The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-10-13
GREENBAOK NETTING.


Don Plat Gives Vent 10 His ViOWs Ol
Greenbacklsm = He AsaRils RepubIl
cans and Democrats Alike.
Don Piatt was announced To speak here
Tor the Greenbackers tonight, and con
trary to the expectations Of those whom
he disappointed before, he came. The
meeting place was changed from zilch'l
Hall to the Democratic stand on the
square, and Mr.. Piatt began to speak as
soon as the Republican procession got
away from the square. He Is a middle
aged man with sandy hair and beard
slightly grey. His voice seemed good, but
the size OF the audience did not strain it
He ltsps slightly. The audience was com.
posed principally Of the curious, Green,
bIckers being very scarce here now, and
the speech consisted Of a sop now to one
party, now to the other.
BE said, was born Democrat and
would have been one yet II the party had
remained true TO the good old principles
ol Thos. Jefferson. 1 have belonged TO
every party in existence since / was old
enough to vote. l did not care for the
strength of the party. When party
grows strong 1t becomes bad. A man who
would bind himself to one party is un.
worthy to be called a citizen. III man
owns me he must at least buy me food and
clothing and provide a physician when
am sick. liza party owns me, can buy
my own food and clothes and die without
doctor. l was one Of the eight persons
who met and formed the Know Nothing
party. No, there were nine persons-the
Lord God Almighty was there, and where
he is you are bound to win. He's now
with US. What is it to US II Ewing is elect
ed Governor OF Ohio and Is thereby en-
abled to pArdsn all his friends out OF the
penite ntiary.
In the beginning OF tho war OF the Re.
bellion the government had no army and
called for money 10 raise one; but did
tue money come? Not much. The patri-
OTIS were willing to fight, but not TO give
money. So bonds were issued-they got
interest on their money then, and gave it,
They would fight for the country they
couldn't trust Capital is mean and COW.
ardlo. Senator Sprague once said there
was nothing meaner million dollars un-
less 1t was million and a half. Green.
backs were issued when no more money
was to be had. They were not money,
only promises TO pay money. We all
took them; soldiers were paid with them
who had been promised their pay in gold.
The men who called the greenbacks rags,
fourteen years ago, are now shouting fol
them! They are mean, cowardly wretchea
who would cheat US out of our votes.
Some bought bonds and got interest
dirty dogs.
After the war, Lee and the whole kit Of
them died, or those who did not die are
surprised that they were not hung. A
worse fate was reserved for them. What?
Why the carpet -baggers we're let loose on
them-worse than hanging. CATER the
war" 1 said-if it is over. From the mot
toes in that Republican procession and
the speeches OF Charley Foster and the
rest OF them, one would think it is not
over. They tell how CALAMITY they fought
behind counters with their yard sticks;
yes, gallantly, the home guard.
Alter the war few men gathered to.
gether to see how the national debt was Ia
be paid, and they fixed up law that
would pay in greenbacks what had been
promised in coin. The only good bond
holder ever knew came into my office
one day In Washington and said TO me,
"Do you know that now Is a good time tc
make money!" .
"How?" 1asked. "Buy bonds" "Bu
l have no money" "Oh, we'll III carr,
some for you" l knew such things vert
not done for nothing. "For what2"
asked. "You write for the Cincinnati
Commercial, well we are afraid this green
back law will not pass; puffit up" Thai
holders get laws passed.
The bonds were payable in gold; the
bond holder bought them for green.
backs. Gold for the bond.holders; ragt
tor the people.
They say resumption has come. Colo
and paper are equal. that's all. Gold mas
come down to paper; paper has not gone
up to gold. And John Sherman says ht
did 1t! He had no more To do with It thar
with human salvation. Here the Colonel
sang In nasal tone, "Thank John from
whom all mercies aow."
Salmon P, Chase called the meeting h
see what termS could be made TO help tn,
GOyernmenti and the meeting ended il
giving the whole control Of the currenc,
to the bondholders. In this way III,
bondholders became the bankers Of th
country, and will remain 80 till the Ma
tional party shake. them Of. g8Ig
They talk about the great boom in busi
ness. Where Is 1t? Have your wage
been increased2 r"Yes, yesr' was shout
ed in. the audience, and the Colonel sp
peared embarrassed, but Immediately th
shouts of "No. Mol" reassured him, an,
be continued. The man that saws We
tells a liel II there be any boom lyin
around loose anywhere we want to BE-
some OF 1t, and that pretty quick, toe
When there Is boom you will be buyin
your wives and daughters silk dresses
you don't do that now. But there ia n
boom In business. It Is all newspape
lies. What sign Is there OF a boom /
produce, in things that you yourselye
know about? Wheat here ii Belmor
county is worth one dollar d busheI an
the farmers get ninety cents, and then
Is held in Chicago at 81 so. Who get
the beneat-the iarmesS No; the bloa
ed bondholders.
When the Democrats got into power
thought there would be some relief. BIZ
for four long years I sat In the gallery I
congress and heard them talk Of practicin
economy. People b1rdened with an
tresses could swarm the house and thel
we're no eAsA tor them; they were busy r,
dncing the 10000 soldiers Of the T., /
When 8. ]. filden was elected T f5T he "a, y !
: elected, Ia voice "proye tI'} Hsppyy
; 90 It His election was decided N Ii
south. There they decided between Il
snot gun and the carpet bagger, and Ii
! time the shot gun won. So Samuel
! das.I 5auen wa was elected the shot gun Pre-
' usnt' But the two parties hate Aol