The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-09-06
Grsen6ackfsm in .4nfmery.

set back Saturday evening the Gath ult., when
Mr.. C. Richards and o. W. Rowland spoke at
the Richmond school house. Mr.. Richards
arguments were so well advanced, and 80 can
didly discussed, that the wavering hard money
men were finally established in their opinions,
and the greenbackers fearfuly shaken IN their
faith OF the soundness OF their political doc
trnes. To fortify themselves against this re-
dictionary feeling, meeting OF the greenbsck
club was called for the next Wednesday even
ing. Your correspondent attended this gather
ing of the faithful as did many OF the sound
currency men OF the vicinity. Mr.. D. Wood
man, the greenback nominee for Representa-
tive for this District was present, as was also
Mr.. Thompson, the Mattawan exponent OF
sound greenback doctrines. Mr.. Thompson
was first called up and he proceeded as he
said to review some of the fallacious argu-
ments of Mr.. Richards and Mr.. Rowland.
Before doing so he aired his oratory somewhat,
by abiding to that remarkable lrishman from
Californla-Kearney, who, IN the several stages
OF his journey, had found such want and
Indebtedness among the laboring classes Ut
the community. Who, IN Boston. standing on
dry goods box, had attracted 10000 laboring
men to hear his words. He further alluded to
the customary million of men on the streets
begging bread, another half million in want,
and three millions more aboring men out Of
employment. Some OF his hearers we're men
taly adding up his columns, and made four and
onehalf millions of laboring men, out of a
sea- cely possible ten millions all told. who
labor either with head or hands in the whole
United States-making almost one-half the
laboring people paupers. But big figures and
sound numbers are what tell in the minds OF
the average greenbacker. Coming down to
the business Of the meeting. he wished to re-
ply to the statement Of Rowland, that = Re-
pubeals didn't want to lose any of the oosce1.
they had gained during the war" cautious
greenbacker animated that perhaps power"
wish his doctrina exponent to get into any
hole be couldn't crawl oct OF. Thompson final
y modified the word. and called it position"
AID made his point" whatever that was.
His reply 70 the communistic theories Of his
party, was so weak that it made no impression.
AID was simply denial OF the past HIS great
point and the one he spread himself out to
answer was Rowlands support of the National
Banks. lie would show up some of the beau
ties OF that institution. He commenced By
insttutng comparison. Two neighbors llv-
Ing side by side, one owning farm worth
100000. and the other having 100000 in
government bonds The owner OF the bonds
goes to the government with them. and the
government gives him 100000. lie still draws
interest on the 100000 payable semi annually
equal to 10 per cent. He issues 100000 OF his
currency. Ee supposed thirteen years to have
elapsed and the interest had amounted to
$4,000, now said he We will see what this
bond holder is worth, the $130000 of interest
and the 100000 tina government gave him.
amounts to 100000 does it not and what has
he done to earn it-nothing. And now he
turned to the farmer neghbor who had made
By unceasing toll from 8 to per cent. on his
800 900 and asked farmers to look upon this side
aud then upon that. When called to account
for HIS statements, he sImmered it down to the
government giving the bond holder the use OF
$4,000 and therein the crime to the laboring
man consisted. In his tables showing the
amount OF contraction OF the currency. we're
several issues of bonds which be insisted were
currency, because they were paid out to SOL
diers His whole speech was mass o. ms
representations and misstatements. Yet or
dinarily sensible men in the greenback party
gulp down these big figures as havingla terrible
meaning somehow, and swallow such fctlons
as this and similar orators manufacture. be-
cause they help "our side,' aid without them
there IS nothing to hang a solitary hope upon.
Mr.. Woodman's speech was hard times talk
giving his idea of the cause without clearly
calculating his cure. When called upon by
Republicans to give fav showing OF the work
ings OF National Banks, he modified his con-
temporary's statement somewhat, and stated
what has since been published, that he did
once own some government bonds, and when
the bank in Paw Paw was started. he exchanged
them FOR bank stock. When questioned as to
the profits on bis stock, he acknowledged that
his stock had never paid more than 10 per cent.
slice the organization OF the bank. When
asked which was the best investment, govern
ment bonds without taxation. or bank stock
subject to taxation, he canddly gave the pre-
ference to the bond. in his experience. This
eHectualy knocked the foundation from
Ihompson's structure OF bank profits. Several
Republicans were called out and they merci- /
iessiy rubbed the casstic into the sore places