Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-12-20

claimed that there has been the most fright
ful swindling practiced, and that the
swindling is general. It is the belief, of
the revenue officers here, that the list as
published yesterday and to day affords but
few instances of Incorrect or fraudulent
returns.
GOLD got black eye again yesterday.
1t ouIy awaits the fall of Savannah to get
6 blseksrone Butnot alone does gold get a
black eye when we get good news. Good
news is the poor mans friend-the friend
of the man who lives on a salary-as it is,
in larger sense, the friend of us all. What
matters the profit mau makes on yard
of calico or pound of coffee when gold is
going up and greenbacks are going down
He deludes himself with the idea that he
is making money, but he is not. He is
losing money, as is everybody else. BE
makes more dollars, it is true, but at the
end of the year, unless his prices are inor-
dinate and extortiOnate, he is all the worse
off by reason of the depreciation in the
government paper. The man who sslls to-
day must buy again to- morrow, and that
something which he buys, like that which
be sells, will be oOrrespondingly inflated.
Infation brings delusive, but not actual
wealth. Better by far for every merchant
and every tradesman that he should sell
out all his stock at loss in greenbacks,
under permanent decline in gold, tn an
that he should sell out at profit in green
backs upon permanent rise in gold. In
the Old Continental times the whole
country was ruined by the de-
prtcintion of paper money; and yet for
time people actually counted as gain the
enhancement in nominal valne of their
property by reason of that very deprecia-
ton. They found at last the folly of their
calculations. Aud so many OF our BUSH
ness people the country over are viewing
the matter now. Hence there is little of
that insane regret among our intelligent
money men over decline in gold that there
was a year ago, when it seemed as if spe
ciecould not in the worst event go over 200.
Having passed that point the danger was
that it might commence jumping ten, twen-
ty, 6fty OF even hundred per cent at q
power. That would have been a catastro-
phe no man could measure. We have al.
ways looked to the finances of the country
with more anxiety thauto the rebels in oul
front. We have felt that it was in rea
truth but mere question of time abou
our overthroWing the armed power of the
rebellion bat that it was also q prob
lem of time to keep down initiation &c
keep the money paid to our soldiers valuable
and desirable in their eyes to keep i
valuable in the eyes of contractors anC
more than all to keep it valuable in tn,
eyes of our people.
AS long as our money stands we'll with
ourselves there is little danger of foreign
Intervention. Eugland is said to alwayl
cherish respect for any nation that ha,
plenty of good money, and never to 60 t,
war with any such. And why 7 For the
reason that she understands very well thai
among people where the circulating me
dunn is plenty and good, there is aud car
be but little discomfort; and they are read.
lily united to resist any infringement on
their national feelings. Once you get mp
N's0"u'eatI aud nothing produces it SO
quick as hard times, then comes the time
for power like Euglaud to dip in her oar,
and no nation is quicker to perceive her
opportunity. Hence, in whatever way it
may seem to bear for the instant on trade
or on anybOdy's interest. it isIthe duty of ev-
cry patriotic person, saying nothing at all
about il as question of common sense tn
rejoice over decline in gold. And vet.
while gold decltues to day and possibly
for several days to come, it is not impossi.
BILE that it may go up acousiderable height
again. Our military successes, however,
give US the assurance that although the
oai's' and 'b 'ars," by their inside and
outside combinations may Huctuate the
price of gold, yet they cannot 500. .ss
people into any appfsheusions shnn, tns
ultimate of their currency. Thai Az. wv w