The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-03-22
THE MONEY QUESTION.


SO many newspapers are indulging In
so much fine writing lately over the
money question, concerning which no.
body really knows anything, that we
cannot longer rest content without
chipping in with our share of the non-
sense. Many publications are in favor
of metallic currency, based upon moth
ing but the gold, or credit based upon
gold, Of the individual who may, by
luck or pluck or trick or trade, Sc
cure the most Of it. They are opposed
to silver because it is getting to be
plenty, and there is danger that wealth
will become more general If the repre-
sentative Of wealth is more abundant.
We are opposed to pig iron for like
reason; and yet, ethically speaking, pig
iron or brickbats are really money, in
proportion to the value represented, the
same as gold or silver. The Oregonian
claims that gold is ''the thing ITSELF"
and a representative Of the idea of
money Now, will the editor tell US
wherein this gold possesses any practi-
cal value that atall approximates to pig
iron? Its value is a fiction, based upon
its comparative scarcity, and the cOnse-
quent labor supposed to be required to
produce it, or dig it from the earth; yet
the labor is not represented by the gold,
for those who never perform manual
labor in its production get possession of
il and hoard it up.
The notion prevails among a great
many wiseacres that G. W. Lawson is
crack-brained lunatic. While we will
not attempt to answer for or palliate
any other Of his supposed vagaries, we
must aver that in our humble judgment
there is more method in his money
madness than can be found among all
the other lunatics, ourself included, who
have attempted to air the question.
Hear him: awe are a, 200, 900 of people,
and we have $4,000, 100000 Of property.
We propose to make money based on
Us I'VE, the people, instead of metals Of
any kind. Gold, silver, and copper
have no intrinsic value except for
trinkets for women and savages. We,
the people, are superior to any other
production Of this planet. We propose
to issue a national money, like the
greenback, to declare that il is of equal
value with the gold or silver dollar Of
this people, interconvertible and equal
in every respect, the end of the law, the
satisfaction Of contracts, taxes, debts,
public or private, and Of all judgments
and DEGREES at law or in equity. With
this money we propose TO call D and
pay Off all the national bords and at
the same time to declare 5y national
law that all money shall be taxable, like
other property of the citizen. and by ma
tional law to limit interest on money
loaned to four per cent. per annum, and
no subterfuges TO street Brokers or any
other criminals under pen ltv ri forfeft-
ure and imprisonment. rance in-
terest is from two to three ser cent; in
England, three to three aud one-hslf
We propose to create a national bureau
Of finance, as it is in Franc 10 regulate
the issue and contraction y. currency for
the people, and not for capitalists, so
that no more men shall be ruined by
contraction or expansion. Now you
ask, How are you to get this money in
circulation% I will tell you how.
There are $4,000, ,OOO,O 900 Of mortgage in
debtedness in this nation. Take them
up at less rates. Take an individual H.
lustration: Here is Bush in Salem, and
here is George Lawson. Bush has
100000 Of bonds to be paid of next
January. It is paid in national money,
as good as gold or silver. Bush says to
me, lawson, you are under mortgage
for twelve per cent; / will take up your
mortgage and give you five years at four
per cent; that will give you a chance to
pay the interest, and ultimately the
principal I say, Thank you, Mr..
Bush; I am glad to get a chance to
breathe again, and to initiate my lungs
like a free man, If not like a bloated
bond-holder will do it, I send for
Smith, the man owe, and tell him
will pay him of. Il is due, aud I have
right to pay him, and suffer my mort
gage to my friend Bush. / do so.
Smith lives in the country, and wants a
railroad to Silverton. He takes the
money and hires men to grade the road,
and thus, and in a hundred other ways
equally practical, the $1,000, ,OOO, 900 of
national money goes to work at once to
relieve the laboring classes by giving
them employment and pay for their
work"
Galileo, Newton, Franklin, Fulton,
Morse, and Field were all called luna
tics. Dream on, Lawson; you are in
good company.