People's Pilot, Volume 6, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 July 1896 — Plutocracy Shows Its Teeth. [ARTICLE]

Plutocracy Shows Its Teeth.

Those deluded voters who boast that we have a “government of the people by the people,” etc., have but to read the following Wall street manifesto and couple it with the financial history of the past five years to be convinced that this is a government of plutoeats, by plutocrats and for plutocrats. Henry Clewes, the most prominent national banker of the United States, in his Wan Street Financial Review of last week, says: “Well street has learned tr> hellwes Jhat there are greater potencies thm party platforms, than legislative subserviency to popular ignorance, than the madness of a partisan infatuation.; There are situations and events which can instantly coerce and convert the most reckless legislators into the willing servants of a conservative sentiment that represents the real interests and safety of the nation. It will not be necessary to wait for any after effects of silver legislation to remedy its mischiefs, although that would be a perfectly safe course. The near prospect of the authorisation of free coinage—a counting of heaths showing a certainty of a two-thirds Vote in the house and senate for 16 to I—would evoke in Wall street the kind of conditions that no congress has ever yet dared to disregard,and the cause of free coinage would be overthrown at the moment when its success seemed most certain. It is this reserve power on which Wall street is now reposing.” That Henry Clewes speaks for not only the Wall street gang of plutocrats but for the more powerful European money kings there can be no doubt. His words are nothing more nor lees than a declaration of supreme sever-’ eignty on the part of plutocracy, that they possess a power superior to that of congress which they will not hesitate to exercise whenever national legislation is not to their liking. The threat to “evoke in Wall street the kind of conditions that no congress has ever dared to disregard” means that a repetition of the panic of 1893, brought about by Cleveland and his associates to force the repeal of the silver purchase law, will be forced on the country to protect the banker’s interests regardless of the devastating influence on the people. . It also continues a hidden meaning. It means that if Wall street is superior to congress and the people in ohe respect it is superior to them tn every respect. It means that if enforced financial distress will not accomplish their object, they will resort to any other means within their-power to accomplish their purpose, even to the overthrow of the government itself. “It is this reserve power on which Wall street is now reposing,” says Banker Clewes. Plutocracy has shown its teeth and emitted an ominous growl. Will the people now retire in dismay? The greatest issue in the history of the country is upon us. This issue is not the silver question, nor the money question, nor the transportation question. It is the banker question. Shall the banks continue to rule and ruin this government. That is the great issue before the American people, compared with which all other issues sink into insignificance. The people must measure strength with plutocracy. No lasting prosperity for the masses can be attained until this question is positively and permanently settled, and settled in favor of the people. t The threat of plutocracy voiced by the great banker, Henry Clewee, should cause the blood of every patriot to tingle with righteous indignation. Plutocracy has shown its teeth. The people slfbuld advance undismayed and knock those teeth down the throats of the hydra-headed monster. Plutocracy or the people—which shall rule?

All the gold and silver money m circulation in the United States ■wouldn’t pay two weeks’ board at a Crst-class hotel for all the people. What this country needs is a government that does not ask the consent of England or any other country on earth how it shall run its own business. Brand the lie whenever you see it stated in old party papers that the Populists will endorse the nominee of the Democratic party. They will not. Congress adjourned in time for the Republican convention. This suggests the idea that the convention should have beep held about six months earlier A flat dollar Issued by this government is precisely as secure to the holder as the face of any bond it has ever issued. No more and no leas. Both are flat declarations of value receive*’ The fact that Mr. Grover Cleveland misconstrues the law into the idea that our bonds are payable principal and interest in : gold coin, does not alter the princlplfe here set forth in a single particular.—Philadelphia Item. J