The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-08-08

on the same Gay IL 10 Colleu up hp youi
representative | pressed 1t until the
last moment, and saw it expire with the
close of the session under the parliament
tary objection.
WORK OF THE PRESENT CONGRESS.
In summing up, therefore, the work Of
the present Congress, the great fact plain
ly appears that the Democratic House
has originated and led in every measure
which the people haye demanded for
their relief. 1t is also true that the DEM
ocratic party, aided by few Republicans
and still more by an aroused and con-
Centrated public opinion has given the
hitherto arrogant and insolent Money
Power its first staggering blow in the
LEGISLATION of the country. Some progress
has been made; some good has been done;
some steps have been taken in the right
direction, and they will not be retraCed.
The people are at last aroused to their
danger and their rights. They intend to-
reform our financial system and place it
in harmony with their own interests.
They are alive to the fact that an active
and determined conspiracy is at work to
bring our Government, through the pow.
or of capital, into harmony With the in
stitutions of Great Britain. They behold
the dangers which threaten their owner
ships Of the soil, the title to their homes,
The scarcity of money, produced by the
policy of the Government, has compelled
large portion of the farmers, especially
of the West, to mortgage their farms to
Eastern loan associations in order to OBJ
tain a currency on which to do business.
1t is the plain constitutional duty of the
Government to furnish to it's people a
circulating medium equal to their busi-
ness wants. But instead of doing this
a policy has prevailed which has driven
the landowners of the country to the
counters of usurers and money changers
to raise money on the title deeds to their
homes. It has been estimated that the
loan associations of the East hold mort
cages on Western farms to the amount
of $300000,000. l believe this to be an
under instead of an overestimate, and on
this vast sum of borrowed money the
rate of interest is not less than ten per
cent, making an annual drain on four or
five Statea in the Mississippi Valley of
$30000000 per annum. The mind recoils
from the terrible results which must fol-
low this condition of affairs. Ten per
cent. interest will as certainly bankrupt
farmer, a merchant, or business man
of any description, who is engaged in a
legitimate business, as the fire will burn
the dry stubble of the fields. The grass
hoppers of the plains are not more des-
tructive to every green and growing thing
in their reach than ten per cent. interest
is to the life of business. The dwelleTs
in Egypt could far better endure all the
scourges sent upon them, loCusts, lice,
frogs, darkness and the plague, than the
laboring, business people of the Miss;s'
sippi Valley can endure ten per cent. in.
terest on their debts. 1t will suck their
life blood to the last drop, and leave them
as tenants, paying rent to distant land.
lords, where they are now owners in fee
simple. / earnestly believe, and hope
that these great and awful facts are sink
ing deep in every intelligent mind in the
land the seeds of financial reform have
been soWn broadcast and they are spring
ing up in every direction. believe and
hope that q work has been commenced
which will not end until the Government
in its dealings with the people on the Vi
tai questions of finances and taxation,
shall be once more Government of the
people
THE INDIANA REPUBLICAN PLATFORM,
And in this mighty movement where
stands the Republican party of Indiana
at this hour2 hold its platform Of prin-
Ciples, adopted June 9th, in my hands.
1t is a most extraordinary production.
It's second declaration is to the effect that
the people have high and sacred right
to meet together and discuss their griev-
ances. 1t is therefore astounding to find
in the same document the following de.
leberately drawn proposition:
Opposition to further financial agita-
tion; stability in our financial system
being essential to business prosperity"
1t would appear from this platform that
the people are to be permitted to discuss,
compare views and resolve upon every
subject beneath the sun, except that
which is Of greater temporal Importance
than all others-the subject of taxation,
debt, food, clothing, and all that pertains
to the domestic welfare of the human
race. If the people have a grievance
against their churches they may discuss
it; if they are dissatisfied with their
school laws they may debate them if
public Improvements are proposed they
may have as much controversy as they
choose in relation to them if public of.
ficials con- NIT malfeasanCe they may in.
stitute measures of reform, and cry aloud
and spare not, but the doctrine of the
Republican leaders in Indiana to-day is
that under no circumstances shall the
people hereafter agitate the question of
finance; that as things are, ON that vital
question, 30 they must remain, stability
in our financial system being essential
to business prosperity" although that
system may be an organized crime against
nine.tenths of the entire population of
the United States, Those who pay every
thing must not talk; those who toll from
sun to sun to meet the burdens of their
Government must do it in silence. The
drops in the hive are content; they are
living on the honey gathered by the la
boring bees, and their voice is heard in
opposition to any inquiry into their right
to live in idle luxury. 1t is not a new
voice in the history Of the world. 1t has
been heard from the ramparts of oppres-
sion ever since human history was writ
ten. Whether the tyranny of privileged
classes has intrenChed itself a protest
against agitation has always been heard.
Agitation is the soul of liberty, equality,
and progress. 1t has marked every step
ever taken in the tide of human advance.
ment. When the Savior of men came
upon the earth he brought agitation as a
purifying whirlwind. He proclaimed
new light, a new dispensation, new
thoughts and new impulse of progress
sion to all the generations of mankind
The Scribes, the Pharisees, the Sadducees
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