Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1874-05-02
For tie Virginia Free Press.
A Senator's Word to Farmers.


In his speech in the Senate recently, oppo-
sing currency imitation, Senator Schurz spoke
as follows -" Ii farmer OF planter could IN
fate the currency and run up the premium on
gold when he sells his crops and then 50 ma
nipulaie the currency as to raise the value OF
paper money and depress the premium on
gold when he buys his supplies, OF course That
would be a winning trick. But those who buy
from and who sell to him would try to play the
same game; aud in this tricky game the hon
est farmer would be sure to come to grief, as
be has come to grief already.
The Senator seems exnltngly to say, " the
farmer has come to grief already" What has
brought him to grief? Certainly not initiation,
or too plenty Of money. for the reverse is the
fact. In 1865 the circulating medium was
500 million, now il is about $50 million. Not
because Of the want Of a specie basis for the
farmer has had his palmy days when the cur
rency was not as well based rs now but the
causes are the want of an abundant. and q more
uniform currency. Another Is the farmer and
planter has t. produce every dollar Of real and
Intrinsic value. out Of which he, the Senator,
gets his enormous salary, and the money lords
their gold interest Who now plays the trick
Of running up gold, anddown currency? The
money gambler who gets all the gold ? the
bond holder From whose products does the
values come, that pays the exchange or differ
euce between gold, medium Of exchange, and
the government legal tender note, another me-
dium of exchange? the farmers and planters
What we propose is, that the government shall
issue legal tender notes TedeemaJle an g0ld pay
off the public debt, relieve the people from the
payment of over one hundred millions Of dol
/ lars annually, receive them in payment of all
I dues. both private and public, this would put
all classes, farmers, planters, manufacturers,
merchants. mechanics and bORdhOldeTs on equal
footing This. however, you say would he OBJ
/ ected to because foreign nations would not
respect our paper promises 10 pay in gold.-
| What is it they respect now Gus paper
bonds they promises to pay in gold,-
/ Jlus the interest,-the interest then Is the great
/ secret Of our credit Now that is what we
| propose to be relieved Of
II this debt which the government owes
was in the shape of circulating notes, It could
/ be utilized by the great mass Of the people at
moderate percentage, it would yitaize the far
mer. planter, manufacturer, merchant, me-
/ chauic and laborer, ii irouid destroy NE pore,
Of capital as pOic concentrated, "a Bonds ana
/ God from forming rings dndcornerS, by which
/ to put mp gold. and down currency, at pleasure,
I So rs ~ bring the farmer TO grief by buying
| his products bow, and, selling to him his sup
| plies high. Gag the farmer 10 death by youV
/ class legislation. and the retribution Of your
/ trick will soon overtake you.
Bowen, the American political economist,
saws that The Increasing abundance Of money
and the steady rise prices stimulates all forms
[ of Industry and enterprise" Hume, long ago.
remarked that " in every kingdom, in which
money begins to flow in greater abundance
than formerly, every thing takes a new face ;
labor and industry gains life, the merchant
becomes more euterpriSing, the manufacturer
more Skillful and dlligeut, and eren the .f'"mer
t6Uous his rI2,r rih greater alagity md at
tsntion."
This is the experience Of the world, in all
I ages, and among all people it is our own eS-
periencc. and observation veriGcS it. Make
money plenty. and the people will bear with
ease dad c4ecrfalneSs ouerous taxation, which,
under other circumstances makes them sulleu
aud rebellious. j. ii. ).
HAILTowN. JET Co., W Va,
April -. 1874