GOV. sprague's address. 17 



previously spoken in regard to these and other things, and was 

 held up to the public as speaking of things of which he knew 

 nothing. Those persons who had criticised those remarks to-day 

 held their faces to the ground and acknowledged the truthful- 

 ness of the predictions he then made. He did not, there or 

 elsewhere, point a finger of blame to any man or combination of 

 men, for the aspect afiairs at present wore ; but he wanted to 

 know, when the interests of the people had been deprived of 

 their productiveness, what would be the picture ? This matter of 

 money was one of the most interesting subjects that ever occu- 

 pied the brain of thoughtful and considerate men or women. 

 The principle of money, which was an elementary one, was at 

 present unchecked, unbalanced, unquestioned ; no thought was 

 given to it. Mr. Sprague referred to the recent New York 

 gold panic, and said it must be patent to every thoughtful man 

 that the condition of things which enabled a few operators to 

 perform such dealings in gold was dangerous to liberty and to 

 civilization. The speaker alluded at some length to the national 

 questions of America, and contrasted them with the national 

 questions of other peoples. 



Referring to the stability and strength of EngUsh trade led Mr. 

 Sprague to again glance at American industries. He said that 

 when he could procure the equilibrium of the money question, 

 and force it back to the productive employments of the people, 

 he should consider that it could no longer prove dangerous. 

 What was it lost Rome her power ? Monopolies. What was it 

 that gave England her present power? The counteracting of 

 monopolies. The centraHzation of money, the monopoly of 

 capital impoverished American farms, destroyed her commerce 

 and performed but one service, the temporary enhancement of 

 the value of the cities and railroads and special interests. The 

 American people must soon recognize that there was an ele- 

 mentary principle at work that was destroying her great inter- 

 ests. They must exercise upon it care, and determine its regu- 



