Litchfield enquirer., 1873-04-03
.A usuRY LAW.

sSsss - Fl Mn. EDITOR: The time is near at
 hand when large amount Of money is to
 change hands, and much of it. on account
 of the repeal of the usury law. This must cripple many of our 1atoring men l of small means. who are the bone and
 sinew of the land, the mainstay of society,
 for it is not the man of money that does
 most for the nations prosperity, it is the
 laboring man s.the mud sil1s of society,
 on whom the great fabric rests. For in-
 stance MT. A. is man of money, he has
 his thousands out at interest, perhaps at
 six or seven per cent, the law now allows
 him all he can get. He is sure of ten per cent, therefore he must collect his money
 or exact higherrate of interest. Mir. B. is an honest, upright. hard-working, poor man, struggling to rise in the world. He is young, with stout heart and willing hands. He has young wife and per
 haps one or two children. They are ell
 dear to him and 'ta charge to keep" he has. He has negotiated with Mr. A. for the loan of money at six per cent. (the lawful interest,". to buy him little home for his family. They all go to work in real earnest to pay for their place. By being frugal they can pay the interest and little every year on the principal. They are happy household. But look at the other side The usury law is repealed.
 ''Ten per cent.',. is ringing in Mir. A. s ears, he must have his money. Mfr. B. goes in. search of it. No one has it to loan for less than ten per cent. He can not pay that, and pay for his place. He must give it up. The place is sold, and a truthful, honest. broken hearted family are in the street Now, MT. Editor, this is not an over-drawn picture. I know from personal observation that thousands of dollars against just such men are being called in this spring for higher~rate of interest. that the rich may become richer, while the poor must become poorer. Is this in true keeping with our Repubi-i can institutions Just in proportion as we cripple the laboring man, just so much the nation will suffer in lack of production. The rich man does not heed the cry of the poor man. 'Hold thy tongue for thou art weak and I am strong" But let me suggest that the poor man has power through the ballot that will rend
 the ricn mans creed into fragments, and that power will sooner or later be exerted.
 But, says one, money has value like other things, we have right to make the most of it. So said the capitalist who in famine bought all the flour his money could control, and held it for a higher price, but such vail went up from the people, the pulpit, and the press. that the man was forced to disgorge or loose. his head. Now, if the rlaboring classes will arise in their strength, they can teach the world that they are masters of this re- public, and woe be to the political party that will not enact a, reasonable. Usury Law. ,,...' ..,.. ,.. lad. --... F.. f.'at Y, TIE PooR MAN's FRIEND. . ,-.... r,, - --4 fzl4gagYE ,-z5t The Erie investigation progressing be- fore committee of the New York legisla- ture develops facts long suspected but never before actually proved. It seems that the reform of last year was brought about by purchasing at an expense of over half a million dollars the resignation of majority of the old board of direct
 ors; that the old company had paid Tweed
 and his gang over $1oO, 900 the year be-
 fore for '1egislation;" and that the de- feat of the bill reforming railroad tariffs
 was brought about by the payment of
 about $1O0. 900 by the various, companies
 to the New York legislature in bribes.
 The recent dividend it appears was also 1.A . st-s .5. 4