The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-12-24

parsed the charter, but President JACKSON
vetoed the bill. ana the bank expired, and
for twenty ave years ths country got along
without 4 National hank, and these wer8
among the most prostsfous Ii our com
mercial history.
Mr.. Chairman, when the civil var broke
out the spirit Of greed and lust for power
again asserted itself WAsn Tho plain.
common people were hurrying 70 tho front
their country, these friends Of a. National
bank hurried to wsshinsteh and oiferad
their services, not to nght their country's
battle, but to have themselves made the
benefciarics OF system Of National banks
by virtue Of which the banker would have
his property exempted from taxation and
would have the privilege OF drawing inter-
est on his untaxed property and also on
his debts. The country was then In the
needed Were II not for this would say,
shame on the congress that would grant
such privileges.
Tho money power has been instdious and
sleepless. and has constantly wrenchcd
from the government, to the injury OF the
people. an unfair and an unjust powea
The holders Of the obligations OF the gov.
eminent that were originally payable IL
tho lawful currency OF the United Statet
and that could have been paid with money
worth 40 to so cents on the dollar In coin
came before congress in 1869 and demand
ed that tho contract be changed and that
these obligations be made payable in coin,
and they got what they asked for. The
excuse for tho act was that the law would
strengthen the credit OF the country. The
paper currency OF the government had
been good enough to pay of the common
soldier and the common sailor and the
farmer who had furnished supplies for the
aid OF the government but II was not good
enough to pay the banker and the bond
holder who had speculated on the necessi-
ties Of the country. Not satisfied with this
advantage. these same people came to con-
gress again In 1873 and demanded that sill
yer be demonetised, thereby again chang
ing the obligations from coin obligations
to gold obligations Again they got what
they asked.
Encouraged by their previous successes.
they now come to congress asking that tho
word gold shall not only be written in
the obligations of the government, but
that 1t shall be written in all the contracts
aud obligations OF the people, Cheered by
the power that has heretofore been grant
ed them. they come demanding that the
government shall parcel out It's sovereign
ty and surrender to them the manipulation
and control OF tho fiscal and financial af-
fairs OF the government. And II Is evident
that this branch OF congress will crook
the pregnant hinges of the knee" and
yield to this hurtful and unreasonable de-
mand
Mr.. Chairman, true democracy is sym
pathy for the poor and unfortunate. II re-
joices with those who rejoice IN the sue
cess of honest effort and weeps with those
who feel the pltiless hand OF misfortune
and oppression, True democracy Is today
looking with sympathetic gances toward
the courageous Beers, who are struggling
for liberty and selt-government. Wherever
on this earth are the poor, the unfortu-
nate, the oppressed; wherever is heard the
hiss of the oppres5or's lash; wherever ia
seen tho triumph of selfish greed over hui
man right; wherever Ia found a brave,
honest. frugal. self denying, toiling people,
striving to avail thefiselves OF the protec
ton which q Just government ought to
confer on Its citizens. there the spirit OF
democracy hroods over them with loving
tenderness. applause on the democratic
side