“_Thirty millions of its loans_ were not of a mercantile character, but made to _members of Congress, editors of newspapers, politicians, brokers, favorites, and connections_.” And it continued to rule until the will and wisdom of President Jackson put an end to the great monopoly. He removed the government deposits, prevented a re-charter, and in 1833 made a statement to Congress, giving the grounds on which his action was based toward the bank, saying “_it was for attempting to control the elections, producing a contraction of the currency, and causing general distress_.” The funeral went off quietly, with but few mourners, and the American people were liberated from the bondage of aggregated wealth, and Ohio obtained a lease for a number of prosperous decades. But the war of the Sixties came, and moneyed combines grew in power and audacity, until many persons expressed fears for the laws, labor and liberties of the common people. Taking into consideration the small number of wealthy persons among the great mass of the people, it is rather remarkable that so many patriotic men in this country, from the days of Washington up to the present time, have expressed emphatically their fears for the welfare of the republic should it fall under the destructive power of concentrated and organized wealth. President Jackson declared it was “better to incur any inconvenience that may be reasonably expected than to _concentrate the whole money power of the republic_ in any form whatsoever, or under any restrictions.” He had seen the arrogant influences under all the restrictions law could give, and gave the warning statement that what he saw were but premonitions of the fate that awaits the American people should they be deluded into sustaining institutions of “_organized wealth_.” President Lincoln said, at the close of the sanguinary struggle: “It has cost a vast amount of treasure and blood; ... but I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of the country. As the result of war corporations have been enthroned, and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people, until all wealth is aggregated into a few hands, and the republic is destroyed. I feel at this moment more anxiety for the safety of my country than ever before, even in the midst of war. God grant that my suspicion may prove groundless.” These and other prophetic warnings carry with them a vast degree of thoughtful solemnity, due to our knowledge of man and the signs of the times. When the successful candidate for office is made to depend upon the size of the campaign fund, and party success more or less assured in proportion to the length of figures beyond a dollar mark, the liberties of the common people are fraught with danger, if not already destroyed.