Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1894-05-11
COXEYISIM.

grOwthS upon the OOuy poilliO PlO-
duced by the disturbed political
conditions brought about by the.
war. The first OF these growths
which attracted attention was COM
paratiyely harmless 1t was OF
very rapid development. 1t was
known throughout the north as.
shoddyiSm, or ShOddy. The neces-
sites of the government for quick
aud large supplies, the rapid ln'
fAtlon of the currency and the ease
with which 1t was acquired by
many, who had not sufficient brains
10 understand either the value or
use OF money, suddenly elevated a
class from the lowest ranks Of socl'
ety,to a position ofimmense wealth.
They had plenty of money and
they wanted the people to know II.
So great was their vanity aud love of
show that they soon became a class
peculiar to themselves. They were
not at all dangerous and were IN
very few years relegated to their
former places. They had drawn
heavily from the funds expended
by the general government, but
lacked sufficient common sense toI
reap any real benefit from their
suddenly acquired wealth. Their
decay and death were almost as
sudden as their coming into ex-
istence.
The second class of these fu1gous
growths was OF a more dangerous
and detestable character. They
we're spawned in the North, but
swarmed in the South. They were
of a dual kind, and lived, in part,
upon the general government and,
in part, upon the people of the
South. They assumed the piety of
the priesthood, while they stole
everything they could lay their
hands upon, from millions of state
bonds to the smallest articles Of
wearing apparel. The necessity OF
their existence was found In the
pretended idea OF the officers of the
administration, that the people OF
the South we're so tainted with
treason that they were incapable
of self government. They flourish
ed under the military governments
that existed for some years after
the close of The war. They were
an active element during the recon
struction period, bnt disappeared
as soon as the Southern states were
governed by their own people.
They have entirely ceased to exist,
and the Carpet baggers are now
known On,y IN history.
The third class OF theSe fungouS
prowths was, while composed OF a
higher grade still more dangerous
to the we'll being and prosperity OF
the entire country. The necessity
of the government demanded large
sums of money which were raised
by q tariff. heavier than any known
before, upon the necessaries OF lie.
The manufacturers thus protected =,
prospered to & greater extent than
ever before, because in addition to
the cost of material aud of prOduc
tom they could add enormous
profits without fear OF competition
For years they prOspered at the ex
pense of other industries, especially
of agriculture. When war ceased
and the revenues of the govern
ment were about one hundred
million In excess of the enormous
expenses and interest upon the
pubiic debt, this class of people
became frightened. 1t was a well
known principle of constitutional
law that the government could moi
tax the people beyond the amount
needed for governmental expenses
They we're unwilling TO give Of
their enormous profits and come
into competition with the manu-
tacturers OF the world. They en-
deayored to control legislation anC
from their Efforts sprang the iourti
class of fungous CROWNS IL orueI
to keep up the exhorbltant and IN
needed tariff, it became necessary
to increase the expenses OF thu
government, aud this was done by
appealing to the patriotism of thu
people and under this guiSe, aitel
deserving veterans had been liber
ally provided for, passing amended
pension laws which distributed
millions of money to fictitious oil
fraudulent pensioners who did, in
o very short time, convert one
hundred million excess OF rev enut
into deficit of like amount.
This class for the most part are
arrant frauds, living upon the