Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-12-03
EIGHTEEN PAGES
SUNDAY. pEcEMBpR 3. lsss.
THE MoNEY-MoNGERs' cARNI-
VAL.

The money-changers, money-mongers
and money-speculators of all kinds have
had golden harvest and gilded carni-
val since the decentralization of silver
p.in 1873. For over twenty-six years Of
scarce money and currency contraction
caused by that decentralization, they
have ruled the world, and bought and
2 sold 1t and all there IS in 1t, at their
own figures, and let no man nor nation
have money or currency, except at their
option. They lost nothing by the great
depressionofa all business and the gene
raj impecuniosity that followed for SO
many years the decentralization and
4 cpntraction act of 1S73,-for the scarcity
&of money and currency made their
market for them, and allowed them to
gouge everybody else on their own
4 terms. What was loss to the people,
was their gain: and they have not been
pleased that the new gold discoveries
and immense yields nave somewhat
floosened their grip on the bodies and
souls of their fellow-men.
The Virginian-Pilot has no argument
nor dispute with these would be money
monopolists about the greater value of
Y gold, nor about how 1t enures to the
greater profit of their transactions,
\ especially when eked out by n bank
note currency furnished them gratis
1 out of the public Treasury at which the
common-people cannot obtain at any
price from the banks directly, because
they have none of the securities for
bank-loans required by law. We know
the devil Is whipped around the stump
by the banks having agents wirr,-.Aud
! at II or 20 per cent. on mortgages; put
we do not see how an inao- quate cur
9rency. really belonging 70 the people,
~ enrre TO their br nefit at such rates.
4 But what pretty and curious scheme
At is! The people are moneyless; the
government, established. maintained
Z and run by the people, {nominally) for
;thems has money to burn; but it is for
hidden tot supply the people money on
amy terms, in any sums they can Sc
cure. SO 1T is AUTHORIZED TO
FURNISH THE NATIONAL BANKS
WITH MONEY no ANY AMOUNT
FOR NOTHING: the banks are en-
powered ,tp lend this money at not more
than IS per cent. per annum, on bonds
and other securities quite beyond the
s abilitys of the average citizen to fur
snish; and SO he gets no benefit from his
own public money. even at 6 per cent,
but the benevolent banks evade the law
by agencies that introduce him to all
THE joys Of usury, as practiced in the
most advanced money-circles.
sss Silver is too common. Gold is worth
/ nj least sixteen times as much, just as
s.Apolllnaris water is worth at least six
teen times the common stuff obtained
from wells. springs, hydrants &c. But
ss,Apoliinaris Is too dear for the people,
nor Will 1t do for Irrigation, navigation
and other useful purposes of the people;
therefore we want free water and free
silver. limited only by the hand of ma
sfure. so that we may get out Of the
Iclutchhs Of the Money-Trust, who with
the single gold basis and a monopolis-
tic nohtrols Of the papcr-money issue)
have al Corner on money'-the medium
of excl angeand they would be glad
10 md oolize water, air and fight;
limit 4feir quantity, regulate their
ppalft ard Ak their own values and
sa Tor \ be greater good of--them-
ssiye1 government of the
psoplsi for the peopleg
.l:i 8 = 4; s 1T.