The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-11-03
AN ADDRESS,.


necessary for the government OF mankind,
which, when strictly observed, insure the
permanent welfare Of society. These prin-
cples are essentially embodied In the Con-
stitution of the United States and the Union,
and, when practically enforced by appro-
pirate legislation, promote the peace, Iiber-
ty, happiness and prosperity OF the people,
but, when disobeyed or violated, bring null
tiplied woes on individuals and commune
ties. History tells us that, however perfect
civil Govei nments may be in their incep-
ton, mans proneness to 90 astray renders
reform In all ages an imperative necessity.
II, therefore, behoOves the American peo-
pie at this time TO calmly and dispassion-
ately Investigate the causes about which
universal complaints are made, and to pro-
vide remedies to correct such evils.
Political parties and public officials, long
intrusted with legislative power and with
the administration of the laws, are prone to
abuse their privilege, and use the power
placed in their hands for selfish or for par
ty purposes, aud when once they have
served the ends Of government, seldom, IL
ever, correct their own abuses, but continue
their enormities until displaced by the SOW
ereign will and organized power OF the peo-
pie.
The Democratic party in 1850, on account
OF its corrupt and party blind administra-
tion of public affairs, was swept from power
by such an organized effort for civil and
constitutional reform.
The patriotic citizenship of the country,
recognizing the Indifference and contemptu-
GUS regard in which their individual rights
and public institutions were held, inaugu-
rated and pushed to success measures
which resulted in the final overthrow OF a
party whose imperlous will had controlled
the destinies OF the Republic for near forty
sSArs.
4 civil war inyol, ing the perpetuity of the
Union ensued a, The consequence OF the
passions and Ni,seice engeDdered by party
spirit aud personal ambition.
The Democratic party was succeeded by
the Republican party, TO which was intrusted
the duty OF preserving the Union.
This party has by its long continuance in
office, by its usurpation Of power, by lis
greed for spoils, by the grasping avarice ol
It's leaders, by It's passage of laws the aim o
which was to plunder the people, demon
for its expulsion from power and authority
We, therefore, arraign Il ese two parties al
principal or accessory for their crimina
abuse of public trust.
For their imperfect, partial and viciou
administration of public affairs, state ant
| National.
| For their delinquencies in the cardina
virtues of true satesmanship, and unworthy
| Of the continued confidence and support O
| free people.
| For the personal and sectional strife en-
/ gendered aud fosiered by them.
For causing and exciting domestic violenc
| and insurrec. ion in the interest OF their re
spective parties.
For making party fealty the test of politi
cal and social woTthiness-
For their flag, ant disregard of the know
or expressed will of their constituency.
For voting 10 their representatives highe
salaries, and for heir wanton profliSacy
the public expenditures.
For their costly ~plendOr in the admins
tration Of government.
For having created a multitude OF ne
Offices i'm both state and National Govern
ments 10 pension men for party service.
For appointing biased aud dependei
J judiciary for partisan purposes.
/, For neglectIng TO enforce the crimin
laws when violated in the execution of parl
schemes.
For bringing law and government I'M
contempt by licensing crime and legalizir
fraud and lascaIi1y.
For their dir gard of tine sacred rights
suffrage, by intimidation, corruption, frau
and violence at the ballot box.
For cxeinptlng funded wealth and corp'
ate property from taxation.
For the imposition Of every form OF tax
lion ON the Properties OF labor devisable
the ingenuity Oh uian, to make The itch ricl
. er and the poor poorer.
For class legislation and discriminate
In behalf of a, ,,srcgated wealth and corpora
monopolies.
For making usury In all It's varied fori
the honored rule of ''those who feel pow
! and forget right. -
For systemizing oppression, to depri
n the~poor Of many OF tine comforts OF life.
For nominating, electing and appointi
o to offices of public trust and profit, Natio
ai Bankers, railroad officers and agents al
o attorneys OF other corporate mOnopolies.
l. For degrading honest labor by prostitr
ing the system Of convict labor 10 the gre
J. and avarice OF spectators.
Fol investing railroad companies, Natio
i a Banks and other corporate monopol
!, aith the regulation and control OF int
IL Rate commerce.
For permitting robbery and other erin
raj offenses committed by these favor
,s classes to go unnOticed, while treating I
misdeeds Of the weak and more humble
g crimes to be vigorously punished.
~ For giving the public lands TO railro
~ companies.
d For the transfer of the property of
many to the few, through the instrument
ne ity OF usury, exIortion and taxation.
/, When the war closed the people OF
", country found themselves burdened with
te public deb which amounted TO about !
81, ,VO0 ,OU0. over 81, ,6l', ',OOU,OOO OF this d
o at that tim was in he form OF Uni
/ states legzl-tender notes, cOmpound-int
-. est notes, certificates of Indebtedness. sew
,1 thirty notes, Une and two year notes
. fractional c"ir.ncy. nearly all OF wh
ty were made lrg.I tender and We're in use
L0e ptOpie cusTcuCy. anu sii
q yin had enti.ely disappeared from circu
ton. Nearly The entire business of
osdntry WAS Da-ed upon and transacted
his Government currency. Property
bought anu sold and its value measured
IL. All contIatt between creditors
debtors We're made in this currency,
both parties expected they would be
eK flled in sucn currency. Now, what t
- placer The officers of the Goyernn
"A under the control Of the banks and mo
is lending or creditor class began a system
legislation, the design of which was to M
RI ali debts contracted in United States c
reucy payable In coin. To secure coin ,
'rs ments, the following acts of Congress v
H. passed either previous to, or subsequent
the close OF the war:
Dst L. Inc act Of Congress Of 1862 placing
exceptions upon the Greenback dollar,
ty, thus making foreign imports and interes
- the public debt payable in coin.
III 2. The act of Congress OF 1868 creating
rlv National Banks.
'v g. The act OF Congress of 1865 conver
III, ,200, ,000 100 OF the public debt that
used rs currency into coin bonds. A la
make less money and to increase the bul
of debt.
III 4. The act Of Congress of 1869
ex- changed the condition of payment Of
fve-twenty bonds from payment in p
al money to payment in coin-
IL 5. The act Of Congress of 1870 authori
VIC the refunding of the bonds, the obje
pes which was to place them where they C
not be paid, aud to make them the basi
the issue OF bank currency.
6. The act Of Congress Of 1873 demon
-,g silver, thereby making our debt pay
md In gold alone.
Z. The Resumption act of 1915.
pod These laws were intended by their in
III Able operation to accomplish these res
uiu 1. To contract the volume OF curr
md increase the purchasing power Of
remained. .
2. To destroy the Greenbacks.
3. To make NIL debts, public and pri
payable In gold coin, and make that col
only standard and measure of value.
4. To fxstsn the bonded debt upol
people I'm way that 1t can never be pa
8. To secure the issue Of bank notes
for these bonds, that could be inflated and
nh tracted at the pleasure of bank cofporat
thus giving them absolute control O
.o wages OF every mans labor and the pr
'en- every species Of property and merchar
for Out OF this legislation has grown a
ism. money monopoly that Ii without a pa
. Al In the worlds history. All of the
great corporations of the Nation are G.