Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1875-09-21


have plan and the people have plan.
The moueycrats want to change our polit>
ical system they want us TO surrender TO a
rich minority, the physical power TO squeeze
payment out of an impoverished and suffer>
ing majority. This is what New England
means when she philosophers about strong
government. During the war our govern
ment was'so Ssmpson-like that Mr.. Seward
could tap little bell aud arrest citizen
thousand miles distant by telegraph, and NO
power on earth could release him and the
people submitted because they were told that
spch despotism was necessary to save the
Union. If we keep on following our present
party leaders, in five years more the Secretary
of the Treasury viii have his little bell, be-
cause such aespotism willebe necessary to en-,
force taxetion. BIt when that time does
come. who viii receive the benefit of the
taxes,-the many OF the few
= The writer loves aud yenerates that Repub.
lican form of government onr ancestors i1-
tended to establish by the Constitution
There is no sacrifice he would not make to
preserve our institutions, but as one who seeks
to wake his fellow citizens to impending dan
ger, it becomes his duty to declare that the
chances are as fvo TO one in favor of the
moneycrats succeeding in their schemes. He
ballot in 1856 and in 1860; he remembers
the character and the sanctity of consttu,
tional liberty before the war, he knows what
it was then and what it is now; he is familiar
with the paths which led to political prefer
ment in those days before the negro was sent
to- Congress to make laws for white men; he
has had experience with the emissaries of the
New England bondholders in the Southern
States. He has watched the progress of the
moneycrats as they have advanced step by step
to all the stronghoids of power and with all
these lights before him he would be unworthy
the public car did he not admit that Sampson,
(the numerical mnjority,) notwithstanding all
his strength, has been shorn of his locks
They mag grow out again, hut depend upon
it, the blind prisoner will grind many and
many day at his task, aud furnish rare sport
to his rulers, before he gathers sufficient
strength to pull down the middle pillars Of the
house.
These are sad reflections, but he who writes
to Instruct the people must tell the truth, and
in view Of these Considerations we predict that
unless tho people are reused up, unless there
is some great upheaval of the masses between
this aud the fall of 1876, the catastrophe
which is now probable in expectation will be
come certain IN experience.
Thus much for ,he moneycrat plan to pre-.
vent Republication. The people ha7ea simpler
and better way to accomplish the same re-
suit. 1t is to Tighten the load by scattering
the weight, viz: to postpone payment until
the country is more developed aud stronger.
There is not much scientific theory about
this plan. but vast deal of practical common
sense. Two men can pEy debt twice easy
as one man .snd debt which would have
4 i
SO this huge debt which pr0strlses this gener.
alton will be feather to our grand children.
This country is only in its infancy. Notwith
standing the war, our population has nearly
doubled since 1850 Then why not wait
until We can spread this burden on the
shoulders Of double our present population
the more you scatter the debt the lig hter will
be the load
In 1890 our population was less than four
millions, and here in 1875 it is upwards of
forty millions
In 1870 our property was less than $780,
600. 900, and here in 1875 il is upward of
$50 ,oOO, 100000.
The population has increased ten fold. and
the property fifty iold Then is it not plain
that This hugo debt, which is an elephant to
US, will be fly to our children? Old as
am, if the people will resume political power;
if they turn these moneycrats out-of Office,
and recover possession and control of their
government | expect to live long enough to
see this country with population OF one hun
dred millions, and with property worth
100000, 600, 900. When that day comes
this debt will be a nero bsgstelle, and surely
it is enough for this generation, which did the
fighting, TO keep down the interest. If the
Union be worth the debt, if it be worth the
price We paid for it, surely Posterity cannot
sonplain.
But the frst step in this plan is for the peo
pie to recover the control of their govern
meut. They must resume the direction of
political afiirs, for there will be no improve
ment until the people make themselves mas
ters of the situation. and the question is,
whether the moneycrats have not already OBJ
tanned sufficient power to throttle any attempt
to turn them out of Office. This is very
grave and serious question. There are many
well Informed persons who honestly believe
that the masses are powerless, because Bank
Directors and Railroad Presidents and Factory
Owners are able to dictate enough ignorant
votes to control national politics.
According to the doctrines of our ancestors
the people ought TO govern themselves through
agents. Our ancestors had notion that an
Office holder was an agent, and that the Du-
merical majority was entitled to all political
power. But every one can see that the eIec>
tion day, and the ballot box are becoming
mere farce; they mere toys with which
the noneycrats amuse the masses while they
trick them out of their sufrages. aud make
them vote their own destruction. The money
Gratis do not number one-tenth of the vote,
and yet they manage the country, and they
conduct the government just as they please
Trim-sail politicians and bank-stuck uews>
papers control elections. and the result is that
| in Washington during the session of Congress
| there is display of official wealth and fashion