The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-11-08
CURRENCY c. NTRAC TON.
THE BkLEFUL EFFECTS CLEARLY Sc
FORTH.
Speech b the Hon. George Major, Febfu
airy Is. Before the Creenback Leceum
Of INDIANAPOLIS.


deeper into human interests. IL
comes home to the bosom ana ousl-
ness of men. 1t affects the humblest
laborer and touches the interest," OF
the ablest capitalist. Upon 1t depend
the value Of property, the stablnty Oh
contracts, the wages OF labor, lhe
welfare of families and the prosper
itv of the whole country. NO ques-
ton is more worthy OF publlc atten-
ton. and none is receiving, from all
classes. a more thoughtful and earnest
investigation. The conviction is
becoming fixed in the public mind
that there is something radically
wrong in the management Of our
public affairs-somethin mysterious
ly defective IN our financial policy.
The people are becoming more and
more satisfied that the party in power
has been untrue, in it's pOllcies,tO the
best interests of the great masses Of
the peOple-that the ends of govern
ment have been perverted from their
true object, the public good, and pros
tituted to advance the interests OF
favored classes and corporations
that the whole machinery OF govern
ment has been run in the interest OF
the money power-that the whole of
our financial legislation has been to
enrich capital at the expense Of labor
to foster monOpolieS. to give to
corporations exclusive privileges, TO
build up a bondholding aristocracy,
to increase the power OF money, TO
raise the rates OF interest, to central
i've wealth in the hands OF the few, to
transfer to the cunning idleness the
fruits of honest industry, to make the
rich richer and the poor poO(er, and
stake from the mouth Of labor the
bread it has earned" The evidence
of the wicked prostitution of govern
ment, this unjust discrimination in
favor of capital against labor is every
where apparent. 1t meets us on
every hand. 1t may be seen III the
sudden increase Of fortunes In the
massing Of wealth III the hands OF the
few. in the rapid growth of giant cor
porations and chartered monopolies,
while all the moned powers, the gold
dealer, the bondholder, the money
lender, the national banker, and the
stock gambler are enjoying rich
harvest Of prosperity. all the produc-
tive interests are reaplng the bitter
fruits Of adversely. All our great
Industries are depressed. farming no
longer pays, manufactures are run ut
a loss. mills, factories, furnaces
FORCES and machinery Of all kinds are
closed and thousands of operatives
thrown out of employment and THEN
families starving for bread. Whole
mining districts have suspended, ant
tens of thousands of workmen are de
prived of labor and the means OF sup
port. our great commercial Interests
are nearly ruined, our ship yards ar'
abandoned, our docks are deserted ano
our marine vessels are driven from
the ocean. Railroad building ha
nearly ceased, great lines almost com
pleted. are abandoned. But few road
are paving divisends upon thei
stock and large percentage are il
the hands of receivers.
our people are hurdened with debt
and taXations, our farms and cite
are covered with mortgages. our rec
ords are replete with judgments an
civil officers are armed with eXect
tions. Our jais and penitentaries ar
filled with inmates made criminals b
sheer want. Our papers are dal
filled with accounts of crime con
mitted by men made desperate b
hunger and hopeless poverty. On
cities, towns and highways az
thronged with men. seeking emplo,
ment "hegging leave to toll. Nj
lions are in enforced idleness. mutt
tudes are working upon half pay. an
myriads are eating the bitter bread {
charity. Foreign immigration ha
decreased one-half, and thousands {
skilled workmen are leaving OF
shores to seek employment IN til
overcrowded cities of the old worl(
Our national progress has been a
rested in mid career, and our mat
rial prosperity has been blasted ;
with the breath of the pestilence. NJ
fellow citizens. what has caused tn
strange and unnatural condition
affairs. why this advantage OF capt.
over business and labor! Why Is Il
one at the top of Fortune $ wheel II
the other east away Why is no
productive capital SO favored al
productive capital SO fortnnates Ma
ural laws never produced such result
Justice and equality never work'
such injustice and Inequality. Ii
true cause is to be found in our unJu
and oppressive system. Our prese
embarrassment is the legitimate |
suit OF the ruinouS and paralyzll
contraction Of the currency by VINE
the people have been deprived OF q
means for carrying on their buslneS
prosecuting their enterprises. al
meeting their obligations. Money
the power that moves the whole N
chinery of buSiness.it is the life bio,
of the industrial system, and like t
vital fluid of the physical system,
sufficient supply gives health al
strength and life, while an insutficie
supply produces weakness. prostratit
and death. All experience has shoy
that contraction Of currencv-t
money of the people--has alwa
produced financial embarrassment
Experience has also shown that ST
sons of expansion are reasons
prosperity, and that seasons of C