The Placer herald., 1864-02-06
Greenbacks and Anti-Greenbacks

UTeenDacKs and Antl-Greenbacks.
The loyal party Of this golden State of
California is in trouble. 1t is divided against
itself. Hard words are being used, and bad
names being caIled-and all on account of
The root of all evil, ,"-money. One faction
would have greenbacks as the currency Of
the State, and the other clings with ife-like
tenacity to the Substance-the double eacles
mat ring so muscaIly, and have so long sung
the song OF the States prosperity. NATURAL
ly, where the contest is one about money,
much acrimony and bitterness of feeling
has crept into the argument until we fnd
very serious charges made. No less than
that the Unionists who are Anli.Greenback
are at heart traitors and favor the establish
ment of Pacific Republic. Democrats are
so far forgotten in the fight as not to be
abused, but rather courted for the five Sena-
tor'a votes they are so fortunate to repre-
sent. The contest wakes tiercer from day to
day, and petitions and remonstrances 90 up
to the Legislature, expressive of the varying
sentiments; and newspapers hurl their wordy
thunderbolts with vindictveness that shows
that passion is stronger element than rea-
son in the contest.
San Francisco is particularly agitated on
the sutject-the immediate cause being the
proposed repeal Of the special contract act
and meetings have been held protesting
against such action, and petitions to the
same effect have been freely circulated. San
Francisco prides itself on its fealty to the
Federal Government, and is very loud in its
professions of patriotism. 1t is however,
decidedly opposed to greenbacks, and has the
-1lta and Bulletin as influential mouth pieces.
On the other side is the Journal, radical
Abolition sheet, devolng columns daily in
favor of making greenbacks the State cur
rency. In an article on the subject, on the
lst of February, speaking of the hard money
San Franciscans, it said:
MARX the prediction: this is the first step
toacards the attempt to from Pacific Repub
tic. 1t was more than whispered, prior TO
the passage of that law last winter, among
certain business men in San Francisco, that
California had no interest in this war, remov,
ed, as she was, from it; and that the Pacific
coast might avoid bearing any portion Of its
expenses, and avoid paper currency by es-
tabishing Pacific Republic. And ace know
achat zoe sag yhen pe state that prominent
men IN San Francisco acrote to Gen. Halleck
that the business men aoere almost coming to
a conclusion that a Pacific Republic arouM be
for the best"
This is very serious charge to make, but
we suppose it one of the family secrets
brought out by this quarrel, that otherwise
might have been kept silent. AS the Journal
processes to speak by the card, We have here
proof of the depth of the intense loyalty
and devotion protessed by some Of these ABB
olitionists. Their patriotism is thing limit
ed and controlled by the almighty dollar
If they are required to sacrifice their money,
they are to be counted out. Lip service is
cheap-but hard earned douboons are their
ife'5lood and are not be trfed with.
We refer to these things to show the MAJ
ture of the quarrel that has arisen among,
and threatens to render asunder the self syl,
ed mscalled Union party. A quarrel not
easily healed, when we consider the subject.
Before the Gays of the slavery agitation, the
currency question was one of absorbing in
terest in the nation; and it will be found
here, where a party divides itself on the
question of metallic or paper currency, the
difference will be so radical that a perma-
nent breach will be effected
AS to the issue Of this quarrel-beleving
the only safe currency for California to be
gold and silver-we hope the Anti-Green
back men prove the stronger party.