The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-09-27


monopolies, and GINNING fiscal contrivances
and schemes, for the,robbery of the whole
producing and distributing element of the
nation, for the aggrandizement of the few
money mongers aud SPECTATORS
notwithstanding this opposition and
these vile ISLANDERS, we have continued to
advocate and defend these measures, from
a convection that time and circumstances
have but served to deepen, in our minds,
that their adoption was essential to indi-
vidual success and national prosperity, and
that their business, soundness and adapta-
bility to the wants of the Government and
business interests of the nation, would,
upon candid examination, commend them to
all that portion of the American people ell
gagged in agriculture, or any other branch
of useful industry or legitimate enterprise
1t is, therefore, that We say that we can
not surrender our convictions Of the cor
rectness Of these fundamental principles,
to unite with any party with the hope Of
gaining more temporary relief from the
injustice and oppression, which we, in com
mon with our agricultural friends, and all
others Of the producing and distributing
classes, have SO long suffered We believe
it is better to suffer present evils, until We
can effect a thorough reform Of all the
grievances 50 justly complained of, than to
accept any mere temporary expedient II
the producing classes are only true to them
selves and faithful to each other, they can
not fail of ultimate and complete success.
/ We already see both the old parties re-
solving against railroad and other kindred
monopvlies, land steals, credit mobiler
swindles subsidies and salary grabs, all of
which are creatures of their own creation
but they are silent with regard to the bank
vIlliany OF money monopoly, which is the
root Of all our industrial and commercial
troubles. But we have no confidence in
their sincerity We believe that they are
only driven to adopt these resolutions by
the force of public sentiment, and that
they, in the end deceive and cheat the peo-
pie
! But we have full faith and confidence in
the farmers movement We believe them
to be honest and sincere, and we are
/ pleased to see that they are everywhere,
with great unanimity, taking strong
grounds against railroad steals, tariff
steals, salary grab steals, bank steals aud
every other form of thieving, by which the
farmers and laboring classes are robbed Of
the legitimate fruits Of their labor" But
\ the third resolution, in what is known AS
the Livingston County Platform, from
which the foregoing declaration is taken,
says We are in favor Of the present
banking system being so made that all men,
by giving the proper security, should have
equal privileges, so that supply and de-
mand will regulate our money market"
! To us there seems to be an inconsistent
/ cy between the first clause Of this resolu-
/ ton and the declaration at the head of the
/ platform from which it is taken. 1t may
| be construed to mean that the authors Of
/ the platform are in favor of removing the
clause in the banking law, restricting the
amount Of currency that shall be issued
Y through the banks, and allowing all hold
ers Of the Government bonds, now out
standing, TO engage in the bank stealing
business. If this be their object we have
To say, though reluctantly, that we cannot
agree OF unite with them, for We believe
this would only be an aggrevation of exist
\ ing evils, and place the government and
I business interest of the country at the mer-
cy II the holders Of the Government secu-
rites now outstanding. We are opposed
/ to the issue of one dollar Of currency
thorush the present, or any other banking
/ system, and in favor of them issuing all the
circulating medium by the Government
directly to those to whom it may be indebt-
ed, as provided in the first resolution Of
the workingmen, herein before mentioned,
and of every man banking ON his own
means or employing them in such manner,
as to him may seem best. This accords
with the latter clause Of the resolution and
is, what we believe, the authors Of the
platform intended We have noticed suf-
ticient expression of individual opinion
among our farmer friends to warrant this
conclusion, and that ere long they will be
a unit against the bank swindle, which we
view as the root Of all monopoly, and the
sum Of all vilianes
Any doubts We may have entertained on
this point have all been removed by read
ing an article entitled ''The Banks and the
Changers" and signed Granger" pub
lished in the Chicago Tribune of the 18th
inst. reviewing an editorial in the Tribune,
Of the 10th Of August, in favor of the
banks. We will publish the article in full
in our next, and commend it most hearth
" to all our readers. The writer presents
50 clearly and forcibly the injustice of the
present banking system, that it ought, and
we believe will move all engaged in any
branch Of useful industry or legitimate en-
terprise to demand its utter adjustment,
and the substitution of legal tender cur
rency issued by the Government, directly
to the people, without the Intervention of
any system of banking corporations, as the
exclusive circulating medium Of the nation.
If this be the object of the farmers, we re-
peat that the workingmen will join with
them heart and hand, and stand shoulder
to shoulder with them to the end Of the
conflict. For we believe this to be our in
terest and their interest, and the only safe
policy for the people to pursue. We havs,
from the earliest organization of the Gov