The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-03-09
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

Although the surreptitous work of
1878 by which Congress demonetized
silver without seeming to know it
has been undone so far as appears
practicable. National finances are
evidently fated to hold the pre.emi-
nent position they have come to &C.
cupy among the many subjects of
National import discussed in and out
of Congress, till the end of the ses-
sion. The purpose of the imitation
element to force the adoption of their
views through legislation, becomes
more and more apparent. The en-
actment of the free coinage feature of
the Bland bill emasculated by the
Senate, the repeal of the resumption
act, and the issue of greenbacks,
backed by the National faith ito an
amount equal to the wants of bust
ness and trade" and to be, like silver
and gold, receivable for all dues to
the Government and individuals, are
parts of the programme now openly
advocated. All disguise is being
stripped off, and the original sup
porters of the Bland bill who refused
to vote for concurrence, have come to
be recognized as a distinctive faction
working to accomplish unlimited in
fation. In view of the many weeks
months indeed-devoted to an eX-
haustive investigation of the silver
question in all its bearings, the COM
plant that the House and Senate
acted discourteously to the President
seems ill-founded. Nothing was to
be gained by delay, and the mails
and telegraph lines were burdened
with messages urging, imploring or
peremptorily demanding the imme-
date disposition of the matter both
that business interests should be re-
lieyed of the paralyzing effects of
doubt and uncertainty and that other
matters of momentous importance
might be reached. The chief objec-
ton urged by Vice President Wheeler
is said to arise from the feature of the
bill making the interest on bonds
payable in silver when the dues col
lectable by the Custom houses in gold
were pledged to that purpose and
hence, to that extent, the bill
amounts to practical Reputation.
Secretary Sherman is disappointing
many of his critics by orders to the
minis to at once prepare fer vigorous
work in carrying out the provisions
of the bill and there appears no val
id ground ior supposing that he is
not acting in entire good faith in the
premises. DIR. Linderman is of the
opinion that by next month the
minis will be able to undertake the
coinage of 50. 800, 900, their full capac-
ity at present. The veto message
has not added much to the Presidents
reputation, apparently, among any
of the Congressional factions, nor
among the large number of intelli.
gent men who have watched the
progress of this long contest with the
intensity of deeply interested obser-
vers. But the Indifference with
which his utterances were received
was, perhaps, due to the fact that
opinions had been gradually forming
from the additions daily made to the
fund of information on the subject
through the discussion in Congress
and elsewhere, and they were not
likely to be overcome by any new
contribution based on facts and fam
cies which had been cited a. thousand
times to support theories of the most
diverse nature.
The new coin will have on its OBJ
verse side the head of the Goddess of
Liberty, with wreath of wheat and
cotton leaf entwined in the full
ing hair, and wearing a cap, upon
which is inscribed the word Liberty.
Immediately over the head is the
motto in semi-circle "E Pluribus
Unum," in Roman capitals, while
the balance of the circle is composed
of Ii stars, and at the bottom is plac-
ed the year of manufacture. The re-
verse side shows what is known in
heraldic terms as the displayed eagle,
with the wing-tips up, an olive
branch in the right talons, and ar
rows in the left the bird encircled
with laurel wreath, and Immediate
ly over its head is the motto "In God
We Trust" and still above that the
words United States of America"
while just beneath the laurel are the
words zone Dollar"
The Presidents refusal to renew
commission as collector at
Boston has again brought up for re-
view all his utterances relative to
Civil Service Reform, from his letter
of acceptance down to the latest init
nations ON thatsubiect known to the
n n II