The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1874-07-10
FouRFH OF JULY OsArIoA.
At the Celebration by the Patrons Of
Hnsbandry, EmPoria, Kansas. 1874.
BY JOHN DAVIS.


Of our fathers, in resistance TO king {
ly tyranny, has gone forth to ali the {
world. 1t mas been the theme of I
song and eloquence in every legis-
latiye hall, in every school house,
and in the pleasant groves of every {
State in America. 1t is eminently
that we of this new
land, whose sky so recently over
arched only the wigwam and war
dance, should join our voices in
propriate that, while we recount
with rapture our glories and bless
ings, we also look we'll 10 the flu
ture. Liberty won is of no value
except il be preserved IL IS better
praise TO our patriotic sires to imi-
tate their words aud deeds of pat
riotism, than TO sing the finest
peans TO liberty, while our necks
are under the yoke and our hearts |
and voices utter no resistance. 1t |
is scarcely necessary that | should |
mention 10 an intelligent audience |
OF farmers and Patrons. the fact !
that tyrants under names seldom |
thought OF by our fathers, are even
now forging the chains that are to |
gaul our limbs that corporate
moDopolies, with their rings, kings
and corners, are playing greater
havoc with the liberties of Ameri-
ca than was ever dreamed of by
king George of England in his
darkest philosophy. Let US exam
inc this subject q moment. Mouop-
olies are privileges aud franchises
granted or permitted by govern
ments to certain specified individu-
| ais, corporations or classes of socie-
ty, which are not extended to other
men in general. MOnOpolies are of
ancient origin. Queen Elizabeth of
England granted TO her servants
| and courtiers patents for monopo-
lies III certain manufactures and
branches of commerce. These pat
ents were sold to others, who were
thereby enabled to raise commOdi-
ties 10 what prices they pleased.
| And thus inviEcible restraints were
put upon all commerce, industry
and emulation in the east, while the
great mass of the people were taxed
and impoverished to enrich the ia
Vored few who held the monopo-
lies. 1t would be tedious to enum-
crate all the articles embraced In
these monopolies, or to estimate the
evils growing out of their exercise.
Salt, iron, gunpowder, cards,
train-oil, cloths, potashes, vinegar,
brushes, pots, bottles, saltpeter,
lead, glass, paper, beer, yarn, and
sco-es of other articles, with all of
the manufactures and commerce
connected with them, were embrac-
4 ed in these monopolies. When but
a partial list was read in the British
Parliament, a member cried out, "is
not bread in the number ?"
Bread !" said every one in astOnish-
ment. eyes, / ASSURE" said he, "if
matters go on at this rate we shall
have bread reduced to a monopoly
before next parliament BY these
mOnopOlies salt was raised from
sixteen pence per bushel to fourteen
or fifteen shillings. In order to
protect themselves from encroach-
ment while reaping such enormous
profits, the patentees were armed
with extraordinary powers, by
which theyIwere enabled TO Cypress
the people at pleasure, and to exact
money from such as they thought
proper to accuse OF interfering with
their "vested rights" The patent
ees of saltpeter had the power to
enter into any house, and to COM
nit what havoc they pleased in
stables, cellars or wherever they
suspected salt-peter might be gath
cred, and commonly extorted mon
ey from such as desired to free
themselves from this damage and
annoyance. Foreign commerce,
even, was confined TO exclusive
companies, who bought and sold at
such prices as they themselves
thought proper to establish. These
grievances, the most intolerable for
the present, and the most pernici-
GUS in their consequences. have
been refined upon but not ameliora-
ted in their effects upon the public
veal, and are now openly and le-
gally practiced in these United
States of America! 1t is easy to
show that the National banking
system of this country is as grind
ing monopoly as any ever granted
by the naughty Queen of England.
1t had its origin in disloyalty TO the
government. Beset with millions
of armed rebels in front, a strong
party of quasi-lOvalists in the
north, aud continual menaces of
powerful foreign Intervention, the
country stood in dire need of mon
ey- Two alternatives presented
themselves as modes of relief, Wis. /:
the sale of bonds and the creation
of national currency. The latter,
properly, should bear no interest !;
and the green-backs never have,
costing the country only the paper
and printing. The course of the
government was plain but not easy.
The dominant financial powers of
the country uttered the menace that
they would neither purchase the
bonds nor honor the currency I'M
less they were allowed to control,
to large extent, the finances of the
government. Thinking it unsafe
to defy so potent iii enemy, in SO
extreme a crisis, compromise was
effected. Buy our bonds said the
government to the banks, and we
will pay you the specified interest
on their face, and on a large share
of them will refund to you ninety per
cent of the money you pay for
them, and by this single transaction
yOu will nearly doable your wealth.
These were the terms eXacted of the
country during its greatest need.
1t is candidly suggested, whether,
other foes being conquered, the
government is not now able to de-
fy the banks. Let the National
banking law be at once repealed!
Let the National bank currency be
retired, and its place filled with
green-backsi The amount of the
National bank currency is not far
from 400 millions of dollars. This
at five per cent. is 20 millions inter-
est, which the country pays direct
/ ly into the bank vaults every year,
besides other expenses and annoy
anc s. And all this to men who
exacted such advantages from the
country in its EXTREMIST need and
helplessness, when common men
| were leaving their homes and fami-
lies for the field of battle, and
pouring out their blood and treas
ures like water to save the country
| Did we so exhaust our patriotism
in the death grapple with Ameri-
can slavery that we have none left
| to resist these new tyrantsi / dare
affirm we did not, and ere long,
when the whole case is fairly before
the people, we shall so churn it up
with agitation and discussion, that
these financial magnates will be
called to final reconing. Let us
dwell for moment on this hideous
and dangerous system of National
finance. The National banking
system has been aptly compared to
the devil fish of the Mediterranean
sea- This strange monster inhabits
the caves and grOttoes of the ocean.
When at rest il resembles a closed
umbrella without q handle. Inert
and harmless to the untutored eye,