The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1872-08-30
Business Men and Politics.

Nearly every day some radical paper
turns up with the false and delusive
announcement that ''the business men
are for Grant," but without assigning
any reason for such statement. The
Des Moines Republican, which ought
to give a reason for its utterance, pro-
claims the falshood without a reason.
There is not business man in the
country but knows of the following let
ter, written by President Grant to the
Secretary Of the Treasury.
"NEw YORK City, September IL, 1869.
"DEAR SIR Il leave here to-mor-
row for Western Pennsylvania, and
will not reach Washington before the
middle or last of next week. Had
known before making my arrangements
that you would be in this city early
this week would have remained to
meet you. l am satisfied that upon
your arrival you will be met.by the
bulls and bears Of Wall street, and
probably by merchants, too, to induce
you to sell gold or pay the November
interest in advance, on the one side,
and to hold fast On the other. The
fact is DESPERATE STRUGGLE is TAX
ing place, and each party want the
Government to help them out. write
this letter to advise you Of what l
think you may expect, to put you on
your guard.
Il think from the lights before me l
would move on WITHOUT CHANGE UN-
TIL THE PRESENT STRUGGLE IS OVER.
elf you want to write this week, my
address will be Washington, Pennsyl-
vania. / would like to hear from you
your experience with the factions, at
all events if they give you time to
write. No doubt you will have bet
ter chance to Judge than |, for l have
avoided general discussion on the sub
ject.
"Yours truly, L. s. GRANT.
stHon GEORGE S. BOUTWELL,, Secre-
tary of the Treasury"
When this letter was written, James
Fisk Il Co., had made their arrange
ments to carry on their government
gold speculations, and had enlisted Cor
bin, the Presidents brother-in-law as a
go-between with. Grant to prevent his
allowing Boutwell, to interfere with the
speculation. After writing that letter
the President departed for the wilds Of
Western Pennsylvania to avoid the
clamor that would be raised over the
Wall street operation Of Fisk, Corbin,
Gould, Grant & Go.
At this time there was 800, 0OO,.
600 in gold in the Treasury, and as
the sale Of 81, 100000 would have
Disconnected the entire arrangement,
all that was needed of Grant in the
speculation was to prevent the inter
ference of Boutwell,. Look at the let.
ter above, again, carefully, business
men, and tell yourselves why the Presi.
dent was satisfied that Boutwell,
would be met by the bulls and bears o.
Wall street, and probably by the mer
chants, too, to induce the sale Of gold, ;
if not because of the arrangement O
Fisk. Corbin & Grant, that the pre-
MUM on gold should be advanced fol
their interests alone.
Thus began the terrible "Black Fri
day" in New York that carried ruin to
thousands Of business men all over The
country, and S25, 600 to the plethora
purse Of the presidential mansion. NJ
business man believes that Greeley
would lend himself to interfere with tho
sale Of gold, Or stocks to aid himself Oh
friends as Grant did do on that occas.
ion. Grant in his letter Of acceptance
promises that "the past shall be an as
.suia.ce of the future" The business
men Of the country have had enough Of
this and will avoid the future CALAMITY
by defeating TIE head Of all the rings
and denominations ef the land.