The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-01-04

Nv a. :. Osborne, Of Hrie, White
side CO., Illinois.
Mon.y-1t. Functions, Use. snd Abuses.


In presenting this subject, we shall find it
necessary to examine fundamental princi-
pies and their philosophical application to
governments.
We shall also present, what is, to mankind,
ian anomaly in finance" just financial
system-a system which if adopted, will DO
more to ameliorate the condition of the toll
ing millions of mankind, than all the wars
since the beginning Of the christian era. All
of which can be accomplished by voting an
teltigently.
The necessity for political and financial
reform must be evident to every think
ing man. At the organization OF
this government, its founders threw off such
baneful laws and customs as appeared to
deprive them of their inherent rights. That
the fathers did not comprehend the whole
subject, their children have been very slow
to perceive. The fathers of the republic des
troyed the one man power of the king IN
this country, which power is arbitrary, and
instituted system of government in which
the people are interested. The gold money
of Europe and all the east is arbitrary it
is an arbitrary power which rules in material
substances the price of all commodities, even
though it is, ITSELF subject to fluctuations
through the memorable law of supply and
demand.
We shall try to make it plain that, TO per
feet the liberties Of the people, the arbitrary
power of gold money must be buried beside
the arbitrary rule of the autocrat. The
autocrats who rule mankind are flesh and
blood, are endowed by their Creator with
the same inalienable rights enjoyed by the rest
of the human family, many OF whom, in point
of ability ,intelEgence,virtue and honesty, Are
far the superior of the individual exercising
such vast power and authority. The gold of
which money is made is a substance having
qualities that are unimportant compared
with many others, and could easily be dis
pensed with as money, and cause but little
disturbance, and that for short time; and
yet this substance, gold, reigns and rules in
the commercial world with as much power
IS was ever exercised by any absolute mon
arch in the political world
We wish to point to the self-evident fact, that
there exists in every country, two distinct
principles of government, the political rela-
tons, and social relations. The first deal
with the theory of government, political,
social, and religious rights. Commercial
relations deal with the exchange of actual
substances, necessaries, conveniences and
Injuries of life. Now it is not, we believe,
SeueEdilN uuueEStOOu tQAt tneSe are Separate
and distinct fields of action, governed by
separate and distinct laws, and while oar
political relations may be all that we could
ask, our political. social, and religious rights
guaranteed and protected, our commercial
rights may be sacrificed to the interests Of
others, which We expect to show in the case,
and while the fathers of this government
nave thrown off the political yoke of Europe
har ,;rl, ,aI.a eth aD2
ask, which horn of the dilemma will our
statesmen take, who are in favor of bringing
the money of this country to specie basis
are they fools, or knaves? Do they not see
that in the commercial world every thing is
substantial; the laws that govern the ex-
change of all products must be Of deep mo-
nent to the producer; and yet the same
arbitrary rule is in force here which has beg
CARED and cursed the wealth producers OF
Europe. 1t is not for us to say whether our
statesmen who advocate gold money, o,
gold base to bankers currency are dishonest
| or incapable; we shall merely present the
facts and these shall decide.
Money in the commercial world should
only be the agent Of commerce and ex
change; the means used to effect a specific
purpose-the servant and not the master o.
| trade.
Then do not be deceived. You may have
| all the political liberty in the world, and i
your commercial rights are not secured,
| what advantage have you over the despotie
governments of Europe, or Europe over the
1arbarians, or the savage? All these be.
ieve that gold is the only measure Of
value" A representative government was
,nce can anomaly in governments, and YET
proves to be sound in practice. Representa-
tive value in money will also prove sound
N practice, hence ian anomaly" in finance
In pursuing the study of this subject, we
find much that is new and startling. AL
though it may be dry and tedious at first to
the general reader, we believe that in the
end those who give it a careful investigation
will feel that their time was we'll spent In
all our views we are open to criticism, and
hope our opposers will avail themselves o.
the opportunity of the open columns of the
press to set rs right, if we are wrong.
Few people can at once understand the
magnitude of this reform when once adopte
by the people of this country. The wave oil
intelligence that will roll back on the eastern
hemisphere, from the west. viii sweep despo
tism from every christian and civilized ma
ton such things as kingdoms and kings
empires and emperors, gold money the only
measure of value, viii remain only in histo
| ~, as a monument of the ignorance, infatu
alton, superstition and errors of dark age
whlc has yet spreads its pail over civilization
10 our country belongs, we believe, the
| proud destiny of leading the world to polit
| ical perfection, commercial equality, social
| happiness, and religious liberation. IF all
this is not accomplished the creation of man
| will prove gigantic failure,an the race
| may be swept from the earth, to give place
to an embodiment corresponding in mtelli
gence to the other works of the Creator.
NATIONAL FINANCES.
We commence this discussion by assert
| ing the fact that there are two distinct and
separate principles in nature that effect the
destiny OF man these are the laws that gov,
ern material and immaterial substances.
Material substances will be treated under
| the head of commercial law. Immaterial
| things under the head of civil law. Com.
| mercial law includes, and presides over
things pertaining to production, exchange
supply, demand, agents of commerce, con
! sumption, value. wealth, labor, and all meas
| ures. Civil law includes and presides over
such things as political, social, and religious
rights, the punishment of crimes, and the
| enforcement of contracts, and all political,
| or civil rights.
lection In commercial law and yet nation
may make many improvements. and guaran-
| tee many civil rights to its citizens, while its
commercial laws remain oppressive to nine.
tenths OF them. In the early days of the