The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1869-08-12
How Much is Due the Bondholders'

President Grant never spoke with more
warmth on any occasion, or with more force,
than when he declared that persons opposed
10 the liquidation of the national debt IN
gold were unfit for public place. 1t was
certainly the most decided declaration made
In his inaugural, and was uttered with such
an exhibition of feeling as TO attract especial
attention. He never manifested SO much
real interest in any subject There is moth
inc in his reports from the field which ex'
bibits as much sympathy for the sorrowing
d relatives of the myriad soldiers who had
& fallen under his command as he congresses
into two short sentences of sympathy for
the public creditors, and of indignation and
hostility towards those ,chO could mediate
the abatement Of one penny IF Tie war
s,rofts. The loss of citizens lives was
nothing in his estimation to the loss of those
capitalists ,ch0 had made him rich and emf.
nen. Dead soldiers were not worth weep.
ing for, but lire 6ORdh0ldTs rerc ceH north
preserving and cherishing; and the remote
possibility that party might arise who
would favor the payment of the debt in the
legal money in which it was incurred, and
not in currency thirty per cent more val
sable, instantly enlisted all the feeling of
which his passionless nature is capable, and
drew from him the menace of exclusion from
Office ofall who might advance such dogmas.
If General Grant had loved his soldiers as
he loved the bondholders there would be
more laborers to assist in support of the
moneyed aristocracy. The striking contrast
between his indifference for the one and his
admiration and affection for the other
prompts us TO inquire whether the Govern
meDt borrowed its army as it borrowed its
money? While it forced men into the
ranks it did not force money into the Treas
ury and, while it paid the wages of the
conscript IN greeHJdcks at a destructive dis
count il paid the interest of the loan Of the
bondholders in gold. The laboring suryi-
vors of the dead conscripts, who were never
paid back to their families either in kind
or currency, wonder very naturally what
greater right the Government had 10 take
the lives Of the poor than it had TO take the
money Of the rich. Is 1t strange they
should ask why it is that General Grant
holds moneyIn higherestimation than blood?
Is It any wonder that families who have
given their sons and brothers to the Military
service, never to return, should deem it un-
just that portion Of their earnings is ex'
acted to enable the Government to pay
very year one hundred and ffly.eght mil
lion six hundred and fifty thousand dollars
in gold, or four hundred and thirty.iour
thousand six hundred dollars a day to the
capitalist who gave no blood nor any money,
but was the Shylock Of the war, and is now
the untaxed nobleman of the peace, for
whose support the laborer is to toll and
sweat and suffer on from year to year be-
meath burden that will inevitably impoyer-
ish and degrade him?
When General Grant INDUCED in such
warm expressions about national credit and
national honor, in reference to the payment
of the bonholders in gold, he would perhaps
have moderated his tone had be reflected on
the unequal footing of the men whose lives
were taken and those whose money was only
borrowed. Iflife couldhave been borrowed
as money was, and could have been as faith.
fully returned, then the capitalist and the
conscript would have been on level. Nor
will they be on level even il the Govern.
meDt should now refuse to pay the bonds
either in gold or in greenbacks for the
hondholders, as has been often shown, have
already received in interest more than the
money they loaned at sixty cents on the
dollar, while they have had all the benefits
and suffered none Of the privations ola war
which they and their party expended years
of political scheming to bring on in order
20 accomplish the very objects they have
attained. They have spilled no blood and
lost no limbs. They have had glorious fes.
tivites and accumulated immense fortunes.
They ought net 70 be surprised il the people
conclude that they have had as much enjoy
ment and profit out of the war as they are
entitled TO, and should determine to wipe
out the bonds. Phita. EUening Herald