The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1891-11-13
TWO GREAT DEMANDS.
A6o4 IsA NATIONAL BANKS AND GIVE
lbs FREE SILVER.

Theie planks in the Alliance Platform.
Tim1 20 BE Up and Doing
Copyright, 1891. by Reform Press News Asso-
citation. New YorA1
Two specific demands Of the Alliance
are:
The abolition of national banks.
The free and unlimited coinage Of sill
yer. ~
Ihs Alliance lays as much stress on
these demands AS on any other. but the
first famed above shrinks from open dis
cussicn in some way, and efforts are
made by the plutocratic presto obscure
it altogether by making terrific on
slaught on some other Alliance demands
the sEbfSeasury plan, for instance,
whichv thu plutocratic papers fail to
state IL ds4gned to take the place of the
nat'onaNfnking system
The ma NAL banks are like the scrip
tural IN that is not quenched." It
seems the AN never get enough. They
already privileges that ought to
satisfy tne ost rapacious gang Of rob-
bers or TN r.. post exacting and despotic
monarch. they can deposit 800, 200
worth OF pds with the government
and continuing TO draw interest on them
They can issVle 800, 900 of currency on
These bonds, (which they can lend at 8
per cent. pc Maps more. But If it be
8 per cent, tAvey can realize 81, 200 per
year on this currency. Add to this the
81 900 per year they receive on their
bonds. and it appears that they get
81 200 per year for the bonds they have
deposited with the government.
n
A bank depositing these bonds and is
suing the $4,000 in currency is charged
only per cent per year by the govern
ment, or in other words, is charged 5000
per year for the use of 100000. Besides
all this, many of ahe ''favorite" banks
(Which are usually banks in which some
government official i\s interested) are given
the use of fabulous Sums of government
money for nothing. AT one time these
banks held 100000, 900 of government
money which they LOANED out to the peo-
pie at stiff rates of interest, but they did
not pay the government one cent for the
use of this money. These banks have
about fifteen millions of the gov
erment's money today for which they
are paying nothing, but which they are
lending out and getting interest on.
Now, in the name on Justice and rea-
son. ought not all thdes especial priv
ileges" satisfy the banks? Well, they
are not satisfied. Thdy seem to want
the earth. Isn't the charge of 5000 per
year small enough for II use of 800, 900
per year? Any reasonat person would
think so, but the rapacit IF the banks
so completely blinds t in that they
can't see it. They don't Nwant to pay
that 5000. They say it is \aA unconstltu-
tional tax, and they are lgping to law
about it, and if the future inAy be judged
by the past they will win thi case
The ground on which the suit is
brought is that the portion of the bank
ing act charging the l per c\ent. origi-
mated in the senate. The banks claim
that this tax is levied for the purpose of
raising revenue, and that it is v.hconsti-
tutional because the act provides THAT
bills for raising revenue shall Originate
N the house of representatives," and
since this charge of per cent. originated
in the senate. it is unconstitutional
Now, farmers, producers, workingmen
everywhere; You whose brawhy arms
and unceasing toll give valua to the
bonds which are used by the banks for
without you the bonds wouldn't be
worth sewer gas), what do you think Of
this latest cap"r of the money power
Are you going 10 stand idly and llstless-
ly by and let this power get such control
OF yon and your public Institutions that
it can never be broken? Are you going
to permit the opportunities for robbery
and extortion to increase around you?
Do you mean anything by the demand
that the present banking system be abol-
ished? Can you go to the government
and get the use of money for nothing or
for per cent: Wake up, men! Look |
around and about you Read! Think!
Talk! Educate yourself and your neigh
Dor. Forces are being aligned now TO. |
great struggle against white slavery in |
the near future. Are you ready for tie |
fray9 Are you noble freeman or COZ
temptible henchman?
The work and proceedings of the bank. |
ing power show plainly that it does not
believe you are sincere in your demands,
or if you are it has power to prevent you
form securing it. For in the face of
your demand and in spite of the great
agitation now going on all over the
country, now banking and loan COM
panies are being formed, and in every
large city in the country new buildings
are going up with the words National
Bank" carved in large letters over their
doors.
The second demand quoted above is
"the free and unlimited coinage of
silver"
The Alliance is sincerely in earnest