St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-03-08
Our New York Letter.

THE DOLLAR OF THE DADDIEs-A MIXED
STATE OF AFFAIRs-HOw SILVER IS
REGARDED IN NEW YoRK-CUTTING
DOWN THE MISUNDERSTANDING
FISH INTEREsTs-AMUsEME
New YORK, March 1st 1873.
To the Editor of the CaledOnian:
There has seldom been a better il
lustration of how thoroughly and ut
terly honest, intelligent men can differ
in their opinions on the same subject,
than is furnished by the silver question.
Ever since the Bland bill was introduced
into Congress there has been incessant
and bitter warfare in New York over
tween ignorant fanatical partisans OF
two unreasonable views as among the
very classes whom one would surely ex-
pect to find in perfect accord upon such
vital and apparently uncomplicated
issue. At first sight, it seems as though
there must be some plain, simple state
vi bllC Ne5C, thC SOllCCbuCSS VI
which would be evident at once to any
right minded person, and yet there has
been no subject up for general discus
cussion within the memory of this gen
Grafton that has thrown into uncOm-
promising discord able lawyers, pro-
found theorists, sharp journalists, and
mr. atioal hnSinnSS oil a1aSSnS e
thinking and intelligent men have been
by the ears all these months, wrangling
and arguing, giving and taking stagger-
ing blows, but neither yielding an inch
in consequence, each side drawing
weapons of about equal sharpness and
the common arsenals of history and
political economy until unprecedented
laymen are befOgged, wait with resig-
nation for time to either cut or unravel
the Gordian knot.
And even now when the presidential
vote has been borne down and over
whelmed by two-thirds vote, and the
silver dollar is fixed fact, and the fl
nancial earthquake which was freely
prophesied still delays its coming, the
strange contest continues to wage with
scarcely abated vigor. Despite the
abuse constantly heaped upon Congress,
it cannot be denied that the members
of the national legislature are men Sc
lected from their various communities,
in most cases on account of mental su-
perority /; and it is difficult as well as
unpleasant to believe that nearly three
fOurths of their whole number are the
corrupt idiots" that most of our news
papers call them. But on the other
hand, the writers who control these
journals are men of great experience
and observation and recognized author
ity, so that it is scarcely easier, es-
pecially for those who daily get the
benefit of their eloquent arguments, to
set them down as "howling blather-
sixties" as the silveIites will have it that
they are. Go into three of our large
banks in succession and inquire elbow
about silver 2" The first president will
tell you with righteous indignation that
the silver dollar is national ruin and
disgrace. No. 2, will reply with en-
thuslasm that the passage of the bill is
glorious thing for the country. No.
3, will answer that he don't know and
don't care. Of two millionaire mer-
chants, one will tell you that silver is
going down like lead and merchandise
up like kite, while the other will as
sure you that in six months the Bland
dollar will be above par and business
better than at any time since '73.
Under these circumstances what is a
fellow to do Perhaps, as good way
as any is to turn a deaf ear to all this
theoretical conflict and wait to see how
things do really turn out-and as that
strikes me as being a sensible sugges-
ton, l believe L, for one, will follow it.
The showing of the extravaganza of
this city in paying its officials, which
was recently made in the press and
from which l quoted few weeks since,
seems to have been effectual in shaking
up the people and the Legislature to an
extent which is likely to result in sal
utary change. In fact, reduction of
25 per cent. on all salaries over So, 600