New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-07-05
"SEND BACK THAT MONEY"
LETTER FROM ELIHU BURRTTr.

NO HONORABLE WAY BUT TO RETURN TIL
THERE ARE OTHER OPINIONS THEY SHOULD BE
GIVEN WITH THE REASONS FOR TnEM.
To the Edtt0F OF me Trtoune.
SIR: Many of your middle-aged readers must re-
member when, where, and why the words OF the
above caption were uttered, and how they were
written upon the dead walls OF Edinburgh and other
British cities. There are a hundred times more ur-
gent reasons why the cry should be raised at all
the centers and sources of American opinion IN
regard to money now in the hands Of our Govern
ment. And / am confident such n cry would he
heard from one end of the country TO the other, 1t
the public mind could be brought TO thoughtful re-
Fiction on the subject.
Now glass of certain cOncentric and focalizing
power can make a copper coin too hot for the palm
that holds it against the The newspaper press
should be more TO the mind OF the nation
than such glass 90 the rays Of the sun. 10 should
not only collect and focalze the rays of puic opn-
ion against a wrong principle, but it should produce
them, by enlightenrng the public mind on the sub
ect If the American press would put in force these
double positions, IL would soon concentrate enough
Of public opinion make the balance of the Geneva
award too hot for the palm of our Government that
now dares TO hold il without the slightest right to
a farthing of the money. The history of thousand
years proves how the conscience of good men has
ment. history of equal length as clearly proves
that nations conscience may be equally insensibe
to a great wrong until it is enlightened to clearer
perception Of the evil. Now this enlightenment is
all the mind of the nation needs TO bear upon
this question which touches TO tho quick
our national honor. And both the process and
result must be effected through the newspaper press
There is kind of interpoated page III the history
of Connecticut which may suggest, as well as Illus
trate, the process of enlightenment which the ma
tional mind needs on this important matter. When
the long and costly which expelled the French
dominion from the Canadas and Lower Provinces
had been brought TO a close the very important
question came up, who was to pay the cost of the
conquest Il was perhaps a national feeling on the
part of the English people, that the conquest was
mainly TO nure to the advantage of tue American
colonies. they ought to bear part of the expense
SO the question suddenly sprung upon them
whether the mother country had right to impose a
revenue tariff certain articles imported into the
colonies to the benefit of the British treasury. Now
as most of these articles came from Great Britain
and its West and East Indian possessions, If the tariff
imposed upon them diminished their consumption
in the colonies, then TO that extent it was tax on
British commerce and manufactures. So when the
question came up it presented two sides for discus
needed to be brought clearly before the people. 70
this end the Governor convened a special legsIa-
ture of Connecticut, which held session within
closed doors and windows with pledge of absolute
secrecy in regard to the proceedings. DR.. Strong,
who acted Chaplain, long after the Revolutionary
war; conided the secret to an intimate friend. He
said that of the best lawyers of the Legislature
were chosen to argue the question Of tue right Of
England to tax the colonies, three one side and
three on the other For several days they put forth
their best talents in presenting the ques-
ton in all Its principles, bearings, and
aspects. At the end of the long debate the mem
bers OF the Legislature were not only unanimous
against British taxation but every one of them was
furnished with the best arguments to bring his
sttuency to the same opinion. They all went home
as thoroughly educated instructors of tue people
the question, and the people became equally unani-
nous in regard to the principles it involved.
Now we want process of enlightenment similar
10 this in order 10 bring the national mind to bear
upon the disposition of the money orr Government
is retaining in It's bands the balance Of the Geneva
award But it must not be a closed-door discussion,
but before the freest aud largest public that can be
reached. The public press must be the power for
the debate. If there be any erudite lawyers states
men, diplOmatists. international jurists who think
that they show that our Government may retain
farthing OF that money on any principle of justice,
equity honor let them bring forward their plea in
the public press, that may know what it is and
how it may be answered. Certainly it is question
of as much vital Importance TO nations honor
any which the profoundest American statesman can
be called upon TO consider during the rest of his
life II he regards that honor he ought it is high
time for him to speak side or the other of the
question. Let him speak through the press. Let
the list of pros and be made up possi
BILE 10 grapple with each others arguments that
power, that may if the great majority OF the
nation docs not raise the cry, "SEND BACK THAT
MONEY! (.
Britain, Conn. July 2, 1877,