The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-09-28
THE GOVERNMENT STAMP.

MdHy peOplV AhobihV ~ 40 ViS S'"'Nf ''
the Government, and nothing else, that
gives value to whatever circulates as
money. This idea is serious error, and
any one who will refer to history and
think little, must see the mistake.
Coin, gold and silver, has a value indie
pendent of any Government stamp--not
SO paper currency. The paper note is
mere promise to pay" and its current
value depends upon the ability and in
tention of the Government to redeem its
promises. l..
The paper note would have no value
but for the "promise to pay" The gold
and silver, without being moulded into
coin and stamped, would need to be
weighed each time it was transferred,
and hence would be very inconvenient,
This fact has, for Thousands of years,
made necessary commercial paper in large
transactions, and between parties distant
from each other.
Our greenback, the Government paper
currency, has varied in value during the
last twelve years enormously-up and
down, down and up, much to the injury
of all honest business and labor. Hon
est business and labor are always injured
by fuctuation, either by initiating or con-
tracting.
The uncertainty caused by unconstitu-
tional and unnecessary intermeddling
and disturbing Of the currency of the
country is prostrating to business and
destructive Of prosperity. Besides, a
Government adopting such policy soon
falls into the hands Of moneyed knaves
and harpies, who will victimize every
honest interest. Hence the corruption,
and wholesale robbery and swindling
that have ever followed such public
policy. 1t was after this experience in
England that Pope wrote:
Blest paper credit, last and best supply
That lends corruption lighter wings to fly.
"The Government stamp" did not save
the Continental paper money. The
French Government stamp did not pre-
vent the Assignats from becoming value
less. Our Greenbacks have been as low
as 35 cents on the dollar, and are less
than 80 now. What nonsense, then, to
say the Government stamp gives the
value. The Government promise is like
an individuals, and rates in the credit
market according to the ability and will
lingness to promptly meet and redeem
the promise to pay"
The Democratic party has always
maintained that the Constitution gives to
Congress no power to make money plen-
ty or scarce-hence no power to pass
Acts to disturb the just equilibrium of
established values--in short, no power
to deprive honest industry and business
of their just rights, and so promote the
pecuniary interest Of others.
The true rule is, Equal and exact JUS
tice to all men, of whatever state or per-
suasion, religious or political"
"The Government stamp" may be
very Important. Monarchs originally
established coinage, and kings have al
ways claimed, as the highest prerogative
all control over the current money of
the realm" The exercise Of this power
has often resulted in outrageous robbery
and swindling, and it was to prevent
these villainies, to make property and
values secure, and prevent ruinous fuc-
tuations at the will of schemers in pow
er, that the wise men who framed our
system of Government carefully worded
the Constitution as they did-Congress
has power ITO borrow money-to coin
money, and regulate the value thereof"
and 'No state shall emit bills of credit
or make anything but gold and silver
a tender in payment Of debt" These
are all upon the money question, and
they are plain and easily understood. 1t
is time we were once more considering
the Constitution, the fundamental law,
with view of establishing Justice.
The Democratic party, as political or
ganization, are engaged in this high mis-
sion. Democrats, and all friends Of Re-
form should bear this in mind. A plain
and simple government, managing pub
lie affairs in accordance with truth, JUS
tice and the Constitution, thereby prac-
ticing rigid economy and protecting the
rights and liberties Of all, is what the
Democratic party formerly gave, and pro-
pose to establish again. Our Reform is
this-our Government stamp" this.