The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1891-08-20
PRESIDENT CARES ANNUAL
ADDRESS.
rContinued from first Page. /
We see great reasons for as
serting that this boated ciyiliza-

serting that this boated civiliza
ton is not shared il hy tht
working man who here, a. The
world over, is the pith, the mar
row, the backbone OF the coun.
try. And, how is ne to share
therein handicapped as he is in
the race OF life, in the severe
struggle for existence Handi-
capped By his own ignorance
which he so unfortunately evin'
ces when lie asserts his opposi
ton TO that bill, which row il
anything but spirit Of fairness
is being discussed throughout
the country-I mean, of course,
the Sub-Treasury-and touching
this I do nor think it aniss to
say that we are not welded To
that particular phraseology
which now characterizas the bill
We do not prey for the passage
Of this bill unaltered and Undis
cussed for that would deprive
us Of the opinions and expert
ences Of others, but we are at
tached, yea, even committed to
the principles involved, and are
convinced that only after full
and free discussion can We ar
rive at a satisfactory solution of
the subject. There is precedent
sufficient of governments loan
ing money to the citizen and
without security, and thus is es-
tablisbed the power to loan,
which is indeed all sufficient.
The kind of security does, not
enter into the case, the govern
ment can select what it consid-
ers ample and best calculated to
relieve the wants OF the people.
1t is unaccountable, indeed / can
not understand how a man de-
pendent upon the sweat of his
brow for his daily bread can OPP
pose the principles involved III
this plan. The very fact of the
intense hatred with the mo-
nopolists and their hirelings
throughout the country bear not
only the bill but its authors
should convince the laboring
man that its passage would pro-
duce not only a radical change
but that that change would most
probably operate to his benefit
since it is so bitterly opposed by
the ultra-mdhied classes. Our
quarrel, let me say here, is not
with the State, which has ever
been mindful Of our necessities,
but with the National Govern
ment, aud particularly those
branches Of it which are respon-
sible for the present ubiquitous
protective system and the de-
monetization Of silver. The de-
mand for the increase in the cir
culation Of his metal Will, if
unheade1, only intensity the
conditions which even now the
American laboror finds almost
intolerable. | will not touch
upon the circumstances Of that
great wrong, the characterization
Of silver, which was perpetrated
upon the people of these United
States because you are all no
doubt acquainted with the de-
tails, put I do not think it ont of
place to add that it is now gen
orally believed that the passa ge
Of that act in 1873 was one ele-
ment Of a great conspiracy to
turn over the finances of this
country to the banker and spec
ulator. Grant himself knew not
he had signed such a bill, and
since no Senator or Congress
could be found who would tell
aught Of its passage; the sus-
picions Of the people have been
confirmed.
Such action on the part of
Congress is inexplicable in the
light Of the progress of the
ninete enth century, a stain upon
the pages Of its civilization
which IS one turns them back
over the past twenty-five years
he finds them deep dyed with
the toll and sweat of poverty
stricked millions. The existing
national bank laws is the shape
the robbery assumed-I say rob-
berry because the government
delegates to class, the bank
ers, the power of contracting
and expanding the currency,
thereby comforting upon them
the unnatural perogative of fix
ing the price of the necessaries
of life. The percicious effects
OF this system can but be real
lied when we reflect that within
a few short years the vast ma
jority Of the wealth Of this coun-
try has passed into the hands of
less than five thousand men. l.
not something radically wrong
with a system Of finance under
which within twenty years the
prudent laborers of this country
have lost more than one half Of
their entire holdings? And,
that too, in the face of the facts
that the country is one of mex
haustibie resources and the gov
eminent at peace with all the
world. Our civilization has an
undercurrent Of fearful threat.
a moral plague has struck
society tbrOuph To ;tc vary aoro