Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1897-07-15
THE RON6 AGE.

classical literature tells US
about the golden age, the silver
age, the brazen, age, the heroic
age and the iron age. Contem-
porary literature and current eX-
perience tell US much about the
bond age (the space between the
words may be omitted without
changing the sense). The golden
age, we are told by both Hesoid
and Ovid, was characterized by
simplicity and purity; the silver
age by voluptuousness and god
lessness; the brazen age by Wild
hess, war and violence: the
heroic age by virtuous aspiration,
and the iron age by the absence
of justice, piety and faithfulness.
The historian of the future, when
characterizing the bond age Cor
bondage) will tell us that during
the period free men voted them
selves and their posterity into
slavery at the instigation Of cum
ming men, and for the hope OF
present gain. There is nothing
truer in ancient or modern litera
ture than the wise proverb ''the
borrower is slave to the lender"
And itapplies alike to individuals,
cities, counties, states, nations,
improvement or irriga-
ton districts. If a courthouse is
needed and the question arises,
shall we build a S., 900 house and
pay cash, or $4,000 one and
pay in bonds, the people will vote
for the bond issue. Bonds are
issued for every conceivable pur-
pose, and people will clamor for
their issue and curse the tax col
lector when the interest must be
paid-the bonds are not paid, but
refunded by issuing more bonds,
and our children and grand
children inherit from our folly a
burden that never grows lighter.
The bonded Indebtedness Of the
United States is a fair illustration
IF the working of this scheme for
enslaving the people.
Although the amount of the
national debt has been paid two
and a-half times, we now owe
more than the entire amount, and
here is hardly hope that, how
ever much we pay, it will ever
grow less. The theory of bonded
Indebtedness is eunningly de-
gised scheme to override the con-
'titutionaI provisions exempting
he homestead from forced sale.
IN our state the home cannot be
nortgaged directly, and this pro-
Vision has always been opposed
by the money lenders. The
scheme is a device of the
levi, acting through his obse-
luious servants, the avaricious
enders, to make the homes of the
people security for their cent per
cent. Most of these bonds are
held in England as hostages for
he tribute for which our people
lave become liable through their
ssue. 1t has already become al
serious question with political
whether this country
an ever get rid of the burden
which already costs between
800, 100000 and S4O0,OOO,O00 a
7ear in interest. How can the
be paid when the inter-
st equals the net profits of our
lation's industry? Let every
'ody know that every bond issued
institutes a mortgage on every
lone within the county, NUM-
ipality or district, and that the
is tax that must be paid |
very year until the full amount
f the bonds have been paid, and |
fter all this, the same bonds and |
he same mortgage exists, and
he same interest must be paid as
efore. 1t is perpetual notion
nee started, it never stops.
When the bonds get ripe they
an be gathered, but another
rop is always ready to take their
lace. This is called refunding. !
! better word is renewing. And !
ms this legacy of financial claw