The Louisiana populist., 1897-01-29
NATCHlTOCKES, La, JANUARY 20, 1897

Nor does it seem that Jackson had
any confidence in the patriotism Of
the bankers Of that time, for he ADDS:
1--WE are not left to conjecture low
the moneyed power thus organized
and with such a weapon in it's hands,
would be likely to use it. The distress
and alarm which pervaded and agi-
tated the whole country when the
Bank OF the United States waged war
upon the people, and in order to COM
pei them to submit to it's demands,
cannot yet be forgotten. The ruthless
and unsparing temper with which
whole cities and communities were op-
pressed, individuals impoverished and
ruined, and scene Of cheerful pros
perity suddenly changed into one Of
gloom and despondency, ought to be
indelltbly impressed on the memory OF
the people Of the United States. If
such was its power in time of peace
what would it not have been in sea-
son OF war with an enemy at your
doors? No nation but the freemen OF
the United States could have come out
victorious in such contest; yet, If you
had not conquered, the government
would have passed from the hands OF
the many to the hands OF the few; and
this organized money power, from its
secret conclave, would have dictated
the choice of your highest officers aud
compelled you to make peace or war,
as best suited their own wishes. The
forms ofk your government might for
a time have remained; but its living
spirit would have departed from it."
Nicholas Biddle was then, as J.
Pierrepont Morgan Is now, the leading
spirit Of the money power He man.
aged to subsid:ze the leading demo-
cratic papers from Boston to New Or
leans. Thousands of dollars were
leaned e, to congressman on no Sc
curity whatever. The leading papers,
both whig and democratic, arrayed
themselves on the side Of the money
power just as they are doing now. A
congressional investigation showed
that government money was used to
influence democratic papers to take a
stand against Jackson. When Jackson
learned this he instructed his secretary
OF the treasury to remove the govern
ment funds from the banks. His sec
retary refusing to do it. he removed
him and appointed one that did. Then
a terrific storm burst over Jackson's
head. He was assailed on every Side.
Many of the leading politicians. among
whom were Clay, Webster and CAL
houn. Joined in the war on Jackson.
Benton and others stood nobly by
him. The people rallied around him.
Many OF the interesting details of that
historic contest is given in a lecture
recently delivered by Charles H.
Schreiner, Lincoln elector in 1850.
Speaking of this memorable cam
paign Mr.. Schreiner says:
Nicholas Biddle was president Of
the great bank. He was the money
king Of that day and generation. He
was not only a banker; he was g
scholar, an author, an orator and q
democrat, and had supported Jackson
at his first election. He lived in a
marble palace on the banks OF the
Delaware, fifteen miles above Philadel-
phia, and there in that palace Of pure
white marble, with great Corinthian
columns. this money king dispensed a
hospitality equal almost to any king
in Europe. Thousands Of people
thought him a vastly greater man
than General Jackson. I was q boy
then, IA or Is years old, working in a
printing Office, and I remember all the
papers announced one day that Mich
olas Biddle would pass through our
village. W. had no railroads then.
People Travelled in the old stage coach
or on the canal packet four or five
miles an hour. You will hardly believe
me when say that people came fifty
sixty, eighty and one hundred miles
came on foot, on horseback, in wag-
ons, any way and every way. Came
for what? Why, to see the great
money king, Nicholas Biddle, as he
stood on the deck of the boat going
up north to take command of his party
in the fight against Jackson. These
good people wanted to tell their chill
dren that they had seen the great
money king, Nicholas Biddle, the mar
that crushed General Jackson!
"Of course Jackson was not ye
crushed, but they were so sure HI
would be that to them it was just th'
same thing. Well, some time befor'
Biddle's charter expired he took tril
to Washington to have a talk with hi
then friend Jackson about a new char
ter for his bank. The old one wouls
expire in 1886, and, as Jackson was {
candidate for reelection. he though
it would be good thing to tell hin
about the vast power and influence O
his bank and it's many branches. H
told Jackson that the merchants an,