Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1869-10-21
Bonds a Blessingl

Bonds a Blessingl
Since the lst Of April, 1869, the United
States Government has purchased in the city
Of New York, nearly $4,000 900 Of United
Stte> bonds Aud it has sold nearly the same
amomt-thc plan Of the Government being to
buy and SELL with a view to holding the gold
market steliy. In fact, the Treasury Depart
meut at Washington is now but the tail to
bondholdcrs' and Wall street specuator'' kites
Certain parties in New York are paid by the
Government a certain percentage on all bonds
bonght AMI sold. and this percentage paid by
the Government to its hvorite agents in New
York. has amounted, between March and
October /. 10 little more than S4,OOO,OOO.
The Government has now in its Treasury
500 600 600 in gold When it wants more
gold thercit sells. through its New York agents,
few ufiGou dollars in bonds The Govern
ment receives its gold, the agent receives his
commission, aud the people are tickled beyond
measure to know that United States securities
are held in such high estimation
Pretty soon the people chafe under their tax
alton, when the Government buys a few mil
lion Of bonds with the gold it received little
while since, the agent in Wall street makes a
fortune or two from the commission, and the
public are pleased again to know that the Go
vernment is paying its Indebtedness 4!
Aud when the market is ready, the Govern
ment puts out few million dollars of the same
bonds bought in little while since, and the
people have another season of rejoicing over the
stability aud high prices of United States Sc
curities,
Secretary Boutwell, has realized over a mil
lion dollars as his share Of the premium for
buying and selling, SO far. Verify, it pays to
be Republican. The game, as lit is snow being
played, reminds Us greatly of trout fishing
With the hook firmly fastened in his mouth the
trout rushcs this way and then that; now hith
cr. then you; the angler or Government, kind
~ paving out line till the trout is exhausted,
when it is safely landed, all the while thinking
it bas been having its own way! In this case
the Government is the angler, the people are
fish who some years ago bit at the negro bait,
and are now trampng from homes to work
shops from farm-houses all over their farms,
with the hook Of taxation in their mouths.
Well letthcm tramp, Someof them tramp
ed all over the Southern country to put down
the rebellion.
They trampcj from happy homes in the
Northern States, to unknown graves in the
Southern.
They trampcd from the arms of those they
loved. 20 the strctchcrs, cots, and mattresses Of
hospitals.
They trampcd from their own business to
fight. and suffer. and die, that the Union might
be divided, and set Of thieves, in favor Of the
Republican administration, made rich forever
They trampcd from their ircsidcs, their
home comforts, and that prosperity which was
rcwariiug wcll-dircctcd labor, to defend the
FLAG 1t their country; while dishonest legisla-
tors. living in riotouS extravaganza upon the
earnings Of the people, were lcsislatiug those
who fought into a bondage greater than slavery
and those who returned from the battlefield
may now tramp, tramp, tramp from morn till
night hboring beyond their strength to pay
taxes for the benefit Of the bondholdcr and the
Government. which has become little more
than a pawubr,ker's shop, or Peter Funk
auctjJn-rOom.
The workmgncu of this country, a few years
since trampcd the rebellion into the earth
They may now tramp themselves and their
children to poverty, labor, and degradation,
and their wives to prostitution, for the benefit
Of those who control, who hold, who buy, and
who sell United States securities. amasSing for
tunes monthly yet escaping taxation through
the kindness Of the best government the world
ever saw ,-Ne,r York Democrat.