Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1878-03-11
votes for c. E. Joslyn. County Commissioned.
LETTER FROM NEW YORK.
Special Correspondence.
New YORK, Mar. 4, 187

There has seldom been better illus.
tration of how thoroughly and utterly
honest, intelligent men can differ in
their opinions on the same subject, than
is furnished by the silver question. Ev-
er since the Bland bill was introduced
into Congress there has been incessant
and bitter warfare in New York over its
provisions, and that not so much between
ignorant and fanatical partisans of two
unreasonable views as among the very
classes whom one would surely expect
to find in perfect accord upon such Vi
tai and apparently uncomplicated issue.
At first sight, it seems as though there
must be some plain, simple statement of
the case, the correctness of which would
be evident at once to any right minded
person. and yet there has been no SUBJ
ject up for general discussion within the
memory of this generation that has
thrown into uncompromising discord able
lawyers. profound theorists, sharp jour
nalists, and practical business men-all
classes of thinkers and intelligent men
have been by the ears all these months,
wrangling and arguing, giving and TAX
ing staggering blows, but neither yield
ing an inch in consequence, each side
drawing weapons of about equal sharp
ness and temper from the common arse
nails of history and political economy
until unprejudiced laymen are generally
befogged with resignation for time to ell
Their cut or unravel the Gordian knot.
And even now when the presidential
veto has been borne down and over
whelmed by two-thirds vote, and the
silver dollar is fixed fact, and the f.
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 can
not be denied that the members of the
national legislature are men selected
from their various communities, in most
cases on account of mental superiority /;
and it is diff cult as well as unpleasant
to believe that nearly three-fourths of
their whole number are the corrupt i'd
lots" that most of our newspapers call
them. But on the other hand, the writ
ers who control these journals are men
of great experience and observation and
recognized authority, so that it is scarce
ly easier. especially for those who daily
get the benefit of their eloquent argu-
ments, to set them down as .howling
blatherskites" as the silverites will have
it that they are. Go into three of oul
large banks in succession and inquire
"How about silver? '' The first presi
dent will tell you with righteous indig
nation that the silver dollar is nationa
ruin and disgrace. No. will reply
with enthusiasm that the passage of tht
bill is glorious thing for the country
No. 3 will answer that be don't know
and don't care. Of two millionaire mer
chants, one will tell you that silver i
going down like lead and merchandise
up like kite, while the other will as
| sure you that in six months the Blanc
,, dollar will be above par and bushes
better than at any time since '73.
Under these circumstances what is
fellow to do? Perhaps as good a wa
: as any is to turn deaf ear to all thi
theoretical conflict and wait to see ho'
things do really turn out-and as tina
J. strikes me as being sensible sugges
:, ton, l believe /, for one, will follow it
L The showing of the extravaganza {
/. this city in paying its officials. whic
I was recently made in the press and fro
!, ! which | quoted a few weeks since, seen
to have been effectual in shaking up til
(. people and the Legislature to an exter
r, which is likely to result in salutal
'. change In fact, reduction of % p
T. cent. on all salaries over $4,000 has a
!, - ready been proposed at Albany an
J. although it will naturally be fought
K the bitter end by the barnacles, it ne
8. ertheless stands fair chance of goir
k. through. A reduction of 25 per Ger
'r. on the aggregate of all the salaries pa
er by the city of New York, being SIC
-. =, 1860, will save the city S2,529, l6
G and still leave many salaries much lar
n; er than there is any reason they shou
ed be under the existing conditions of o
municipal civil service. A thorough al
- close analysis of the whole matter is NJ
II + in order-and the community is not
or, a temper to stand a great deal of nc
rt; sense on the subject.
IN; Ever since the commencement of f
wn breeding experiments by Seth Green a
es- others, an interest in the growth, hab
for and protection of the fnny tribe