Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1858-02-25

DAyEspoRr, Feb. "a

SlEssRs. ESIToRs IL was surprised - day
by palefaced youth entering my store,
who presented me with paper censuring
you, and asked me to put my name 20 it,
which Of course declined to do Up to the
present time have been very moderate on
the Florence question. for, though Lave
had to bear my share Of the evils It has
brought upon the mercantile community my
regard for Cook d Sargent. with whom |
have long dealt, has prevented ny speaking
everything thought. l have been of the
opinion that there were enough without me
to agitate the retiring of Florence, and, be-
sides, feel sure that, for their own sakes,
Cook d Sargent would, if they could retire
every dollar of their money Imust, how
ever, as merchant of this city. acknowl-
edge my Indebtedness to you for your bold
and self-sacrificing exertions to procnref fhs
ameloration Of our currency. But for your
appeals, God knows where we might have
been driven. l now entertain hopes that
something may yet be done, but whatever
refo,m is affected will be owing entirely to
your efforts. The attempt that Is now being
made to persuade few unthlnking men that
you have been iniuring the trade Of Daven-
port must fail, for it Is ridiculous. What
has injured the standing abroad of many of
our IN rehants is the fact that they have
been poor paymasters, and that without any
fault of their own. They have had lenty
of Florence to pay with, but how could they
get exchange! The tightness of exchange
has done most of the mischief, and for that
Florence money is responsible. BE under
no apprehension that any man whose opin-
ion is worth having, will give car to the
foolish charge that you, and not Florence,
has injured our reputation as merchants,
abroad. have lived long enough TO know
that any charge like that will return to
plague the inventors Although for seven
years | have been constant subscriber 70
the Gazette, l believe that you have done
more good to this city in the last six weeks
than that paper has done since its establish
ment.
The attempt which has called forth this
communication is a serious one, and it must
not succeed, or farewell to the liberty ofthe
press. by this movement to destroy your
business, Cook & Sargent present this ulti-
matum to you: Either say as we say, do as
We do, puff our money-at least don't op
pose it, or We will ruin your business and
drive you out Of town. In other words,
you must either be miserable refexes Of
their interests and views, or you cannot con-
duct paper in this city. Now that will
not do. A paper must be untrammelled, or
1t isn't worth taking. by resolting to this
attempt to stop your voice, Cook Il Sargent
admit that they cannot meet you in argu-
ment or confute your statements. If they
could, do not suppose they would stoop TO
this mode of sllencing YOU
You need not be surprised if they succeed
in getting number of signers to their pa
men to sign it, There are some weak sisters
who will be frightened into any foolish meas
ure, but the influence of such men is of no
account Recollect who and wha: they are,
and let this forced subscription of their
names pass for what it's worth. When Joe
Smith has followers, it is no wonder that
Florence J as defenders
Now, "buck right up to the work.
This attempt to injure, can but benefit you.
You are fighting great battle, and you are
sure to win in the end. Your friends will
cluster about You, and those who have been
Indifferent before will rally around you as
the fight thickens. If you only stand firm,
in less than month your business will be
worth more than ever before. Trust the
words of an old resident.
MERCHANT