davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-06-14
AN OFFICIAL OPINION.

The Chamber of Commerce of New
York city entertained President
Hayes the other day, and the presi.
dent of the Chamber made a speech.
We quote:
"President Babcock said that at no
previous period in the history of the
last thirty years had the business Of
the country been more depressed and
unsatisfactory than at present.
Twelve years have passed since the
termination of our civil war ,and while
it resulted in releasing from bonds
four million human beings,it inflicted
upon us system Of financial meas
ures which has since put under bonds
O,OOO, 900 people. Human ingenuity
has been taxed to the uttermost to
furnish titles for the numberless de-
scriptiOns of these securities.
Under our huge pile of indebtedness,
with the oppressive taxation to which
it has given rise-amounting in the
aggregate to nearly seventy millions
annually--andw with the unsound and
extravagant management of public
affairs and private interests which it
has caused, is it strange that our COM
merce and our industrial interests are
crippled and languishing. If we fully
realize these evils we cannot fail to
see that no permanent relief can be had
until such as remain of the monstrous
and wild speculations of the past have
reached their inevitable conclusion,
and until upon safe and sound foun-
dation of frugality and thrift our ma
tional elements of recuperation and
growth may expand into sure and
healthy progress, and life and prosper
ity shall be restored to the interests
OF every section. Let us hope all,
whether exercising authority in
Washington, in Albany, in our city
halls and in our homes, will do it with
moderation and discretion to the end
that every department of the govern
ment may be purified and reformed
and the people may rise up and call
their rulers blessed"
Whereupon President Hayes and
his party got mad.
The truth is not always palatable
and Mr.. Hayes was not pleased to see
thus clearly depicted the fruits OF
that financial policy from which he
has declared "no steps backward must
be taken!''
The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-06-14

select the following State Central Committee
At large, DR.. J. BENNETT of Monroe; E. P
Allis OF Milwaukee; First Congressional dis
trict, James Montgomery of Rock; Second
district, D. W. Dwight of Dane; Third dis
trict, George W. Lee of Grant Fourth district
George Godfrey of Milwaukee; Fifth district
E. H. Benton of Fon Du Lac; Sixth district,
S. S. Hills of Waushara; Seventh district,
Reuben Way of Vernon; Eight district, R. c.
Lyon of Wood.
DECLARATIONS OF PRINCIPLES.
The committee on platform, by Mr.. Orledge
its chairman reported set of resolutions en-
bracing in substance the greenback inter
convertible bond theory as promulgated by
Gen. Cary, Hon. w. D. Kelley and others,
demanding the reconciliation of silver, the
equal taxation of all property, and recon-
mending the holding Of further or supple
mental convention at Portage City, July 4,
for the purpose of nominating State ticket.
The resolutions were adopted as the Wis
consin Greenback platform for the coming
campaign.
After a heated discussion as to the propriety
of putting in nomination State officers in this
convention, which was considered inexpe-
dent at present, and after the passage of sew
eral unimportant resolutions the convention
adjourned
The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-06-14
AN Ans YER.

We have received a letter from
Judge Emmett, and another from
Joseph Gore, ESQ.,, both of Faribault,
asking us our authority for the state
ment that the Legislature had the
right to provide for the payment of
the old bonds without referring the
question to the people. Our authori-
ty was the very able argument Of ex-
Governor Davis. made before a COM
mittee of the Legislature, February
5th, 1877, a summary of which was
published in the ST.. Paul Dispatch of
May 18th, 1877, from which we quote
the following:
The constitutional amendment pro-
viding that mo law levying a tax or
making other provision for payment
of interest or principal of the bonds,
shall take effect or be in force until
such law shall have been submitted to
a vote of the people" &C., is in viola
tion of that provision of the constitu-
tion of the United States which
prohibits State from passing any law
impairing the obligation of contracts;
and that, therefore, the amendment
is void, not only as against the
obligation of the Legislature to levy
taxes for the payment. In support Of
this theory Gov. Davis quoted from
Judge Cooley on Constitutional Linn
itation, and cited pertinent decisions
Of the United States Supreme Court,
the Court Of Appeals Of New York,
and the Supreme Courts of New York,
Texas, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Ohio,
Indiana, and Iowa.
Judge Cooley, enumerating the
particulars in which the power Of the
The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-06-14
Anti-Mluuupulist.
DON'T FORGET THE CONVEN.
TION.

sLet every citizen who is in flavor of
the greenback, and of the remonetiza-
, tiOn of silver, be sure to attend the
iGreenback State Convention, to be
pneld June Goth at Faribault. If the
people do not turn out to protect their
own rights they may expect 10 be
plundered forever.
Those who, in consequence of the
hard times, cannot attend should hold
county conventions and elect delegates
named to act as pro.rie's for the delega-
tion.
. Attend to this at once.
who would be free themselves kmust strike
the blow'
The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-06-14

sThe Indiana and Illinois Legisla.
nres have passed bill making it a
nenal offense for a person to be forced
10 sslodge in out houses, barns, sheds,
rnoccupied buildings, or in the open
l;r." Whittier 0 God of right is our
nation tending; or to what last level
Il Injustice must our lawmakers be
|,ermitted to degrade the law! By
ricked legislation they first deprived
|'he laborers of the privilege of earn
mo an honest living, and, when in
Ionsequence they are driven by the
!hylock owners of their miserable
Ienements to sleep sin the open air.
ne State Furnishes them by fine and
mprisonment. Wisconsin, Greenbdck.
The reason is plain:-when a man
scaps5 into tae opsn air he pays no
The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-06-14
THE GREENBACKERS IN OHIO
A Large Convention.
/ Ringing Platform.
A Good Ticket.

COLUMBUS, June 6.-The State
Greenback Convention met here to-
day, thirty delegates being present.
The platform adopted declares that
throughout the entire country, labor,
that creator of all wealth, is either
unemployed or denied it's just reward
and all industries are paralyzed, and
that this has been brought about by
class legislation and the mismanage-
ment of the national finances, and that
as neither the Republican nor Demo-
cratic party proposes and plan of re-
lief, the convention deems it is wise
to reaffirm the principles of the
national independent party which sup
ported Cooper and Carey. The reso-
lutions demand the unconditional re.
peal of the specie resumption act of
January IA, 1875, and the arrest of
the present plan of Capitalization; de-
clare that it is the prerogative of the
Federal government only to supply
currency land that all moneys, whether
paper or metals, should be issued by
and bear the stamp of the government;
declares that paper money issued by
the government, made receivable for
all it's dues, a legal-tender in payment
of all debts, and nter-convertible into
bonds bearing an equitable rate of
interest, will afford the best circulat-
ing medium ever discovered; declares
in favor of abolishing all banks of
issue; favOrs the reconciliation of
the silver dollar and making it legal.
tender for the payment of all coin
bonds, but opposes the issue of the
bonds for the purchase of silver bull.
lion for coinage; favors the taxation
Of United States bonds, a re-enact.
ment of the law taxing incomes and
declares it the duty of the government
to foster and encourage the develop.
ment of the resources of the country
that labor may be fully and profitably
employed and that the general vel
fare established and secured. The
following ticket was nominated: For
Governor, Stephen johnson, of Miami;
Lieutenant Gov. John B. Powell, OF
Columbiana; Treasurer, John J Jenkins,
of Tuscararwas; Supreme Judge,
Samuel B. Adams, of Cuyahoga; Clerk
of Supreme Court, Charles Bonsall, OF
Columbiana; Attorney General Mar.
shall O. Wagner, of Lucas; members
of the Board of Public Works, Jacob
Ribbett, of Crawford; School Com.
missioner, J. C. Logan, of Manning
The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-06-14
THE TINES GROWING WORSE,

Every pretence with which the
hard-money journals have heretofore
deceived the people into the belief
that the hard times were over. has
been exploded. Gold which was down
to 104 is up again to 1O7; business
does not revive; the coming spring
brings no improvement ih the condi-
tion of the laboring classes, and hope
dies out in the breasts of the people.
The n. Y. correspondent of the
Springfield (Mass.l Republican to that
paper says:
In going through the uptown
streets we arespainfully struck at the
frequency with which tsTo let" ap-
pears on houses and stores. Yet rents
are lower than they have been for
The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-06-14
THE GREENBACKERS OF WTS
CONSIN.
THE PARTY ORGANIZED.
ALarge and Enthusiastic Convention.

SPARTA, Wis. May 80 The State Conven-
ton of the Wisconsin Greenback party met
in this city. 1t was composed of about 100
delegates in number, chiefly from western
and northern portions ofthe State, where the
greenback element f1ourishes most extensive
ly.
The Convention was called to order at
eleven o'clock a. m. at Groves Hall, for the
purpose of affecting temporary organization.
A. D. Chase, of Vernon county, was chosen
temporary chairman, and Geo. Godfrey of
Milwaukee temporary secretary.
On motion of William Orledge, of Kenosha
the chair was directed to appoint committee
of two on platform and resolutions It was
also moved that thechair appoint committee
of five on permanent organization.
The chair appointed as such committees the
following: On platform and resolutions
William Orledge, of Kenosha; Peter Hauston,
of Columbia; George Godfrey, of Milwaukee:
S. r. Sherman, Capt. Walker, of Dane: B.
C. Smith, of juneau; J. Lemborn, of Sparta;
G. P. Wathems, of Lincoln; George NJ. Lees.
of Grant. On organization and rule.-Reuben
Way, of Vernon;E. 4. Benton of Fon Du Lac;
William McIntire, Of Monroe; P. Wohan, of
Marathon; James Montgomery, of Rock.
After some remarks by Gen. Cary upon the
advisabilty of supplying the masses with
light on the greenback question, in the shape
of greenback literature, the convention ad-
journed till p. m.
AFTERNOON.
Upon the reassembling Of the convention
at 9 p. m, the committee on permanent or
ganization reported the following persons for
permanent officers of the convention: Chair
man, A. D.. Chase, Of Vernon; Secretary
George Godfrey, of Milwaukee; Vice Presi
dents, George w. Lee Of Grant, William Or
ledge Of Kenosha, &. L. Walker Of Green.
On motion the CONVENTION proceeded q
The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-06-14

years. People who formerly occupied
a whole house at from $l 300 to So, 900
year now put up with suit of apart
ments at from $3.50 to 5000. Hun
dreds remove out Of town. This an
nual exodus is very discOuraging to
New York landlords, and to those
who are interested in the growth of the
city. It drains off the middle class,
and especially newly married people,
the most desirable elements of our
population-the very rich, or those
who would be thought so,or the very
very poor. The effect Of this pretty
steady depletion on the city is serious
and damaging, especially on local pol
itics, the public sentiment of the city,
the support of churches. and general
social life. Beggars and millionaires
are poor neighbors and bad citizens,
and worse Christian. But one reason
of the hegira is that business is very
dull. It does not revive. The new
president does not make two bargains
go where there was but one before.
The banks are giving up their circu-
lation. Stocks are tumbling. People
who have money dare not risk it in
new enterprises, and put it in govern
ment bonds at a merely nominal rate
of interest. The imports for Febru-
ary and March are very small, and
there are few buyers in town.
In the meantime the value of all
kinds of securities is shrinking at a
fearful rate.
An exchange says:
There seems to be some danger for
apprehending that the stock market
may fall into condition of chronic
debility. No one stock on the list
stands better or worse than the 9TH
ers, but all are alike deficient in
stamina. Generally there are one or
two stocks that hold theiI own against
the downcurrent and serve as bull
wark for the rest. The fact that all
would seem, however. to demonstrate
that the fault lies not SO much in the
stocks themselves as in the want of
confidence in everything and the dis
position to engage in any new and
extended enterprises, which is COM
mon to business in all it's ramifica-
tIOnS.
Another paper says:
The evidence of distress among all
classes of workers-educated and un-
educated, skilled and unskilled--seem
to increase every day. In Boston
last week there were $4,000 registered
applicants paid at the Office Of the
overseer of the poor, representing
perhaps $4,000 in families, or more
than one in ten in the population of
the city. In San Francisco it is no
better. The Mail Of that city says:
1.-The unvarnished truth is that our
labor market is stocked to overfowing,
and every fresh train but adds to the
miserable multitude in our midst that
waits, suffers, starves, and finally
fights it's desperate way east again.
Before the door of every employment
Office in the city to-day, stands hal
low-eyed swarm that would sadden
the eyes of a satyr. Men of brain and
culture, good clerks, excellent &C.
cOuntants, business men of undeniable
energy, mechanics of ability, walk
the streets in dumb despair. Similar
reports might be given from every
large city of the Union, and no one
appears to be very sanguine of a re-
vival of business to the near future.
The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-06-14

The Pioneer Press of the 7th inst,
contained a mawkish article, entitled
Servants Of the PERIOD" the pur-
pose of which was to demonstrate
that society is already divided, here
in Minnesota, into Brahminical
castles, and that it is not only an error,
but also crime, for one of the infe-
rior caste to attempt to mingR his or
her blood with the blue blood Of the
upper caste. The text Of the discus
sion is the Kate Noonan affair. The
writer holds Kate responsible for her
own seduction by Sidle; and declares
her to be guilty, in some mysterious
way of the dreadful crime of stleveling
the distinctive safeguards of society,""
she certainly leveled Sidie, and if he
was one of the distinctive safe
guards Of Minneapolis society, Min
neapolis society is in q ! bad way.
The writer goes on to urge that we
should have in this country a race
Of servants, and that it should be here
as it is in Europe, ''once servant
always servant" He says:
"This subversion Of the. classes, the
engrafting Of the ways and. notions Of
elegant leisure, on the industry which
must 20 on forever in the old sweat
way, is one Of the perni-
cious reforms Of the time. These are
the utilities of the sO-called educa-
tion which demoralize the study fibre
Of the working classes, and measure
The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-06-14

people to amend Or revise their con-
stitutions is limited by the constitu
ton of the United States, says they
must not assume to violate the
obligation of any contract. In l845
the state of Ohio, in chartering q
bank, provided that the corporation
should pay fixed amount Of tax in
lieu Of the taxes which would other
wise be levied upon it's property, or
stock, but the new constitution of
1851 directed the imposition Of taxes
upon banks in different made and
amount.
The Supreme Court of the United
States declared, upon this that a
change of constitution cannot release
State from contracts made under a
constitution which permits them to
be made, and held that the tax assessed
under the amended constitution was
in violation of the national cOnstitu-
tion regarding the obligation Of con-
tracts. The court Of Appeals of New
York in the case cited by Gov. Davis,
held that the legislative power exists
exclusively in the Legislature, legis-
lation by the people being forbidden
by necessary and unavoidable impli-
cation; and the Legislature, therefore,
has no power to make astatute depend
ent upon the contingency of a popular
vote. The Supreme Court of Texas
also held that there is no authority
for asking the approval ofvoters to a
legislative enactment. The Supreme
Court OF New York held that while
the legislator derives his office from
the people-that is, is elected by them
he does not derive his power from
them, but from the constitution. He
can restore his office to them, but he
cannot give them the power Of max
ing laws. The Supreme Courts of
Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Ohio are
cited as holding to the same princi-
pie. The Supreme Courts of Iowa,
and Indiana have held that their Leg
islatures cannot legally submit to the
people the proposition whether an act
shall become law or not.
It is clear:
I. The constitution Of the United
States denies to any state the right to
make any law ''impairing the obliga-
tiOn of contracts
IL. The promise of the state con-
tanned in those railroad bonds, was a
contract; and the obligation was that
ssthe faith and credit of the state is
hereby pledged to the payment Of the
interest on the same.''
III. An amendment to our state
constitution which denies to the Leg
islature the right to pay that interest
is, undoubtedly, violation of the con-
tract, contained in the bonds; it is in
conflict with the constitution of the
United States, and therefore null and
void.
": Being null and void it is in the
power of the Legislature at any time
to provide for the payment of interest
on the bonds, and of the principal as
soon as it natures.
It was this fact that made us will
ing to support the proposition to pay
fifty cents on the dollar of the debt
believing that if the people refused
that settlement the Legislature had
the legal right to pay the debt dollar
for dollar; and that they would, soon
er or later, exercise that right.
The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-06-14

IL were not 10r Z
fuence Of the J effeI
have made us 2
proves further the |
mans immortal ma
E5erty is eternal n
The Republican journal., 1877-03-01

If the object in planting trees is TO pro-
duce fruit, the less pruning the greater
the result, We have thought for many
years that our trees were being ruined by
constant pruning. American Cultivator.
As the gold yield OF Australia decreases,
the wool crop grows more valuable. Last
year the wool product OF that country was
$40 goo 900, more than four times as much
as its gold product.
The famous Short Horn cow .'Tenth
Duchess of Geneva" in Geneva, England,
is dead. This animal was bought by Lord
Bectve. at New York Mills, New York
State in 1873, for over S30,0G
The practice Of washing u harness in
warm water and with soap is very dam
aging, unless coat OF oil is Immediately
applied. A damp sponge will remove any
dirt on the harness, aud then is desirable
to apply 2 slight coat of oil by using an
other sponge.
Plants, like animals. differ much in
their habits, and the different sorts OF food
on which they subsist. The broad leaved
from the air large portion of their
SipNti- NHllc lIt ldllbW-ledEeu dllIS
and grasses partakc more largely of min
eral food, which they draw from the soil
This fact will explain the great advantage
of rotation OF crops.
The easiest way to get rid OF stumps OF
trees is to bore a hole in the top say one
OF two inches, and eighteen inches deep
Put in the hole from one to two ounees OF
saltpetre. fiji the hole with water and
plug up tight. In the spring take ont the
plug, pour in u half gill OF Kerosene oil,
and set fire to ii The stump will burn
entirely up, even to the smallest roots.
Springfield Union.
Accounts from many sections of Iowa
which have suffered from grasshoppers
for the last four years, say that myriads of
egg, which had been deposited in the
ground daring last season, are now hetch-
ing out. and that if the present mild
weather continues y few days longer it is
considered certain that the State will he
entirely rid OF the pests, either by ireez-
ing or starvation.
Mr.. Cooley Of Waterbury, at the Ner-
mont Dairymen's meeting, recently said
what many call the animal odor of milk
is really the vegetable odor which comes
from the food Feed your cow on turnips
and you will have an odor which cannot
be got rid Of, but in general the odor is n
volatile oil. If the milking be clean, and
the COW be fed on good grass, there is no
bad odor to discharge
The Republican journal., 1877-03-01

A late number of the Celestial Empire,
Chinese paper, contains this prophecy:
-" The immigration of the Chinese into
California has been accompanied by the
gravest complications. The working class
es have. in many walks of life, found their
occupation gone. They have been elbowed
ont OF the field by a colony of hard work
ing, abstemious and economical China
men, for whom the cocktail of the country
has no charms. and who are able to live,
and live well, upon a fraction of what
native has to pay. What has happened in
California may happen in any other coun-
try whittier the Chinese may emigrate so
that there is possibility Of our even re-
GREETING the energy with which we have
striven to souse the dormant nation into
life. The prophecy of Wen-siang may
some day be realized to our cost, and the
western world be almost overrun by the
black haired race"