The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-01-01
LESSONS OF HISTORY.
Aunandale. Mir

If1E REPU BLlCAN PARTY'S GREAT
WORK, AND WHERE 1T CHANGED
FRONT AND BETRAYED THE PEG
PIE.
Editor Representative.
Being in reminiscent mood caused by
the continual efforts of the Republican
hireling press to convince the people that
this party embodies all the honesty,
craftsmanship and legislative ability of
the republic, you will please allow me a
brief space to make record of a thought
or two which trust will not be entirely
void of interest to the many readers of
our marvellous Representative. These
papers all point to the recent elections
in proof of the above
Now, Mr. Editor, far be it from me to
detract one iOta from the just fame of the
Republican party. Render to Caesar
Caesars due, is my motto in all things;
for no cause whatever can gain substan-
tlal aid by resort to misrepresentation or
extravaganza of speech Or pen on the
contrary, in proportion as these are in
dulged in proportion as truth is violated,
is any cause weakened. Therefore, TO
prove clearly that the Republican party
has not been run in the interest of the
people since 1865, will briefly consider the
legislative career of this party during
the eVentful epoch stretching from 1860
70 1881, during which there was not a
break in the succession of Republican
presidents; and for convenience l will
divide this epoch into two PARASITIC one
extending from 1860 to '73; the other, ter
minating in 'S4; these periods being as
opposite in their results upon the devel-
opment and prosperity of the country, as
the antipOdes; the one the grandest era
of moral intellectual and physical growth
and prosperity the world has ever seen;
n nS ,t,r,+ I
and business destruction
Now, kind reader, what directly and
solely gave rise to our busy, active and
successful business life during the former
period? You already divine the answer
1t was generous currency issued by the
government directly to the people Did
the Republican party voluntarily furnish
this, knowing that unparalleled prosperity
| and happiness would ensue? All. no;
not much; and but for the power behind
| the throne forcing this party, we should
never have known the beneficence of legal
tenders. But mighty war, eclipsing in
magnitude and destruction all other mod
| ern wars, was we'll under way: and to
meet the exigencies OF this trying hour
ana save the nation, means, money must
De mad; and so the Republican party, not
voluntarily. not willingly. mind you, but
through sheer cOmpulsion, sent United
States greenbackS abroad on their mission
| and gave to it the most unstinted finan-
| clal prosperity the world has ever seen
Why. my kind reader, no pen can fittingly
portray the financial glory and grandeur
| OF that period. 1t was simply phenom-
| email But bear in mind, no credit is due
the Republican party therefor. They
| simply yielded to a necessity and most
grudg1ngly too, and this now despised
| greenback fought the war to successful
issue, paid every debt without the aid of
a gold or silver dollar. But in April,
| 1865, peace returned to our war-devastat-
ed country, as millions of soldiers were
| discharged, and all looked forward, with
| most Hattering anticipations, to an in
| definite continuation of this era of finan-
cial happiness. But, alas! Such could
| not be, Tor Shylock was in the field al
ready, getting in his deadly work. He
| saw That the people were too prosperous
that there was too much money; so in
| December, 1865, on the assembling of
| congress, this body was confronted with
| That remarkable recommendation that
| the money must be DESTROYED Here Let
me remark that Mr.. Lincoln was inflex-
| Idly opposed to any contraction of the
| currency as destructive to all Industrial
| life; and be it also noted that Hugh Nc
! Culloch was of the same opinion but as
| soon as the assaSSin'S bullet had done its
| work, the secretary saw new light and
recommended, as above stated; and be-
|
| stroylng the peoples money went on and
| business failures speedily followed in the
| cruel wake, from three thousand to eight
thousand a year, Gaping the climax in
| 1873, when that awful financial sirocco
| devastated this country from ocean to
| ocean, engulfing in one common mael-
| strom the mightiest industrial concerns
| of the land. This legislation, l want nv
| readers to bear in mind, was not forced
| upon this great grand. honest CO Repub-
llcan party as was that providing for the
| eX1gencies of the war; but it's voluntary
| act, and to their shame and everlasting
| disgrace be it said. in response to the de-
mand and greed of Shylock This shows
| the loyalty of that party to the people
| who had made them their chosen agents
| to care for the interests of the country
| 1t was the most shameful and unblush-
| ing exemplificat ton of betrayed confidence
in the annals Of legislation.
| You, Mr.. Editor, were not in congress-
| at TINS particular time. Oh, no; ShylOck
| had no use for you. He saw too plainly
that you were there to represent the peo-
pie; not a few monied sharks and scoun-
drels. We all know just where you would
| nave been found and they knew it. too
! so the Republican honest (O politicians
| entered into conspiracy to retire YOU
| and substitute a plant tool of the money
power. Well, farmers, mechanics. labor
| erS in general they robbed you of the
money that had made you and your sew
| eral avocatlons SO profitable, and you so
| happy and contented, and piled it I'D in
| bonds on which you must pay the inter-
| est. say. how many of you walk up every
six months and collect your interest?
Mr.. Editor if you will show me where
| to find farmer or mechanic with any of
these bonds in his eXchequer, you will
place me under renewed obligations to
| you; and moreover, l will go farther to
see him than to see Barnum's big show
| He would be the greatest phenomenon of
this nineteenth century. But mindful of
| your admonition to be brief, reluctantly
take my leave, with the record that these
facts must be hurled at the people again
and again, in hopes thereby that they will
arouse themselves from the semi-coma-
| tose condition ere it is too late.
| E w. B. HARVEY.