The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-12-10
THE FINANCIAL PROBLEM.


the American people demand of them a
prompt solution of the financial problem.
The monetary crisis is not ended it IS in
fact but Just begun, unless the relief in
voked shall be speedily granted. The
country is suffering loss Of not less than,
one million dollars day for the want OF
means to move its surplus products and to
set its material industries again in motion.
The cry of oppression which rose upon the
ears of Nehemiah against the usurers of his
day, was not greater than that which is
now heard against the monopolists in
currency of our own time. Congress
has heretofore legislated in the
interests Of these monopolists, and many
of its own members have grown so sud-
denly rich, under the system Of legislation
pursued, that the whole country has its
eyes upon this body, with view of fer
reting outfits future rascalities. 1t will
not do to trile with this hundred headed
Argus. He cannot be thrown off his
scent, nor wheedled into showing blind
side any longer. His eyes are all open,
and he is ready to outstrip the wind in the
pursuit of delinquency and short-coming.
Look out for him. Meet the demands of
the people. aas
The power to control money and lend it
at high rate of interest can no longer be
secured by law to the few. The right to
command it must be extended to the many,
SO that all who will may participate in the
profits OF trade, labor, and general indus
try. The fundamental absurdity involved
in our present system of currency is, that
it makes agriculture, the basis of all our
prosperity, the slave to the very thing it
creates productive wealth of the
country. By placing the currency in the
hands of mere capitalists, with bonus of
thirty millions to manipulate it in their
own interests, the government COM
mits as great a wrong as if it were
to grant the same non.produc-
tive class monopoly of all the
ploughs, hoes, rakes, harrows, cultiva-
tors, reapers, and other agricultural inn
plements, with the right to limit their
number or charge whatever they pleased
for their use, so that the entire agricultural
profits Of the country might drop into their
lap at their bidding. For money is not
simply an implement with which to effect
exchanged IS the means by which in
dustrial enterprises are pushed; the tool
with which the plough is pointed for the
furrow, the scythe sharpened for the field,
the reaper gagged for its swath of golden
grain, the harrow edged for the work it
must do in the autumn and the spring
time. and almost every stroke of labor
successfully directed
What we want is cheap money, with the
right of every man to command it who
can, and no diminution Of its bulk in the
interest of grasping usurers. The people
OF the whole country are awake to this
demand; their voice is coming up from
mountain, hillside and valley, and woe te
the party or politician that does not heet
their cry. AS II was with the substantial
owners of the lands, vineyards, oliveyards,
and houses of Israel. when the cry went
up to Nehemiah against the usurers Of
that land, so will it be here if the voice o.
the people is not needed, and that righl
speedily.
Down with nsurers and monopolists in
money!
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