Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-01-16

suu =. VsscsS tne evil spirits o. oxtravAganCe aud
the lanOring classes Of mankind none has been
more enectuAl than that which deludes them with
spsr =, money! This Is the most esctal Of inven
OF the poor mans brow. Ordinary tyranny. on
precision. excessive taxation-these bear lightly
on tnc happiness Of the mass Of the community
compared with fraudulent currences and the rohH
berries committed by deprecated paper. Uurewn
history has recorded for our instruction enough
ma more than enough Of the demoralizinR ten
a;ency, ne Injustice and the intolerabie oppres
sion on the virtuous and well Disposed, OF ! dc.
graded paper currency, authorized by law or any
way countenanced by government"
Inc ROAD to resumption Of specie payments may
oe rough, but there are no sloughs therein aud now
that we have 30 nearly reached the desired goal
every backward step must te regarded q public
calamfy do not, however, share in the ,nion
winch seems to obtain with some that the remonet-
xation Of silver will be backward step Silver NAV
very properly aud very honestly be used for coinage
aud II the present ratio with gold is sufficient TO
the ratio be increased
The wise at, tesman seeks to find new mar kcts and
additional uses for all the productions of his country
because thereby profit accrues to tho citizen mr. e
country is benefited The United States is the great
silver-producing nation Of the world Every egiti.
mate use to which silver be applied enhances ts
value, and to that extent adds to the wealth of the
nation. It's use as money is both legitimate and
practicable the only conditions being that the rea-
tive values of silver and gold be duly in the
coinage, and that the profits of coinage, if any be
SAYINGS RANKS.
Economy and industry are reciprocal virtues 80
that one cannot thrive naless accompanied by the
other. Savings banks conveniently located and
honestly and efficiently managed have hitherto been
most powerful agents to engender habits of thrift
auoidiug they do reasonable assurances of safety
for deposits, and moderate income therefrom Such
institutions cannot, however, be made self support
ing, except in the cities and larger villages and
therefore, large proportion of our people are dc,
MED the benefits to be derived thcrefrom The dis.
astrous failures among savings banks In some of our
sister states during the past year. have furnished too
convincing evidence that they not always man.
e;sed with that and honesty without which thew
are not entitled to confidence.
am therefore inclined to look with great favor
upon the proposition to organize postal savings banks
and in connection Herewith to issue series OF Unit.
ed States bonds Of such denominations and
with such provisions for distribution aud
redemption that people OF limited means may, If they
desire, invest their surplus earnings in government
securities 1t is impossible to overestimate the value
Of system which shall furnish to all citizens con.
venient opportunity to deposit even small savings
with assurance OF absolute safety and increase
independent of the incidental advantages of dis
tributing further portion of our public indebted.
ness amoug our own people.
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
During the year just closed republican insti, utons
| and the permanency of cur government were sub.
Jected to new and unexpected trials. For the first
time in our history, the question 10 who was lie.
gay elected president left In great rtainty
The political campaign had been one Of uncxampled
activity and enthusiasm and 1t should occasion no
surprise that mon formed opinions and were govern
ed more by prejudice than reason. The experiences
OF other nations under somewhat similar circum-
stances were well calculated to inspire grave concern
In the minds OF all rejecting men. 1t was therefore
not without that the action of congress In or.
ganizing the electoral commission hailed by the
great majority Of the patriotic citizens AZ beueR-
cent deliverancc from great peril They felt that
vastly important that some settlement should be
had under the form Of law, which all good citizens
could accept and recognize Ms conclusive decision
rendered. audit became the duty ofcvery citizen to
accept 1t and abide thereby. Any attempt, there
FORE to throw discrcdt upon the deciscon made or
to impugn the motives or integrity Of any Of the
eminent gentlemen composing that tribunal tends to
weaken the public respect for law and should be u-
! rcservedly discountenanccd.
No little uneasness is felt In regard to tho posi-
htlity Of . recurrence Of circumstances similar to
those which necesstatcd the appointment Of the
electoral commission, and doubt not you will agree
with me in the expression Of the opinion that It Is
methods Of procedure for conducting future resden
tal elections A. will allow the will Of the people
be both freely and fairly expressed at the ballot box
and as thus expressed with certainty and
without u suspicion Of fear, favor, or hope Of re-
ward.
| CONCLUSION.
i should be doing myself injustice to close this
communication without an expression Of my earnest
conviction that the president OF the United States
with the purest and highest mofives is striving 10
execute the high trusts committed to him In the In.
terests OF the whole people, and that In the efforts
he has made for the modification of the SOUTH the
correction Of abuses In the civil SERVICE and return
to stable currency he 10 peculiarly entitled to the
generous and discriminating confidence Of his fellow
citizens.
Yielding to no man In devotion to the party Of my
choice, nevertheless most heartily subscribe TO the
maxim that he serves his party best who serves his
country best. Guided by the spirit Of this MAXIM
which is only less applicable In state than In notiOna
affairs. yOnr labor here, NJ legislators canno, be
than pleasant to yourselves aud satisfactory