The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-06-17
standard man could hope to carry Ohio for
the presidency. Poor Tom has a cold"
Truly, w. w.
Minneapolis, June 8, 1896.
DOWN WITH THE BANK NOTE.

Editor Representatives:
MY earliest recollection. In the line of
politics, runs back to the era of "Harrah
For Jackson" and Down With the
Bank. This slogan had grown out OF
recent report to congress which showed
the national bank then engaged in y con-
hict with President Jackson and the ad-
mlnlstration OF the government had a
large number Of members Of congress
from whom it was expecting renewal Of
It's charter, In its pay by way of loans and
discounts; among them Henry Clay and
Daniel Webster (whp were very loud
mouthed and bitter against Jackson) each
TO large amounts on notes never intended
TO De paid and which in fact, never We're
PAID. 1t was war, like that in heaven,
OF the creature against the Creator; and
like that, invoked the slogan, Down with
the Bank which could be heard on
every hand. and as a result, down she
went. and the people triumphed. 1t looks
as II the time had come for renewal of
the slogan with a double applica ton when
we read the article in the New York Tri-
Weekly World gold bug) of the 18th ult,
winch consists of report by its Wash
lngton correspondent, of the impressions
or leading Eastern statesmen and politi-
clans In view Of the Southern and West
ern tidal wave sweeping over the land.
AFTER citing representatives of Vermont
pennsylvania and other states he tackles
he feared to think what would occur II
the question of free silver were to be sub
mitted on its merits to the people of that
state
Il believe that 1t would command a
heavy vote" he said; ALTHOUGH THE
BANKS WOULD THREATEN EVERY
ONE WITH MORTGAGE ON HIS
HOME AND THE GREAT MANUFAC-
TURING CORPORATIONS WOULD
INTIMIDATE THEIR HELP, and prob
ably would prevent any radical express
sion. OF course, am gold man."
l talked with New England manufac-
turer today who employs many hundred
operatives and who has been a partisan
or the single standard. He informed me
that he has been shocked to hear Of man.
ufacturers about Boston who were will
ing to try silver in a greatly enlarged re-
lation, with gold. "FEW MEN WOULD
DARE TO COME OUT OPENLY IN
THIS WAY" HE SAID. THEY
. WOULD HEAR FROM THEIR BANKS
If THEY DID"
Rhode Island manufacturer informed
me that he would welcome silver, to see
III 1t would not do something to end the
awful depression that is weighing down
the line of goods which he is engaged in
making.
IF WERE TO SAY THIS IN PROV
1DENCE. I BELIEVE MY PAPER
WOULD BE HELD UP IN THE
v
BE TREATED WITH SUSPICION. I
know manufacturers who are in doubt on
the question, or else have a decided lean
Ing toward silver, but they fear to talk"
Now, has 1t come to this; that such men
stand IN awe of our great aggregations Of
capital and that as a consequence the lat
ter rule the country? And if men of such
standing are suborned by capital, what Of
the great mass Of commonalty which they
have more entirely and absolutely under
their thumb and in their control? If such
is the case, the republic is dead and ready
for burial The spirit Of our institutions
is gone out of them and nothing but the
shell remains. Decent men everywhere
ought to be shocked at the admissions
made; for, beyond all question they are
literally true of the whole system Of cor
porations, syndicates and monopolies
built up by the consent and action Of both
the old parties; and stranger STILL not
even the reform Populist Party seems to
have walked up to this alarming feature
OF these aggregations of capital ruled
with rod of iron, welded by those who
have but little sympathy with the plain
people Tor whom Mr.. Lincoln had so much
respect and for whom he declared this
goVeTnp1ent was organized and estab-
lished. Why, it is of ten, yes, a hundred
fold more Importance than the silver Ques-
ton, which is revolutioniznz the country
One is mere question of policy, the other
tive government. And yet we are asked
to still further build up and fortify these
institutions that WELD such dangerous
power and to tax the ten millions of far
mers Of the country (already impover-
1sheO to do 1T. If I had never hesitated
before to give in an adhesion to this poll
cy, certainly should now. For the ar
gument drawn from the above is of more
consequence than all that the free traders
have hitherto advanced.
And what is the remedy for all this?
A thorough and radical change of senti-
ment and of the very soul of community
on the subject; by which such things shall
be punished with vigor and without mer-
cy or misgivings on the part of the public.
Make the punishment swift and dire
from ten to hundred lashes would be
more effective than Imprisonment with
the corporation official who would bring
the republic down to ruin. Indeed, such
acts as above referred to. in addition to
all that have transpired in the past, are
preparing the way for the wrath to come
A Kansas Farmer