The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-09-19
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M'RINLEY's SECRET CIRCULAR.

Iu0 luClpltub Cn0IGNb VI bio nCpVoWWy
are much disconnected at the publication
Of that secret Post.ofice circular, and
they are much incensed that the author
ship of it should be attributed to McKin-
ley, They realize fully that McKinley's
reputation is Of such questionable char
acter that people would naturally think
such conduct on the part of Mckinley as
the dishonest and disreputable trick of
the demagogue. Hence they wish it to
be known that upon AuItman's shoulders
rests the responsibility Of that secret let
ter. Their idea is that it would be quite
disreputable on the part of Mckinley,
but Autman's high standing, like char
ity, covers multitude of sins. So they
say: "Mr, Aultman is not the man to
associate himself with any questionable
measures and upon no circumstances
would he append his name to a doCu'
"ment whose purpose was not clearly le-
''gitimate and straightforward" And
Aultman's mantle is to cover up the in
iquity done by Mckinley with Aultman
as a fgurehesd. This may be all right
according to Republican morals, but hon
est people don't think so, they are left to
think that the higher the standing the
man the greater is the crime, and the
crime of using the machinery Of the Gov.
ernment t0influence the popular vote is
one to be reprobated by all honest men,
And under the peculiar circumstances in
which Aultman finds himself, his crime
is unusually heinous. The people
are debating with themselves the ques-
ton whether National Banks should be
abolished or not. Mr.. Aultman is a
Banker, a President of bank. The
question is whether the public good re.
quires the cessation of the great privil.
ege which Aultman has enjoyed for the
last fifteen years. The question con.
Germs Aultman as a citizen in common
with other citizens, but it also concerns
Aultman personally; it is to him matter
ofdollars and cents. 1t is question be-
tween private interest and public inter.
est. No one can judge impartially Of
question that affects his pocket-book,
and Mr.. Aultman should have been con-
tent with casting his vote and remain a
silent and passive spectator of the con.
test. A man of a delicate sense of honor
or propriety would refrain from even ex.
pressing an opinion under the cirCum-
stances.
But it seems that Aultman has no
such sense Of delicacy. Not content with
the moderate activity of an ordinary cit
izen in political measures, he has so far
forgotten himself as to assume the post
and duties of Chairman of the District
Committee for the purpose of keeping in
power the party that will give him fur
ther extension of his Banking monop-
oily. This we say, Aultmap or no Ault-
man, is disreputable. proceeding in it.
self
But not even content with this, he
now seeks as Chairman of that commit.
tee to manipulate the machinery of the
Government to conserve his private in
terests and to induce the trustees of SER
wants of the people to thwart the free ex-
preston of the will of the people. Now
this is heinous crime, The Govern.
ment should carry out the will of the
people, hence it 10 the highest duty Of
the Government to ascertain the will Of
the people, and it should remain
wholly passive and neutral and wholly
abstain from in any way influencing the
expression of the will of the people. :
We say this conduct is crime, and a =
neinous one against our Republican in
,titutions and it is the more so on the
part of Aultman, because OF his private ,
md personal interest in the issue, and
till mere 30 because of the debt of graf. =
tude he owes the people for the long q
continued enjoyment of his banking
privilege.
We say to the verdant saplngs of the I
Repository and to the power behind the 1
cenes, the day has not yet come when :
he name of a man of wealth is a suffi- v
,ient talisman to make wrong right, to l
lHsh the voice of criticism or to appease /
popular Indignation.
Mr.. Aultman started his bank in 1854.
lie had his choice to start either nation I,
/ or private bank. If a national bank, :
le could do the same business as pri.
,ate bank-loan money, receive deposits,
Iiscount paper, buy and sell exchange, ,
&C., to the same extent as private bank, .
n proportion to his capital, and he had
he additional privilege of having bank
totes given him by the Government.
National banks and State or private
,anks were taxed at equal rates under
he State law, and each of these banks
lad to pay as taxes to the United States II
per cent. of their average deposits and Y
per cent on their capital or wealth, ex-
epting, however, so much thereof as
onssted of U. s. bonds. Thus far these
,anks have the same burdens. National
,anks, however, have the further tax Of :,
per cent ON their circulation to pay q
nd this is the only tax borne by the ma.
ional banks that is not borne by the m
ther, or private banks. "
There is no question, that if, at the N
ime Autman started his bank, or at any a
ime since, there was demand for in d
ressed banking facilities, the demand :
,ould have been met by new private or
tate banks, if no national bank had
een established here. And on the 9TH
r hand, if there was then demand for
nore currency. the Government could,
instead of selling its bonds for green
acks to pay its expenses by paying out j,
nore new greenbacks in payment Of its n
expenses supply the demand. So the
ountry is under no obligations to Mr., A
lultman for his banking facilities or his L
ank notes.
Now, Aultman and his partners took Q
heir fifty thousand dollars, bought from 6
he Government that amount of bonds, +