West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1897-04-01
BANKS AND BANKERS.
An Able And Interesting Article
On Finance.
The First OF Series OF Valuable Con.
tributiOns on National Issues.

Written Specially for rHE ARGus.
In discussing the question OF cur
rency reform. let us not be mis.eol
by mere terms. nor diverted from
the real, vital issue by pnrtisanshIp.
This is question that concerns us
all alike mean all Of us who are
unfortunate enough, from whatever
cause, to be unable to speculate in
bonds and stocks, or loan money.
and deal in securities. More en-
phatic still, aud more important is
1t to that large class OF our people
who are struggling to maintain
those who are dependent on them,
and pay debts. Debts, In most
cases, contracted under different
and vastly more favorable condi-
lions.
This, it seems 10 me. is a very
favorable time to investigate and
discuss this question. We are tenn
porarily free, and shall be for some
time TO come, from the passions
and prejudices usually engendered
by political campaigns,a and wrought,
like sensible people, to discuss this
question with co0lness and fairness,
and with the sole purpose of arriv-
ing at the truth, independently Of
party politics. IL we differ, let us
differ rs patriots, and answer the
arguments Of our opponents with
logic and facts, if we can, and not
with abuse and calumny. 1t Is
useless and childish 10 characterize
the six and half millions Of Amer
ican citizens, who voted for the
Chicago platform, ms anarchists,
cranks Ond traitors. That is not
the way to reason about this mat
ter. Ii is no longer OF any use to
misrepresent the aims and purposes
of those who differ on this question,
or seek 20 pervert and mjsinLerpret
che opinions and declarations Of
those who favor bin tallism, merely
for the purpose Of arraying those
who do not choose to, or cannot,
investigate the issue for themselves,
against that policy. This is not n
matter of mere vote catching; it is
u matter of deep and vital import
ance, ana should enlist the earnest
and patriotic thought, aud ptins-
taking investigation Of every citizen
IN the land, whether the final CON
cIuslOn arrived at, shall result in
favor Of one party or the other.
Many voters have heretofore act
uaily given up their own Judgment,
and have cast their votes IN favor
ot "A policy they did not approve,
simply because party leaders have
brought everything to bear that
was calculated TO arouse their pre-
JUDGES or their fears. There have
been TOO many grave accusations
brought against the "silyer men,"
and too many horrible prophecies,
to attempt an answer to all Of them
IN one article Of reasonable length,
or in a dozen such. In what ] may
be permitted to say to your readers
IN the future, therefore, / shall
confao myself, in each article, to
one Of the more prominent indict-
meats, or soul narrowing prophe
cies. The residue Of this article
Will be devoted 10 BankS anil
hunters.
The Republican papers and speak
ors during the last campaign la
bored industriously and ince5saptly
to convince voters that the Demo.
cratic party opposed banks, and
bankers az a class, because they
had been so fortunate as to accu
mulato money because tbty con
stitutcd a part Of that mysterious
class called Cuisines men,"
IL was a very common argument,
and, | must admit, one that told
heavily perhaps, iu tho general re
suit that the Democratic party was
appealing to the prcjudices Of the
common people, with tho purpose
Of arraying them against those who
we're wealthy, and hose who were
simply Independent, or "well to
do" as classes. Or, iu other words.
that the Chicago platform was an
appeal to tho lowest and most dam
gerous passions Of men; and that
the policy annonciated therein, WIS
calculated and intended to encour-
age anarchy, socialism. repudiation