The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1903-09-24
~,
Michigan

one of the Old Guard to address
sketch to your paper
similar to those you published III the
last issue. ! will say that | was born
in Jefferson county, New York, jan
uary 80, 1830-my natal day being the
same as the late ]. G. Blaine. In Sep
TENDER, 1886, emigrated to this state
with my parents and settled near
Centerville, st. Joseph county, where
resided until 1851. My father To-
Gated on farm and brought me tol
live and work on it. Our advent toll
this state was prior to its being adj
Fitted as state in the Union, which
took place in January 1881. Inc
chances to get school privileges at
that time were very small, as our edu-
cational systems were vet in emgryo.
Three months was about all the
schooling we could Obtain on account
CT having no school fund to support
the schools. Hence my chances to get
ar early education were not propitious.
attended school mostly winters, as
i had to aid in clearing up the prime
val woodlands into farm, from
whence our sustenance was OBTAINED.
This way continued until in lo45 !
bad the chance to attend one OF the
first graded schools in the state, at
Centeryille. My rapid improvement
in my studies placed me in Quallf1ca-
ton as a teacher, which calling | pur-
SIZED winters until 1853, when ! was
so lucky as to get the first appoint
ment as a student in our new state
normal school at Ypsilantl, where I
remained until July, 1856. then De-
came teacher by profession and FOL
lowed the same more or less until
1870 teaching most of the time as
principal of graded schools. My early
political views were those espoused by
the democratic party as against the
wings. 1t can be remembered Dy
many of that day that the wings went
out of commission as political party
III the presidential campaign OF 1907.
voted with the democrats until 1868.
/ was an ardent supporter OF General
Cass in his advocacy Of the doctrine
OF popular sovereignty as applied 10
the territories. In 1868 / supported
Seymour for the presidency chiefly on
the platforms of principles Of that
campaign 1t will be well remembered
by those taking part in that campaign
Il at the greenback question for the
first time was made cardinal plank
in the democratic platform and from
that time on I have always been an
ardent supporter of the greenDacK
theory OF money, as advocated ever
since by the greenback and popuiist
parties. / have always been opposed
10 banks of issue, whether national or
private, believing that it is the func-
ton of the government to issue money
direct to the people from the treasury
and not by or through the banks.
cid believe, and do so still, that had
| Tx government continued to issue full
| legal tender greenbacks similar to the
| first 100000 900 issued that not an in
terest paying bond OF any kind Wouio
Luw be extant to curse and TO lmpoV-
erish the people. But the evil day
| came when another kind of greenback
money was provided for with an "ex-
| ception" clause attached, and manC
| them exchangeable into interest-bear-
| inc bonds. In accepting such a finan-
| cial measure President Lincoln made
lie great mistake of his eyentful life.
Had he promptly vetoed the measure,
and demanded the enactment OF the
Stevens bill as passed the house OF rep
rpsentatiyes. and in case the pluto
c-atic senate would still refuse to give
| it's assent, to have ordered the secre-
tary of the treasury to issue sufilc-
lent quantity of greenbacks as war
r,easure,' like those of the first sixty
millions used, and he would have
been overwhelmingly sustained by the
people. Yet such was not the case,
as he sanctioned the exception
clause issue, and by SO doing entailed
on the American people debt which
never can be or will be paid as finan-
cial matters are now carried on.
But enough Of this kind of writing.
So will proceed with my biography.
In 1876 | did all was able to bring
about the reelection of old Bill Allen
as governor of Ohio, as he was run
ming on full legal tender greenback
platform. He was defeated by small
plurality and that was brought about
Ev the Tilden democracy refusing to
support him and voting for Hayes, his
opponent. I then "cut loose" from the