The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1864-11-30
Are the Germans Wrong in
.sa Wanting our Bonds?

Not bit of itl No shrewder, thriftier peo
pie, in matters of money, exist on earth. On,
Jersey people aud New England people are a
frugal, industrious people, but they cant'r
save money like the Germans. ALI Germany
is great saving bank. 1t Is true that their
working men are not so rich, on an average
as our working men, because they don't ger
more than one quarter OF the wages of our
men. But German can save mouey, and he
knows when it is safe. Now these shrewd.
thrifty Germans want our bonds. They want
them by millions. They turn aside from the
great beggars of the world in Europe, and
come to us Republicans. They treat the
notes of Napoleon aud Joseph ami Maxlmilian
with indifference, but want to discount all the
American notes they can get. The LONDON
TINES says this is all wrong-that the Repub.
licans in America are all bankrupt, and the
Germans must be crazy to slight British and
French beggars, and go begging, themselves,
to America. Are they crazy! Weasked PooR
RICHARD what he thought about it, "why"
said he, show can they be crazy, when they
are doing just what did a little more than a
year ago, when put my little savings into
Government six per centsl Now see what l
got by it; just count up, have received six
per cent. III gold, which averaged 100 per
COht. III iOi-Oy, ihdhihS pei OCbt lnCuuuc.
Now, o-day, my bond is saleble in the New
York market at 10 per cent. premium Put
these together, and day l have % per cent.
for one years use of my money! What do
you think of that9 You know, as we'll as |
do, that there are thousands of people who
did this, and to-day they have % per cent.
on their Investments. Why, saw Miss Jones,
cur school man, go to the bank and buy
$500 bond. How she got the money don't
know, but these Yankee schoollnistresses are
frstrate hands at taking care of themselves.
Well. now, count up. If Miss Jones sells her
bonds to-day she gets her $500 back safe, and
she gets $1lO clear gain. Can you sharp fel
lows down there in William street to do any
betterY You know | told Mr.. Smith the
banker, my ideas about that, and he bought
S5 geo six per cent. bonds, and You see he
got ST, 100 for years use of his money.
met him the other day, and he said, "Poor
Richard, yeu are right; begin to think, the
Government can take care of itself, and Us
too. For my part, Imean to buy some of the
T-3O's. The rate of interest is high enough
and in three years they will turn into six per
cent. bonds again." .'Yes, Mr.. Smith, it is
right, on the money side; but, it is right on
the eountry's side too. Help your country,
or it can't help you. Now, say the Germans
are not only right, but they would be right
if they got half that interest. They cannot
make a quarter of it at home." So thought
Poor Richard. and so think We. When we
think of the German opini on of our situation
and our financial st -ength, We must remem-
ber that they ars far better judges of our con-
dition than We are, or our enemies are, They
ale lockers on, at great distance. They
have none Of eur enmities or prejudices.
They can examine the facts disinterestedly.
They do, and the result is a verdict that the
American Government is stable--its ability
aud integrity in meeting its financial engage
ments unquestionable. This verdict, too, is
founded on a series of facts which are unim-
peachable, and we'll known to every Intelligent
American. Take two three of the most
important: /. The United States double its
population each twenty-five years. The pop
ulation of the country, which in 1850 was
twenty-three millions, will In 1875 be forty
six millions. Bat the rebellion, says some
one, How much has the rebellion diminished
the strength of the United States? Take this
astonishing fact, that if all the Rebel States
had been sunk in the Pacific Ocean, the Uni
ted States would in 1875 have population
equal to that of the whole in 1860 In other
words, ffeeen years will supply tho total loss
of the eleven original Rebel States! What
can impede the progress of such a country?
2. The wealth of the country increased l27
per cent. in ten yearsi Now let it increase
but 80 from 1870, and it will amount to ten
times all the loans of the government. The
German knows what he is about He will
get the largest income from loans in the
world, on the safest security. No such op-
portuuity haa occurred before for the invest
menr of money, and in all probability will
never occur again. If the American does net
know and take advantage of this, the German
and Frenchman will.-Ex. " M
November Ii, 1864.