davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-08-16
THE WASTE OF VAR.

The hard-money papers are resorting
to new dodge. They claim that the
horrible sutferings of the country are
due to the waste and destruction Of
property during the war.
The indianapolis Sun answers this
point most conclusively. Replying to
an extract for the Cinc;nnutti Com
merciai: it says:
The above statement is utterly con-
founded in fact, and the Commercial
knows it is untrue ii it would only
reflect single moment. 1t ascribes
the business depression to the ''waste
of war. The war commenced in 1861
and ended in 1865. The census reports
contain the valuation of the nation S
wealth and gives in rouud numbers the
total for 1850: 10000. 900. 900. This
was the wealth of the nation before
the waste of the war; commenced.
The census reports for 1870 show the
total wealth OF the nation to be in
round numbers $4,000. .uo0, 900. The
whole waste of the war occurred be-
tween those two dates. The whole
waste of the war was repaired. and
IN addition TO that Sl4.0o0.Oo 900 was
added TO the aggregate wealth.
A short horse is soon curried."
The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-08-16
THE PEOPLES P.iRTY OF MN
NESOT.i.
ST. PAUL. Aug. IA. Is

ST. PAUL, Aug. Ia. 1877.
Editor inti-Monopotisf:
At the late Municipal Election in
May last in this city IA few of our
public-spirited citizens, undismayed
by the party whip and spur, caring
more for the interest of the taxpayer,
mechanic and Workingman. organized
a Peoples movement. with candidates
for the several offices. and although
having only four or Eve days imme-
diately before the day Of election
wherein to prepare for the campaign,
they succeeded in polling a very large
vote which come near defeating some
of the prominent candidates on the
SO called Democratic ticket. i'll fact
the Peoples ticket would have swept
the field only for the aid of some Re-
pubiicans. whose personal services
were invoked. and obtained at the
polls to give another lease Of power
to the old City Ring. The unexpected
success obtained at that time by the
supporters of the Peoples ticket. has
encouraged them to continue in the
good work throughout the state at
large, and the offers of cooperation
already received from men of all
The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-08-16

THE YR.iMPS.

Most of the tramps have gone to
work in the harvest fields and peace
reigns on the prairies Pioneer Press.
Exactly. Nine-tenthS of the
..tramps" are willing to work If they
can get work to do. While the cur
rency was abundant there were no
tramps AS soon rs the contraction
Of the currency destroyed the busi-
ness of the country 1.-The tramps be-
gan to appear. Industrious mechanics
who previously owned their little
homesteods and were raising ylrtuouS
and intelligent families lost their
homes for debt and were forced to
tramp the land in search of work and
food, while their daughters are
driven to the brothel and their sons
to crime and violence.
And now the republican papers pro-
pose to shoot ''the tramps.' Would
it not be better to shoot the men
whose knavish acts have brought
about such state of affairs
The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-08-16

locked up in the United States Treas
ury9
Because their owners cannot trust
them in banks, saving funds, CONNER
cial paper or manufacturing enter
prises. Why!
Because over every thing hangs the
pending threat of resumption in a year
and half from this time. And what
banker, merchant, trust fund or busi-
ness enterprise will stand in that dread
day!
Hence the currency Of the country,
to the amount of sixty millions Of dol
lars, is locked up in the government
vaults, all business is suspended and
the laboring people are starving.
Starvation breeds crime and violence.
crime and violence breed standing
armies; and standing armies are the
nurseries of empire.
The grandson of unjust laws is a
king.
The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-08-16
CHEAP SCHOOL BOOKS.

The Board of Education of Still
water seem to be loyal to the state
law and take common sense view of
matters. It is to be hoped that many
other boards will have the independ-
ence to take the same stand. 1t would
seem that as little as could be done.
would be to respect the law and aid
it in securing the lasting benefits pro-
posed. The people are tired of this
frequent agitation of the book queS-
tion and the law carried out will give
us rest on the very best basis. The
following is the resolution which was
unanimously adopted at their meeting
on Friday last:
Resoired, That the law passed last
winter by the legislature relative to
school books, meets with our approval,
and we are disposed to sustain it.
making as few changes as possible in
text books, until the books prepared
under the law are ready for use.
There appears to be book sellers
war about furnishing text books to
the schools. but this board proposes
to adhere to the Legislative law, and
give way to no clique.-Dispatch July
3lst, 1877.
Well done. saltwater Mr.. Merrill,
at great loss to himself, is preparing
to faithfully carry out the school text
book law of last winter. That law
has already reduced the price of
school books nearly one-half: and if
it is carried into execution it will
permanently break the School Book
Ring of the United States and save
the people of Minnesota hundreds of
thousands of dollars annually. If it
is now neutralized by local opposition,
school books will soon go back to their
old prices.
| 1t is the duty Of the people to stand
by Mr.. Merrill Loyalty. He is labor
ing in their behalf. Give him a
chance and treat him fairly.
The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-08-16
THE WHEAT CROP.

Farmers should not be imposed
upon by wheat-buyers and millers.
They will be told that the crop of the
northwest is immense. Suppose it
is.Englands cropis below the average
California will have little or nothing
to export; the recent victories of the
Turkish armies means a prolonged
war: and the war cannot continue ma
ny months longer without dragging
one half of Europe into the vortex.
If you have a big crop don't sacri-
fee it. 1t is Gods gift to your indus
try, and it should not go into the
pockets of wheat rings.
A Washington telegram to the New
York Tribune says:
Another important circumstance in
connection with our our abundant har-
vest is the reduced production of
Southern Russia. resulting from the
disturbed condition of affairs in the
countries adjacent to the Black Sea.
Recent special reports from Southern
Russia report the estimated crop of
the present season at less than one
half that OF former years. Russia has
hitherto been onr only great rival in
the English wheat market. Before
1872 Russia shipped almost as much
wheat TO the makets of the world as
the United States. Last year the
Russlon supply was only one third as
great as that of the United States. and
Tor the present year it is shown by
official communications that the pro.
portion of Russia wheat will be much
less.
The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-08-16
ANOTHER FiLLACI.

The political ''quacks,' having by
their charlatanism produced the
present terribly calamitous state of
affairs, are hard at work now trying
to account for it. One of their argu.
ments is that the workingmen of the
cities must all go to farming. If this
were done vho wouLd the farmers sell
their productions to2
A writer in the Minneapolis Tribune
makes another reply to this shallow
proposition:
One of your correspondents in your
issue of July 30th advises the labor.
ers and mechanics that are now seek.
ing sufficient remuneration for the
sweat of their brow to s.go and till
the SOIL Thus in manner echoing
the advice of the late lamented II.
g., Young man go west.' Yes,
'sgo till the soil, is very good advice,
Mr.. Rollins, but will you be kind
enough to inform us how that very
desirable solution to the great prob.
lem is to be carried out! Where they
are to go you can no doubt answer.
but there are few troublesome inter.
rogatories that am sorely afraid you
cannot answer. They are easily
summed up:
First-How are they to get there
Second-What are they to do when
they get there
Third-How will they obtain the
necessaries of life during the first
twelve months. or until their crops
are ready for the market!
Fourth-HoW will they get theil
crops to the market
Does your correspondent know how
much capital is required to undertake
to till the soil !! Is he aware that
horses or oxen, cattle, good farming
wagon, farming utensils. house tt
live in, and food for the family is no,
to be had for the asking! No, Mr.
Rollins. Although your argument
bears the stamp OF truth, you do no
seem to recognize the fact that ther,
are not more than two or three pei
centum of the laborers and mechanic:
of the country that are able to under
Wake the conducting of a farm.
The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-08-16
TIE AGRICULTURAL IN1ER-

Time is verifying the correctness
of our views. When we sad IN 1907
at Pennington that the greatness OF
our country reposed upon the soll,and
not upon its mills and factories, we
were regarded as preaching an abom-
Unable heres Now the only thing
that keeps us from national bank
ruptcy is our shipments abroad OF
wheat, corn, beef. cotton, tobacco,
etc. Our mills are idle, our mines
are silent but the farmers OF the
west will send out 100000, 900 bushels
OF wheat from this years crop; which
will bring into the impoverished
country $l50,000, 900.
Is it not time to stop talking about
protecting manufactures, and see
what can be done for the development
of agriculture
The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-08-16

All through the West this year the
the platforms of both parties are likely
to be bad on the financial question.
The people seem to have lost the fac
ulty of calm judgement on this subject.
and are looking no deeper than the
fact that times are hard. That this is
not due to Il scarcity of money. but to
over-production. is a distinction they
do not make. Accordingly they has
ten to the conclusion that the trouble
comes from the government policy.
and hence their platforms contain a
demand for silver and the repeal of the
resumption act. This is unfortunate
The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-08-16
on THE DEFENSITE.

The Chicago Times, hard-money
hireling, is worried because the peo-
pie begin to think that the terrible
times are due to the financial policy
now in vogue. 1t says:
The inflationists are making what
capital they can out of the railroad
riots. ''Contraction, they assert, lis
at the bottom of all the troubles.
This resumption act must be repeal
ed. and silver must be remOnetiZed.
Then the country will prosper wages
will go up, and there will be work
enough for all, and good pay for the
work. Some Of the advocates of
'smoney equal to the wants Of trade:
are urging President Hayes to call
congress together in extra session as
soon as possible, for the sole purpose
of adopting their pet measures of
relief.
In the present excited state of the
public mind, this sort of talk is likely
to produce some effect. Men have an
impression that something is wrong
somewhere, and they are ready to be-
lieve the first doctor who makes a
confident diagnosis and prescription.
no matter how absurd both may be.
Men who find their wages cut down
almost to the starvation point. and
who see others ready and even anx-
ious to accept the pay with which
they are dissatisfied naturally seek re-
dress in the first instance from their
employers, and afterward, when they
come to see that others are in worse
condition than themselves. thev are
prepared to believe anybody who bold
~ assigns cause of the prevailing
troubles. without stopping to inquire
! whether the cause assigned is the
true one or not. And imitation theO-
ries at such time are specially mis-
chevious because they are advanced
by men who are supposed to be intelli-
gent-physicians, ministers, business
men, who because they have know
ledge in their respective spheres are
popularity supposed to know all about
a difficult science they have never
studied. The merchant would not
have the presumption to prescribe for
the sick. and yet the doctor who
The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-08-16
ST.iRT.iTION.

We have many times in these col
umns used the word starvation in
describing the suffering of the labor
ing classes in the east. No doubt
some of our readers thought the word
too strong-an exaggeration. Read
the following:
Bismarck Tribune, 30th
Captain VIM. Harmon. the post
trader at Fort Lincoln. is in Wash
ington. In a recent letter to his
brother at the Fort. in speaking of the
railroad difficulty, he says:
The trouble is the people are in a
starving condition. Thousands upon
thousands are willing to work for
enough to keep hunger from their
doors. No person living on the Mis-
souri, river can form any idea of the
many thousands of families that do
not get enough to eat. and this phase
of the case is getting worse every
day.
Washington. D. c., July DIST
Where are the scoundrels who one
year ago went around the country
making hard-money speeches. holding
glittering gold coins and denouncing
the s.rag babyr' Let them look upon
the unbounded ruin they have accom-
plished! Where is their '.honest
money" nows
Were we not right when We said
The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-08-16
GROWING.

We are glad to chronicle the fact
that the NTI-MoNoPoLIsT is steadily
growing in circulation. The people
are beginning to appreciate that we are
working for their welfare. We get
very many letters of approval. of
which the following are samples:
ELK RIVER, July 21st, 1877.
Friend Donnelly
take stock in you always did. You
are never found rusticating on old
dead issues, but ever III the van, beck
oning forward the lagard and unthink-
ing.
Success to the ANTI-MoNOPOLIsT, /
only wish it was daily and Donnelly
it's editor.
Enclosed please find sl.00 for six
Fraternally thine,
r. Z. CRAWFORD.
Friend DonneUy:
| enclose $500 for your paper
another year.
You are right on the financial ques-
ton. 1t is wonderful how all at once
the resumpionists are getting their
eyes open to the effects their policy is
having on the country. If the distress
was confined to any one section it
might be accounted for in some way;
but when real estate in Boston. New
York. and Chicago has deprecated
90 per cent, and men dare not buy
for fear OF still farther shrinkage there
must be something rOtten-not lin
Denmark but nearOr home.
Respectfully &C.
III. HOULTON.
The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-08-16
Anti- aa}louopolist.
DONNELLY. EDITOR.
THE RED RIVER VALLEY.

Emigration is now entering upon
the greatest grain-growing region OF
the United States,-tO wlt,-the val
lev of the Red River. Here is an
item from the Minneapolis Tribune.
WADESA, n. p. R. r. July 28. 1877.
10th Editor of the Tribune:
Good weather for barley harvest
now in progress. Barley threshed
yesterday Oh the farm OF Geo. Fore,
men, two miles east of town, yielded
50 3-5 bushels per acre. Barley coming
into the elevator here to-day from the
farm of S. S. Gardner weighs 49
hounds per bushel from the machine.
GRANGER.
1t would be hard to beat those fig
ures in any part of the world.
The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-08-16

enough, but it is not half SO bad as the
blind surrender Of the newspapers to
the same delusion.-New York Iri6-
lllte.
The same senseless cry-''over pro-
duction.'
Why did we hear nothing of cover
production until contraction came!
Simply because as long as the currency
of the country was adequate for the
business Of the country the people
consumed more and were able to pay
for it.
If s'over-production' is the cause OF
our troubles we protest against the
governmet interfering with the strik-
ers, for they are effectually stopping all
production. Let us shut up every
mill, every mine, every wokshop and
stop every plough in all this broad
land, and then,-the New York 1Ttb-
u1ae assures us.-we shall have pros
perity.
But what will the working people
live onl "Oh let 'em starve,' says
Jay Gould. "Recall Grant, increase
the army and do away with republican
institutions.
That is Jay Gould's idea of '.pros.
perity." No "over-production' there!
No intelligent paper could preach
such stuff unless it was paid for it.
We wonder Horace Greeley does not
come up out of his grave.
The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-08-16

that the issue was not between hard
money and paper-mOney, but between
paper-money and no-money.
And where are the multitudinous
fools who one year ago cheered hard
money Hayes or hard-money Tilden,
and held their sides with laughter at
the exquisite jokes about the rag
baby They are holding their empty
bellies now, and would be glad to get
hold Of the greasiest shin-plaster that
ever came out Of the dirty pouch of
a beggar. ''Where be their jokes
now that were won't to set the table
in roar -
The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-08-16

knows as little of political economy
as the merchant does of medicine does
not hesitate to prescribe imitation us a
sovereign remedy for low wages and
hard times.
That is cool This editor sets him.
self up to know more than all the
lawyers, doctors, ministers and bust
ness men in the community! Where
did he get this special knowledge!
Was it by reading his exchanges !
The blind leading the blind and both
falling into the pit together.
He adds:
The facts happen to be all against
the inf1atiOnists. To begin with, there
is as much complaint of hard times in
countries where there has been no
contraction. or where there has been
imitation, us there is in this country.
In Canada times are as hard as they
are here. and yet the currency of
Canada has not been disturbed for
many years. The like is true of
Great Britain. In Germany times are
hard. although the currency of that
country was inflated Il few years ago
by the eXaction of thousand millions
of dollars from France. The French
are to-day the most prosperous people
in Europe. If not in the world although
their currency has been contracted
far more than ours. In Hayti and the
Argentine Confederation the currency
has been deluted until it is scarcely
worth five cents on the dollar, and yet
those countries are not SO prosperous
as ours. The truth is that the whole
world is in a state of industrial and
commercial collapse. and those coun-
tries that use deprecated paper
currency are in quite as bad condi-
ton as other countries.
The answer to this stuff is simply
that no other country in the world is
afflicted to the degree that the United
States is. No other civilizd land is
called upon to-day to suppress universal
riots of it's laboring population.
But let us look little farther into
this speciOus plea:--
Canada is simply IN outlying PROV
ince OF England and is affected by the
condition OF the mother country: and
England is suffering from hard times
because she demonetiZed silver. there
by reducing her currency one-half
and making every dollar of capital
invested in bonds or mortgages worth
twice what it was before. The same
IS true of Germany, and her own
statesmen trace her financial embar-
rassment to the same cause. France
has not demonetized silver, and has
not contracted her currency. and the
result is she is prosperous.
The reference to half-civilized
| Hayti and the Argentine Confedera.
tion is simply ridiculous. There are
savage tribes that have no currency OF
any kind and yet have Il rude happi
ness and plenty to eat. Does that
| prove that we would be prosperous il
all our currency was contracted out OF
existence.
| And this is the kind of b0sh that is
served up as craftsmanship by the
hirelings Of the capitalists! And they
are indignant at finding that the busi
ness men. lawyers, doctors and min
listers are beginning to think fol
themselves and and to reach other
| cOnclnSionS
The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-08-16

Secretary Sherman states that there
are S6o.ooo.0O0 of greenbacks depos-
tied In the United States treasury for
safe keeping. The iron vaults serve
i'll lieu of stocking legs. No wonder
times are close.
And why are those sixty millions
Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1877-01-05
TRAVIS, Jan. s, 1871.
Editors Banner:

Editors Banner:
In a recent number of the
Galveston Neoss, we were graft
fled to note that our old friend
Judge McCrimmon, late OF the
"BelyriUe Beacon" had become
associated in the editorial man.
agement OF the BANNER, and we
can assure the readers of that
hitherto excellent paper that
they will be none the loser by
such an addition to its editorial
force. Whilst from the person.
al popularity OF Judge McC. in
this county, the circulation OF
the BANNER will more than
quadrupled in a short space of
time. Nothing new of interest
at present transporting in our inn
mediate vicinity, farmers are all
busily engaged repairing fences,
overhauling plows and other
farming implements preparato-
ry to a general movement for
the ensuing year, and do not
seem to be very greatly intimi-
dated by prospects of grasshop-
rers in the early spring. | find
great many OF our farmers pre-
pairing to plant the ribbon sugar
cane, in quantities varying from
one quarter to four and five
acres-rather as an experiment
than otherwise. Corn and cot
ton viii also be planted in about
the same proportion as hereto
fore. Tho temperance moves
ment that seems to be spreading
so rapidly all over Texas, is not
without its advocates in our
county and neighborhood. We
were present at a public meet-
ing of Travis Council, held at
the Methodist Church in this
place, on FRIDAY night Deem
Der 29th. When eloquent
speeches were made by DR.. F.
G. Hober. Capt. R. L. Russell,
ard Capt. NJ. NJ. Kinney, in be-
half of temperance, and espec-
tally in favor of the local option
law. Capt. r. also had an in
vitation to address the Council
at Nelsonville on Monday the
Sth, but owing to the inclmency
of the weather, was compelled
to deter it until some future oc-
casion. We learn the Councils
at BelIvillc, Scmpronius, and