The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-02-18
Hon. VIM. ID. Kelley.

The Chicago Journal of Commerce
pays the following deserved tribute to one
of the great men Of our country. Judge
Kelley has been the firm and faithful
friend of the South and West in all meas
ures affecting our national interests:
"We are glad to see that this distin-
guished gentleman is taking the lead in
Congress in favor of the inter-convertible
bond system. Finance is q progressive
science no less than astronomy and chem
istry; and the time has arrived when expe-
rence both justi6es and commands an ad-
vancing step. The instrument ofexchange,
like ali other machinery, was exceedingly
imperfect IN the beginning. AS the ancient
fail has ripened into the automatic thresh-
er, so has the instrument of exchange i'm
proved into the circulating note, the bank
cheque, and the clearing house. Now,
with vast amount of knowledge accu-
INFLATED from experiment, we have reached
the stepping-stone Of new excellence.
"Mr. Kelly is, of all others, the man for
the occasion. His sagacity, his perseverance,
his habits of investigation, his logical
power, his self mastery, his long career in
Congress, his present membership-all
conspre to fit him for the leadership in
taking the proposed new step in finance.
The opposition will of course contest the
ground, inch by inch, as is always the case
when people fear to be jostled out Of the
ruts in which they have travelled for years
as it was with regard to the introduction
of stage coaches, and then of steamboats,,
and then of railroads. Now, as then, the
opponents of improvement will have to
give way.
1.-THE hearts of che masses of the people
are with Mr.. Kelley in the effort he is
making to give the country yitalized
currency--a currency which means Sc
curity against recurrence of last Sep
TENDERS disasters which means cheap
encd interest which means larger life and
wider opportunities for the laboring classes.
Since last fall, an illumination of suffering
has shed light upon many obscure parts
Of the monetary problem, and convinced
thousands of minds that the volume Of the
circulating medium is too scanty tosupply
the growing activities Of commerce. Every
day adds to the number of those who
believe that considerable increase of the
currency is the greatest present economical
want Of the country. Newspaper after
newspaper, particularly in the South and
West, is coming out boldly for an addi-
tional issue ofgreenbacks. convertible into
government certificates bearing 3.65 per
cent. interest, and recoverable into green
backs, at the pleasure of the holder. OPP
position may delay, but cannot prevent,
this advancing step in finance. 1t
ia no small part Of the fortunate
circumstances, that man like Vim. d.
Kelley is at the head Of the movement in the
House Of Representatives. He is capable
of cyclopean exertions in cause which
meets his convictions and absorbs his
sympathies. The theories of his opponents
will melt away as frost.work does under
the sun, before the accommodating array of
facts he will be able to produce for the
contest will be essentially contest
between theories and facts. We shall
watch his course with interest, and
chronicle his victories with gladness."