Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-12-30
BY JOHN MAHIN.


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-. a. - If.s as.t The News. IN. ,,.s,, F9ttti
Hangman Foote has left THE rebel
Congress in disgust. He despairs OF
rebel "a success - weeps over the over
whelming defeat of Hood at Franklin
and Nashville--concedes the capture OF
Savannah and Charleston, and in pite-
Gus tones, asks 'what can save Rich
mond." Foote presents sorry picture
of the high hopes and anticipations OF
rebeldon. T. 80
The rebel Congress seems tn be panic
stricken. During the same session, Mr..
McMullen, of Virginia, offered resoln-
tions, providing for the appointment OF
peace commissioners to Washington
We are inclined to the opinion. that
Sherman, Gillem, Davidson, Rosecrans,
Curtis, McCOok and Stoneman, have
purged the rebel stomachs soffighting bile.
Report says that the rebel Congress
passed., almost unanimously, the Bill
arming the negroes, the intelligence OF
which was causing stampede among
the colored folks.
Lee is reported wounded, while JEFF.
Davis is said to be suffering from neu-
ralgia. Guess Sherman and Thomas
have affected his nervous system. The
truth is, reader, the news is excellent,
glorious, splendid. We feel like sing
Ing the Doxology--" Praise God, &C."
F+-for the splendid success which has
crowned our arms during thepast few
weeks. Rebellion is tottering to its fall.
Victory, complete, and overwhelming
wilE,soon be ours, and peace shall once
more bIess~our lands So moteit be.
E., .g-.-,.a..-,. Speculation.
Wa%re asked by men who are striv-
3. ing to make money in a legitimate way,
what we mean when we talk about
= soulless spectators, &c. In res
ponse, we reply that we cannot in rea-
son mean A. in Muscatine, who buys
wheat, or b., who buys pork, or c., who
s purchases corn. These men do not, nor
can they control the market value OF
these commodities. Indirectly and ln-
: nocently they may give aid to spirit
of speculation, prevalent where. the
s'soulless" reign and control. When,
therefore, we talk about soulless specu-
lators, we mean those men who by fair
or foul means obtain information of inn
mediate or prospective wants OF the
Gevernment,, go into the market. and
by over-bidding their neighbors, come
into possession of an invoice of sugar,
for. pork, coffee, butter or any other
u1aerchantable article. When, therefore,
the Government enters the market to
purchase, "soulless' controls the mar
ket. and compels Treasury, struggling
TO make both ends meet, to pay largely
In excess of the real value of the article.
These are "soulless spectators" who
monopolize the coffee stock in our large
commercial cities. They are soulless
speculators" who run up the price OF
Hour. compelling the Government to
nav one third or one half more than a
like article would cost in cities where
monopolies do not exist. They are
"soulless, +" because they know the
Government must have what they mo-
nopolize, and the people must be taxed
to pay their extortion, over and above
the real market value of their commodi-
ties. And not only must they be taxed
once, but again when they 60 to their
merchants to purchase the necessaries
and comforts of life. Extortionist is
more fitting term for such spectators.
The people are not burdened by the
Government, but are compelled to sub
NIT to those, who to crafty their avar-
ice are to-day grinding down the poor OF
this land. To reach them is difficult,
for the producer wants the most he can
get for his produce. He who has gold
to sell, wants the highest premium. So
long as these will sell the extortionist
will buy and sell again. When this
cruel war is over, the occupation OF
these men will be gone. But let the
people remember them as enemies o.
their country and themselves, ovel
whose misfortunes they sought to grow
= rich, and brand them as they deserve
Our only hope is that financial disaster
may overtake all such men, and power
ty stand grinning at their doors. We
want to heap Goals Of fire on their heads
5 t-.F-s Secure Your Passports.