The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-11-04
THE DIFFERENCE. rs IT PLAIN

A contemporary says: Sol. Moneybags
is in the city, He is the greatest fnancier
In the State. OF our own knowledge Gov,
Coke has frequently consulted him about
the financial affairs of Texas"
The word .Jfnaneieriag, in its highest use,
refers 10 the conduct and management of
the State. 1t belongs to craftsmanship and
not to money getting. The millionaire may
have no more conception Of the laws of pub
lie finance than the ditcher who digs the
canal Of the science Of engineering, or the
meanest soldier in the ranks had of the
comprehensive maneuvers of Napoleon.
That Col. Moneybags, or even Rutabaga
understands the art of calculating the profit
on yard of calico when he buys it for six
cents and sells for ten; and that he under
stands the method Of wrecking a railroad or
factory, his emtuent success and the pain
full experience Of less fortunate subscribers
TO stock may attest. But his admirer mis-
takes cleverness and adroitness for ability
as a statesman. He mistakes the capacity
for personal gain and confounds it with
ability for conducting the fiscal and eco
n0mic affairs OF nation-two things diff
fering entirely, and involving faculties of a
totally different order and trained in diff
ferent direction. A man, whose intellect
has been sharpened to an acute perception
Of the means of individual aggrandizement,
by practice in the arts of trade and specula-
ton, however shrewd and sagacions in the
pursuit Of bis own interests, is totally unfit
as an adviser, except as to mere clerical
forms, in the conduct of the fiscal affairs
of government. The very pursuits of the
man who has devoted himself with the nee
essary assiduity to the accumulation of q
lSrge fortune, disqualify him for the duties
OF the statesman. The successful dvotee
OF riches, would seek toenlarge and am
pity the revenues and resources of the
government, which must always be done at
neaxv Gust 10 thu I,zvI,ir--TiIrt :rrtiEnxnrx Of
che patriot and statesman would be directed
TO limiting the expenses and diminishing
the needs of government, and thus leave
the citizen to the enjoyment of Lis indivi-
dual accumulations.
The duty of the statesmen acting, in fiscal
affairs, for his country, is abstinence and
renunciation, even to the point when the
vulgar and undiscerning are disposed to
reproach him with parsimony. ECONOMY
said very eminent public man sis always
wise and virtuous policy" The sagacious
statesman knows that every dollar used by
government, is so much distracted from the
resources of the people, with the addition
both OF the cost of collection and of dis
bursement. He, therefore, would care
fully limit revenues and expenditures of
government to the lowest possible amount
consistent with a healthful administration
OF public affairs. The ideas Of the success
full trader are directly in opposition to this.
His mind is intent on accumulation. He
carries his conceptions of business thrift
into the conduct Of public finances. He
would see abundance OF monvy flowing into
the public treasury, and lavish, or as the
public expenditure. A Chancellor of the
Exchequer, not noted for his profound wis
dom, once asked London banker, what
would be the probable effect upon general
prosperity, OF certain large loan then be-
ing negotiated. The reply Of the banker
was, 81 have been too busy making money
TO study finance" A reply equally credi-
table 10 his candor and to his thoughtful
ness.
A smile ora nod from one Of the Money
bags family seems TO Col. Snob, the COM
plaisanee of Jove to an inferior deity ban
ished from the realms of Heaven on account
OF impiety or rebellion. II Col. Money
bags knows what is meant by financier in
state affairs, he must have blnshed at such
inappropriate praises frqm his obseqnious
friend. Moneybags makes no pretsnsions
20 honors due financier except in the mar
row sense Of shrewdness in making money.
He, Ike Rutabaga, never read work on
the subject. He could not tell what the |
word capital, or the word seealth, as used by
political economists. means. He knows
nothing Of the laws or the elements of pro-
duction. He knows nothing of social econo-
my and makes no pretensions TO any such
knowledge. He is simply a money maker.
Being very good and very pious man, he
has doubtless read that admirable little
Sunday school book, called sFrhe Success
fui Merchant" in which is taught the art
Of getting rich BY systematic piety, and this
is perhaps the extent of his financial studies
and we insist that gentlemen in and out
Of the Convention use terms properly, and
never mistake the misery skinilint OF shy
lock who has gained wealth by few lucky
speeulations or BY leading gold At five per
cent. per month. FOR the financier who can
administer wisely The revenues OF an en-
pre-
TilE following note, from Mr.. Weaver,
Of the Constitutional Convention, in reply
20 paragraph in yesterdays STATESMAN,
nxnlsins itself Wo said 6o,,r.t,~niv -