Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1876-05-30
What Next.
4. RUFFNER,
Supt. Pub. Inst.

Now comes the report from Wash
ington that there has been an inter-
view between Ben Butler and Hon.
Frank Landers, NJ. G.. from Indiana.
1t occurred at Ben's house in Wash
ingtOn. In the course of the evening
Ben remarked that he supposed NJ.
Landers was aware how the gold bill
of 1889 came to be passed. 1t was very
natural that Ben should suppose that
Mr.. Landers, the leading Greenback
Congressman fIom Indiana, should
know all about the wiles ofthe enemy,
and especially that he should know
how that great Congressional mon
strosity, which has cost the people so
many millions, happened to become
the law, But in his innocence and
truthfulness Mr.. Landers had to
answer that no did not know how that
came to pass. Gen. Butler, with some
establishment, replied:
Then you do not know that the bull
lionists of both parties are responsible
for it, and that for its sake your Demo-
cratic party was treacherously waylaid
and slaughtered by its pretended
champions in 1868?
Iu 1868, thought Landers, that was
the year that Pendleton was saugh-
tered in convention and New York's
"favorite son." Gov. Seymour, was
nominated. Gen; Butler proceeded:
will tell you, Your Chairman of
tl&e National Democratic Com
mittee was August Belmont,
American fiscal agent of the Roths-
childs, a bullionist nabob, with far
more love of gold than of the Demo-
cratic party. The ROthschilds and
their syndicate in Europe and in
America held scores of millions of dol
lars worth of the 500 and other Ameri-
can bonds. These bonds they had
purchased at various discounts, the
difference between cost and par repre-
senting many Millions of dollars,
am speaking whereof | know when L
tell you that our Republican party
managers held meetings with Belmont
and his ringsters, and this programme
was agreed on. If the Belmont party
would manipulate the National Demo
cratic Convention so as to give such
q ticket and platform to the country
as the people would repudlate, and
thus secure the ascendancy of Grant
ism, the Republicans would spring q
bill on Congress, and rush it through
under the fire-cry of patriotism and
honor, by which the Governments
credit would be given great impetus,
and the bonds be sent up to par. This
bill was to be the gold bill of 1867
The details of the conspiracy included
the slaunhter OF Pendleton in order
to create lukewarmness in the West
ern Democracy.
Mr., LapdeFa could but intepose that
This part OF the Infamous arrangement
was successfully carried out. General
Butler replied;
Yes, and all of 1t. Seymour's nomi-
nation was q wet Blanket on the parv
w and then Blair, fresh from his in
hammatoIy Broadhead letter was
added lt was consummate success
for defeau and defeat, and over
whelming defeat came TO the De-
mocracy. BY our strategy we won,-
l say I'VE" though / had no direct
hand In the scheme. was, however.
cognizant OF IL after the fact. And
YOU will recollect, Mr.. Landers, that
the very first job Of President Grant
consisted in his signing the pTedit-
strengthening law rushed through |
the House by Bob SChenck. Both |
parties to the villalny played fair
and were satisfied, / presume, Bel !
mont's crowd made five or ten mill
lion dollars, and the government
made nothing. The people foot the
bill
In an inquiry ofMr, Landers wheth-
or Gen. Butler stated this from his
Gown knowledge" the latter replied,
"Assuredly, slr."-NashVile Amerf-
can