People's Pilot, Volume 4, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 January 1895 — Now and Fifty Years Ago. [ARTICLE]

Now and Fifty Years Ago.

Resolved; That congress has no power to charter a United States bank; that we believe such an institution one of deadly hostility to the best interests of the country, dangerous to our republican institutions and the liberties of the people, and calculated to place the business of the country within the control of a concentrated money power, and above the law interests of the people. This is plank from the democratic platform of fifty-four years ago. Now the blind leaders of this blind party are trying to lead it into turning over one of the most important constitutional and just powers of the government to the banks. There is quite a difference between the democratic party of now and then. Perhaps you have noticed it. While congress is talking about “refunding” the greenbacks, it should also make provisions for refunding what has been stolen from the producers of this country during the last quarter centnry. Well, congress has decide to “revise" Carlisle’s hurried scheme for revolutionizing the currency—to make it a little more revolutionary and a little more republican to please the next congress. Ix the same issue of a great daily paper that recorded the conviction of Eugene V. Debs at Chicago for forming a labor organization, we notice that the whisky trust was in session at Peoria and completed a plan of reorganization. Voltaire said that originality is nothing but judicious imitation. But where two parties imitate each other and both are shams, that is republican ism and democracy.

In the senate Mr., Ransom was elected president pro tem. and Mr. Mitchell replied to Mr. Turpie's critii ci.sms of the Nicaragua canal bill. Both house and senate adopted reso- , lutions of respect to the memory of Gen. Post and appointed committees to escort the remains to Galesburg, Hi. The house ordered investigation of ; charges that Judge Ricks prostituted | his office to further a conspiracy by which S. J, Ritchie was robbed of ; $«, 000, 000. The caucus of house democrats in- , dorsed the substitute for the Carlisle ; currency bill by a vote of 81 to 59 ! after a spirited debate.

The district Court of Appeals upheld Judge Cole’s decision that the senate sugar investigating committee had the power to compel witnesses to testify. Secretary Smith held a conference with Indian agents regarding the best means to better the condition of the red men. A bill intended to take the distribution of seeds out of the hands of congressmen has been prepared by Secretary Morton. At an informal meeting of the republican steering committee it was agreed there should be no tariff legislation at this session. The currency bill willeometo a vote in the house this week. Prospects for its passage seem brighter. Gold reserve of the treasury %vas reduced to 551,004,033 by withdrawal of §3,350,000 for shipment to Europe. A resolution was adopted by the senate asking whether ex-Secretary Foster, who goes to China, has any official relations with the United States. Austria - Hungary has protested against tlie discriminating duty on bounty paid sugar, alleging it to be a violation of the existing treaty. Debate on the currency bill was continued in the house Friday. Banker Ilendrix of New York made a vigorous speech in opposition to the measure. The military academy appropriation bill was passed by the senate Friday and the pension appropriation bill taken up. Mr. Lodge's resolution of inquiry as to why American war ships were withdrawn from Hawaii caused a warm debate in the senate Friday. At a conference of senators of both parties it was decided to make no attempt to correct errors in the tariff law. In a report to congress Secretary Gresham states that Americans were properly protected at Bluefields. Commissioner Miller, of the internal revenue bureau, is making active preparations to collect the income tax. It is believed an effort will be made to repeal the tax of one tenth of a cent per pound on sugar at this session.