Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-12-18
NOTES AND COMMENT.
TIE Same Irrepressible Conflict Is Being
Waged.

NOTES AND COMMENT.
TIE Same Irrepresslble Conflict IL Being
Waged.
The issues involved in the recent
campaign were not unlike those that
were waged with terrific force on
either side in the days of Andrew jack
son. However much the discussion
has hinged on the silver question, no
Intelligent man will deny the fact that
the money question was at the bot
tom and was the real issue in the
recent campaign.
Not only that, but It was a contest
made by the banks for the control Of
the currency. A contest between those
who seek to monopolze the money Of
the nation and those whose products
and labor are measured by it. Since
Jackson's time organized wealth has
not only increased in volume but in
political power and influence. Now,
as then, 1t regards the politician as a
purchasable commodity. But it does
not stop here; it enters our legisla-
tive halls with its paid lobbyists and
spreads the slime of its corruption on
the sacradotal robes of the ministry
and debauches the administration OF
Justice in our courts.
The people, too, have increased in
numbers from 100000 to 100000.
During and since the war the money
power, ever busy, has made its greatest
strides and strengthened its intrench-
ment in opposition to the rights of the
people. This has been done so quiet
ly, so shrewdly, under the specious
pleas of PATRIOTISM" honest money"
the national credit" ETC., that the
people to-day scarcely realize the ex-
tent OF the danger which threatens
them. Yet this great power which
now threatens the life of the repub-
lie is twenty times as strong as it was
In Jackson's time, and its ramifica-
tons permeate every channel of COM
corner of the land.
The developments of the recent
should be enough to open
the eyes of those who have hitherto
been closed to the imminent danger
Of this huge octopus The banks, EN-
boldened by their successes in the
past, have openly threatened to pro-
duce a panic and widespread disaster
II their demands were not acceded to
and the existing gold standard" main
tanned. The letter of Henry Clews,
to invoke "the reserve
power of Wall street." is revolution
airy In its spirit and goes to show that
the banks would plunge the country
Into internecine war If 1t was neces-
sary in order to gain their point.
That letter stands out as a monument
Of insolence and threatened lawless-
ness that justifies us In raising the
black flag of anarchy over Wall street.
With increased force now comes the
warning of Andrew Jackson when the
same fight was being waged sixty
years ago. Speaking of the United
States bank in his farewell address
he said:
1.-THE immense capital, the peculiar
privileges bestowed upon it, enabled it
70 exercise despotic sway over the
other banks in the entire country.
From it's superior strength it could
seriously injure, II not destroy, the
business Of any one of them which
might incur it's resentment and it
openly claimed for itself the power of
the currency throughout
he United States. In other words, it
asserted land undoubtedly possessed)
he power to make money plenty or
scarce, at its pleasure, at any time, and
n any quarter of the Union, by con-
rolling the issues of other banks and
an expansion or COMPEL
ng a general contraction of the circu-
ating medium, according to it's own
will The other banking institutions.
we're sensible of its strength, and they
soon generally became its obedieht
Instruments, ready at all times to exc
cute its mandates; and, with the banks
went also that numerous
class of persons in our commercial
cities who depended altogether on
bank credits for their solvency and
means Of business; who are therefore
obliged, for their own safety, to pro-
,itiate the favor Of the money power
by distinguished zeal and devotion In
ts service"
Continuing he said:
1.-THE result of the ill-advised legis-
alton, which established this great
was to concentrate the
whole moneyed power of the Union,
With its boundless means of corrup-
ion, and it's numerous dependents, I'M
len the direction and command of one
head; thus organizing
his particular interest as one body
Ind securing to it unity and concert
If action throughout the United
States and enabling it to bring for