The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1879-11-20

OF the Greecnback party TO issue as
much paper money as any one wishes.
Now, do not propose to argue the
question with a man of his culture or q
man that assumes as much to himself,
but will say that have read it time and
again, and heard it asserted by men,
bers Of the Greenback party that have
brains, that they proposed that Gov
eminent should issue enough to pay off
all Indebtedness and enough to supply
the wants of business. Now how much
that would take think would puzzle
John, himself, to answer. l heard a
very prominent Greenbacker say, but a
few nights before the election, that this
country would never be prosperous un-
til we had somewhere in the neighbor-
hood of $50 per capita in circulation,
(per capita is a Grcenback word) but he
did not limit the amount, and if John
O'Brien is the astutc individual on the
finance question he pretends to be, he
would see that when he limits the issue
to any definite sum the whole greenback
structure falls to the ground.
In his second quotation, he rises in all
his offended dignity and asks if the peo-
pie OF the United States are not to be
the judge of the amount of money
needed, etc. Twill say with all respect
and humility, to John O'Brien. yes, by
all means, let the people be the judge,
and take the election returns from CAL
ifornia to Maine, Sedgwick county, in
Guided, for your answer.
Again, he says: Can the Government
compel a man to give ten dollars worth
of work Sr goods for gold eagle? He
wants me to answer; he is trying to
whip the devil around the stump by
lodging my statement. said that he
could not compel man to give ten dol
lars worth Of labor or goods for his
greenbacks. That's the question for
o, Brien to answer, and l do not think
any one but a demented Grecnbacker
will ever refuse the gold.
But he gets way up the height of SUBJ
Unity when he gets Oh the war ques-
ton, Il was there myself, john he has
true appreciation of the sacrifices we
we had to make. He gets along SWIM
mingly on that question, but he says my
ideas on the cause of the depreciation
of the greenback are unworthy Of the
pen Of the farmer, (alas! poor me-
Now what said, as can be seen by re-
ferring to my article, was this: the be-
lief that if Government was DESTROYED
it could not keep its promise. but that
when they found the Government was
able 10 fulfill its agreement then they
rose in value until they are equal to
gold; or, in other words, they depend
ed on the stability of the Government.
Now, he says that idea is unworthy the
pen of the farmer. But let us see what
his ideas are; if any one will look over
his article they will find these words:
"If the American Republic is to go
down, its legal tender money would go
down with it but if it is to endure for
ever, its legal tender money will endure
forever"
And again:
81 have the fullest confidence that the
Republic will endure; that its paper
money, which is not wealth, but means
whereby | may acquire wealth is good
enough for me-"
That quotation is the same idea that
expressed in my article: that the cause
of the flucluation of the grecnback was
the doubt as to the stability of the Gov
eminent. He says if the Republic goes
down the money will go down, but if it
is to endure forever the money will en-
dure. My ideas exactly but still John
O'Bricn says my ideas are unworthy the
pen Of the farmer.
There are number of minor points,
az O'Bricn calls them, that he did not
condescend to answer, for which | am
truly thankful, one of which was claim
ing that the Greenback principle was
dishonest; that, of course, was of mi
nor Importance.
Now, Mr.. Editor, as said before do
not intend to argue the question with
John, SO he must not expect it; but
will say to Mr.. O'Brien Gas am not per-
sonally acquainted with him) that he
should learn, first, to always treat a man
as gentleman, if his only crime is a
difference Of opinion, for difference Of
opinion is no crime, but it is the bitter
ness of the discussion. Also remember
that ridicule or abuse is not argument,
but it tends 10 show that you have eli
Their no argument or no ability to ex-
press it. As toyour remarks about the
poor man. it may be very comforting to
you. but | will lay down this funda-
mental truth and you. or any other in
telligcnt citizen may bear it in mind,
viz /: that real money must have an in
trinsic value approaching the value for
which il is eXchangeable.
Gold is not arbitrarily selected as a
standard, but il is made so by the con-
sent of the most intelligent experience
of many countries and times, and the
demand for fiat money or absolute mon
ey, or irrcdeemablc paper money based
on the credit of the Nation, and coin
meaning any thing but UNIVERSAL and
practically steady standard, is a snare
of which the poor man will be the most
abused victim. Now, good bye, John.
Your obcdant servant.
GEO. A. WHITE.
HARPER COUNTY ELECTION.
To the Editor Of the Eagle:
1t will be remembered that one year
ago by common consent the people Of
Harper county voted on county seat.
At that election hy fraud ANTHONY poll