Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1878-08-10

every green and growing thing in
their reach than the ten per cent
interest is to the life of business
| The dwellers in Egypt could far bet
| ter endure all the scOurges sent upon
them, locusts, lice, frogs, darkness
and the plague, than the laboring,
business people of the Mississippi
! 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 rents
to distant landlords, where they are
now owners in fee simple. / earn
estly believe and hope that these
great and awful facts are sinking
deep in every intelligent mind in
the land. The seeds of financial re-
form have been sown broadcast, and
they are springing up in every di-
rection. / believe and hope that
work has been commenced which
will not end until the government
in its dealings with the people on
the vital questions of finance and
taxation shall be once more a gov
ernment of the people. And in this
mighty movement where stands the
Republican party of Indiana at this
hour? l hold its platform of prin-
ciples, adopted June 5, in my hands.
1t is a most extraordinary produc-
tion. Its second declaration is to
the effect that the people have a
high and sacred right to meet to-
gether and discuss their grievances. |
1t is, therefore, astonishing to find
in the same document the following
deliberately drawn proposition:
Opposition to further financial |
agitation; stability in our financial
system being essential to business
prosperity"
1t would appear from this plat
form that the people are to be per-
mitted to discuss, compare views
and resolve upon every subject be-
meath 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. Ifthe people have
a grievance against their churches
they may discuss it F.; if they are dis
with their school laws they
may debate them; if public i'm
are proposed they may
have as much controversy as they
choose in relation to them; if pub
ic officials commit malfeaSance
they may institute measures of re-
iorm, and cry aloud, and spare not,
out the doctrine of the Republican
eaderS in Indiana is that under no
shall the people here
after agitate the question of finance;
hat as things are, on that vital
question, so they must remain,
stability in our financial system
leing essential to business prosperi-
"" although that system may be I,
IN organized crime against nine
enths of the entire population of !
he United States. Those who pay
everything must not talk; those
Who toll from sun to sun to meet the !
BURDENS of their government must
10 it in silence. The drOnes in the !
live are content; they are living on :
he honey gathered by the labOring )
'ees, and their voice is heard in OPP
'osition to any inquiry into their :
light to live in idle luxury. 1t is
lot new voice in the history of the
world. 1t has been heard from the 8
VI OppISoSlOu SNCI olIlC6 a
luman history was written. .
Wherever the tyranny ofprivileged /.
lasses has intrenched itself a pro- I
est against agitation has always 9
een heard. Agitation is the soul !
f liberty, equality and progress. :
t has marked every step ever taken :
n the tide of human advancement. =
When the Savior of men came upon /
arth He brought agitation as pu- u
flying whirlwind. He proclaimed q q
new light, a new dispensation, y y
ew thoughts, and new impulse 4 !
f progression to all the generations !
f mankind. The Scribes, the =
'harisees, the Sadusees, the learned Z
zen of Israel, fixed in their tradi- \ \
ons, cried out against this mighty :
gitator. They proclaimed him an ?
lcendiary, a teacher of sedition, a .
and disturber of ancient II i
ystems of laws. y y