The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-08-26

ding before congreSs-one introduced py
the Democratic, and the other by the Re-
publican leader of the house, whereby it is
proposed to deprive the people of twenty
and thirty years of lawful right to pay
said bonds. This is a crime against the la
borer and the tax payer and should cause
wide spread alarm among all classes.
The annual surplus revenues, and the
idle coin now in the treasury, and that
which must continue to accumulate, if the
silver law approved Feb. l8 1873, shall be
honestly enforced. are ample to pay every
dollar of the seven hundred millions, both
principal and interest, within the next ak
years. There is not the slightest excuse
for funding these bonds, except TO perpet-
uate the debt as the basis of an iniquitous
banking monopoly. 1t must be apparent
to all that the great moneyed institutions,
and other corporations, now have control
mens, and are fast swallowing up the prof
its of labor and reducing the people to a
condition of vassalage and dependence
Those monopolies, of whatever class,
headed by the associated banks, are inter.
locked in purpose, and always act in clo-
sest sympathy.
There are three great industrial classes
in America: First the produ GERS; second,
those who manufacture our raw materials
and prepare them for use; third, the dis
tributors of these products. Each should
be protected in the legitimate fruits and
profits of their labor, but should not be
permitted to sxtort from and enslaye the
other.
The great problem of our civilization
is, how to bring the producer and consul
mer together. This can only be done by
providing an adequate circulating medium
and by rigid regulation OF inter state COM
merce and transportation. This was wisely
forseen by the trainers of the constitution,
and accordingly by the 8th section Of arti-
Gle first, congress is clothed with power
"To regulate commerce with foreign ma
tions and among the states" This power
imposes a corresponding duty upon con.
gress to see that 1t is enforced.
The two great agents of commerce are
money and transportation. 1t is undenia-
BILE that both of fthese great agents are un-
der the absolute control Of the monopolies.
BY controlling the volume of the money,
tie banks fix the price of all labor and
property; and the railroads, by combination
render competitor impossible, and control
absolutely the price of transportation.
This places the people between the up
per and neither millstones, and grinds them
to poverty and ruin. 1t results in the
wholesale robbery of both producer and
consumer. Who is able to controvert this
stupendous fact? Farmers, plantere, and
laboring men of the United States, be-
seech you to open your eyes at once to this
alarming condition of things.
am especially thankful that the plat.
form of the party which placed me in nom
ination is open, bold and nmistakable OF
these great questions.
The Republican and Democratic plat.
forms are either silent with regard te
these vital issues, or they have pronounced
in favor of the monopolies and against the
people. With fifty millions of people
looking them in the face and pleading fol
relief, they utter not one word of promise
or hope. Their leaders and platform ma
kers are in the tolls of the syndicate, gi
gantic bank corporations and railroad mo
nopolies. and have neither the disposition
nor the courage to strike one generous
blow for industrial emancipation.
An area of our public domain, largel
than the territory occupied by the grea
German empire, has been wsntonly dona
ted to wealthy corporations; while q bill
introduced by Hon. Hendrick B. Wright
of Pennsy ylvania, to enabte our people ts
reach and occupy the few acres remaining
has been secuted, ridiculed and defeated il
congress. In consequence of this stupen
dous system of land grabbing, millions o
the Young men Of America, and millions
more of industrious people from abroad
seeking homes in the New World, are lef
homeless and destitute. The public domain
must be sacredly reserved for actual set
tiers. and where corporations have no
complied strictly with the terms of thei
grants, the lands should be at once re
claimed Hg r.
the immigration of persons from foreigl
countries, seeking homes and desiring 1
become citizens of the United States
should be encouraged, but the importation
of Chinese seryile laborers, should be pro
hibited by stringent laws.
While the bondholder has been pai,
gold in return for his deprecated curren
cy, the soldiers and sailors. who saved on
union. our hom es, our money and our al
ters, and whose blood consecrated ever
battle field from Belmont and Donaldso
to Gettysburg and Appatomax, are denie
the pittiance justly due them under thei
contract with the government-as thoug
soldiers and sailors could live on gratitud
alone. r
By the answer of Secretary Sherman G
June 10, 1880, to the senate resolution Q
inquiry, it appears that the government
paid the soldiers in greenback
during the war of the rebellion 81 ,249, ,51s
1876. The total interest paid in gold O
the public debt from July l, 1851. to Jun
; 80, 1869, was $l.sO9. .So1, ,4s5.l9. The sol
dier has been taxed to pay this in
terest while the bondholder has gone fret
| During the present congress it has bee
impossible to induce the committees to re
port single bill to remedy existing evili
J The important committees of the house ar
so constituted, and the despotic rules c
that body so interpreted as to reder relic
impossible. Under these ules the speake