The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1893-02-03
QUESTIONS OF THE DAY.
The Drift.

American people to watch their rulers.
it is now.
Sheltered by the the general rejoice
ing at the election Of Mr.. Cleveland
there is being outlined a policy
covertly aud stealthily but resolutely-
which means absolute ruin to the
business world.
In the most earnest spirit we inn
plore our merchants, our farmers, our
laborers to study the situation for
themselves.
The great bankers of the financial
centres, where all our money is con-
gested, are drawing closer together
every day, irrespective of party, to
extend their dominion. These are the
men who have "cornered'' the bulk of
the money.
How have they done it? By the
laws which have enabled them to
lower the value of greenbacks just
after the war; laws which said to the
holder Of greenbacks, your money shall
no longer be good in payment Of
interest on bonds and Custom House
duties.
Further, the laws which enabled the
Spectator who bought up a large
amount of that paper money which
bore no interest to exchange it, dollar
for dollar, for Government bonds which
paid six per cent interest and paid no
tax.
Further, by laws which changed the
condition of those bonds and said they
should only be paid in gold.
Further, by laws which allowed the
holder of those bonds, if he had large
quantity of them and lived in city, to
start National Bank ; get ninety cents
of money for every dollar of the bonds,
pay one per cent for the use of that
money and have the privilege of CON-
polling every State Banker, every
Factor, Merchant, Farmer, Manufac-
turer, Miner, Miller and Laborer in
America to pay him from six to thirty
per cent for the use of that money
which the Government gave him for
one. At the same time every man,
woman and child in the country was
taxed heavily to pay him six per cent
in gold on the bond he had deposited
az collateral. This interest was paid
generally in advance. One year $l3 :
100000 was so paid nearly twelve
months before it was due. And tc
make the thing completely: luxuriously
and lavishly lovely, this pampered
favorite of the Government was exempt
from taxation.
Of course all the money has gone tc
these financial centres. 1t was bound
to do so. The suction drawing it in
that direction was irresistible. Theil
bonds called for gold. The coupons
called for gold. Every Custom House
called for gold, to put into the hungry
maws of the conspirators who were
cornering Gold, Gold, GOLD!
This thing has been going on fol
twenty years, and the National Bond
holders and National Bankers have got
the gold.
Every State Banker does business al
their mercy-every Factor, every
Merchant, every Planter. There is
n graduation in the servitude, but the
livery of the serf is there all the same
The Laborer felt it first, and his
children cried for bread while be
YEARLY tramped the street hunting
for work.
The Chopper felt it next; stood by
and saw the mule, and the COW, and
the cotton seed sold at Bailiff s sale
and sadly went to renting land"
The Tenant felt it next; could nc
longer get credit, employ labor OIL
"meet the rent" and had to "quit farm
ing" or "work about by the day"
The Landlord felt it next; got dis
couraged under the mortgage and under
time prices" and with eyes blinded
by tears and heart that weighed hin
down like lead, headed his little family
group as it abandoned in dispair the
home of many, many years and jour
neyed away to join the emigrants who
have "moved to town" to "school theil
children"
Next comes the Merchant. How
many of them hit the wall last year
Even Bradstreet, anxious as be was t.
make good showing, could not concsa
the tremendous slaughter going On il
their ranks, How many more of then
are nervously scanning "Bils Receiv-
able" and comparing them with "Bill