The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1903-12-31
sA OLD sLA { WHIP
0r. Austin Recalls Speeches ofLovejoy and
Appiiss Them to Present Con-
dftions


following communication from my
pen. should be glad to have you re-
publish it:
The presidential campaign of 1860
was notable one in many respects.
1t was then the torch lights at politi-
cal meetings came into general use.
To me it was the most important era
that | had lived-I was to have my
first vote for president-how to cast
it was what made it SO. | was then
living in Na-Au-Say township, Ken
dali county, Illinois. That was my
home from the time was year and
half old until the age Of thirty
seven.
Lincoln and Douglas we're the two
most talked of candidates for the Of
flee In that section. They had held
joint political discussions over the
state two years before (185S), which
made them popular.
In July the vicinity of Oswego was
posted with large and small red
white-and-blue posters, announcing
that owen Lovejoy will speak in
Osweg0." | went to see, hear and
learn. Mr.. Lovejoy was a fine orator.
The manner of his speaking was much
like that of Mr.. Douglas. In his
speech he had much to say regarding
the crack of the slave whip in the
hands of the hired overseer on the
plantations In the south driving the
negro slaves.
Later on / went to Joliet, in Will
county, to hear the Hon. Cassius M.
Clay of Kentucky. He also spoke Of
the crack of the slave whip in the
south by overseers on slave planta-
tions. Time went on, the November
election came at last voted for Lin
coin. He was elected, took the cracker
off the whip and laid it by, little
thinking that there ever would be use
for it again.
Today can be seen in Minnesota, Da-
kOta, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois and
Kansas, another whip with not SO
long cracker as the slave whip of
the south, but the lashes are more
overseer, but in fathers and mothers,
urging on their own children, that the
interest OH mortgage contracts can be
paid. The lashes from these little
Whips are severe for the reason that
after the interest is paid there is Of
ten nothing left for house-repair,
clothes or victuals.
Just how long it will be before the
slave whip that Lincoln laid by will
be placed back in the overseer's hands
is a question OF time probably in
faY, N yncci11xr
over five Humanity will call for it,
bankers demand it.
This 1903 has been year of disas-
tiers. So much SO that thousands of
the mortgage contracts throughout
the above named states are in state
of delinquency. The persons signing
these contracts are enslaved debtors.
In Athens an insolvent debtor be-
came the slave of his creditor. In our
own United States of America the in
solvent class becomes slaves to the
banking class Thinking of the many
insolvents that are now crossing the
northern line of Minnesota into Can
ada, we are reminded of the run
away slaves from the south that
passed through Ohio back in the sos.
The song they sung was:
Il am on my way to Canada,
That cold and dreary land;
The dire effects of slavery
can no longer stand.
My soul is beset within me So
To think that I'm a slave,
| am now resolved TO strike the blow
For freedom or the grave.
These mortgage contracts have de-
stroyed your liberty and started you
10 Canada for farms Of cheap land
where the usurpers OF interest viii
take the product OF your labor during
the balance of your life.
| will point out some good law
that Is, the constitution. or govern
ment rather, guarantees to every citi-
gen his liberty. These mortgage con-
tracts In year like this destroy a.
and are therefore null and void. To
regain the liberty bequeathed To MS
by the fathers. raze the counters OF
the banks that separate the slaves
from their masters. To maintain this
liberty enlarge The banking powers
og the postolllce So az 90 receive de-
noslts and loan the same
a. K. u, AUSTIN,