air-Line Road,
how much greater would be our ad
vantages by its completion to its con
templated terminus at Rabun Gap ?
This would not only open up, and
unquestionably secure to Atheus, as
a market, one of the finest, if not the
best, sections of Georgia, abounding
in those products which arc ever in
demaud, and for which our market
constantly feel the want, but by the
inevitable connection this extension
would secure with Knoxville, Ten
nessee, and via the Knoxville and
Rabun Gap Railroad with Cincinnati
and the whole West, our every
advantage wonld he increased, our
every interest enhanced, and the
Northeastern Railroad become an
important and valuable link in the
shortest, best and most impovtaut
through line of railroad between the
West and Middle and Southern Geor
gia. But the benefits of this exten
sion to Rabun Gap do not stop
here. Let it be built, giving us this
unquestionable Western connection,
and an equally inevitable result, and
that, at no distant day, will be the
building of the Athens, Madison and
Eatonton Railroad; thus securing,
via Macon, Ga., an almost air-line
connection between Knoxville and
Southwest and Seaboard Georgia.
Aside from the value of this connec
tion, as the shortest and most direct
line of road between the West and
Southern and Seaboard Georgia,
when we reflect that thereby the
West will have offered to her, via
the Macon & Brunswick and Central
Railroads, two ot the finest harbors
on the South Atlantic coast, Bruns
wick and Savannah, all must readily
see that this line of road would at
once become a perfect thoroughfare
for freight and travel between the
West and these important points in
our State. Indeed, with such a pre
sentation of this most feasible and
practical through line of road between
the graneries and smoke-houses of
the West anil the cotton fields of
Georgia, it seems to us that every
citizen of Athens and Northeast
Georgia, as well as of Macon, Bruns
wick and Savannah, should regard
this as not only a highly important,
but ah absolutely indispensable
enterprise.
Citizens, merchants property own
ers of Athens, reflect, that with snch
rairoad connections, to secure which,
only requires the completion of our
Northeastern Railroad to Rabun Gap,
Athens will become a distributing
point between the West and the
Southern portion of our State, thus
making it one of the most impoitant
commercial points in all this Southern
land. Our population would be
doubled, if not quadrupled, in a very
few years; our manufacturing inter
ests would be vastly increased and
enlarged; our every industry and our
every enterprise would have given
them such unrestrained impulse that
the comparative quiet of the town of
Athens of to-day, Would soon bo for
gotten amid the busy whirl and com
mercial stir of our rapidly growing
city.
Now, people of Athens and of
Northeast Georgia, shall this consum
mation, so devoutly wished for, be
brought about? It is for you to say,
and it is altogether within your pow
er, yourcomparatively easy reach. The
people of Northeast Georgia, who are
so much to be benefitted by this en
terprise, are fully alive to its inter
est. The people of Macon, Bruns
wick, Savannah and Southwest Geor
gia, are fast realizing the importance
to them of the Northeastern Rail
road as a connecting link with the
great West. The city of Knoxville
needs only to be assured that we will
extend our road, and with renewed
interest and increasing enterprise,
they will be ready to meet us with
their road at Rabun Gap.
Then, let us take advantage of
these propitious circumstances. The
bonds of the Northeastern Road
being now endorsed, the company is
relieved of its embarrassments and
set again upon sure looting. Theu,
let the Directors of the road, not
withstanding the times arc hard, call
meetings of the citizens here in
Athens, at Clarkesville, Clayton, and
all along the line of the road, and let
the people be more fully aroused to
this enterprise. Let them now strike
while the iron is hot; delay is dan
gerous. It will be much easier now
while the people of our section are
encouraged over the endorsement oi
our bonds to give new life to our
road, than at a subsequent date,
even though it be deferred but a
short while. Then, it is to be hoped
that the Board of Directors will give
no delay to this matter, but at once
start the good work, set the ball full
in motion, and with an interest and
enthusiasm on their part, and on the
part of the people, commensurate
with their great necessities and the
unspeakable importance of this enter
prise, we may hope, at no very dis
tant day, to celebrate the completion
of the Northeastern Railroad to
Rabun Gap.
Good people of Athens, we request
that you give us your attention for
just a few moments. The Burns’
Silver Cornet Band is to give a Con
cert on the 4th of March, for the pur-
pose of raising funds with which to
buy themselves uniforms.
Now, we want to say a word in
behalf of this musical organization of
our town. It is composed of seme of
the very cleverest and best young
men of our community, who have or
ganized themselves into a band, not
for the purpose of making money by
their enterprise, but simply as a con
venience and ornament to Athens,
ft is, indeed, an ornament to our
city, and though it lias only been
about twelve months since it was
organized, wo doubt if there is a
better band to-day in Georgia.
There is no one who will da v e ques
tion the pleasure, and indeed, the
value of a real good band to any
community. There are many occa
sions in the existence of every com
munity when music is altogether in
dispensable. And how much better
to have our own band than have to
secure one from abroad. Be it said
to the credit of the members of the
Burns’ Silver Comet Band, they are
always on band with the very best of
music. And be it further said tc
their credit, (and this is what our
citizens should not forget,) on public
occasions, such as Decoration Dav,
The Ciiilden’s May Festival, and
all oilier occasions of public interest,
they furnish music free of charge.
This band is becoming quite popular
outside of Athens, and is not unfre-
quently called to make music for
other communities. The proceeds
from such trips are appropriated for
instruction in music and their more
thorough organization as a musical
association.
Now, in order that the band may
be enabled to make a most respect
able and genteel appearance on pub
lic occasions and on their visits
abroad, they propose a Conceit for
the purpose’ above indicated, vi**to
raise funds with which to purchase a
uniform. Citizens of Athens, we ap
peal to you in their behalf and in your
own behalf, to sustain this most praise
worthy and ornamental entei prise of
our town. Let them have a full house
on the 4th of March. It will cost
each of you but a trifle, and will
aggregate to them a sum which will
enable them to make the Burns Silver
Cornet Band an insltitution of which
Athens may well be proud. Remem
ber, further, that this band has given
a number of entertainments, each an
improvement on the preceding one,
and that while you are aiding them
in a most laudable enterprise, you
will be treated to as fine a musical
entertainment as can be presented
by any traveling troop in all the
country. Let everybody turn out on
the 4‘.b, and patronize a home insti-
tution.
The
Grand Jury
ments.
Present-
The presentments of the late Grand
Jury reached us too late for comment
in our last issue. They have been
given to the public and ere this time,
the valuable recommendations therein
contained, have doubtless met with
the hearty approval and endorsement
of every citizen of Clarke county.
No more faithful, earnest and hard
working jury was ever impaneled in
old Clarke. They did their duty ably
and with such fidelity to the trust
imposed, as to receive the high com
mendations of the presiding Judge,
and no doubt the plaudit “ well done
good and faithful servants ’’ from all
the people of our county.
Hon. Thomas P. Janes, Commis
sioner of Agriculture for the State of
Georgia, was elected President pro.
tem. of the National Agricultural
Congress which assembled in New
York City, ou the 19th inst.
H. G. & C. N. G. R. Road.
The people of Harmony Grove,
Carnesville and intermediate country,
are fully aroused as to the importance
of building the Carnes'ville and Har
mony Grove Narrow Gauge Rail
road. Let the Directors of the
Northeastern Railroad and the peo
ple of Athens likewise become fully
interested in this enterprise. It is
an important one for that road and
Athens, and should, by all means, be
built, ami that at an early day. Let
the ball be put in motion. Let the
Directors of the Northeastern Rail
road and the City Council at ouce
hold meetings looking to this interest,
and see what can be done. The
friends of the enterprise elsewhere
are waiting on you, and are ready to
co-operate actively with you. We
propose to keep the building of this
road, as well as the extension ot the
Northeastern Railroad to Rabun
Gap, constantly before the people,
and will have much to say on that
line in our subsequent issues.
Hon. Henry W. Hilliard has at last
been confirme'd by the Senate as
Minister to Brazil.