Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1859-04-16
The Almighty Dollar.


There good story told the other day, in
the correspondence of one of our daily journals,
by gentleman who was present, sitting alongside
Of a. a railway man, at the delivery Of Mr.. Ev-
erett's Washington Address at BinghamtOn. The
admission fee was fifty cents. When the address
was brought triumphantly TO its close, his neigh
Dor turned from his rapt attention to the narrator
and with serious emphasis remarked, 90 ThiS ought
10 hare been dollar 3" The railway representa-
tive was right. He was appealing 10 the highest
test and sanction OF emotion. w hen a crowd was
collected around a broken-imbed beggar in the
street, and blubbering out sorrow in various
ebullitions, sailor stepped forward and said .
am sorry hive dOllars-hOw much are you sorry y
He was a practical man. and it is because Ameri-
are, in general, excessively practical that
the " almighty dollar is So often on their lips.
1t is little singular, by the way, that we should
be indebted for this phrase to of the most un-
selfish and genial of men. 1t is said to be found,
for the first time, in little tale written some ff
teen years ago by Washington Irving He was, of
course, writing In spirit OF observation, not of
eulOgy.
The dollar, as q coin, is advancing in its con-
quests about the world. 1t is some two hundred
years since the word had good Germanic origin
in JOachim's Thai, a valley Of Bohemia, where the
Count Schlick established a reputation for his sill
yer coinage. So that the word has pleasant ru-
raj flavor in its etymolOgy which it is we'll to think
which it Is SO often actually invested. 1t is near
er universality at this moment than any coin in
the world. 1t is peculiarly South American in-
stitution through the great silver producing re-
giOnslt is all object of especial admiration IN the
great eastern world of China. The commerce of
all nations recognizes it at sight, whether stamped
with the Pillars of Hercules, the Lama of Peru,
the Crown and Globe of Brazil, the five Volcanic
Peaks of Central America, the Mexican Cap of
Liberty, the Eagle of the United States. There is
even probability of seeing the head of Victoria
upon it, for We have now before a hint of that
coming result in the ten cent piece Of silver
Just issued for the Canadas. If dime, why not
dollar! This new coinage is already welcomed on
frontier, and must readily find its way in trade
through country. 1t is IA very welcome little
medal of her gracious Majesty, whom all the world
is delighted to honor as lady, where she is not
reyerenced as Queen.
There has been u great deal of unnecessary and
illogical abuse Of this - Almighty Dollar 1t
does not at all follow that because the word is often
on a man lips that he is a churlish avaricious
miser or that he may not be the most generous of
men. 1t is the word which, of all others, may be
expected to be the oitenest uttered-since money
Is the great representative idea, including pretty
much all the ideas, of modern civilization. An
American, save, OF necessity In consequence of his
superior activity of trade and intercourse, does
not talk more of his dollar than an Englishman
of his pounds or Frenchman Of his Napoleons--
though the unaccustomed word may have been
striking to English ears, thus giving impulse
TO the silly complaint which John Bull Is always
throwing in our teeth. Who does not need money
and have occasion to think speak of it every
hour of his waking day Nay, he could not even
sleep without it. The old hoarders, the worship
pers Of coin, such as Quintyn Matsys painted IN
his famous picture lived before the days Of banks.
Now, II very rich man may pass through life with
out handling altogether bag full Of the precious
metal. He escapes, at least, the consuming yellow
fever from contagious gold. The possession Of
money is longer, except in occasional melancho-
ly cases, idolatry of coin it is wealth,-the OPP
portunity, use, and enjoyment Of everything which
can lengthen life. diminish its pains or increase
its pleasures cultivate its intellect its morality.
In itself, DIR. Lieber tells that money is ne-
ther good nor bad, and that it is but vulgar pre-
iudice TO associate it exclusively in the common
idea with meanness, insOlence and ayarice. 1t IS
in certain end, it is in far greater and
better sense means to an end. It is after all
but step on the road TO fortune, for, alter man
has acquired money. his felicity depends altogeth
er upon what he shall make up his mind TO do with
it. We must admit, however, the general misun-
derstanding Of the text of APOSTLE altering his
SAYING that the love of money is the root of evil,
to the assertion that the money itself is the root
This unphiOsOphieal estimate of a calm impassiOn-
ate scientific object is not very complimentary to
human nature. 1t shows that the thing is oftener
abused to improper indulgence, pride and oppres-
sion, than it is employed for the individual or pub
lie welfare, or that the tendency to this unhappy
condition of affairs is great to require con-
tinual suspicion Of the good conduct of money and
protest against its misemployment Man may be
defined as d protesting animal. Grumbling goes
before him as the herald of his virtuous achieve