The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-10-11
MONEY PATRIOTISM.
WHAT IT COST TO SAVE A NATION
INVOLVED IN WAR.

| INVOLVED IN WAR.
Loyalty OF the Republican Party In tho
| Dark Days of Rebellion Recalled-Ths
| Party Today Is Aotuated by the Same
Spirit.
A third Of a century ago the test Of
loyalty was applied to the American
citizen as never before and perhaps
never will be again under like condi-
ton Of circumstances. The people who
have lived during these past 88 years
have been dazzled by the achievements
of our soldiery. All the deeds of hero
isIp which crowned our success have
been attributed to those who fought on
fields made famous by the sacrifice Of
our soldiers. Poets have sung in raptur-
ous strains, and orators have painted
| glowing pictures of the sublime deeds
of noble souls who rushed into the bat
tie smoke and saved a nation in the
hour of its greatest struggle. The peo-
pie never tire of recounting the achieve
ments of Grant. Sherman, Sheridan and
the hundreds of thousands Of brave men
they led on many tiresome march and
assaulting impregnable fortresses. None
too much has ever been said of these
men and their heroic work 1t is rather
to be regretted that they are now among
the forgotten ones or the neglected ones
In tho public mind.
There were those whom fortune smil-
ed upon, whose power Of wealth was to
be a factor in the problem Of the war
that few people have ever investigated.
In 1851 the rich men Of the United
States, those who owned the capital,
those who had managed the great finan-
cial enterprises that carried us forward
to the period of the war, were to stand
in the forefront of the country's great
est danger and decide tho future Of the
struggle. ........
The first battle of Bull Run had been
fought and lost. The treasury of the
United States was empty. The soldiers
in the field were unpaid. Means for the
purchase of army supplies were want
| ing. Equipments for troops were every
where being called for without the
means with which to purchase. What
was to be done was the great problem
that met the men who stood for the ma
tion's safety.
The secretary of the treasury. Salmon
P. Chase, by appointment met num-
ber of bankers Of New York and Phila-
delphia in New York city on the 10Th
/ Of August. 1861. The government asked
for loan of $3.50, 600, 900 and gave
/ notice that it would need as much more
In very short time. The secretary in
this meeting presented the condition
that confronted the country as only Mr..
Chase could do ID. After the glowing
| picture painted by him of the country's
needs and the possibilities of the war
the bankers present replied that the
bank funds were largely in the nature
Of trust funds, and duty to the deposit
ors demanded that these funds should
not be jeopardiEed.
This was the most critical hour IN the
national history. Neither before nor
since has there ever been time when
the turning of few men against the
governments demands would have been
so fatal In results. A Philadelphia
! banker, whose name will not mention,
addressed the convention, or the meet
ing, with an eloquenee that would have
done honor to Americas great and most
beloved Webster. He spoke for heroic
measures to save heroic country The
picture painted before these bankers
was one of unselfsh love Of country. He
declared in the presence of the assem-
bled leaders Of the wealth of the nation
that locality and home. city and state.
were nothing.
II am. !" said he "a citizen Of no
mean city, but Of one that has ever sup
ported the authority Of the government
and is now doing its full share to main
tain the integrity Of the nation, but
here today in tho presence Of the gov
ernment Of the United States. represent
ed by the secretary of the treasury, In
view Of the Importance Of the crisis
now before us, with due consideration
of the serious issue depending upon your
action today and regarding the wants
of the soldiers In the field and their
suffering families at home, waiting re-
ceipts of money which the government
owes, but cannot pay-in consideration
of all this and more which it is need
less to mention ! am not of Philadel-
phia. / am of the United States, as
am sure you all are-not Of Boston, of
tha I1n;taa stata. ,ha saonrity ~
whose aowar,r,ant 10 ,,au ,,,,nsr,lsd bv
ss.snI,s "a enarniss ar,nea to hattle for
a. Saa.u1.t;n,, >,
iss A g.. AZ .aa,os. .ho,a -aforroa -
bod basn ooro,naad be annea1ad Inv ,slr.
ina fiat !. vota ba taLa,, on tha secreta.
ry's proposal, which was unanimously
agreed to, The crisis was passed. Tho
at - nar y, o,ds, to show 10 tbe uyorld
that Amer;can o.n,taI was ,oval and
oonfdont pw th;s ono stroes ~ snocsss.