The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-10-07


ing off in the demand for gold. While
this change in the relations between
gold and corn takes place, the corn may
stand in precisely the came relation to
every other commodity this year as it
did last-a bushel Of corn may be the
equivalent in exchange in the markets
Of the country for the same quantity
Of wheat, pork, beef. potatoes, calico.
cashmere, wool, brick, lumber, &C.,
&c, this year as it was last, and of
course each of these other commodi-
ties would stand in the same relation
to every other, because, "things equal
to the same thing are equal to
e,ch other" If such a condition as
this last were ascertained to exist, is
there any one 80 stupid as te deny that
the difference between gold and corn
is occasioned by the fluctuations in the
supply OF, or the demand for, gold p
And is it not folly to insist that this
changing commodity, gold, shall be
portions between other commodities,
when it is itself commodity, and in
the case supposed, the only one that
has changed as compared to all the
rest? We make these comparisons be-
cause gold is commodity, and cub
ject to the operation Of the law of
supply and demand the same as other
commodities. No law making it mon-
ey can obliterate that fact or neutralize
lis results. Gold is and always will
be a commodity money so long as it
is in demand for anything else except
as money, and So long as it. is coined
aud stamped money. What is more,
its commodity properties and market
price will always dominate and pre-
vail ever its artificial or money quail
ties, and influence its use and owner
chip amsng men, because the need,
demand for and use of commodities
arising from the laws Of our nature, or
the caprice Of tastes, which are superb
or to all human statutes while money
is solely and only n conventional or
statutory thing. Mr.. West does not
reflect that gold dollar is never just
dollar except when the dellar stamp
happens to be upon dollars worth Of
gold. The trouble with the present
American gold dollar coin it that it is
made out of one dollar and seventeen
cents north of gold instead of q dol
lars worth. But here the bullionlsts
take issue aud declare that gold dol
lar is as unchsngable as yard sticko or
a brass pound weight. The following
is the ingenious and plausible state
ment which Mr.. West puts into the
farmers mouth:
"The government does not create dis
tance, but prescribes aud adopts por-
tion of existing distance and calls it
yard, with which other distances may
be measured by comparison. 1t does
not create weight, but prescribes and
adopts a certain quantity of existing
WCl&ut anu C6IlS II POOuu, Oy COtllN
parisOn with which all other weights
are measured and determined. 1t does
not create space, but prescribes and
adopts a certain portion or volume of
existing space and calls it bushel,
by comparison with which many
things of bulk are measured and de-
termined. Nor does it create value,
but prescribes and adopts certain
portion of something which has exist
ing value and calls it dollar, by COM
parison with which all other values
are ascertained. The substance hav-
ing existing value, portion Of which
the government has adopted as such
measure, is gold" ,..ss
That statement appears at first
glance to be faultless. The analogy
appears to be complete, the parallel
perfect. But let US examine it. Dis
tance or extension is quality or prop
erty of matter that addresses itself to
the senses. We can see distance, and
can, in :act. feel it. More than that.
distance is absolute and interchangeable.
1t is immutable, humanity speaking
Consequently any arbitrary measure
of distance will be likewise unchange-
able. The same may be said of space.
Space addresses itself to the eye. Is
comprehended by sight, and to some
extent by touch. 1t also is immutable.
Weight also is property, quality, or
of matter, or result of ma
lures law which addresses itself to
aud is comprehended to some extent
by the senses. We can feel weight aud
thus comprehend it. Distance and
space are absolute aud immutable
characteristics of matter; and weight
is equally 80, at least until Congress or
some state legislature succeeds in re-
pealing the law Of grayitation. tsei
But can we say the same of value
Can you see value? Can you feel,
touch, or smell, or hear it2 Is it
tangible thing, that addresses itself to
our senses? Is it quality pertaining
to matter that can be comprehended
or understood by any method similar
to that by which we ascertain distance,
space or weight? Net at all. Sup
pose Z philosopher should find rare
aud to him, new aud beautiful sub
stance in the midst of desert. If lie
has yard stick or other standard of
measure he can tell you exactly how
long or how broad it is. He can also
compute it's cubic inches, and tell you
exactly what space it fills. If he had
pair of scales he could also ascertain
its weight. But if he had ever SO
many gold dollars in his pocket, can
he tell you Of what value it is !?
Now, mark the absurdity of Mr..
Vests statement. He says the goy-
ernment adopts the gold dollar, by
comparison with which all other val