Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-07-22
FARMER SAMUEL AND FARMER JON
From the Witness

lhiohA NiAt W ithNoo
Farmer STANDARDIZATION, | want to
buy that colt Of yours.
Farmer Jonathan.-Yery well the price
is 500.
+. S.-Here are ten bills of mine for $40
each, payable on demand, which will be
Just as good as gold TO you, or in fact bet
ter, for they are not so heavy 10 carry
about.
+. but when will you pay them?
+. S.-Wheneyer you please. Twill give
you a hundred dollar bond for them any
day, and that will be still better, for il is
TO bear interest at the rate OF one cent
day. Only think how fast you will make
rich at that rate, neighbor Jonathan.
F. but how is this interest to be
paid?
f. S.-Why, have made smaller due
bills, and can at any time pay you the in
terest.
F. J.-And how is the bond itself to be
paid?
f. S.-Quite promptly. will give you
ten due-billS Of ten dollars each for IL when
ever you wish.
+. but where am | TO get anything
for these pieces Of paper, Uncle Samuel,
either the due-bills or the bondsf
u - " lA|AN fl0t w va NsaANf "'t'''stAfAus
You can pass these TO your neighDorS for
what you want, and get similar ones from
them when YOU sell anything Don't you
see this i ahe best currency in the world;
f. but am never 10 get anything
but pieces of paper for what | SELF
+. SIS not that paper perfectly secure;
Am not good for all promiscf Have
not magnificent farm that would pay for
all the paper issue a hundred times over.
/. G.-But IL should want to yet gold
for these notes, could | sue YOU and sell
enough of your farm 10 pay mo;
f. S.-Oh, no; my farm j. held under
the Homestead law, and cannot Doe sold
You can never get gold that way; hut The
paper is fer better than the gold. lf
you must have gold. however, you can -
10 the fellows in Wal. street, and pay them
anywhere from thirteen 20 thirty or my
per cent. for il, a> the rapaciOus and b.oIt-
eel builiOni~t> may choose To demand
+. after all. then ! am only 90 get
somewhere from so 10 $40 for my colt.
+. S.-You need never make amy such
loss; Just be- content with the bits OF paper,
and never mind the gold.
+. J.-But IL | want 10 buy some lumber
IN Canada. or sugar from the West Indies.
or broad-cloth from England. will they take
your due-bills;
+. S.-ln that case YOU will have to get
gold To- pay with. whatever 1t may cost.
r. j.. figuring up Then H. when you
have ISSUED great many bills, gold should
rise To 80 per cent. premium. Your paper
would only bring 90 % cents worth i'm
those countries and 50 my lumber, or SUI
gar, or cloth, would cost ne half as much
again as il should.
+. S.-But YOU need not buy away from
home. Get your lumber in Maine, your
sugar in Louisiana, and your c 10th in New
England.
r. J-But would get any more for my
paper dollar from them than from people
abroad;
+. 81 cannot say YOU would.
r. J.-Thcn these articles at home are
made Just rs dear by being paid for IN
paper rs IL would cost 10 buy the gold To
pay for them abroad. In other words,
wherever | buy / can only get the - or 90
% cents worth for my paper dollar, ac-
cording 10 the premium on god.
Now honestly. Uncle Samuel, would IL
not be- better, seeing you are 80 rich and
have such a magnificent farm, 20 raise the
hundred dollars in gold upon il at once and
pay me for my colt In honest money that
will pass anywhere at its full face value?
This proposal TO twist round and pretend
TO pay, when you don't really pay one cent,
eith'- of principal or interest, could never
com 10 good Believe me, this dodging
Nigh. do for a while, but by and by your
irredcemable paper bills would take their
place beside the old Continental bills, Of
which buShel would not buy loaf or
bread.