The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-08-18
Not the Argus-this Time.

Under the heading ''The First Green
backers," the Ner Era takes up our charge
that it was attempting to mislead its readers
by its quotations, mutilated and otherwise,
from Jefferson, Calhoun and others. Its
answer is no answer. Its heading is but
repetition of its original sin. Its aim ngiv-
ing these quotations is to show that the
authorities quoted held, in essense, the
Greenback belief. Now, according to the
Neav Era, genuine Greenbacker is one
who believes in fiat money, and great deal
of it. Where in Jefferson's or in Calhouns
writings can any man find the expression OF
a belief in fiat money? The treasury notes
which Jefferson edvocated were for use in
the exigency of great war, when the eX-
penditures of the Government were OF neces-
sity much greater than its income. Ihey
were to be of two classes, the one class like
our bonds which the Era so heartily con-
demns bearing interest, and issued with the
expectation that they would be boarded and
not enter into circulation. The other class
were like our greenbacks with this impor-
tant exception, that they should not be le-
gal-tender The quantity issued was to be
called in as soon as possible. Jefferson then
goes on to argue against the State banks,
and in favor of the transferring of emissions
of circulating paper mot money but notes.
to Congress- He declared for necessary
emissions of public paper Of circulating size,
this hottomed on special taxes, redeemable
annually as this special tax comes in" Then
he continues his argument against State
banks. The extracts conveying these opin-
ions, the Era, to it's credit, publishes Cal
houn's project was much the same. He too
opposed legal-tender paper currency.
Now what have these views to do with
Greenbackism Both these statesmen object
to fiat money and to legal-tender paper
currency, the fundamental doctrines in the
Greenback creed. What have they in COM
mon with the Greenbackers? Yet the Neac
Era calls them "The First Greenbackers,"
and quotes them as "Authorities on the
Money Question" Why does it not then
accept their authority, and act upon 1t?
They thought the Government had the
right to borrow money on its notes If it
could find people to accept those notes.
Who says the Government has not that right?
Republicans certainly do not. The old
statesmen did not say, nor did they believe
that the Government had the right to make
those notes legal-tender in individual trans
actions, to compel man to take them from
his neighbor in discharge of the debt due
him.
The Era also brings forth Mr.. Randolph
(does it mean him of Roanoke?) whom it vir-
tually accuses Of cribbing from Calhoun, for
if puts into his mouth the exact words used
by the South Carolinian. In regard to
Franklin it prefers the opinions expressed
by him in his youth to those expressed III
maturity when he had come to the ripe wis
dom of his manhood. OF course it has a.
right to its preference. But it has no more
right to put forth that boyish nonsense as
the opinions of Franklin on finance, than it
would have to quote the boyish views OF
Charles Darwin concerning zoology as his
views on the origin of species, or the long
wears Loyalty of Washington to the British
Crown as proof that he was opposed to re-
public.
In conclusion the Neoo Era hopes the
PRESS will continue to favor it with quota
tions. 1t will find one in our columns to-day
the opinion of Justice Clifford, which it
will do its readers benefit by copying. 1t
can also learn from that opinion the views
of the Fathers relative to legal-tender paper