The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1864-10-05
Are the Germans Wrong in Wanting
our Bonds?


pie, but they cant save money like the
Germans. All Germany is great saw
ings bank. 1t is true that their working
men are not so rich, on an average, rs our
working men, because they don't get
more than one quarter of the wages Of
our men. But German can save money,
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 Repub-
licans. They treat the notes of Napo-
leon and Joseph and Maximilian with in
difference, but want to discount all the
American notes they can get. The Lon
dom Times says this is all wrong-that
the Republicans in America are all bank
rupt, and the Germans must be crazy 10
slight British and French beggars, and
90 begging, themselves, to America. Are
they crazy! We asked Poor Richard
what he thought about it. Why said
be, 4" how can they be crazy, when they
arc doing just what | did little more
than year ago, when put my little
savings into government six per cents p
Now see what | got by it; just count up.
| have received six per cent. in gold,
which averaged 100 per cent. in currency,
making 2 per cent. income. Now, to-day,
my bond is salable in the New York
market at 10 per cent. premium. Put
these together, and to-day | have % per
cent. for one years use of my money =
What do you think Of that? You know,
as well rs | do, that there are thousands
of people who did this, and to-day they
have % per cent. on their investments.
Why, saw Miss Jones, our school-mam,
go to the bank and buy $500 bond.-
How she got the money | don't know,
but these Yankee schoolmistresses are
firstrate hands at taking care of them
selves. Well, now, count up. If Miss
Jones sells her bonds to-day she gets her
$500 back safe, and $ll0 clear GAIN
Can any of you sharp fellows down there
in William street do any betterl You
know told Mr.. Smith, the banker, my
ideas about that, and he bought $4,000
six per cent bonds, aud you see he got
Sl,lO0 for years use of his money. |
met him the other day, and he said,
Poor Richard, you are right; | begin to
think the Government can take care OF
ITSELF and us too. For my part | mean
to buy some 7.30'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, IL IS right on the courtry's sidc
too. Help your country, or it can't help
you. Now, say the Germans are not
only right, but they would be right il
they got half that interest. They car
not make quarter of it at home" Sc
thought Poor Richard, and so think we
When we think of the German opinion o
our situation and our financial strength
we must remember that they are far bet
ter Judges of our condition than we are
or our enemies are. They are lockers OF
at a great distance. They have none o
our enmities or predjudices. They Cal
examine the facts disinterestedly. They
do; and the result is II verdict that the
American Government is stabe-its aJH
ity and integrity IN meeting ats .fndncia
engagements unguestionable. This yer
dict, too, is founded on series of fact'
which are unilnpeachable, and well knowr
to every intelligent American. Take TIVE
or three of the most Important: l. Th'
United States doubles its population eacl
twenty five years. The population Of th'
country, which in 1850 was tWenty;fU
millions, will in 1875 be fortySir mil
lions. But the rebellion says some one
How much has the rebellion diminished
the strength of the United States! TAX
this astonishing fact, that if all the Rebe
States had been sunk in the Pacific Ocean
the United States would in 1875 have
population equal TO that Of the 'chole 4,
, 1860. In other words, fifteen gears vii
, supply the total loss of the eleven orig
inal Rebel States What can imped
the progress of such couptrys .. Th
wealth Of the Country increased l27 pc
cent. in ten years. Now let it increas
but so from 1860 to 1870, and it vii
amount TO ten times all the loans Of tb
government. The German knows wha
he is about. He will get the largest in
come from loans an the world, on Oh
safest security. No such opportunit
L has occurred before for the investment 9
money, and in all probability will neve
occur again. If the American does no