Year: 1878

THE EX-GOVERNOR ON SOCIAL


AND FINANCIAL QUESTIONS.


Necessity for Sound Currency Communism and


Protection On'springs Of the Same Parent


Wise Words For The Vest
Utica N. Y, August 0, 1873


Your correspondent visited Governor Seymour
| at his farm in Deerleld to-day. After admiring
the beauties Of the location and viewing relics of
Revolutionary interest the conversation took
political turn, as follows


Governor, what in your opinion is the political
condition Of the country at this time |"


"There is confusion In the ranks Of both parties,
General distress makes general discomfort These
give birth to various theories about government,
labor and finances. Many of them are wild still
they are Of interest, as they show what thoughts
are in the minds of men, and what views areh held
by large classes While their theories may be
false still they prove that those who entertain
them are in trouble, and they will bring out many
facts, which will be of value. The discussions of
this year in the end will be of great use. To cure
errors they must be brought to light, Many crude
AhhSlSa pSlloh NuNll lllNu otNh w Dllub uut
and to defend them, and nothing cures discomfort
so surely as to let those who are dissatisfied get
up parties and try to organize and manage them,
As a rule such parties fall into ruins before they
can be brought into the field Of action. This year
will explode many errors will shatter many new
parties and, 1t is to be hoped will make clear and
establish many truths"


NO TROUBLE FEARED.


"Do you fear any trouble from the Communists
or other socialistic parties who seek to divide pro-
perty ?'


"Oh no; in this country they are the most harm
less of men and will do more good than hurt,
They make clear by their ideness and their foil.
les the need of sound social organization.
When they talk of gaining their ends by force
and their desire to wade up their knees in blood
they only teach our citizens the need of good laws
well enforced Their impotence here shows the
strength Of our government beyond that Of others.
A madman may shoot king and shake a State,
but maOrities be aSsassinated. Itis blum.
der to interfere with their parades with arms in
their hands. II would be good thing If they
were obliged to show themselves with all their
weapons, and banners, and notices, on frequent
occasions Not only are the majority of our peO.
pie owners of property, but not one poor man out
of a hundred in this country would give up his
chance of gaining wealth for all that the COmmu-
nsts could give him II they had full sway Such
parties are only dangerous in countries where So
ciety is so stratihed that the abOTer has no hope
no chance to lift himself above want, unless he
can overturn the social and political foundation
under which he lives"


WHAT THE NEW PARTIES MAY DO


"But what will other new parties do who hold
less destructive ideas than the Communism


"They may elect some Of their nominees they
may qualify the action Of the old parties get them
out of their ruts, bring up new topics for discus.
sion, and in these ways may be Of use The exis.
tence Of these new organizations proves that there
is trouble and distress In our country, and they
will force the governing party to look into their
cause. do not think these organizations will be
long lived. As rule, they appeal To classes and
not to the whole body of our citizens. The past
history Of our country shows that outside organi
cations pass away with the causes which give
them birth"


you think then that some good may grow
out Of the present confusion in political af-
fairs ?"


"Yes. As ia Democrat believe that the extrava.
gances Of some of them make clear the fallacies
Of the Republican party. The Communist is only
a highly developed tar # man, who believes that
the government makes the prosperity Of country
and should interfere with the business of It's cin |
zens. They both believe that the property Of one
should be given to another to make his business
prosper The one says this should be done by a |
division, The other reaches the same end BY |
taxation. They agree in the vital principles Of |
their theories that goveTnmentmust protect labor |
that political power, and not industry and pur |
suits adapted to the condition of our country, are
the true sources OF wealth and prosperity. We |
have reason to hope that honest Communists will |
see that there is the mort tWant and distress to-day
among the factory operatives who have been pro. |
teCted into poverty by government when, If they |
had been let alone, most OF them would now be |
owners OF farms; living, not in close tenements |
but In the beauties aud abun ndance of the open, |
fertile country. On the other hand, high tariff |
men, when they study communism, may learn |
that they get their wealth by taxing others which
in principle is no better than taking 1t by diVis
ion. Communism, in its open form, can never do |
as much harm as 1t does in Its latent shape In |
navigation laws. Maine shipbuilders will not al |
low merchants to buy vessels outside Of our coun
try. As they can not get them here for prices at |
which they can make them pay, American COM |
merCe is driven from the oceans Of the world |
and we can not send what we make or raise TO |
many markets where they want to buy what we |
want to SELL But for this fact all classes of farm
ers, mechanics and laborers would at this time be |


II Is curious fact that the wealthy manufac- |
turers OF New England and Pennsylvania have |
been preaching the doctrines Of communism In |
urging that class of American laborers must be |
protected and supported by taxing American |
citizens through tariffs


THE GREENBAcK QUESTION.


"What do you think of the greenback ques'
tion2 VIII not the West demand an initiation Of
the currency?"


II think not in the end, although initiation Is
popular with many at this time There is also
prejudice in the minds OF the people of the West
growing ont of the division Of our country into
debtor and creditor States This is increased by
the stupid and selfish way In which the privilege
of issuing national bank notes was divided. Most |
of it was given to one corner of the country |
where currency was less needed than elsewhere.
protested against this at the time and refused to
sign the bill which authorized the bankers Of the
State to come under the law Of Congress. The |
excuse for this partially was that all States were
offered an equal chance, but the West was not in |
condition to take its share. But If the rule had |
been made that no State should receive more than
Its share of the national bank currency, Eastern
capitalists would have established banks at the
West, for at that time the privilege was one Of
great value. Now it is not much cared for, so
that most of the national bank capital is held in
Pennsylvania, New York and New England II
is so local that the rest OF the country has become
Indifferent or hostile TO the:system. But do not
think the West can afford to have an initiation Of
our currency. 1t would be more harmed by this |
than any other portion OF our Union. Appeals |
are now made with some effect to their prejudlces
against what are called blOated capitalists or
bondhOlders-a class of men who do not exist In |
this country We have some rich men, but they
are rich in lands, in railroads. factories kinds
of property other than money. The government
bonds owned in this country are held by savings |
banks or insurance companies as trustees mainly
for labOring men or persons OF small fortunes.
The whole amount Of banking capital is small
item compared with other forms Of property.


WALL STREET A CHARNEL HOUSE.


mTbara oan not be a more phastly satire unon