Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-01-17
BUTLER'S BRICKBATS.
Tie Last one Which He Has Let Ely.


Your commissioner was kindly received by
General Butler this morning at the Fifth Az
enue Hotel, and the General finally consent
ed to give the Enquirer few Butlerian
ideas. The General was in full regalia, with |
tea rose in his button-hole, and patent
leather pumps. He delivered his remarks in |
deep voice and Websterian manner, and |
every word seemed to weigh ton, while
smile played over his features.
"General Butler, how do you view the ac-
ton of the banks in making combination
to put the banks on gold basis in case Con-
gress should remonetize silver?"
General Butler-"If understand what the
banks are about, and have no knowledge
except what I see in the newspapers, they
are making confederation, or combination.
Uncharitable persons might call it "a con-
spiracy to control the currency and the fnan-
ces of the country, in opposition to law of
Congress which they think is likely to pass
That is, they threaten to put themselves in
position to nullify the law Of Congress ma
king the silver dollar legal tender. Either
to threaten this or to do it seems to me to be
as well, aud the doing of it will provoke a
contest in which the banks will get lesson
which will last them an entire generation, as
the United States Bank got lesson which
lasted it until this generation. Whatever in
dividuals may do, in attempting to put bust
ness on gold basis in defiance of O law of
Congress, need not be taken now into ac-
count. But when the banks, the creatures Of
Congressional legislation, set themselves up
against their creator, there is a very short
way of dealing with them, to-wit: the power
that made them can and ought to unmake
them. Congress chartered, Congress can I'M
charter; and III my Judgment it would be a
duty of Congress to take away the charter Of
any bank or banks that enter into any COM
bination to nullify the laws Of Congress-. If,
as is admitted, there is ON absolute majority
In both Houses in favor Of a silver currency,
and as it is also admitted the constitution
has placed within the jurisdiction Of the two
Houses
1.-THE RIGHT TO COIN MONEY
"And regulate the value thereof, then that
majority, acting within its constitutional
power, will not permit any set Of men for
their own love OF gain to nullify that or any
other law of Congress. It will be remem-
bered that in the contest with the United
States Bank the President and the House of
Representatives were alone in accord, the
Senate being against them. Now, on the sill
yer question, the majority Of both houses gre
! in accord: and the President iswhere he will
| find himself to be when the question comes
before him-where that is do not know
THE QUESTION OF QUALIFICATION.
| "But upon the question whether law i'm
posed by Congress under the forms pre-
scribed by the Constitution can be nullited,
there can be no doubt where the President
must be in Furnishing notification. It is
said that this combination is going to. be a
wide spread one. Tho extent Of the con-
spiracy is only reason for the swifter pun
ishment of it, and the more energetic meas
ures to break it down. For these reasons l
can see nothing more unwise than the re-
ported action of the banks. If
they go on with it "they will provoke storm
that will sweep them out of existence, and l
trust never to hear any more of it. / won-
ported their action this view has not been
limited: and would suggest that the ques-
ton for the next financial debating club,
called Board of Trade or Convention of
Bankers'-if there is anybody there to repre-
sent more than one side of the question
the next question shall be:
Il "'wHAr SHALL BECOME OF THE BANKS,
:'If they attempt to set themselves up in
form-as there is very strong prevailing
opinion that they have in faot-against the
will and interests of majority of the people
in this country? have broken my determi-
nation not to speak further on public ques-
tions outside of Congress to say SO much
upon this question, in the hope that may
awaken tho thoughts Of the managers OF
banking capital upon this subject, that they
may not jeopardize, either by foolish threats
or unwise action, the
G1NrEREsTs OF THE WIDOWS AND ORPHANS
'Confded to their care, and then come to
Congress to escape the punishment due tc
such action, on the ground that the interests
of the widows and orphans will be preju
diced by the severity of the punishment.