The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-08-01

Let Every True American Look q
them Well, for they arc Breeders
Of Peril.
JONATHAN RUsT1cUs, Ny dear
brother Jonathan:-A certain man
went from Jerusalem to Jericho and
fell among thieves. They beat him
and stripped him, and left him sore
wounded. The like fate has befallen
you and me, with this added calamity.
that we have no Good Samaritan to
care for US. We must care for our
selves or die.
Thirty years ago the robbers seized
the defiles along which We have to
pass. They found their occasion by
. foolish and fratricidal war.
There were fanatics in the North
and In the South. The Northern IA
matte shouted, Slavery shall die at
once" The Southern fanatic shout
ed, Slavery shall live forever The
patriot said, Peace, We fools, till rea-
son and humanity have time to ad-
vance; soon slavery will be trodden
to death beneath the march Of
thought"
We needed not the patriots voice.
We thought it patriotic to murder
each other. We wasted 1000, O00, 600
Of treasure and 655, 900 lives.
We filled the land with wailing and
widows and orphans and graves.
To wage this horrid strife, the gov
eminent became the patron OF rich
men. We borrowed their money and
gave our promise to pay, taking care
to depreciate our paper by making II
non receivable in payment Of duty on
imports or interest on government
bonds.
When we had thus skillfully lower
ed its value, till two and q half dollar,
In greenbacks would barely buy q
dollar in gold, we called in the depre
ciated stuff, giving therefor, dollar
for dollar, our bonds bearing interes'
at 4l per cent, less or more.
Plying the hard lot of the bond
holder, we next resolved that he mus
be paid in gold, Tin coin, Dr.
Ed. P. D. though his contract calle,
for nothing but lawful money. Thel
to the holder OF our bonds we said:
$50 to now, hear us, and we vii
instantly double your money with
out, on your part, q stroke Of worl
or q Whit of prayer. Deposit you
bonds with US and take 80 per cent
Of their value in bank notes; we vii
pay A interest on your untaxes
bonds, as before; the notes You ca,
lend over your counters at ten 0
twenty per cent.-any interest whicl
the necessities Of the borrower ma,
compel him to pay" Was ever hu
man government before 80 generou
to rich men? Nor was this all.
1t was seen that il silver, the poo
mans money could be taken away
the rich mans money would becom
more valuable, since the value G
money, like the value Of wheat, d.
ponds on it's scarcity. And 60 1t wa
enacted that silver should be n
more legal tender for debt. The il
terests Of capital secured the Law
Ave years later the voice Of the pet
pie compelled it's repeal.
But, in these halcyon days Of th
rich man, banking was not his onl
profitable investment. With il
double capital, double interest an
untaxed bonds, banking presente,
indeed, an inviting field, but hardl
more inviting than manufactures ,
various kinds. A duty Of ~ per cen
was levied on foreign imports, til,
domestic products of the same so
might be sold at q third above the
true value, what they will bring
the open market Of the world.
Every cent Of this artificial Walt
was wrested from consumers to 90 Il
to the pockets of manufacturers.
was paid by you and me, broth,
Jonathan; paid not for the suppol
of ''the best government the worl
ever saw but to help rich men. an
rich syndicates, whose capital had q
ready enabled them to secure tt
costly machinery and fix the plan
requisite for manufacture.
This was indeed protection
good thing. doubtless, had it been 9.
tended to the weak and not to tt
strong; it was sheer robbery Of 70
and me, brother Jonathan.
1t added nothing to our receipts;
largely increased our expenditure
Inspired and protected by the act ,
q robber government, whole arm
of robber trusts sprang into life an
planted themselves in every favo
able defilc whence they could assau
the traveller bound from Jerusalel
to Jericho. And now, at every turl
. horde Of bandits presenting the
weapons cry, Stand and deliverr'
There is nothing important to til
lives and happiness OF the people Q
which these robbers have not lai
their greedy hands.
The child Of TODAY enters the wOr]