The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-09-19
AN ADDRESS 10 THE PEOPLE OF
MAINE, BY THE CREENBhCK
p R1Y

The financial question is to-day the
only living Issue before the Ameri
can people. That question is, ''Shall
government issue and control the pa.
per currency of the nation. or shall
that high prerogative be delegated to
an association OF national banks, that
holds our bonded debt. and seek to
make it perpetual?" 1t is one of
the most momentous questions ever
presented to the people Of Maine for
their consideration, and upon its
rightful decision depends the future
prosperity of our people and the sta
bilty of this republican form of gov
eminent. Be not deceived by the
term ':Infation;" be not battered by
the idea of gold resumption.
Heed not the cry of "unconstitution-
al, so loudly rung in our ears by
copperheads during the war, now
caught up and chanted in concert all
over the state by bank politicians.
and daily repeated by a subsidized
press. Disregard ridicule; heed not
the abuse and the base, anonymous
libels heaped upon the head of every
man who dares break loose from the
corrupt old parties and enter into the
fight against the most gigantic and
dangerous monopoly this country has
ever known. Be not flattered into
the support of the bankers party for
the sake of being classed among "our
best citizens BE not deceived by
the garbled extracts from statesmen
Of the past, uttered in a wholly diff
ferent phase of the question, especial
ly those from Gen. Jackson, that old
hero who annihilated the United
States bank, a corporation not half so
dangerous to oui liberties rs the pres
ent system of banking. Do your own
reading and your own thinking. Be
not mislead by the resumption
scheme, which simply provides the
means by which the banks hope to de-
Stroy sthe greenback currency, that
they may supply its place with bank
bills. Do not allow your attention to
be drawn away from the real issue of
the present campaign by any cunning
ly devised plan of tricky politicians.
The National Greenback party de-
mands IA stable currency, not for a
privileged class but for the people.
They demand that the government
itself shall supply the currency. in
volume and extent corresponding with
the business wants of the country.
They insist that the rates of interest
shall be fixed and uniform. Such a
currency only, will supply pei feet
standard of value. Under the pres
ent system. banks can initiate the cur
rency to the full extent of ninety per
cent. of the bonded debt of the gov
eminent; can then. by arbitrary con-
traction, plunge the country into a
| financial crisis. that they may reap
the harvest that industry hath
sown. We ask the people of Maine
to read our financial history, and
learn the cause of the occurrence of a
financial panic once in seven years
under the old banking system. and
take note of who it is that reap the
profits and who bear the burdens il
those trying times. Specie payment:
have always, and only. been at thu
option of the banks. When speci,
has been wanted in any eonsiderabl,
amount, suspension has always fol
lowed, and resumption has only takeI
place when the bankers get ready
The purchasing power of the dolia
is changed to suit The pleasure o
banks. and thereby business is made
lottery. wherein Shylock holds TIT
box, failing or crippling ninety pc
cent. of our business men. Unles
our national debt is made perpetual
specie resumption means ''wild cat
banking again. Ii made perpetual a
u basis of banking. it means pauper
ism to the producing masses. and
monied aristoertcy in this fair Ian,
of ours Voters of Maine. remembe
that avarice is a strong passion of tn
human heart, and that. Eternal vigil
ance is the price of liberty" Take
broad view of this financial and indus
trial question; give it. at least. tina
attention tina. You would an issu
submitted TO you under oath betwee
man and man. and decide with cando
and a purpose to do the right. tn
honest and the equitable thing b.
!. tween the banking power and the pet
. pie. To vote unthinkingly and blinl
| | " Nnon 90 lmDortant a ouesfion Is [