The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-12-23
Civ 9 Daily AAssns.
An ruconvertihle Currency.

All 4~COuVSIttEle SAA -S$~~S
1t has been reserved for the unasslsted
genius of the African race, in its tropical
exuberance, to develop truly inconyerti,,
Bile currency before our eyes in the model
republic of Hayti. On our way nome
from. Santo Domingo, with the lMted
States Commission, some three years ago
we visited Port an Prince. and found the
system of initiation in full operation there
| On landing we were told that specie was
no longer in use except among importers
and that it would be necessary to eXchahgc
our gold and silver for the money OF the
republic"
Accordingly, we repaired TO the store o;
Mr.. Hepburn, an cnterpri>ing cnlored
American, and requested the equivalent
of a gold dollar. 70 our amazement the
clerk presented us with huge pile OF
notes, the Haytian grecnbacks, quite tee
youminous for convenient transportatioi,
! in so warm climate. This pile contained
1890. the rate of exchange that day beng
$500 for 81. We promptly RECONSTRUCTED
our request, and substituted for our gold
dollar "A silver halt-dollar. and for this we
received $l95 in the republican currency
Feeling naturally elated by our uneX'
pected opulence, We invited several OF oui
American friends to accompany Us to the
market place. and there treated them with
reckless generosity to many luscious varl
cites of tropical fruits. We aftcrward.
spent two days in rambling about the ruin
Gus old city, INDUCING our fancy by purch
asses of palm leaf baskets, melon seel
necklaces and bracelets, walking sticks
etc Yet. would you believe it, Mr. Edi
tor, after paying for all these, still rctair
In nv possession $l20, the unSpent re
mainder of my silver half dollar, and an
tempted to make another visit to tha
genial CLINE ere long, for the purpose o
|revelli,.g in luxury with the ample means a
my command, :.
OF course this pleasant picture has IT.
sombre shades, upon which our unprlhc,
Piled hard money monopoists might dwei'
For instance, all imported goods. clo'hins
hour. salt fis h, domestics, etc, have to b
paid for in gold, How these products O
CIVILIZATION can ever be paid tor at al pS th'
poor women who thr0ng the market Piac
with their heavy loads of fruit ana VeSe'a1
bles and coffee, carried upon their heal
1 in wooden bowls or baskets, over mountain
paths, often twenty miles or more, Is
mystery explained, perhaps, by their halt
naked and wholly barbarous condition
Strange to say they do not fully appreciat
their blessings, for every new issue OF pa
ner money, putting up gold to a still mor'
rvnrhitant premium, is followed by pollt
, zeal revolution. Nor does the system
initiation stimulate domestic manufactures
Tor there are none 1t does not dcYelo
n,,blic improvements, for everything is tal
ing into decay. Probably the sys EN- ha
not vet had time to operate, since 1t ma
I, only been in existence about seventy tiv
years. Moreover, the currency, havln
still a little purchasing power lett ma
not vet be sufficiently abundant IN Hayt
The advantages OF the Haytian systeI
. over that of our umid American imitation
lists consists simply in this-lt is the l1
ical application Of the same priuclpl
The Irrational credit of Hayti is pledg'
to the eventual repayment OF its currenc;
which was originally at par with COL
Every acre of land, every pound OF colt
and sugar. are pledged in Il certain Il
sense" for its retention. But the Tia
tan Government are too enlightened
pmbarras, their citizens by taking mott
). aye ND m individual esates, on the half-w
plan of Mr. Phillips proposes, as the le
wing taxes, which the citizens would III
it inconvcnieut to pay. When the RUE
Of lIayti need money they simply lsst
more paper, aud leave the gold market
take care Of itself.
Let US adopt this financial system
admirable in its "aimpIicity. When /
ca crest-conpons mature upon oul nation
e debt, let them be paid in :. the people
money" Surely, a currency (which lg >,
enough for Americans ought to satisfy Il
Jews bankers" aud ''bloated capitalist
of Europe. Away, theu, with gold al
silver. These noxious metals should
. hnger be permitted to cramp the elias
| energies of free people-Heny
Blackwell, az the Nation.