The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-05-31
st.oo A YEAR, ADVANCE.
The Two Leading Questions.

and whiskey. Politicians have been beat
ing about the bush, and agitating side issues
and collateral questions, which might more
properly be termed effects rather than causes,
but studiously avoid these two primary
principles. Our civilization is really turn
ing on these two pivotal questions. They
are moving toward the enslavement of the
masses as they, under somewhat different
phases, have in past ages debauched civ
ilizations and wiped out nations.
When slavery made its last stand for
conquest in the face of the intelligence and
civilization of the nineteenth century, the
government was compelled to resort to ex-
traordinary measures to preserve its exist
ence and assert its power and sovereignty as
a nation. The industry and undeyeloped
resources Of the country were drawn upon
and pledged TO raise money to prosecute
the gigantic war which slavery had precip-
itated. The credit and property of the
nation were pledged for the payment of OBJ
legations or debts that were contracted in
these dark hours of trial. The great power
of the government and undeveloped wealth
Of the country were then displayed before
the civilized world, and the paper obliga-
tions made during the struggle and SUSTAIN
ed by the people were eagerly sought after
bv capitalists after the war was ended and
the danger past. The few who hold the
purse strings of the world, stealthily made
their way to the head of the government
and unfoIded to our law makers their science
Of finance. Their counsels were acted upon
and they proceeded to shape the financial
policy of the government which the people
had given so prodigally of their blood and
property 10 sustain and crown with victory.
Thei! first advice to our law makers was to
pledge the payment of the government
debts in specie. The bonds had been prin-
cipally paid for in greenback, the money OF
the soldiers and the people, and which were
as good as the bonds, for the same endorser
the governmenl-stcod behind both. The
next piece of adyice given by these scientific
fnanciers was to call in and destroy all the
non-intelest paying greenbacks, and in their
stead issue interest bearing bonds, payable,
principal and interest in coin. This advice
having been acted on by Congress and sane
toned by the executive branch of the gov
eminent, the next move was to make the
bonds, which grew out Of the non-interest
paying greenbacks, payable principal and
interest in gold. The plans of these inan-
cial schemers having succeeded SO we'll they
next proposed the demonstration Of silver,
ard although this movement met with siren
uous opposition it was clandes.inely effected
in 1878. This cut off one half the money
of the civilized world, and while the stabll-
ity of the debt of the government was firmly
fixed ON rock of gold and insured against
shrinkage. the price Of all property created
by labor, began to fall. Labor and tie
products Of labor began to part company
with capitsl and gulf steadily widening was
placed between them. 1t is worthy ofnotice
that this vast bonded debt created after the
danger was over, grew out of the greenback
money issued by the government, and
which the same power could have redeemed
in gold and silver as readily as it could re-
deem interest paying bonds in hard cash
Let the farmers, the mechanics, the day
laborers look back over these twenty odd
years and consider for moment the mil
lions on millions of dollars they have been
paying these scientific financiers Of Europe
and America, all of which might have been
sayed bv the government pledging its credit
10 redeem the greenbacks in coin.
But to get the larger portion of this non
interest paying money out OF the way, and
supply its place with bonds, and use these
bonds as collateral for the security of other
rotes issued by the government was the
scheme which blossomed out into what is
known as the National Banking system,
which is for tie government to pay interest
on the capital that is used by the bankers to
loan to the people. The government stands
pledged to the gold ring t. pay them more
than thousand millions in gold to redeem
its bonds they hold and pay interest quarter
ly, in gold, and they supply the people with
notes printed by the government free of cost
10 them. This game of pigs in clover any
one may readily see is running the whole OF
the wealth the people create directly into
the pockets of the gold ring.
But the government laid tax called an
Internal Revenue tax during the war on
every thing pretty much that was made,
but this tax was taken off by piecemeal till
it is removed from almost everything but
whiskey and tobacco. This tax has acted
as barrier behind which to create two great
monepolies; and one of these monopolies,
that of alcohalc liquors, has grown to be a
giant, which threatens to take entire con-
troll of the government. The two old par
ties are completely in its power. 1t dictates
party nominations, controls Legislatures and
congress, arrogantly threatens the churches
with destruction, and governs every large
city with despotic power. This arrogant
power pays to the national government
100000, 900 annually and is offering to de-
fray large portion of the expense of state
and city governments for the privilege of
immunity from violation Of laws that all
others have to sumbit to. This giant mo-
nopoly collects from the business and wage