Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1897-01-24
WEEKLY INDEPENDENT.
GOVERNMENT by CORPORATIONS.

GOVERNMENT by CORPORATIONS.
In q recent address on trusts de-
liyered in Kansas City Judge Scarritt.
after making a strong. clear presen-
tation OF the dangers to our political
fabric and the financial oppression OF
oil classes Of people which result from
the various forms Of this towering
commercial evil, fell upon the most
vicious and threatening OF them ALL
the proposition to retire government
g~reenbacks and treasury notes. He
refers to it in the following lucid and
vigorous fashion:
Tho latest and most dangerous
tendency toward monopoliZation in
this country lies in the proposition OF
some Of our most respected but, 1t
seems to me, misguided, citizens to
place tho power Of issuing money in
the hands OF private citizens or cor
~porations. The power to issue the
currency Of the county should re-
side in the government alone. II
such power is given to individuals or
corporations, no restrictive laws
would be strong enough to prevent
the use OF that power for the benefit
Of those holding it, to the detriment
Of the people. The same temptation
TO create a currency demand would
arise as now arises to create a demand
for a commodity. So called elastic
ity Of tho currency, in the hands OF
private corporations. would be an
siridescent dream It's elasticity
would be measured by the financial
interests OF those who control the
right to issue it. 1t may be a beauti-
full scheme in theory, but in practice
it would be too much Of a strain up.
on the cupidity OF the recipients OF
such extraordinary and dangerous
power. A monopolization Of the cur.
rency Of the country would be the
crowning feat OF the trust system
in this country and a deathknell to
prosperity and advancement OF the
people,
1t ia refreshing to see a public man
present 70 momeDtous a question in
30 clear and unmistakable guise.
Judge Scarritt has robbed the sub
ject of all that ponderous yerbiage,
that Delphic maze and sibylline mys-
terry in which the gold monometallists
Of the country, with Mr.. Cleveland
ct their head, have attempted to
clotbe it.
Their plan, as he las made it PLAN
mean for the government to GO out
Of the banking business so that the
banks may go into the governing
business.
This would be tine inevitable
corollary il Mr.. Cleveland's soi distant
antitrust busting suggestions on
reform OF the currency were adopted.
II they are followed, then may we
confidently look for the pl~utOcratic
combination Of Wall street and the
bourse, which seeks, as did the
Roman triumvirate. to control tie
world. The national banks, whose
power over our currency system this
modern Daniel would enlarge and
make absolute, bear the same re.
lation 10 the London Caesar, the New
York Lepidus and the Berlin Antony
that the winged messengers who fly
at the bidding OF Lucifcr bear to his
satanic majesty.
This gigantic trio Of mercenary
greed and rapacity holds in ITS
Golfers almost $4,000, 900 O00 OF the
primary money OF the world. At IT,
same time 70,000,000 OF American
who produce annually one-half OF
the combined wealth production aud
transact among themselves ono-haif
OF the business and exchanges OF the
globe, are reduced 10y tho present in.
competent. abortive, irrational and
unciyilizcd eystcm OF gold monOmelal-
ism to measuro their vast resources
Of accumulation, production and Gls.
tribution on tho petty possessions Of
iess than 300, O0O,00 0 OF the money Of
Snal redemption. This They ar forced
10 supplement with such sums ma
they may coax from tho worlds
octopus by issuing long timc bonds
1t oxce ssiye and exorbitant rates Of
interest and by the payment Of such
commissions az would astound tho
imagination and appal tho cupidity Of
ihe most arrant miser on earth.
Whenever this government, as a
necessary sequel to its going out OF
Ihs banking business, finds it Is com.
70 surrender TO tho national
tho functions OF issuing the
money Of tho country and regulating /
Ia supply, then has the timo como for
rosdom TO bid for a time this country
I ours rarewell- Kansas City Times. '