The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1881-09-01
An Old Warning.

Olu HlchOIy WIN HOI snowy lFcSl.
dent. He carried into the White House
the plain, homely and blunt manners
that distinguished him iii Tennessee.
Neither did he affect scholarship, though
he had been successful lawyer and a
Judge. His written communications
were notable for their directness and
clearness. Thespelling was often incor-
rect, hut there waa M mistaking the
meaning. OF this character was a let
ter in which lie defended his resolute
stand against the National Bank. In
that he said:
IF / had been ambitious, / should
have sought All alliance with that power
full institution 1.-THE bank which even
now aspires to no divided empire. II
had been venal, should have sold my
self to its designs. HID / preferred per-
sonal comfort and official ease to the per-
forpaence Of my arduous duty, should
have ceased to modest it. No; the am
btion which leads me on is an anxious
desire and fixed determination to re-
turn to tile people. ,iliimpaired, the
sncred trust they have confided to my
chargc--to hea6the wounds OF the con-
stitution and preserve 1t from further
violence; to persuade my countrymen,
SO far as may, that it il not iii Il SPLEEN
did Government, supported by powerful
moIopolies and aristocratic establish.
ments, that they will find happiness or
their liberties protected, but in a plain
system, void Of poinp-protecting ali
and granting favors to none-dispensing
its blessings like the dpws Of heaven,
unseen and unfelt, save in the freshness
and beauty they contribute to produce.
1t is such Government that the genius
Of our people requires-such one only
under which our States may remain for
ages to come, united, prosperous and
free"
The history Of Jackson's battle with
the National Bank makes one OF the
most interesting and exciting chapters
in American history. 1t should be care
fully studied by every American citizen.
More pluck and persistence were re-
quired than at New Orleans. Every in
tinence and agency that gigantic mo-
nopo|y could WELD was used first to per.
suade and then to intimidate Old Hick-
CRY. Friends Of long standing fell away
from the President, and it at one time
looked AZ If his administration and pub
lie life would end in discontinue, defeat
and disgrace. But that iron will only
grew stronger under opposition, and
seemed sufficient in itself to sustain him
in any conflict. The result was that he
alone put an end to what was great
monopoly, threatening untold evil to the
country. No one doubts but that Jack.
sons action produced for the time COM
mercial distress and financial disaster,
but it leveled to the dust an institution
which even then threatened to become
stronger than the Government and to
defy it. Had the old National Bank
continued undisturbed to this day. it
probably would have SO thoroughly f,,s-
tened itself upon the country as to have
become the ruling and dominant power
in it, controlling elections and legisla-
ton. Its minions and parasites would
have constituted an aristocracy, a plu-
tocracy. most revolving to republicans
and inimical to democratic Government.
just such another man as jackson was
needed to nproot it. 1t is doubtful if
AS WAN navy o'AS ~ VAiolSu ~
tins day anu he been President. He
clearly saw the evils it threatened, and.
nndismayed, set himself to the huge task
OF divorcing the bank and the Govern
ment.
What would the old hero say to day
could he see the growth Of monopolies
in this country? What would lie think,
who pleaded SO eloquently for plain
Government, moi supported by monop-
olies and aristocratic establishments
if he could look upon our advancement
toward the "splendid Government he
so much dreaded? 1t begins to be evi.
dent that the day is not far distant when
some statesman, with the will, foresight
and patriotism Of Jackson, will be need
ed to save the republic from evils greater
than those which mennced it from the
National Bank. This is the day of gil
gantic monopolies, with the arms Of
Briarens. They are of Bessemer steel,
and reach from the Atlantic to the Pa
cific.-Iadianapntis Journal.