Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-08-18
WORKINGMEN.
The Manner i'm which They are
Kept in Misery by Radical
Rule and Unjust Taxation.

The workingmen of Memphis will
allow the Taller few words on the
situation Sits" In 1868 / advocated
your rights In the great strike" against
the twelve-hour system; in 1866 ad-
vised you to reject the eight hour sys-
tenn, because it was likely to work to your
disadvantage, as we now see it working
10 cities of the East. On both occasions
l found you conservative in your ideas,
in your feelings, in your acts. l now
wish to speak to you on questions of
graver import, wider range, deeper iute-
rest, affecting the welfare and liberty of
all-upjust taxation and an attempt to
overthrow self government. Ia
THE BURDEN OF DEBT ON THE WORKING.
aa MEMS SHOULDERS.
You are aware it is the producers
farmers, mechanics, laborers-who pay
the public debt. The burden on the
shoulders of the toilers of the United
States now is $4,000, 100000, upon
which they pay an annual interest of
$3.50, 100000. This interest is the great
Juggernaut that crushes in its career the
working millions of the land, keeping
honest producers in constant pov.
erty in order to support luxu-
rious idlers - bondholders, sharpers
and vultures. The amount of the
great debt bearing coin interest is
81, ,745, 1876, al; bearing currency inte.
rest, $46l, ,074, $50; bearing no interest,
$4O5, 5,S97,777. The latter is made up of
United States notes, 1861, l64,844; frac-
tional currency, $50, 900, 900; gold certif-
Gates of deposit, $l4.867 900. Classified
BY the rate of interest, the debt stands
about thus: Seven and three tenths
Treasury notes, in round numbers, $685.
600, 900; six per cent. loans, S9l8,000,
000 six per cent. compound interest
notes, $I60, ,000, 600; five per cent. loans,
$l9S, 900, 900; mixed four. five and six
per cent. loans, $l20, 900, ,000--total, 81
342, 600, ,000 How is this enormous sum
to be paid2 How are the cold-blooded,
remorseless extortioners-th Sbylocks
with their bonds upon your bones, your
muscles, and the sweat of your brows--
the "loyalists who urged the war for
their own beneft--the patriots" who
refused the Government aid until fa-
natical faction offered them two dollars
for every one they loaned-to receive
their interest? By taking a portion of
bread and meat from your tables, por- !
ton of clothing from your bodies, por-
tion of fuel from your hearths, portion |
of schooling from your children, a portion |
of everything required for recreation, lux
uries and pleasures. The resources of the
country cannot bear this debt 1t is
heavier than the debt of any of the
prominent nations of the world except
Great Britain. The debt of France is
So, 900 100000; average per capita,
S54 79. Russia, Sl,l55, 100000; per
capita, SIS 40. Austria, 81. l3O, 900, 900;
per capita, 1872 IA. Spain, $635 ,000, 900;
per capita, $33 Ia. Prussia, 2l0,000,-
900; per capita, Sll &C Portugal,
$3.50, 900 600; per capita, $37 so. Bel
GUM, $3.50, 0,000; per capita, S22 SO
Bavaria, $3.50, 900, 900; per capita $27 SO.
Brazil, $SS, ,000. 900; per capita, $ll AZ
Denmark, 100000, 900; per capita,
s23 10. Saxony, s48, 100000; per cap
its, S24 Hanover, S40,000,000; per
capita, $22 o. Wurtemburg, S25, ,000,-
900; per capita, Sl4 II; Greece, 500
600, 600; per capita, $40. United States,
81, 500, 100000; per capita, $50 &c.
Great Britain, $4,000. .000,0 600; per cap
ita, $lS3 49, There is nothing for you,
workingmen, under Radical rule, but
taxation on all you eat, on all you driRk,
on all you wear; taxation on every dol
lars worth which passes into your hands;
taxation on every element that keeps
sonl and body together; aud when you
die, there's taxation on your coffin, taxa
ton on your shroud, taxation on the
spade which digs your grave Truly one
may cry, Blessed are the bondholders,
and carsed the bondmen
THE MAD CAREER OF RADICAL CONGRESS-.
Glance ever the history Of the past
three years, and what do you behold2
The Constitution set aside, central des.
poiism set mp, and military governments
ordained. President Lincoln, on the 4.h
Of March, 1861, IN bis inaugural address,
said: "The Union is perpetual No
S S'ate, upon its own mere motion, can
lawfully get out Of the Union; resolves
and ordinances to that effect are legally
void. - The Union Is unbroken"
On the 18th Of April, 1861, in the first
call for troops, be said: appeal TO
al loyal citizens 10 favor, facilitate, aud
aid this effort 10 maintain the honor, the
integrity and existence Of our national
Union" 0n the 81 Of Nay. 1861, in the
call for additional troops, be invoked the
Of al good citizens for "the
impartial enforcement Of constitutional