NATIONAL BANKS. 475 



the old United States bank ; with its arms stretched out in 

 every State and Territory of the Union ; with a firm grip 

 not only on the political machinery, but upon the entire 

 business of the country, it enters our legislative halls with 

 an audacity that is alarming, and its immense power 

 threatens the destruction of the liberties of the people. 

 As the New York Tribune says, they are so well organized 

 that "they can at a single day's notice, act together with 

 such power that no act of Congress can overpower or resist 

 their decision." 



"It is the cheapest kind of foolishness to contend that 

 National banks are oppressing the people to the extent 

 that the wild-eyed orators and ranting newspapers of the 

 Union Labor party are trying to make believe." Beacon, 

 Democratic paper. 



"So there is not such a great boogerboo in the 

 National banks after all." Beacon. 



"The banks are not oppressing the farmers who do 

 not borrow their money. They were a public necessity at 

 the time of their incorporation in order to furnish funds 

 for the government. They are so closely connected with 

 the business of the country that I do not think it would be 

 advisable to abolish them at this time. They are not an 

 issue in the campaign." Sam. H. Davidson, Senator- 

 elect from the 2nd District, Arkansas. 



"It is the best banking system in the world." 

 Republican Party. 



The above quotations are samples of expressions from 

 Democrats and Republicans who give an honest opinion 

 of the position of their respective parties on this important 

 question. How different from the opinions of the pure 

 and patriotic statesmen of the past! Let the people read 

 the following authorities and judge for themselves whether 

 Jefferson, Calhoun, Benton and others were fanatics, or 



