The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-10-28
CHANGERS AT THE CENTENNIAL.

Within about three miles of the Centennial
buildings, at Philadelphia, are the quarters
of the National Grange Encampment Here
the farmers and their wives from all over the
union meet get acquainted, discuss their home
interests, make speeches, sing, and even dance
making their gatherings social union, in
its largest and most pleasant and refined
sense.
Among the numerous speeches made at
these gatherings Hon. John S. Armstrong,
of Mission, in this county, Treasurer of the
Illinois State Grange, made the following re-
marks, as we find them reported in the Farm.
ers Friend, of fredericksburg, Pa;
Brother Armstrong, Treasurer of the State
Grange of Illinois, was then called for-an
earnest Patron who has always labored in the
Grange movement with zeal that has proved
of great value to the Patrons of his State, and
has given him a national reputation. he al.
WAYS at his own expense attends the annual
sessions of the National Grange. From the
important position he has SO long held IN his
State Grange, he has made the financial Ques.
ton one of study, and has had great opportu-
mites to thoroughly understand and feel the
workings of our present financial system. he
SAID all farmers and citizens should take an
interest in poltics-read, learn, think, and
then act; act IN their own wisdom, ana 90
not remain the tools of party politicians.
Thought they were fast getting theireyes open,
and learning to look upon these great ques-
tons IN their true and proper light: lie then
gave some Of his experience as treasurer.
Having some money belonging to the Illinois
S,o,o n,oono ont ,uiohinp n he kent a.
safely as possible, he thought best to buy gov.
eminent bonds. 1t took eleven hundred and
nincty-seven dollars of poor Changers money
TO buy one thousand dollars of the rich mans
money or government bonds. Thought some
thing was wrong, Why should the govern
ment make two classes of noney-one for the
rich and another for the poor? lie explained
how the banker takes one hundred thousand
dollars of government bonds to Washington
and deposits them with the treasurer of the
United States. These bonds do still draw in
terest to be paid In gold in January and July.
The treasurer then hands hiHi ninety thous-
and dollars in national bank notes. He walks
out of Washington ninety thousand dollars
richer than when he went in; takes his nine
" thousand home, starts bank and loans
the money out at q, Z, ), and ~ per cent. In
tercst and all the more he can get. And thus
these OOnuS ueposlteu theTe arc virtually paiu
off to the amount of 80 cents on the dollar,
and yet the government pays the interest in
gold on the whole amount every six months,
and thirty to thirty-fve millions are paid out
annually in this way, and these laws made by
our representatives in Congress where legis-
lation has been IN the interest of the money
power of the country and against the people.
lie ably advocated that government should
issue the currency direct, do its own banking
as it indirectly does now, save these millions
of interest and relieve the oppressed condi'
ton of the people. He then spoke upon the
unequal and hugh taxes, which were becom'
ing a greater burden TO the farmer each year,
and reducing his profits year by year. In
1867, In Chicago, wheat brought S2l7; corn,
"a cents. In 1876, wheat brings 80 cents and
corn 40 cents. In the cattle and hog market,
prices in 1876 rule about half the prices ol
1867. To pay a tax or debt of 800, IN 1867
it took &c bushels of wheat or LOG bushels oil
corn. In 1876 it takes III bushels of wheat
or go bushels o: corn. That all classes OF
property should be taxed alike. That cui
system of taxation should possess equality
and that no species of property has right to
escape lis equal share of tax, or be allowed to
shift the burden on another.