Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-08-29
Whittier Drifting?

Can il be that the Greenbackers mean
repudiation Of our National Indebtedness !!
Some Of them s:e frank enough TO say yes.
A nominee OF the Colorado Convention re-
Gently avowed il, and glorifed !G the de-
claration. A letter before us says: Let
these greenbacks buy every bond 10 Eu-
rope and America and consign the untax
ed burden to the Iniddling classes aud the
poor TO ashes" Gen. Butler is reported
as saying at New Haven, "Continental
money never did any harm. but did good.
Without 1t the battles OF the Revolution
would never have been fought. True it
went down; but so was the wars cost dis
tributed among the people OF all classes.
Our fathers knew enough to let it 70 out
OF sight" Is 1t possible that Gen. Butler
wishes TO see the scenes which followed
the war Of the Revolution repeated? That
was period OF universal bankruptcy and
distress. Honor, truth, good faith, all the
foundations of confidence were swept
away, aud the country was LETT almost in
blank despair. Ramsay, the historian,
thus graphically describes the condition of
things: The aged who had retired from
the scenes OF active business to enjoy the
fruits of their industry found their sub
stance melting away TO mere pittance,
insufficient for their support. The widow
who lived comfortably on the bequests Of
a deceased husband experienced frus-
tration of all his well-meant tenderness.
The laws of the country interpOsed and
compelled her to receive . shilling where
q pound was her due. The blooming vir-
gin who had grown up with an unques-
tionable title to her patrimony was legal
ly stripped of everything but her personal
charms and virtues. The hspless orphan,
instead OF receiving from the hands OF an
executor competency to set out In busi-
ness, was obliged to give . final discharge
on the payment Of Cd on the pound. In
many Instances. the earnings OF long
Lie of care and diligence were, in the
space of a few years, reduced to trining
sum. That the helpless part OF the COM
munity were legislatively deprived OF their
property was among the lesser evils which
resulted from the legal tender of the de-
preciated bills of credit; the iniquity of
the laws estranged the minds Of many of
the citizens from the habits and love oi
justice. The nature Of obligations was SO
tar changed that he was reckoned the hon
est man who from principle delayed to
pay his debts. The mounds which Gov
ernment had erected to secure the obser-
course Of man with man were broken
down. Truth, honor and justice we're
swept away by the overhowing deluge of
legal iniQuity nor haye they yet assumed
their ancient and accustomed seats"
1t certainly becO,ues ail to heed such
teachings, and to pause before pursuing
the path which leads to such direful re-
suits. The force OF law is irresistible.
Like causes will produce similar effects
hereafter as heretofore. The dependent
industrial classes are far more interested
In the maintenance Of good faith and a
sound currency than capitalists. Mr.. Poor.
In his last work on Resumption, treating Of
the French assignats, says: Historians,
In attempting to account for the excesses
aud atrocities Of the French Revelation,