The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1891-05-15

emitting bills of credit, or making any
thing but gold and silver a tender in pay
ment of debts, the whole control over the
standard of value and medium of pay
ment is vested in the general govern
ment."
The Supreme Court of the United
States says:
THE states can no longer declare what
shall be money, or regulate its value.
Whatever power there is over the curren-
cy is vested in Congress. If the power
to declare what is money is not in Con-
gress it is annihiated. "-l2. Wallace,
545.
In addition to this power over the cur
rency the constitution defines many 9TH
er powers granted to Congress. Now, to
what end were those powers given to
Congress if not to promote the general
welfare" of the people as expressly stated
in the constitution? Congress is given
control over commerce with foreign ma
tons. Why don't some one say that
ships shall only be chartered to wealthy
corporations and that their keels shall
be plated from stem to stern with gold
and silver? Congress is given control
over the standard of weights and meas
ures; why don't some one suggest that
these shall consist of gold and silver, or
if made of paper be issued through the
medium of corporations with government
bonds as security? Congress is given
power to establish postoffices and post
roads" There is nothing said in the
constitution about issuing postage stamps,
postal notes, cards and orders. Why
don't gone croaker rise on his hind feet
and charge the government with violat-
ing the constitution in issuing those
things? Congress is given power over
the army and navy; why don't they pass
a law that no man is fit for service ex-
cept he is six feet and six inches high
and weighs 200 pounds and then in case
of war, turn the government over to
foreign power because there are not
enough men of standard height andweight
to repel an invasion? Every power was Civ.
en- to Congress to be exercised for the ben
eft of the greatest number" of people
composing the government. Nothing
should prevent the universal prosperity
Of the people but lack of resources, the
want of industry or the existence of war
pestilence or famine. Is our prosperity
impeded by any of these obstacles? No.
This universal cry is, we are in the hands
of the money power-speculators. Thro'
excessive taxes, exorbitant transporta-
ton charges and usurious interest the
people have become slaves. Necessity
is their heartless master. The farmer,
the bulk of whose income can only be re-
allied at one time of the year, and who
is in debt, is forced into debt trade while
making his crop. When made, he is COM
PEELED to sell at once to pay his debt. The
majority of farmers are compelled to do
this. This almost universal unloading of |
the crops at one season of the year depress-
es prices below the average for the year.
The speculator, who produces nothing,
buys at this depressed price and sells in
a few months at an advance of 80 or 40
per cent 1t is from this merciless ne
cessity of selling below the average price
that the farmer wishes to escape. To this
end he does only what Wall street bro
kers and bankers have repeatedly done
solicits government aid. If there was
such an unloading by forced sales of
stock and securities in Wall street as the
farmers are compelled to undergo every
Fall there would be such panic and
grand rush to the White House for gov
eminent aid as has never been witnessed
before. And the capitalists would secure
aid. There would be no Mills or Oates
or Vest to oppose any measure calculated
TO grant relief to the gamblers of Wall
street. The payment of interest one year
in advance on United States bonds is a
oan. 1t is loan to individuals. If the
government can loan to money capitalists
-individuals-why can it not loan to
farmers whose real estate and farm pro-
lucts are their capital? No reasonable
person will deny that this government
vas formed to protect the interest" and
. promote the welfare" of the people.