The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-02-11
For the Democratic Press,

Mr.. Editor:
So much has been said on the $50
called) silver question, that every
American citizen ought to have an
opinion (by arrangement of his own
thoughta) thereon. Is it for the in
terest of the masses of our people to
have silver demonetized? Let Us see.
When silver was demonetized our
country was pretty we'll supplied with
81 and s. greenback bills. A law was
backs became worn aud defaced, they
might be returned to the government
and there should be a reissue 10 take
their place. Well, this very much
annoyed the banking monopoly, and
said monopoly set out to be the dicta-
tor of the government in this matter
of REISSUE. The bills were much used,
and the small bills, that really did the
business of the country, became worn
and ragged, and the National Banks
willingly took them, and gave silver
dollars in their place. Most of these
81 and 81 bills found their way back
into the government treasury, and the
people rightfully expected to see new,
crisp 81 and s. greenbacks take their
place; but they looked, only to be
disappointed. The government did
reissue, according to the letter of the
law, and according to the spirit of the
banking and capital monopoly. The
e-issne came out in $500 and 81 900
greenbacks, which were and are AS
worthless to the daily business of our
people as Mount Etna would be for a
motive power to one ofour grist mills
heat and ateam enough, but how can
it be utilized? The $500 and 81 900
greenbacks have plenty of money
power in them, but to purchase sack
of -four or five bushels of potatoes, or
81 worth of sugar, or couple pounds
of beefsteak, or any of the thousands
of the daily demands of our people,
how could these large bills be used /?
Well, will tell you: The man who
one of them, can without the aid of
the silver dollar, go and deposit his
bill in bank, open bank account,
give the bank the benefit of the use of
this money, and draw or check out, as
his use of money requires he is all
sound; the bank is benefited /; but
how about the poor man who labors
for his daily bread? He can't have
the $500 on deposit; he must pay as
he goes, o, he is only poor devil i'm
the eyes of the monOpolists. Let the
rich plan for and take care of him.
Such has been the policy of monopO-
lists and our government for years Is
it rights Is 1t just? God and eternal
justice forbid. Man is man, whether
he be laborer, or whether he lives on
the interest of ill-gotten wealth, and
laws should be so enacted and so ad-
ministered, that labor be protected.
Capital will protect itself. The silver
dollar is the laborers' money. The
small greenbacks are gone, or mostly
gone. True, the banks can furnish
you their small bills, but do you want
to be dependent upon them, and pay
them interest on bonds as basis for
them to furnish the funds for your
daily business, when the silver dollar
can be made and circulated without
interest, and every dollar can be used
from one TO ten times or more a day
Oh, it is only worth SO. Who says
so? Why, the banker, the bondhold
er, the monopoIist. Well, let us see
You purchase sack of flour, quar-
ter of beef, q dollars worth of sugar
or any other article. What does YOU
silver dollar do2 Why, it pays 1O(
cents. 1t pays 100 cents on you
indebtedness. o, says the monopolist
it won't bring only $40 in Europe
Well, what does the lsborer care wha
it is worth over there? He don't &c
there, don't want to use it over there
1t is worth a 100 cents of gold here
Why? Because the greatest and bes
government of the earth has said /
should be taken at that amount on al
debts and in all commercial transac
tions. Oh! says the monOpolist, /
! will only go a. bullion in fsrsiSr