People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1893-01-27
THE DRIFT.

American people to watch their
rulers, it is now.
Sheltered by the general rejoicing
at the election of Mr.. Cleveland,
there is being outlined a policy
covertly and stealthlly but reso-
iutely-which means absolute ruin
to the business world.
In the most earnest spirit we i'm
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 E'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
1t, dollar for dollar, for Government
bonds which paid six per cent in
terest 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
a large quantity of them and lived
in a city, to start a 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 compelling
every State Banker, every Factor,
Merchant, Farmer, Manufacturer,
Miner, Miller and Laborer in Amer
lea to pay hun 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 de-
posted as collateral. This interest
was paid generally in advance. One
year $13,000,000 was so paid nearly
twelve months before it was due.
And to make the thing completely,
luxuriously and lavishly lovely, this
pampered favorite Of the Govern
ment was exempt from taxation.
Of course all the money has gone
to these financial centers. 1t was
bound to do so. The suction draw
ing it in that direction was irresisti-
BILE. Their 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 for
twenty years, and the National
Bondholders and National Bankers
have got the gold.
Every State Banker does business
at their mercy-every Factor, every
Merchant, every Planter. There is
a 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 he
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 3 sale
and sadly went to "renting land"
The Tenant felt it next; could no
longer get credit, employ labor or
'emeet the rent" and had to "qult
farming" or "work about by the
day"
The Landlord felt it next; got
discouraged under the mortgage and
under "time prices" and with eyes
blinded by tears and heart that
weighed him down like lead, headed
his little family group as it aban-
doned in dispair the home of many,
many years and iourneyed away to
join the emigrants who have ''moved