The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1870-07-13

the other. And to this usurped DIES
potism come all the rogues to plum
der, through unjust Legislation 1t il
openly avowed and generally believed
that no law can pass the signature o
of the President, that has not, to use
the slang of the lobby, "nloney in it,
We once thought ourselves safe
from privileged class, and that the
power Of money vas not to be feared
because the property accumulated by
one nan to day would be expended
by another to. morrow.
To-day we have corporations in the
shape of railroad companies, that GOV.
er the land like network and ~nttine
all Government control at defiance
They own States, control courts, make
Senators and dictate legislation. But
yesterday, a so-called law was passed
the New York Legislature. and APP
proved by a corrupt Governor, that
took the control of a great railroad
from the hands of its stockholders,
and geve it to man whose criminal
conduct is a disgrace to III age and
country, because unpunished.
The late Secretary of the Treasury
the Honorable Salmon p. Chase, in.
formed the country that in an hour OF
distress and peril he was forced to
purchase the bankers of the Ucited
States. And to get these capitalists
interested in the Government that
protected them, he had to make most
extraordinary tcrms-I- will not say
hat they treated the Republicans
like Shy ocks-but they were so treat
ed by the eminent financier who was
then at the head of the Treasury, and
they accepted the terms and the char
acter. Il is no eXageration to say,
that for the purpose of enriching and
sustaining these money changers we
pay more than our national Govern
mentcost us. Any attempt to amend,
revise or repeal these terms-consid
ed Il war necessity and temporary-is
met by the violent opposition of eighty
national bankers. on the floor of the
House, and enough in the Senate to
give the leeches a majority.
All the corporations, firms, and
persons in the ron business are open
ly organized into an association, and
pay into 4 common treasury Il fund
that may be called a corruption fund,
for it is used to influence legislation.
Its filthy agents, when not members
reside in Washington, and are sup
ported HAND somely in their corrupt
business.
The same may be sad of the salt
monopoly. Indeed, the same may
be said of every interest that has mon
ey enough to use and is corrupt
enough to use it.
Generally, your member of Con
gress has his familiar, through whom
his vote is purchased Sometimes or
CARNATIONS exist wherein ten, twenty
or thirty votes are represented by one
agent, who sells out by direction Of
the caucus the entire pen full.
We have Il corrupt Congress, a stu
pid Executive. and the only arm OF
the Government that remains pure is
the Supreme Court, and that IL Presi-
dent has sought to pack with creatures
OF his own, and the senate strives to
destroy.
Isay, then, in all sobernessi that if
we are to accept the Republic as it
now slauds, self-government is n fail
tire. And to the philosophical stu
dent it would appear as if these were
the net results of our boosted insti,u-
tions. 1t may be there Is yet q say
ing power held by the people and
that when the worst comes to the
worst, this will be brought TO bear
upon the money changers in the ten
pie, and drive them out. But l do
lot see it. While Republican editors
affect to laugh at such warnings as
these, Demscratic e iitorS pretend to
find salvation in a restoration of their
party Il power. We are told this
gravely, while the Democrats hold
New York and make of city and State
the most imperial despotism o. igno-
rance and corruption that ever cursed
humanity. The Democratic party,
upon the inanciaial issues now dlvid-
ing the people, is nearer right than
the Republican organization, for it
drives clear OF the m6neyed interests
that are the great cause Of our po-
decay.