PEOPLE of CHELIAX, though we have thrown off the yoke of the wretched tyrant ASMODEUS, the PERFIDIOUS RATS of HELL still lurk within our very midst! They masquerade as respectable members of society, and walk upon the very STREETS without fear of REPRISAL, but no longer should be permit their DEVILTRY! I SPEAK, of course, of the wicked followers of vile MAMMON: the MERCHANTS, the BANKERS, and the VILE SPECULATORS, who seek to tear apart CHELIAX ITSELF for nothing more than their own enrichment. You all know those of whom I speak, but may not understand the full extent of their TREACHERY, for they know that all men of GOOD CHARACTER would rightfully REVILE them were their CRIMES known to all. Fortunately, the QUEEN in her WISDOM and BENEVOLENCE has given to us the FREEDOM OF THE PEN, so that we may drag their LIES into the light of TRUTH.
Firstly, let us speak of the MERCHANTS, for they are the MOST NUMEROUS but least wicked breed. Though by nature all merchants are PARASITES, who make their money by selling goods for MORE THAN THEY ARE WORTH instead of HONEST LABOR, many of those within Cheliax have already been laid low by their own SINS, and those who persist in WICKEDLY paying in souls and accepting naught but gold to rob the PEOPLE will join them in time. No, the greater CULPRIT comes from beyond our shores, those merchants of ABSALOM and OSIRION and GALT who arrive like VULTURES in the hour of CHELISH DESPERATION to extort people of their livelihood and buy up this nation's TREASURES, often from those who have NO RIGHT TO THEM. I call upon the QUEEN to punish these THIEVES and reclaim what is OURS BY RIGHT.
SECOND of these groups of DIABOLISTS is the BANKS, which have long been the very HEART of MAMMON's domain. FOR YEARS, they have LEECHED the very LIFEBLOOD of our NATION, with their so called "LOANS" and USURY - who amongst us does not know a good man or woman who, after but a SINGLE bad season, had everything they own STOLEN from them by those who profess to value LAW and PROPERTY? Unlike Asmodeus' priests, far too many of MAMMON'S GET have kept their jobs and CONTINUED THEIR WICKED DEEDS. They feel no shame for their blatant EVIL and SELFISHNESS, nor for their HYPOCRISY - they, who for years DEMANDED that all debts be paid in CURRENCY, now disdain those very same notes and refuse to accept PAYMENT ON DEBTS in anything but gold or silver. A man with a debt of but a few hundred dollars is forced to pay a few hundred silver coins, EXPANDING HIS DEBT MORE THAN TENFOLD with no recourse. Worse still are those amongst their number who tarnish the good name of RIGHTEOUS ABADAR and impersonate his clergy. I call upon EVERY LOYAL CITIZEN OF CHELIAX to reject these evil men, and to refuse to give in to their EXTORTION or THREATS, and to protect each other from their THUGS, until such a day as LORD SHAWIL THE MOST HIGH OF ABADAR learns the extent of their crimes in his name and his god's and REMONSTRATES THEM FOR THEIR CRIMES.
The THIRD group of DEVILS to infest our NATION is the SPECULATORS. Though in truth many of these villains are also BANKERS and MERCHANTS, the extent of their added crimes have put them high in MAMMON'S ESTEEM, and even now much of their PROFITS flow directly to his vault in EREBUS. These scum set upon those people in desperate straights - MOTHERS who have lost their HUSBANDS, INNOCENT PEOPLE who were injured by the RAVAGES OF WAR, and even those ORPHANED CHILDREN deprived of their PARENTS, and PRETEND AT FRIENDSHIP. DO NOT BE FOOLED! Before long, they will reveal their true colors, and seek to buy up your LAND and STORES and even your very FREEDOM for naught but the wages of MISERS or the DAMNED SOULS THEY VICTIMIZE. Those who they trick into agreeing will soon find themselves DYING IN THE STREETS with nothing to their name while the SPECULATORS PROFIT. I have seen them buy up houses for but a week's wages, and then sell that same building for POUNDS OF GOLD, thereby beggaring TWO FAMILIES AT ONCE. To these TRAITORS, SHOW NO MERCY. When you pass them in the street, SPIT UPON THEIR FACES, DRIVE THEM FROM THE STREETS WITH JEERS, and where enough LOYAL PATRIOTS GATHER, waste no time in HANGING THEM FROM THE LAMPPOSTS!