But if these banks are mismanaged either ignorantly or intentionally, or managed by designing men, as often they are, who make use of the governmental sanction to swindle the people, as many times they have, _where_ can the people look for redress; _where should_ they look for redress? The government is justly responsible to the people for all such issues, since it did not require real security from the banks, and government should make reparation therefor. This is precisely our objection to _any_ and _all_ forms of bank issues. There can be _no_ arrangement made so _perfect_ in security to her people as to _guarantee_ them _absolutely_ against all hazard, that will permit the banks to make the profits which they seem to think they are entitled to make from the people. In _absolute_ security there can be _no_ profit. Bank profits demand the circulation of more notes than they have _real_ value to represent. Profits come only from speculating either upon the _confidence_ or the _money_ of the people, and government has _no_ right to _protect_ such _illegitimate_ and _unjust_ practices. Our present system of banking is a _swindle_ upon the people, which it is simply surprising that they endure as they have and do. For the banks to be permitted to filch from the people twenty-four million dollars per annum is an _outrageous villainy_ which, if comprehended by the people in its _true light_, could not exist _another year_. ’Tis true these banks complied with the law passed in a time of dire necessity, and that through them the government acquired the means to conduct the war. But did not the people themselves do even _more_ than furnish money, which was promised to be returned; did they not freely give their _lives_, which can never be returned, and which the government never thought of promising to either return or guarantee, and that, too, for the pitiful sum of thirteen dollars per month? What comparison is there between the sacrifices made by the two classes of people, the capitalists who have absorbed the wealth of the country and the laborers who still continue to give life, property and vitality _to_ the country. There is absolutely _no_ chance for a comparison; the distinction is _too_ great. It seems to me that if either class is entitled to superior consideration—to receive millions of the people’s money—it is the common people who so freely offered their _lives_ to save their country, instead of those who simply _loaned_ their money at enormous rates of interest, with the certain knowledge that it would be repaid. The present claims are too preposterous, and deceptive, and too unjust to be long continued.