The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-01-02

ASTORIA, l.. l., Dec, "a, 1868.
To the Edito4 Of the woaknszAxs ADvooArs.
Jay 'oke once tolu US that ationa
debt is a national blessing; that, If W
were to ron Orbs Of gold through the coun
try our citizens would refuse them, crying
GIVE, oh give rs rhe Greenbacks." Thi
statement was for the people. Nov ID,
bondboldsrs tell Us that greenbacks are no
thing but worthless paper, unless wh.r
'ooked at 10 different lights. SHAKESPEARE,
''ear spoke prOpbstically when be uttered
the following truIsm:
"Plste sin With gold
Ana me BtFong lance OF ju tice nurtIfaa break.
Arm vith rsss-s psgmys straw viii pierce H.
Il Is manifest our oIuhoiders CRY " ditto''
70 this view Of the case, viz: That rags are
% security.
There are three ways OF dealing with .
national debt-to pay It, to repudiate il. or
70 fund It. 10 the former case, the burden
will be placed where it ought to be put, on
the proPertyheIders Of the nation, Tor no
others can pay it. The forty billions Of
property they hold has been secured to
them, their heirs and assigns by the wal
and they ought not to object to fork out their
billions IN payment for its defence. Bat
they are 10 power IN Washington, and wall
never put thelr hands 10 their own pockets
as long as they have power to place them in
those Of their poorer neighbors.
But secondly, "they may repudiate it,"
| say, they, the property holders Of the
community" for, if it be repudrAted, it will
be their doing. II is manifest that working
men are not responsible, for they are incom
pstent to perform such daily Doctors tell
as It is impossible to draw blood ont of
fints, and the labOrer is being petiifed BY
taxation 90 rapidly as possible. In the mean
time this view Of The question is rapidly OBJ
tainlng in influential quarters. The Presi-
dent in his message partially sanctions it.
The New York Herald, the most important
commercial paper in the nation, alec endorses
rypudiation in the following article of the
l2th instant.
ANDY JOHNSON AND THE BoNDHoLDRRs.
sandy Joh0son's proposition to pay the 4
national debt by a sort OF dissolving process 1
Of ovel and ingenious character excites
the indign alton anu fury Of the bond holders,
and especially Of the worthless at Washing
ton. They should, however, moderate their
hostility 70 the proposition, as we'll as their
anger against its author. If the world goes
on for many years longer at its present rate
o. speed aud under the present system Of
government now prevailing on both sides OF
the Atlantic the whole debt Of Europe,
IN the aggregate to over thirteen
thousand million dollars in gold, as well as
our own national debt, will be hquIdated by
more SUDDEN and summary process than
That originating with the White House and
Treasury Building Una cers. The mainte-
lance Of large s,andlBg armies % war
'ootlDg 10 time Of peace |; the general peu-
'IoniRg OF politicians upon pubic treasures;
he systematic plunder OF goyernments BY !
heir own officials, and the prevailing an !
ravagaDcs aud corruption Of the age viii !.
,ile up taxation higher ana higher uotil the 7
essless people kick over The load. The
wckless career the world is now pursuing
nm have no ,eerEF end than the Repatriation
{ all ths Ational debu AID general wip
M ouSny bondholdsrs, oGcs-holdsrs and '
ll'sshsl tnsionsrs upon W PsePls." II