The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1893-09-28

of this debt in a money which~ for
twenty years has been gradually grow
ing in purchasing power, while their
means of paying have grown proper
tionately less.
End, 1t is clear, then, that the cred
itors of the people would not rejoice"
at receiving their So-called pay-pay
for what.-in anything else than the
constantly approaching gold coin or
its equivalent.
AS to my signing the paper you en-
close, | have no objection if you salts
fly me on one point: Whether you are
a crank, or bondholder, or hireling
of the gold bugs. Yours etc.
b. +. GRADY.
DIR. BAHNSON'S REPLY.
Hon. B. f. GRADY, M. c.:
DEAR SIR-Many thanks for your
very nice letter, which does you great
credit. The argument that there are
no creditors of the United States be-
cause the United States government
can't be a debtor. and yet can create a
debt. is concise in statement, logical
in sequence and clear-as mud-in de-
ductiOn. You say ''as agent, it can
with its radical assumption of SOW
ereignty-plunge into debt, it can rob
one class OF the peoples of the United
States to enrich. Others"
Now, / understand it! It's ''radi-
cal assumption of sovereignty" that
enables an average Congressman tC
take from the people s., 900 besides
clerkShip, mileage and ether perquis-
ties to the value OF several thousand
dollars more, for sitting around in
Washington for few months, when
he couldn't earn half that much by a
years hard work at home. And max
ing his constituents take fifty-odd
cents in silver for dollar, is also a
radical assumption of sovereignty.
GAS agent. it can-with it's radical
assumption of sOvereignty-rob one
class of the peoples of the United
States to enrich others"-e. g., Con
gressmen and silver mine owners.
That's as clear as spring water, Mr.,
Grady.
But further on IN your letter you
seem not to like so well this radical
assumption of sovereignty" You i'm
ply that the United States govern
ment had no right-with It's radical
assumption of sOvereignty'-to impose
on North Carolina her ratable share
of the war debit in fact, you say, IF
you are an honest man, you believe
this is robbery" Did you fight in the
war. Mr.. Grady? Did you get whip
ped? ! did, and although | was only
twenty years old when | gave up my
gun at Appomatox, l knew enough to
expect that 1 would have to pay my
Just between me and you, Mr.. Grady.
1 felt mighty willing to undertake
the job, for / had had all the fighting
| wanted. Now that we have SO
nearly completed the task, | don't see
the sense or honesty in turning around
and calling it robbery; do you, Mr..
Grady?
And you object to compelling the
people of North Carolina to pay their
imposed share of this debt in a money
which for twenty years has been grad
ually growing in purchasing power,
while their means of =paying have
grown proportionately less" Did
you expect cotton to keep on bringing
a dollar pound, as was the case just
after the war? And is it fact that
our means of paying have grown pro-
portionately less? L have hoped and
believed that North Carolina has adj
vanced in wealth and material pros
perity during the past twenty years,
and | base my hope and belief On the
tax returns, but doubtless you have
more reliable information, Mr.. Grady
You say that gold coin is constant
j J
liteTally: sit is clear then that the
creditors of the people (aren't you
one of them, Mr.. Grady?l would not
rejoice at receiving their Your pay
pay for what! GIL be blessed if ]
know, Mr.. Gradyl-in anything but
the constantly approaching gold coin
or it's equivalent"
OF course you don't want to foo
anybody by saying, LAS to my singing
the paper (pledgel you enclose, have
no objection if you Salty me on one
hondholder or hireling of the gold
bugs" Is that your only objection
Mr. Grady? Now, if differing with
you on the question of silver coinage
constitutes crank, I acknowledge
| the imputation, and thank you for the
compliment. Indeed, I will go fur
! ther in my crankiness and avow my be
| lief that President Cleveland in oppos
| ing the silver coinage, is better
friend of the people than you, ane
knows more about finance than vol
will ever learn. am sorry to say
am not a bondholder. Wouldn't yo-
like to own some bonds yourself, Mr.
Grady? Is it more likely that l am {
| hireling of the gold-bugs than you ar,
/ hireling of the silver lobby? If yol
really want to know what / am, ash
your colleagues, Messrs. Henderson
Bower and Settle, Senators Ransom
/ and Vance, or Vice-President Steven
son. But what has this to do will
your signing the pledge, Mr.. Grady.
But tell me, Mr.. Grady, in what re
spect do you differ from the bond
holders? They don't want to tax
silver for their bonds and you won
| promise to take it for even half O
/ your salary. Compared to none
value of your services, have thei
bonds enhanced disproportionately
In your Judgement, is it honest TO
you to try to pay them IN cain whic