Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-08-30
Gen. Cary and His Speech.

/ NSNH- Jam OosJ3 ShO :
back man, spoke last week III three
places in Grant County. His speech
in Lancaster was heard by as many
as could omfortably get into the
courthouse. He spoke more than three
hours, and his hearers were interested
and amused from the moment be be-
gan until he finished. We doubt
whether 'funnier" man ever spoke
in Lancaster. If fun were nutriment
we might follow him for time and
grow fat But the spices and relishes
of feast are not only less nourishing
than the dry breads and meats but
they sometimes interfere with diges-
ton and are physically injurious. Gen.
Carys speech was very seductive.
He told his thoughts in way that to
many even misrepresentation were
as good as facts and what men are
pleased in hearing they are too apt to
follow. A man cropping in the dark
will follow light though it leads him
to perdition. There are so few who
are willing to be guided by the expe-
rience of others-the lights that have
led them past difficulties and where
safety is. They must have their own
experience even if they follow the lur-
ing lights that play in the phosphor of
swamps. Gen. Cary's speech was not
all truth. His conclusions were not
as bad, however, as his premises.
He built superstructures upon sandy
foundations. Let us look at the con-
illusions and then at the premises.
One of his conclusions is that we
ought to repeal the resumption act.
That would not be bad to take If
our currency is at par with gold what
need have we of resumption act
One conclusion is that we should have
no currency but greenbacks. Well,
some of the national banks have al
ready withdrawn their circulation be-
cause it does not pay. If the pr esent
policy continues others may do the
same. Banks will not carry circu!a-
ton if they find it does not pay. We
are then in natural way coming to
a greenback currency. But Gen.
Cary would lead us there through
swamps where we may be fast mired,
or he would have the greenback
structure and resumption rest upon a
foundation where they would readily
topple over and destroy those within
and around. Let US look at the foun-
dation-the premises on which Gen.
Cary founded his conclusions.
Other countries he said, have mon
ely for the people averaging from $40
to $50 per head for the whole popula-
ton, while in this country we have
but $40 upon an average If this is a
good premise on which to build con-
clusion then the people of the other
countries are more prosperous than
we. But the contrary is true. Hard
times are complained of in other coun-
tries as well as here and in some oil
them the poor are actually starving
If they are no better off by having an
average of $50 per head of money
than with an average Of $40 per head
Cary's argument from that premise
was delusion And indeed it is moi
a greater average that we want but
that the average be distributed. San
Tilden is worth six million dollars
Put him and laborer who has not g
dollar together and they have an av
erage between them of three millior
dollars. Give Sam six millions more
and the average becomes six millions
but is the poor mans condition i'm
proved p? But without increasing
Sam Tilden's money let him use wha
he has to give employment to or 9th
erwise assist the poor man and The
hard times, so far as that poor mar
is concerned will be broken. 1t i.
therefore not more money that We
want but a Legitimate distribution oil
what we have through the arteries Of
industry and trade.
"Gold is not the money of the
world" said Gary. He went to En-
gland once and carried American
| gold with him. When he offered that
money the banker weighed it as he
would any other commodity. 1t would
be improper for us to question the
fact of the weighing but the state.
ment was an insult to the intelligence
of his audience. IL there was a hall
peek or even pint measure of the
| gold, whether in American coin OF
British sovereigns, the banker could
determine its value quicker by weigh.
ing than by counting the pieces.
If there was but one or two pieces oil
it aud if Gen. Cary wore broad belt
around the waist of long coat, to
correspond with sorcerous eye that
looked from under the broad brim Of
a negligent hat, the banker may have
thought his safety lay in testing the
commences of the coin by testing its
weight. There may have been hear.
ers in Gen. Cary's audience green
enough to swallow his weighing sto.
ry but in Liverpool and London there
are no bankers green enough not to
know the British value of American
coins. And, reader, when any mans
fascinating talk persuades you that
gold is not the money of the civilized
world, set yourself down as "beat."
| Gen. Cary ridiculed the gold base
theory Every country that he re
ferred to as having greater average
of money than the United States runs
its finances on the specie base. A
Bank of England note, he said, is
taken at par in gold in China and
Japan. That is because Bank of En-
gland notes are issued upon a specie
| base