h L. *
HTbe Conservative.
amounting to a passion , was the chief
justice of the United States , John Mar
shall. While ho was on the bench , no
case could come before him , in which
power was claimed for the United States
to issue bills of credit ; because at that
dny he and everybody else well under
stood and willingly acknowledged that
the power to omit bills of credit was
withheld from the United States , was
forbidden by not being granted. But
his opinion of the illegality of the issue
of bills of credit by the states gave him
the opportunity to declare in terms of
universal application that the greatest
violation of justice was committed when
paper money was made a legal tender in
payment of debts.f But the opportunity
to express his opinion , which was never
offered to him as a judgeho found as a
historian in his life of Washington. Ho
claimed for himself and those with
whom ho acted , an "unabated zeal for
the exact observance of public and pri
vate engagements. " Ho rightly insisted
that the only ways of relief for pecuni
ary "distresses" were "industry and
frugality ; " he condemned "all the wild
projects of the moment ; " ho rejected as
a delusion every attempt at relief from
pecuniary distresses "by the emission of
paper money ; " or by "a depreciated
medium of commerce. " These were his
opinions through life. He gave them to
the public in 1807 , and twenty-four
years later in a revised edition of his
Life of Washington ho confirmed his
early convictions by the authority of his
maturest life. *
IX.
Opinion of Thomas Jefferson.
"The federal government I deny
their power to make paper money a
legal tender."t
FAIUOSRB .
wii/L FAKM. Institute of Olul-
ton County , Ohio ,
has determined to turn over a new leaf.
For twelve years the members have
been passing resolutions for the regula
tion of nearly everything , and having
observed that they have not changed the
courses of the seasons , have determined
to eschew politics , except as their indi
vidual conscience may dictate , and de
vote their energies to raising the largest
crops possible on their farms at the min
imum cost , and to selling them at the
highest prices possible. It is feared that
these farmers , being Ohioans , will be
unable to eliminate themselves from
politics , but their determination is a
wise one , and it may be extended so as
to impress profitably several thousand
farmers in all parts of the country.
Southern Farm Magazine.
f 4 Peters , 425-405.
* MaiBliall's Life or Washington , 1st ed. V.
85gfled. ; of 1831,103,10J.
t Jefforaon'i Works , IV. 200.
GOOD CITIZENSHIP CONVENTION.
To lie Held at Cincinnati , Ohio , May 2 ,
3 , and 4 , 1800.
The third annual convention of the
National Good Citizenship League will
be held at Cincinnati , May 2 , 3 and 4 ,
1899. The proceedings , general discus
sion , and program of addi esses from
well-known and representative speakers ,
will be in accordance with the aims and
objects of this movement , which briefly
stated are as follows :
1. Unification of reform forces.
2. Promotion of the study and prac
tice of good citizenship.
8. Eclecticism at the primary , caucus
and convention selection of the best
and most competent in nominating
candidates for public office.
4. Direct legislation through the ini
tiative and referendum.
5. Proportional representation.
G. The imperative mandate.
A large majority of the American people
ple are in favor of various important
reforms , some of which , under existing
conditions , could never be obtained ,
while others would require several dec
ades for their consummation. The only
remedy in sight is a salutary change in
these adverse conditions , a removal of
the barriers that block the way of pro
gress nnd reform. History and exper
ience teach us that in union there is
strength united we succeed , divided
we fail. What we need , and what wo
must have , if we hope for success
is unity of purpose and concert of
action. For these ends and along these
lines , that the nation may be saved
from peril , our homes be rescued ,
our sons and daughters saved to all
that is best in the republic , and that
there may be a realization of the hopes
and desires of those who have ideals of
truth , freedom and justice , it is highly
essential that a standard be raised to
which "the wise and the honest can re
pair , " absolutely necessary that fac
tional strife should cease and that there
should be a speedy and permanent fus
ion of all the forces of reform , such a
union as would be the perfect embodi
ment of democracy , republican and pop
ulism in the true sense of the < e misused
words.
The vast majority of the republican
party are earnest , honest men. They
realize at last that plutocracy dominates
the councils of their party , but look with
suspicion on a so-called democracy in
which the absolute party control is vested
in the irresponsible hands of a small
company of professional party bosses.
The rank and file of the democratic
party are eager for real reform , but they
are disfranchised as far as the manage
ment of their party is concerned. They
are powerless to dictate platforms or to
name candidates. Rival factions and
contending partisan committees fill the
air with appeals for the people to aban
don all alliances and acknowledge their
leadership and authority. None of
them suggests that the people should bo
consulted in these matters. Unless
some method is devised by which the
intelligent people of all parties can unite
and frame a modern political platform ,
the future holds promise of nothing but
overwhelming defeat or barren victory.
Iflho people want a government in
which they can rule , they must first
have a party in which they do rule.
It is time for the good citizens of
America to break the shackles of a
slavish partisanship then , and not until
then , will they see the dawn of a bettor
day growing into a noontide prosperity
that will be enduring. It is time for
action , and the great impediment to ac
tion is not discussion , but the want of
that knowledge which is gained by dis
cussion. Then let the people from every
section attend this convention , to con
sider and discuss these vital issues of the
hour , to promote all wise measures of
reform and to devise some means for a
speedy and perfect realization of the
aims aud objects of this movement.
All organizations pledging co-operation
shall bo members of this league , and arc
entitled to representation in its annual
conventions , as follows : Ton delegates
from each national body , five delegates
from each state organization , and two
delegates from every other co-operating
organization.
To all genuine reformers , all advocates
of civic and economic Tightness , all
friends of humanity in the struggle for
life , liberty and happiness , a cordial in
vitation is extended to attend this con
vention , which will be in the nature of
a general conference composed of dele
gates from co-operating organizations ,
and volunteer representatives of all par
ties , the only credentials required being
the possession of a desire to see honor and
purity , virtue and justice , the Golden
Rule aud the majority rule applied
to politics the politics which our lead
ing lexicographer defines as , the science
of government , that part of ethics which
has to do with the regulation and gov
ernment of a nation or state , the preser
vation of its safety , peace and prosperity ,
the defence of its existence aud rights
against foreign control or conquest , the
augmentation of its strength and re
sources aud the protection of its citizens
in their rights with the preservation and
improvement of their morals.
In addition to addresses , to be an
nounced by program , a few hours of the
convention will bo loft open for short
speeches and general discussion.
Newspapers , religious and secular ,
throughout the United States , are re
quested to publish this call , and to call
attention to the same editorially. By
order of the executive committee.
S. T. NICHOLSON ,
Secretary and treasurer National Good
Citizenship League ( until May 4 ,
1899) ) , Cincinnati , O. ( After May 4 ,
1899) ) , "Washington , D. 0.
