The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1878-08-30
That Question Again.

bDIIOhS NE"S'-1n ESply " US III IHO
NEWS of July 26th, you claim that we
misrepresented you, &c and deny that
you ever intimated that We had no right
to discuss that question.
In answer, we desire to say that we had
no intention of misrepr esenting. We IN
derstoOd your language to convey the
meaning that we gave to it, for this rea-
son, VIZ, this was only question adapted
for discussion by our club; you did not
knew how many, if any, Of the members
were In favor of adopting the principles
set forth in the resolution, or would be
after a full discussion OF the measure pro
and con. In view OF these facts, we sub
NIT that we were not much "of7' in our
Interpretation; however, we are willing
to stand corrected, If wrong.
And further, you say, cat the time of
the war a debt had to be contracted to
save the government All very true,
but when you say, clad the government
undertaken to issue money direct in place
of bonding the war debt, such money
would have been worthless, unless pro-
vision had been made for its redemption
by collecting tax" &C., and that ''there
was no way but to issue bonds.' we are
surprised at such statements, and think
that they are made directly in the face of
the record Of facts, and Of history. We
say that the government did issue hun
dreds Of millions Of money direct; issued
It to her soldiers and sailors and employees
in payment for services rendered; paid it
out for war supplies of all kinds; for
l., 60
nance, army-wagons, powder and lead;
paid it out for everything that the govern
ment wanted; that this money enabled
the government to put down the rebel
lion; that it paid bounties and pensions;
paid all kinds of debt, pubic and private,
save two; that 1t never was deprecated;
that one dollar Of this money has always
paid one dollsr Of debt, and paid it in
full. All this it would have done IL there
had never been a government bond in
| creation. And yet, in the face of all these
| facts, you say money so issued would be
worthless.
"There was no other way but to issue
bonds," say you. We say there was some
other way, and that the government did
walk in that other way, and had done so
previous to the war Of the rebellion. We
say, further, that this other way saved
the government and conquered treason.
This business Of raising sufficient money
to carry on the government by negotIat-
ing bonds, failed before the war was fair.
ly commenced. The government knew
Of some other way for the reason, 1st, il
had issued treasury notes at various times
a f.r7n
ing the Mexican war, treasury notes were
issued, as full legal tender, said notes go.
ing at par with gold ct home, and at q
premium over American gold in foreign
cities; 3rd, at the very time in 1861 that
the government was down on its knees tC
the money power, begging them to take
government bonds at II per cent. inter
est, and had 500 agents In the principal
cities Of the country soliciting loans, il
did issue $50 200, 900 in full legal tender
paper, not one dollar Of which was based
on bonds, making it receivable for al
debts, public snd prIVa to, of whatever
kind or class, the same as gold. From
the day OF their issue until the present
these notes have been used In all CONNER
cial transactions the same as gold, anC
have been quoted on the market the same
as gold; simply because the power thai
issued them so declared.
In view Of all these facts, we respect
fully beg leave to be excused from indoors
ing the assertions Of the NEWS on thil
question, and affirm that q government
that has the sole right and authority Il
make money; that IL has made msuey
that it has full power to declare what shall
be legal tender and what shall not be
and has 80 ordered and declared evel
since its organization, has 10 right mol
need to borrow money On interest-bear
ing bonds; and whenever q government
so situated does borrow at interest, Il
commits a crime against labor and pro
ductive industry OF every class; yes, and
against the government itself.
ITO make them (bonds) sell, probably
advantages had to be offered purchaseFs,'
&C., say you. This we positively deny
We have shown by the governments owl
actions that it was under no necessity o
, going to the mOney-changers for funds
J But suppose this was the case. WI,
: give adVantsgesr Why make concessions
The power and, authority Of the govern
ment is supreme. Its life and perpetuIt,
was above and superior to every othe
consideration. Did the government wan
: the poor mans property for the supper
} Of the nation, Il took it without ssofernl
t advantages" giving greenbaeks or order
! on the government for It. Did 1t wan
the poor mans person to set up to cate
rebel bullets. it took him. II he did No