The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1876-06-01
r The LequeaUoSth Times.
TIE CURRENCY QUESTION.

COSCORDlA, n as, May -.
EDITOR TINES: SRI notice all over
the county disposition among the promi-
nent men in the two great political parties,
to either entirely ignore the "currency
question" or else compel the parties to en-
dorse the hard money platform" And |
notice that the press, in many places, is ST.
lent on this issue of the hour, calculating,
no doubt, to stand by the party and itsplat-
form, when pronounced at Cincinnati or
ST. Lonis. The idea seems to be, that the
power OF party discipline, aided by the par
ty lash, will be sufficient to marshal the
drilled hosts, either under the Republican
or Democratic banners. Is this proposition
true? Party drill may do much with "live
issues" but how with dead ones? Disguise
it rs We may, one OF the living ISSUES OF the
hour is the currency question" The war
is over, and no man is entitled 10 the name
OF patriot, or a statesman who does not
now earnestly desire TO see the waste places
OF our common country bui 1t up. If am
correct in this position, then We have reach
ed a period when old issues have lost much
of their power, and when they will no lon
ger cement parties and form them as a
Macedonian Phalanx.
The struggle for national life and Union,
40 long as 1t was imperilled, controlled and
eclipsed all minor issues. But the danger
is now passed, and the best men South, as
we'll as in the North, earnestly desire peace
and the perpetuating OF the national life.
In the last Presidential struggle, thousands,
all over the land, sustained the Republican
party-apprehensiye that change might
again work evil to the Union and the inter
ests Of the people. But this apprehension
is no longer controlling sentiment, and we
must look TO the currency question, among
Others, as one of the live issues that must
enter into the struggle of 1876. There is
sentiment which has become almost a uni
versal feeling among the people, that, in
some way, war, and its concommitant evils,
has greatly deranged our monetary system,
and that some change is absolutely nee
essary, before the nation can again be-
come prosperous. Besides, there is a firm
belief in the minds of thousands, that the
credit, the power, and the Resources OF the
great nation, should he used TO establish a
national money system, in the interest of
MONOPOLY of National Banks. The Nation
al Banking system is the child OF the war,
and has been useful in our reture TO peace,
by changing our creditors, and for time
enabling us.o absorb a part OF our own
bonded Indebtedness. But no one expects
the system to be permanent one. Surely,
no man is safe statesman who would turn
over TO the banks the power to coin money
and regulate both its value and its volume
The war already made on our on-interest
bearing debt of SiS0,0O0,000 greenbacks
and fractional currency demonstrates be-
yond cavil the folly of bank control over
this question. The effort TO drive this
money of the people from circulation has
proved Pandora-box of evil 10 the country.
1t is the great cause of all our present
evils on, the money question. The effort on
the part of the money power is TO force
from circulation one-half of the volume of
our circulating medium, and thus increase
the value of their own money by depre-
citation of all other values. The money
centers of the East have led in the crusade,
and Congress has been controlled in its in
lerest. The work has been we'll begun, and
The result of the effort can be seen in the
general arrangement of the business inter-
ests of the country. Our industries, instead
Of being fos;ered, are paralyzed. Values
have declined, in real estate, quite thirty
per cent. Confidence is vastly impaired. |
The country presents the strange
phenomena Of being almost without |
money in the midst of plenty. |
The policy Of contraction adopted |
and the resumption act passed, and thous- |
lnds OF our capitalists see that they can do |
letter to hold their money than to allow it |
o be used in the business of the country. |
i alues, nov on the descending scale, bust
,ess men are wary of entering into bust
hess, hence capital is allowed to remain |
ocked up for the want of demand. And |
he same cause affects real estate. Men will |
lecline continues, and they cannot see it |
nd. Thus emigration is checked, and we
ose the benefit of thousands Of dollars
Gathered in all new centers Of emigration.
md why all these evils? The answer is
asy. Cotton being dethroned, money seeks
o be king. And to secure the imperial pur-
lie she scruples at nothing. Having Sc
ured q contraction policy that poisons
very interest Of the country, che now seeks
o control the nominations at Cincinnati
nd ST. Louis, and to secure such platform
s will enable her TO render the moneyd
ictories already achieved, permanent.
The questions Of the war have absorbed
he public attention for years in the mean
ime, the moDeyd power of the country has
cen sleepless in guarding its interests, and
a securing such legislation as would aid
hem to increase the value OF their money.
his legislation, this effort has precipitated
be country in all the evils incident to con-
raction. Money, ever sensitive to
he least touch, is shy of lesisla-
on. Give it fixed, uniform and Just
AVS and the assurance Of permauency.
nd it viii leap At once from its hiding
laces to seek investment. But disturb il
18th frequent unfriendiy and vacilatins
'gislation and each money-holder takes the
larm and adds to the general embarrsas-
'eat BY Withdrawing his deposits from cir
,lation.
The eurrency question is one difficult of
hutton. Sill Is is not impossible to de-
rmine tie onunWimate yolumn of money