The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1891-06-12
THE ALLIANCE DEMANDS.
No. O. Money---Its Abuses.

We now proceed to discuss the third
objection TO national banks. They are
prolific source of usury, the greatest
curse to the human race" Since the
invention of money by man, usury has
been the source of mere evil than war,
pestilence and famine combined. II is Il
slow, eating cancer, permitted in our
economic system, consuming the profits
of industry and robbing labor of its
reward So apparent was this evil that
in the Mosaic system of laws it was pro-
hbited in most emphatic terms. In
dealing with this question we do not
propose to make any fine distinctions
between interest and usury. We believe
that interest is usury and that men have
no more right to change the divine law
in relation 10 this question than they
have to change the plan of salvation.
Then what is interest or usury?
Let us turn to Webster's dictionary,
unabridged edition. What does it say ?
premium paid for the use of money !:
the profit per cent derived for money
lent, or property used by another person,
or from debts remaining unpaid"
What is usury? Let us again turn to
Webster. Here is what he says:
"a premium paid or stipulated to be
paid, for the use of money, interest"
The two words mean the same thing
Now, get down your bibles and let us see
what Gods commandments are about
taking usury-interest.
Turn to Leviticus, chapter XIV: 80 81.
What do we read?
And if thy brother be waXen poor,
and fallen in decay with thee, then thou
shalt relieve him, yea though he may be
Il stranger or a sOlOurner, that he may
live with thee. Take thou no usury of
him or increase, but fear thy God, that
thy brother may live with thee. Thou
shalt not give him thy money upon
usury, or lend him thy victuals for in
crease"
Now turn to the twenty-second chap
ter of Ezekiel, 18th and 18th verses
'In thee have they taken gifts to shed
blood, thou hast taken usury and in
crease, and thou hast greedily gained of
thy neighbors by extOrtion and hast for
gotten me, saith the Lord God"
Behold, therefore have smitten my
hand ut thy dishonest gain which thou
hast made"
Now turn to Deuteronomy, XXIH
chapter, 18th verse:
Thou shalt not lend upon usury to
thy brother; usury OF money, usury OF
victuals, usury of anything that is lent
upon usury."
Turn again and read from the 9Th chap
ter of Nehemiah what God says through
him."
"And there was a great cry of the peO-
pie, aud their wives against their breth-
rem the Jews.
Some also there were that said: we,
our sons and our daughters, are many ;
therefore we take up corn Tor them, that
we may eat and live.
Some also there were that said, we
have m0rtgaged our lands, vineyards,
and houses, that we might buy corn be-
cause of the dearth.
There were those also that said, we
have borrowed money for the Kings
tribute, (taxes) aud that upon our lands
and vineyards, yet now flesh il as the
flesh or our brethren, our children rs
their children; and 10, we bring into
bondage our sons and our daughters To
be servants, and some of our daughters
are brought into bondage already
neither il IL i'm our power Ia redeem
them for other men have our lands and
our vineyards.
And was very angry when heard
their cry and these words. Then ! con-
suited with myself and rebuked the mo-
bles, and the rulers, and said unto them,
We exact usury every one of his brother
and set a great assembly against them.
Ipray you let us leave OF this usury'