Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1858-07-31
E As the season advances. An,

E As the season advances. and
the time draws nearer when the grain crop
Of this precinct has to be turned into cash !;
and that time approaches when merchants
must meet their paper and prepare to lay
in new stock of goods, the public mind
becomes more and more agitated and con-
cerned in reference to the monetary condi-
tion Of this city. Our business men are
growing anxious, and not unfrequently ask
each other for information in regard to the
probability of having better currency
with which to transact their business.-
Some, too. do not hesitate to ask the plain,
round questions, "when are Cook 4 Sargent
to retire their shinplasters? when are they
to redeem their pledges made to this CON-
munity when are they to take themselves
from between the public and the best in
terests of the putlci" These questions
and such as these are in the hearts and on
the tongues of the merchants the business
men and the farmers Of this section of the
state. May We not answer, when? 1t will
be when the citizens refuse to receive their
trash and demand something better. We
say, and We say it with all due Difference to
the issures-that Cook d Sargent's Florence
and Burrows d Prettyman's Checks are
working the ruin Of this place. They are
inserting poison into the arteries of trade;
they are checking the onward march of
progress; they are sapping the profits from
the merchants; they are taxing merchants
four, five, seven, ten, fifteen and twenty
per cent. they are diverting the grain
trade from this city to other points; they
are building up Muscatine and Lyons at the
expense Of Davenport; they are causing
merchants to close Their Goors; they are
keeping capitalists from making investments
here; they are producing stagnation in
the business of this city from which it can
not arouse in years and-for what? Yes,
for what are they doing this work of exter-
mination? Merely to accommodate them
selves.
1t may be that such direct language may
not set easily upon the minds of our shin.
plaster friends, but we have said it and can
verify our statements more-we are speak
ing for the benefit of this community and
not for indipiduals: We are pleading the
cause of the masses and not single men we
are speaking for the advancement of the
community in which we live, and not for
any clique or combination of shavers who
seek personal profit though it be at the ex-
pense Of the public; we are writing for
principle ard not men; and so may we con-
tinue to write so long as such an evil
continues to exist in our community. All we
ask for Davenport is, that she may be per-
mitted to stand on her merits, and be freed
from this incubus; this cancer upon her
vitals. Our geographical position is the
beet in this State; our resources are mex
haustible, and We have everything for us
nothing against us but combination Of in
veterats wildcat operators and We ask
that they be notified to leave off their lille.
gal traffic and let our bark move ON nm.
trammeled with the strong current which
viii carry us on to financial greatness. Win
they heed the pleading voice Of this com.
munitya If not let them feel the blow
which an outraged public esn aad win in
fiict Al they cannot make amends for the
errors they have already committed,
let them stand ssids and no longer clog the
wheels Of eonnsssa They carry ths prss-i
ags sf immaass wealth. Thsa lot tAsm.