The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-04-03
WEDNESDAY MORNING, APRIL 8.
The French Assignats Again.

To the Editor of the Press:
A recent article published over the initials |
IN. d." arraigns the National party to an
swer to the charge of proposing currency
which lie compares to the world famous as
signats of the French revolution. While every
proposition, having for its end and aim any
thing of public nature, or of public interest,
should be willing and able to bear comparison
and reject scrutiny, yet all will agree that
such comparison should be a fair one, and if it
should prove to be manifestly unfair and I'M
just, then the friends of the measure are en-
titled to all the Prescriptions such unfair, and
unwarranted comparison may carry with it.
In the first place we may fairly presume that
as n. ID. made his selection fully and freely and
under no direction or compulson, he selected
that instance which in all history was the best
calculated to rebut and overturn the idea of
"Absolute money" that is to say the absolute
money of the National party.
Let US see then, how he improved his oppor-
tunity, and how much rebutting testimony he
finds
1. The absolute money is to be based upon
the fee simple of all property both public and
private held in this country.
The assignats were based upon q small, or
comparatively small per centage of the property
of the French nation.
2. Absolute money is based upon property
held by the best of all possible titles, the as
signats upon property held only by the adverse
and unrighteous tenure of rapine revolution and
revolt.
3. Absolute money is to be issued in a time
OF profound peace, and under the fullest posi-
BILE sanction of a peaceful people. The assignats
were issued under the pressure of most terrible
and cruel revolution.
4. Absolute money is in the interest of all
classes, and maintained equally and equitably
by all. The assignats were specially directed
against one portion of people, by the other
part.
Divine inspiration has long ago put the seal
and assurance of destruction upon q divided
house.
When the time comes that part is equal to
the whole. when a bad title shall be as good
security as good one, when revolution, blood
shed and rapine shall be better and more law
abiding and secure time than period of peace,
when class legislation shall be the highest and
best, then will n. DIS arguments carry great
weight, but not before.
A more unfortunate comparison codld not
have been made, better argument absolute
money men will never find to support their
cause, than the financial experiments of the
French Revolution.
In order to see the justice Of the above com.
PARSONS it is only necessary to bear in mind
these facts: Any obligation issued by our gov
eminent, whatever its size. is guaranteed by
the property of every man in the nation. The
right of eminent domain vested in the govern
ment carries this with it, while on the other
hand the basis of the French paper was the
property confiscated from the church and the
mobiles, working that supreme injustice OF
making those classes pay for others, and when
revolution was once crushed and the commune
overthrown this property SO taken reverted to
its original owners, and the paper left with nc
basis. ABSOLUTE MONEY.