The National tribune., 1879-05-01
Action! Action Action !

During the war OF the rebellion, while hundreds
Of thousands of soldiers were in the field, con
stantly marching and fighting they constituted the
grand objects for universal attraction, for they were
men of gallant actions, of glorious deeds. and all
other classes of our citizens seemed to be forgotten
During these times, the leading capitall ts of the
country were generally laying low and keeping
dark" and there appeared to be in them reprehen-
sbe disposition to await the events of time. rather
than stand forth advocates for the Union through
veal orwo History will prove that too many of
this class ready to welcome the triumph of
Lee If bears in Government stocks and gold as
earnestly as they would Grant had they belonged
to the bull family. They were prepared to pray
good Lord or good Devil according to crcum-
stances Well, probably these men are not to be
severely censured, for money especially during rev.
olutionary times is ever full of suspicion and aston
ishingly conservative. Mr. Sprague. of Rhode ISL
and once aptly remarked " There is nothiug more
and selfish than one million of dollars excent
it be two millions" 1t is fact in our history
that, during the war of the Revolution there were
few notable men of means (John Hancock was
grand exception) who did not belong to the Kings
party, either secretly openly The farmers, me.
chanics, and tradesmen of America made up the
soldiers who tore the richest jewel from the crown
of George the Third But we were speaking of
the activity of two classes of men, during the war
of the rebellion.
In 1864, the soldiers were the men of action while
the bankers were in a great degree passive: now.
said position is entirely reversed During every
session of Congress and frequently at other times
the money lenders occupy Washington in force
They hold interviews with the Secretary of the
Treasury according to their pleasure and he not
unfrequently pays them flying visit at New York
or Boston, while Sergeant Jones, Corporal Smith
or Private johnson are consulted in their interests
about as much as would be California Digger In.
dian and affect the head of the Treasury Depart
ment as potently the breath of an infant would
Western tornado Constantly Mr. Sherman is
exhibiting by his actions a disnclination if not a
real antipathy to meet the just demands of the
soldiers By his behaviour he almost speaks the
words: Confound these soldiers is there no way
of getting rid of them? Here is this Internal ar.
rears bill passed and the next thing we will have
the equalization bounty bill | wanted to accom-
modate my friends in New York, Philadelphia, sc,
extensively engaged in the tobacco business and so
agreed on lessenng their tax, and then that abom-
Unable income tax was disagreeable to the Hon
Godfrey Goldbug and other much cherished million
aires, it had to go from the satute-books and then
there is $40 600 600 due the Rothschilds that mus
be paid, if every diseased crippled soldier in land
dies in the poor-house and is buried in pauper's
grave" Thus our country is governed to-day
soldiers by those who hold the purse-strngs of the
nation and control it's revenues and it will be so
managed, until you areready to demand your rights
by every method allowed free American citizen.
You can talk you can petition, you can combine in
county and State associations determined that your
honest demands shall be granted When these fail,
you can vote and your ballots untedly given, will
be equivalent to command which must be re-
spected. Again we would say to you, become the
men Of action, the men Of deeds, as you ,cere in
ddyS QOne bV