The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-05-21
PRETENTS WILL NOT DO-MONff
Is WHAT Is WANTED.

Is WHAT Is WANTED.
II there are any mon In this country
who are pledged by every consideration
Of morals and good faith 20 give an earn
est. hearty and enthusiastic support 10
the most liberal measures needed for the
Spanish war # is the people who call
themselves the Chicago Platform Demo
Gratis. For six months before the country
was dragged into actual hostilitiss their
representatives i'm the Senate and House
OF Repre- sentatives were unceasng in
their clamor for war with Spain il that
were necessary for llberaung Cuba from
spaln's dominion. Uncharitabie people
We're unkind or candid Gas You Wild
enough to sSy they were doing 1t for po-
lltical effect But whatever their secret
motive. the fact can be disputed by none.
They clamcred for war and they got war,
and now ordinary decency requires that
they should put their shoulders TO the
wheel and be liberal with the resources
that the country requires. Excuses may
be very spccious ana plausible subter-
subterfuges will not meet successfully
Spanish ironclads or Spanish soldiers
with Mauser rifles in their hands. Iron
clad ships and men, many men, properly
equipped and with the latest and most
improved weapons and ammunition are
what is needed 10 meet these. and if they
are not forthcoming this country may
have a very unhappy time of st before
We get through with our present job. 1T
takes money TO furnish these, and when
the administration calls upon Congress
for the money necessary to put ships
upon the ocean and men in the field it
does not become the Chicagoists to an
swer with plaumdes about the sclgn-
forage" and erich men," They have drag
ged us into war and they must now pro-
vide the government with the means of
carrying the war on successfully.
These remarks have been called out by
a great deal of what has happened in the
recent past, but by nothing more strongly
than by the speech OF Senator McLaurin.
of South Carolina. on Thursday last,
when the war revenue measure was be-
fore the Senate. The press report had
this to say OF his speech:
Concerning the proposed issue Of bonds.
he said that there was an influence at
work in this country more powerful than
The President. more potent than Con-
gress. IL was the silent, secret influence
OF the money power. which was endeav-
nrfn Ia # 4 nn
Senate. the forum OF the people yields to
this clamor. Mr.. McLaurin declared. and
becomes entangled ia the meshes Of the
money octopus. the people viii suffer, in
deed.
There is an army IN this country"
sad he Just as anxious to raid the
United States Treasury as our volunteers
hre 20 raid the Island OF Cuba. For the
army ] refer TO no volunteers are needed.
These jobbers and spectators form a
greater menace 40 MS than the war with
Spain"
To thwart the octopus and battle the
money power Mr.. McLaurin would have
the government pay the expenses of the
war by issuing It's legal tender notes
But legal tender note is nothing but a
promise TO pay dollars. Now, If the gov
eminent means what Il says when It puts
out It's legal tender note. wherein is the
difference between II and the govern
ments bondg The solitary difference is
that the bond makes the government
promise 10 pay "a certain amount OF
money at a fixed time IN the future, with
interest upon Il in the meantime while
the note makes the government promise
20 pay a certain amount OF money on de-
mand without interest They are instru-
ments OF exactly the same character,
with this exception. How IS the octopus
20 accomplish his hendish designs more
effectually by the one than by the other?
OF course. n the government proposes
TO fool somebody into parting with his
goods or his services in exchange Tor
the notes by making him believe II will
pay him the money promised on de-
mand. but with the intention of repu-
dating the promise as soon as tho money
is called FOR. there may be difference
between the two instruments IN case il
intends 10 keep the promise OF the bond
But II II issues both instruments in good
faith and with the intention OF perform
ing the promise contained IN each just
as Il Is made we cannot for the life e US
understand how there can be any differ
encc between the two except IN the
points named
And 81 the government Is going 10 keep
the money that 1t borrows for con-