Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-04-03
RINGREE A POPULIST.
STANDS PAT ON EVERY ARTI-
GLE OF OUR FAITH.
Republicans and Populists and Free-Sii-
YER Democrats Will Name Him for
Governor of Michigan--May Be Heard
From July 81.

Her name was on the program for
speech on Mayor Pingree and his re-
forms. The speech will interest re-
formers generally. because Mayor Pin
gree's views are given on the three
great questions of the day-Finance,
Transportation. Land. Here 1t Is:
Men are best known by the ideas
which they represent.
when we think of Washington, we
are reminded of the hero In war and In
peace, who knew no faltering In the
darkest hours of the republic. and WHO
served his country for eight years with
out money compensation.
when we think of Jefferson we
think OF his memorable words: That
which will promote the interest OF the
individual in the most permanent ana
beneficial form. is the promotion OF the
general good. Increasing the emporium
tiles Of mankind. and charging the
scope OF civilization
when we think OF Monroe. we con-
found HE name with that great doctrine
Of International law now fully recog-
nized throughout the world.
when we think Of Jackson. we are
reminded Of hia h~nve resistance to the
money power. which sought to fasten
upon this country a duplicate OF the
Bank Of ENGLAND.
When We think Of Lincoln we are re-
minded Of his fidelity to the cause NJ
human rights. as represented In the
abolition OF slavery.
when we think of Wendell Phillips
W.. see the figure Of an arlstocrat stoop-
ing to embrace the cause OF the enslave''
negro, unawed by the SCOTS and jeers OF
plutocracy.
"All these men were made for the oc-
casion: BY the oppression OF George
III. Washington was made: In the at
tempt to centralize the government,
Jefferson; from the oppression OF the
Central and South American republics.
Monroe: the attempt to renew the char
ter of the United States bank. Jackson;
and the cause of slavery made Lincoln
and Phillips.
"In the latter we have type living
among us to-day. made by the selfish
greed Of corporate wealth. which seeks
to turn all things to its own interests.
Of the suffrages of the people.
FHazen S. Pingree Is an abolitionist IN
another sense. He believes in the abol-
ition Of corporate wealth. as presented
in financial monopolies. transportation
monopolies and land monopolies.
LET us examine his. position on these
questiore, for 1t is fitting that we. the
future heirs to this republic and its In
stitution-. should study out the science
Of government.
what is financial monopoly? Why
does Mayor Pingree seek to abolish 1t?
Is 1t best for the United States that
these forms OF monopoly be abolished!
! 1--WE find financial monopoly repre-
scented in the national banking system
| OF the country. which delegates to a
few persons almost the entire control
! of the finances, with power to contract
or expand the currency at will, to cause
panics, create distrust. strikes and
bloodshed. Now, Mayor Pingree be-
lieves that the right to issue money
!, should be solely delegated to the peo-
pie, through the treasury, with a gov
4 eminent banking system in which there
/ would be no selfish interests for private
gain.
4 with this idea worked out. 1t is quite
plain that there would be no more pan
les, for the people having confidence in
the government would not rush to the
government banks to withdraw their
money from circulation, as was done in
the panic of 1898. This panic was
brought about by the greed of the bank
ers of Wall street. New York, and the
Bankers of Lombard street. London,
Mho sought to break down the rising
sentiment in favor of the remonetiza-
ton of silver. which was unwittingly
demonetized by act of congress In 1873.
LET us look a little further into this
panic of 1913. The democratic party nal
lust been returned to power ON what
vas popularity supposed to be free Sill
Ter platform, by an serwhelming ma
GRITTY Of both houses of congress. This
platform promised to remonetize silver
With free and unlimited coinage at tho
alto of 16 to 1. But there was an obsta-
lie in the way. TIE president saw fit
O nut a different construction to the
latform.
"There was a prospect, however, that
ongress would pass free coinage bill
YER his veto. TO offset this 1t was de-
jded by the Wall street bankers and
,eir friends in London to give grea.
Inject lesson in the panic that fol-
wed. This was first noticed when
anks began to call in their loans, and
refuse accommodation On the very
est securities.
GAS answer for their offense against
Y dustry and commerce, they gave out,
rough their public press, that the
mic resulted from fear of the remone-
alton of silver. and that when there
IS no farther danger of remonetiza-
4 IN. prosperity would return. A free
mage bill was not passed and what is
re the Sherman act was repealed and
osperity is still far away.