The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1881-02-03
4 Glorious Past aad 4 Hopeful Future

abused by u hireling press. 10 politi-
cal organization, big or little, ever
accomplished 50 much IL tie Green. |
back party has accomplished In the
last four years aud al hy the mere
force ~ public opinion.
From 1865 TO 1876 the bond shnrl,s |
had had almost absolute control Of
the Legislative and eaccn'ivebran,hes
III the government.
Their wishwas law: their nod was |.
decree; their power was supreme.
They shrank from no scheme, how |
ever villainous; they hcsitatca il. no
measure, however disr.rutnllc; they |
ecrupled ut no practice, hoMrverais
honest, that could or would In any
way enhance their greed and selfish
interests.
They looked npon the people Of
the United States as tiock Of geese.
ilt only to be pluckcd Ivy their cum.
ming hands.
Their avaricious eyes rested upon
the United States treasury. and 1T
once they set about bribing aud cor
rupting the guardians whom the peo-
pie had placed over their boarded
treasures.
Instead of resorting to the use of
the sword, like the robbers Of old,
they adopted the more gcnteel
method OF bribery and corruption
sometimes with fiattery. and some
times with threats.
Their first move was the inaugu-
ration or the McCulloch scheme OF
contraction. McCnlloch was Il flfthrate
Hoosicr banker, whose ability was
barely sufficient for small bank in
= country town. Flattered by the
willy Shylocks into the belief that he
was great tinancicr," lie became
like wax In their designing hands.
Next came the infamous Public
Credit act. The sentimental! lauda-
ton OF the "honor' Of The American
people in agreeing to pay coin
where only grecnbacks We're prom
ised; the unlimited use Of money
with greedy, INSCRIPTIONS members
OF Congress; the gift OF the presiden-
cy to Grant, and u liberal distribu-
ton Of soap" 10 venal prees, sect
rcd the promise of coin instead of
grccnbacks.
Then came the Reminding Act,
giving holders OF 5 20 bonds the priv
ilere 1t exchanging their short time
aos3s for long time bonds
Csoa the he.la II the H,i snaing
AZ. eaAAS Ehe HeSAsiaus ne, dpmals.-
tigiHg lr>r Tie wsil aa,hentie..-
TED stofy 81 ;gsi seAa's expenli-
.afe al saat@sa isarlisa money in
"sas'I}rtA'i- f.aat ng'S Congressional
committee ' rat ,.ir., If I'm
nj, ,is ~a.s a, t3 i too familiar
r ntra R4
,ac croWninc net os III
.auls ....ewn as the Resumption act,
engineered ~ that NEST cansnnaaie
OF NIL knavcs. John Sherman. The
influence al both money and poiiti-
cal promotion Was used To accom-
plish the inauguration " specie pay
mcnts--a covert scheme 10 destroy
the grecnback currency
So quietly and rapidly had all
these nets If robbery been carried
through that the people were in the
tolls ~ the destroyer before they
were aware u il.
So easily, triumphan'ly and com
ple.ely had the knavcs accomplished
their purposes that they had grown
bold, defiant and impedent in their
dictation.
Two M ore acts they had left eeon
their unfinished programme. viz the
destruction of the greeuhack and the
perpetuation Of the bonded dsh.,
and after that the monarchy. or
"Struny government"
So bold and impu,lcnt had they
become in their success that these
two things they demanded with the
mir Of absolute lictators.
Such Was the condition Of affairs.
when the Grccnback party sprung
into existence. less, than i've years
ago.
First one and another saw an,l
coMprchcndcd the robbery that was
going on and sounded IN. alarm.
In short time Others Joined in
the hue And cry, till finally the mum.
Der was sufficient 70 iorm political
party.
Speeches, documents and news.
papers soon began t. spread tAs
light.
They were ridiculed. abused and
vilitied by the minions nf tho bond
sharks-still they kept persistently
and heroically at work, and SO just
was their cause, so obviously truth.
ful were their statements. SO indis
putably honest and patriotic were
their purposes. that in time people
began to listen, and look, and think
and talk.
And what has been the results
What has the Greenback party
accomplished?
Within a year after organization o.
the party they brought about, no
directly by their votes. but indircctl,
through their agitation OF the GU, 5
ton, the characterization Of silver.
Then in May, 1878. they rolled ;
big rock under the wheels Of thu
bondholders' wagon. when. through
the same process OF agiia,i II, the,
obtained the passage Of the act r.
issuing gre-i.hacks. This gay. til
grccnback new lease of III. Ill
such time as the people could b. az
reused 10 its defense.
This act ri May, ISIS. saved III.
greenback, and made the boast.,l
Resumption act a farce ai!.l it I'll
thOrs the laughing stock III all sss..
fps.aa flnanciers
Tie little haal of bet; - SIT
ssgt uP Ae .aifation.
laeg Sa*n II 81" uea;... Il. III
wicked seheln III t,et s0 perpetual.
the poa!sd 3eh,
50 sincerely, ear, nj heroic,