The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-11-29
FACTS FOR THE PEOPLE.


post themselves with reference to the
objects and aims of our national
financial system. The stringency or
the times have prevented them from
giving this subject the attention when
it's importadce demands. Whle the
bondholders, bankers, and railroad
kings have been engaged IN concoctlng
heir plans to rob the poor IN order TO
enrich themselves, the laborer-God'S
true nobleman, has been compelled TO
lead life of incessant toll IN order TO
secure scanty subsistence 1Or ms
family. His leisure hours have been
few He has had but little time to
read. or investigate. In the work
shop or in the field, he has been
forced to take his lessons on Political
Economy. There are few facts,
however, that all can understand, and
they speak eloquently to us in favor
of a change in our present financial
policy.
We know that the volume of cur
rency has been steadily contracted for
the last twelve years, and that now we
have less money per capita than any OF
the great commercial nations upon
the face of the globe. We, also, know
the effect of this ruinouS financial
policy upon our neighbOrs and our
selves.
/. will now speak for the locality
in which | live. Eight years ago L
purchased farm, paying sixteen dol
lars per acre therefor. Since that
time, railroad has been constructed
through the county, and other import
ant improvements have been made,
which ought to have enhanced the
value of real estate, yet | doubt ii l
could sell my farm now for $40 per
acre. Many of my neighbors bought
farms at the same time | did, paying
part of the purchase money III ad-
vance, and mortgaging their property
to secure the rest. Some OF them
have sold their property at a loss in
order to meet their mortgages, and
others have been barely able to pay
the intesest on the debts thus incurr-
ed, while the mortgages still hang over
their heads. These are all industri-
Gus, energetic, and economical farm
ers, and if money matters had
remained as they were when they
made their purchases. they would
have no difficulty in meeting their
obligations promptly. Every species
of property from which they expected
to raise the means to pay their debts
has deprecated in value, while the
fearful mortgages, with their corrOd-
ing interest, still loom up before them,
as large as ever. | know tenants who
have struggled through the last eight
years to procure them homes, and they
are tenants still.
Now, reader, look around you and
see if this picture does not correctly
represent the condition of the farmers
of your vicinity. Does not this prove
conclusively that our financial system
has been instituted and run in the in
terest of the creditor and money
lender. while the interest of the
debtor has been wholly ignored.
How ,many of the readers of the
Journal and Farmer have been COM
PEELED to borrow money at fifteen and
twenty per cent. interest in order to
save their homes! How many trem-
bic when they see the stony face of
the heartless usurer, ready to exact
his pound of tlesh!" How many
sleeplesS nights they have spent on
account of debts and mortgages that
weigh them down like the incubus!
My oppressed and prosecuted brother
farmer, your merchant credits you,
but eXacts his interest at ten per cent.
to be compounded annually. Your
family physician takes your note for
services rendered at the same ruinous
rates. Your wife is broken down
hor l. oh
rags, your bones ache, and your brain
is weary from unrequited toll, yet
still these vampires cling to you and
persist in sucking out your life-blood
Great God, is that justicel Is this
the rystem of finance for the humble
toiling poort
The bondholder with no taxes to
pay, boards away his gold. and laughs
at your calamity. He live in pala-
tial mansion, and rolls by you in his
Olympic chariot, throwing the dust in
your eyes. His wife and daughter
rustic their silks and sport their dia-
monds. They toll not, neither do
they spin. yet Solomon in all his glory
was not arrayed like one of these"
The usurer-the pet of the govern
ment-s'fares sumptuously every day"
while the laborer can scarcely earn
enough to keep soul and body togeth-
er.
If these are facts-and who would
dare controvert them-is it not appar-
ent to all that our financial system is
at fault somewherei If we had enough
money to meet the demands of trade.
would it command such exorbitant
rates of INTEREST," Does not wheat
command the highest price when the
supply is most limitedt No sane man
can fail to see that moni ed men have
combined for the purpose of making
money scarce. in order that they may
profit thereby. When we complain OF
hard times. these blatant votarieS or
mammon cry out. "Oh. there is too
much money in the land! contraction
and specie resumption will reopen the
channels of trade and set all things
right"
. for scourge of scorpions to drive
these "monev-changers" from the
temple erected by our fathers which
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