The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-04-23

No! their huge paws" and brawny arms can still
protect themselves. They can protect too, and
will protect, the glorious heritage that has come
down from their fathers. They will do more
they viii cleanse the political temple of their coun-
try from the "money changers" those teaches
upon the body polite who now defle it. Let them
beware in time, how they presume upon human
endurance. The sword of revolution may start
from lis scabbard ere they are aware. An abused
injured, and downrodden people, will rise in the
majesty of their power and resent and avenge their
wrongs. The desperate struggle made to over
throw the great measure of the late administration
as well as those of the venerable Jackson is sure
indication of the importance which the party of
privilege attach to these, as opposed to their pres
ent interests, their future purposes and abstract
party principles
A National Bank, welding the revenues of the
country and controlling its finances, has ever been
the strong hold of federal power; and we may rest
assured that no efforts will be wanting, no meas
rrrs left untred 10 again rebuild its shattered bat
Elements and level its artillery against the equal
rights and dearest privileges of our people. Their
war cry has already gone forth from the Capitol,
and down with the Sub-treasury! Vive la Bank!
are their notices. Already have they possessed
themselves of corporations without numbers from
the State legislatures, by means OF which they fat
ten upon great portion Of the yearly income OF
land and labor. Still, they are not satisfied; they
sigh for the great regulator again; for the "goden
days of bank prosperity" when 20, 40 and $4,000
could be "oaned" to bankrupt orators, hircng
politicians and merccnary presses, for political pur-
poses; when the great central engine controlled the
finances of the country-fnances controlled the
business-nnd the business well nigh controlled the
country ITSELF Their object is to build up stock
and incorporated credit interests, and thus surround
and forlily themselves with peculiar and exclusive
privileges denied to the great mass of the people.
And when they have obtained these gratuilies,
these privileges at the hands Of your legislatures,
what aIc they? What definition can you fix upon
them, but privileged order' An aristocracy
Aye, an aristocracy of wealth! A privileged brood
of political blood-suckers, who are hourly preying
upon the vital energies of industry and labor? An
arisocracy more blighting, scourgng and whitening
to honest industry than n hereditary peerage, Tor
this is of itself alone the empty echo Of a name;
but the Bank Peerage the "rag Barons' of this
free country! not only control the money in your
pockets, your business at home and abroad, but
they fix the price upon your very lands and tene
ments, the product of your soil and the labor of
your hands. confess myself opposed to the whole
outlandsh brood; to all monopolics, State and Ma
tiona; all intolerance, civil, political and religious
That they are all condemned in the great testament
of liberty, the immortal declaration, no one who
reads can doubt And democratic government will
never be perfect, and democratic reform will never
cease till we have torn from their foundations and
scattered TO the winds, root and branch every
tge of the odious system of monopoly which now
disort our statute books, stake from The mouth Of
labor the bread it has earned" and given the lie
TO the "sclf-evidcnt truths of equal 'inaienabe
rights" II is in vain that we cut of few heads
Of this hydra. We must with llerculcan hand
strange its vital energies.
No, fellow citizens, there is no halfway house
to be found on the great chart Of freedom which
has come down to US from our fathers. We must
be entirely free, or we are still vussals The ruins
of dead empires and departed nations will instruct
us that the corroding, cankeing potency of unequal
wealth, increased and supported by Legislation and
kingly enactments, led on to national vice and ma
tonal ruin. But down the dim vista Of years n
brighter prospect, more glorious destiny is before
us; and though clouds, storms and tempess may
sweep over the fair face of our political landscape,
and alarm the timid and overwhem the unwary,
The glorious sun of democratic truth shall rise with
healing in his beams. 1t shall dispel the misty
clouds of ignorance and error, and point out the
quicksands where nations were shipwreckcd.--
There is u moral power,a depth, strength to the
mighty current of enlightened popular opinion in
our land that no efforts Of designing few can ever
arrest or overcome. As well might they strive 10
roll back the proud wave Of the father of waters.
Its course is still onward-deep, ceaseess, eternal.