The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1899-05-05

toresaw the Danger 10 the Country
of Vast Combinations
Of Wealth.


that this cruel war Is nearing its close.
IL has cost vast amount OF treasure
and blood. The best blood of the flower
Of the American youth has been freely
offered upon our country's altar that
the nation might live. IL has indeed
been trying hour for the republic,
but ! see in the near future a crisis APP
prcaehing that unncrycs me ard causes |
Inc 20 trembe for the safety cf my |
country. rs a result Of the war cor
porations have been enthroned. and an |
era OF corruption in high places will
follow, and the money power of the |
country will cndeayor TO prolong its |
reign by working upon the prejudices |
OF the people until all wealth is ag-
grcgated in few hands and the re-
public is destroyed. | feel at this mo-
ment more anxiety for the safety of
the country than ever before, even in
the midst of war. God grant that my
suspicion may prove groundless."-
Abraham Lincoln.
This extract is authentic and was
written In 1864 by Abraham Lincoln 10
Mr.. Elkins. Of Illinois. 1t was published
many years ago in a book entitled:
collection Of Lincoln's Sayings" by
Jesse Hooper, of Danyille, H., and the
( book, though old. is readily obtain
able. The identity or name of the
author of this statement is Of little
consequence compared with the grayi-
/ ~ Of its terrible fulfllment. We are
now dealing with the realization of the
uncrring Judgment Of Abraham Lin
coin; and the man who is bothering his
head about the name Of him who pre-
dicted it is not mentally capable of dis
tinguishing the material from the i'm
material or the essential from the nom
essential. He may be man who is
sacrificing his honor on the altar of
Mammon. and so long as he is able
to rake in the blood money OF usury
from the unfortunate debtor class
thinks that present conditions are ex-
trcmely satisfactory. 1t may he well
to briefly state a few facts concerning
the trend of present events. Every
product of industry except II is now
controlled by trust that regulates 10
greater or less extent the amount of
production and the prices Of the prod
uct. Since William Mckinley was in
aururated ten times more trusts have
been formed than at any other period
of the same time in the history Of the
country. \ capitalization of sl,jO0. 000,-
600 has gone into business on the trust
plan since the era of prosperity of the
gold standard type made its appear
ance. While competition is being throt-
tied and the aggregations Of capitals
are conceded TO be menacing the life
of this republic. some who are tenn
porarily reaping a special benefit from
the gold standard are cavilling over the
name of the prophet who first foresav
present conditions. The present ma
tional administration is an alder anc
abctter OF trusts. The national plat
form Of the republican party of 1896
was silent on the subject of trusts. The
platform of the same party in 1892 con
tanned declaration against trusts
The 1896 platform was dictated by
trusts and declared for the gold stand
ard. until international bimctallisu
was brought about, which the money
power knew TO be impossible, but which
was simply thrown in to fool the people
The platform of 1892, which declare,
! against trusts. alsodeclarcd for bimetal
ism. In Just four vcarsthc money powel
, swallowed the republican party. Nov
trusts are daily forming and the part,
is committed to the gold standard
: Trusts and the gold standard are tn
; handmaidens of industrial stagnation
The usurer and the coupon clipper ar
Y 1. u ,.~tt1 s1urs
sion TO n populist (who demands stabl
4 money!. and AZ the same time delive
culorics upon Lincoln. the founder o
D their party The country needs Lin
! coin to stay che assassinating hand O
the oligarchv OF wealth that threaten
the republics life 1t may be well 1
/. give some gold standasJ advocate a
= opportunity TO read what Lincoln sal
on the currency question, as follows
"Fluctuations in the value Of currenc
are always injurious. and TO rcduc
( these fluctuations 10 the lowest possibl
: point will always be leading purpos
/ in wise legislation" The gold standar
: has been. and is now doing, just wha
). Lincoln deprecated in the followin
q words:
:. when sioo.OO0.oO0 or more of tn
circulation we now have. shall be witt
4 drawn, who can contemplate, withou
: terror. the distress, ruin. bankruptc
Il and beggary tha+ must follow? tn
). man who has purchased an article--sa
,. n horse-on credit. at 500, when ther
J. are 5000, 100000 circulating In the cour
le try. If the quantity be reduced TO 500
d 600 900. by the arrival of pay day wi
"A (other conditions remaining the same
o find the horse but sufficient to pay ha
% the debt. and the other half must |
{. sither paid out Of his other means an
thereby become clear loss to him, {
20 unpaid, and thereby become cles
loss TO his creditor. What ! have hel
- said Of n single case Of debt existing ;
the time reduction in the quantity o.
ours. will hold good In every case {
A. debt. no matter by whomsoever and X
az whatsoever the currency may have bee
10 contracted"
i. No one knew better than Lincoln u
20 txnc ~ patriotism possessed by II