The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-12-17

being in itself wealth. money" says
one writer, ''is an object that in time
OF famine can not feed us, in time of
cold can not clotne US, but, coming 10
the service Of all occupations, all sorts
of precious things may be secured by it."
The vicissitudes through which the
currency in China has passed have been
frequent and violent. The ease With
which money is produced tempted Vari-
GUS soYereigns in times Of national dlm'
Guilty to coin enormous quantities 10
meet their Immediate wants, and 80
common have been the materials en-
ployed, and so rude the technical eXecu-
eutiOn, that coiners have found no diff
Guilty in counterfeiting the Imperial
cash. AT the present day the trade of
coming false money is a large and
hourishing one, and only within the last
lew weeks vessel was captured on the
ng-tze-Kiang carrying iull cargo oil
lalse money. The principal objection
TO the copper cash as medium oil
exchange has always been It's
cumDrousness, and thus at an
early period arose a demand for a
more convenient equivalent. To some
extent silver supplied this want, but tue
Introduction of a paper currency proved
a still greater benefit to the traVeing
merchant. Historians tell us that bank
notes first appeared during the Tang
Dynasty GA. d. 6-2-S97), but with Inc
advent OF Lroublous time They ceased to
circulate, and it was not until the Sui &
Dynasty "a. d. 959-12Sl) reigned su-
preme that they were Systematically
issued and recognized. AS in all coun.
Tries subject TO revolutionary outbreaks,
Ihe paper currency ia CHINA mas been
subject to extreme fluctuations, and the
The means adopted by the GoVernmen
to maintain lis nominal value in Times OF
depression have been as unWise and un-
avalling as any employed in European
countries under similar circumstances.
Az one time, when paper money had De-
come la gely deprecated in consequence
Ol overissue, tue Government, in order
TO keep 1T in circulation, ordered that all
payments should be made partly In
notes, which were to have the same
value as metallic money. IL IL needless
10 say that this regulation Jailed in its
effect, and almost Immediately after
ward We hnd That nuteB Oh The nomlnal
value OF 1000 cash were worth in the
market Uhly " cash. In addition to the
uverlssue OF notes, which has always
been the chief cause of their deprecla.
llon, the appearances from time TO time
OF large quantities OF false notes mas
added TO tne popular mistrust Ia Ihem
Ii is curious " notice the similarity be-
tween The terms OF the penaty 10 be III
flIcted on gers OF Chinese paper
money with those employed by
Western Governments on tue first ap.
pearance Of forged noUes i'll Europe and
America. On the notes issued duling
the Ming Dynasty GA. D. 1865 I643) was
tue inscription, Nv Wnoeyer faDrlcaves or
uses forged notes snail be beneaded, land
ue VINO Informs against The torger, or ar.
rests him, shall receive reward OF 25C
ounces oil silver" The Assignats OF WE
French Republic bore an almost identl-
Cal legend, La toi puc&t de mort te coatre-
lacteur, Ia mutton Tec01RpeHSe Ie deh0net0-
teitr, and on tne American notes issued
uurIug the War Of independence was in.
scribeu the short aud emphatic phrase,
80 counterfeit is death."- The Athen-
6uHl,