The daily gazette., 1878-01-08

ne fact that she conceived it to be a
duty TO the persecuted Christisns IN
the Turkish provinces to wage war
against Turkey that has already taxed
her resources to the uttermost.
Who can be found to say that Russia
should donate to her creditors an addi-
tlonal amount Of her bonds sufficient To
compensate for the depreciation of those
now held by them? And what would
such rigid moralists say of the obligations
OF Turkey, beset on every side with in :
vasion and insurrection, to increase her
vast public debt II 1t were possible, so
as to make up for the shrinkage in the
present market value of her bonds as
compared with their value when she sold
themp What answers have our sensitive
friends for the reputation of our fathers
which left millions of unredeemed con-
tinental currency In the pockets of OF the
soldiers Of the Revolution? What do thew
say to the demands now crowding upon
your committees, where the very petitions
are standed with the tears of beggared
women and orphaned children, for COM
pensation for losses sustained in the war
while they suffered everything for the
sake OF their loyalty, and are turned
away with stone when they ask for
bread or serpent when they beg for
meat.
What OF the millions in your Trea-
sury, gathered there by unconstitutional
exactions from an impoverished people ?
What Is their answer to the poor en-
ploye OF the government who Is paid in
greonbacks for his labor, and must cons
vert his money into gold at a largo pres
MUM TO pay for the clothes that he wears?
What do they say of repudiating your
greenback promises at the custom house
to extort gold to meet your coin prorni-
ses, gratultously made to the foreign
holders of your bonds? There Is too much
reason to suppose that 1t is not cogent,
sound, national morality that so greatly
excites the sensibilities of our people,
who forget startling array of most
sacred obligations while they remember
one only, and that one most justly sub
ject TO grave dispute.
These numerous debts, only few of
which have adverted to. have not been
paid, and most likely will not be paid,
because the government finds the burden
too heavy to be borne by this and coming
generations. We demand a concession
from these just creditors, not of part
merely, but of all their demands, upon
the ground that the good of the country
is superior TO their deserts, however great
or sacred. They must yield to great
public policy II they starve for IL; and
they do yield and do starve. In the
same breath we exalt ourselves in the
esteem:of nations by an affectationiof high
morals in reference to a class of obliga>
tions held by the money kings of the
earth, whose honest payment could be
justly made, and full value for the con-
sideration we received could be honestly
returned in silver dollars If they were so
per cent. below par.
cannot admit that our creditors have
the right TO fasten iron shoes upon our
feet, or mannacles upon our hands, and
TO prevent us from perfect liberty of
growth and action. There is some slavery
ana not a little servility in the condition
Of every poor debtor, to relieve which
statesmen have found it necessary to
abolish some of the ancient powers of
the creditor. We no longer imprison
men for debt, but the severe demands of
the creditor classes seem still to exact
that forty millions Of people shall be put
In prison-bounds and held there until
they surrender the control over their
assets 10 the prosecutor.
They would lock us up until we shall
the liberty OF declaring and
regulating the financial policy VIII ich we
deem best for our people. When we
legislate for our country they demand
to have a word TO say.
l must protest against the right, moral
or politicO-economic, actual or even
claimed for our creditors, to
shape the policy ofour financial affairs, or
10 fasten upon us such cramps as to en-
barrass our rperfect freedom of action. And
yet this is percisely what is claimed for
them, and it is asserted that this right
is conceded by our Secretaries of the
Treasury, so as to work a conclusive es-
toppel against the government and the
people of the United States.
Their power is indeed great and ter
ribiy dangerous, If they have locked us
up In this prison, and have handed the
keys to our Secretaries of the Treasury.
If we cannot pay them in coin of stand
ard value, because our Secretaries have
sstopped us from doing so, IL our sove-
reign will is paralyzed by taclt under>
standing Of our servant, TO which the law
never made us party, we are under a
most degrading vassalage.
do not accept the situation, will 90 !
oenind the estoppel, and inquire into the
lights of the people. I will not be a |
party to abdication of right, duty and |
on the part of Congress to |
ave the people against an insduous and |
wrongful abuse Of the law, resulting in
heir wanton oppression,
Did the people demonetize silver p
Never 1t cannot even be fairly said |
hat Congress did 1t. 1t was done in a
orner, darkly. 1t was done at the insti-
alton of the bondholders and other
money kings who now, with upturned
yes, deplore the wickedness we exhibit
n asking the question even, who did this
reat wrong against the toiling millions
{ our people.
But accept the fact as legislative
act, and give to it all the force it could
ave deserved If that law, that trick of
nactment, had been put upon the statute
ook on the demand of the country.
ill not beg the question by quarreling
nth tho anpar In xuhicI, tba th;,o. H.. |