, 1880-02-28

To- Ifayaila Tor -four, the Mexican
dollars doll 7 ! aoyed! IN h bv IT. thousands: II q
and 50 continues. Every one is surprised at
and frugaiity wifi be tie natural CONSEQUENCE e
Of the money finding settled value. ,"
One wond i, as to the extent Of soHnterfeit
erlnlent embarked in the business. The
same papers which published British official
documents contained advertisements like
this:
"Persons going into the other colonies
may be supplied with any number of counter
fe1ted Congress notes for the price of the
paper per realn. They are so nearly and ex-
actly executed that there is no risk il getting
"a ship load Of counterfeit Continental
was captured by all American privateer.''
The last hundred pages of the book are de-
voted to review 0f. the financial administers
ton Of Robert Morris. No filter person for
tue management Of the PUBLIC finances could
order and system. He knew tie States
we're rich enough *sin all things
needed to wage successful campaigns
If these could be called fortl, and his plan
was to compel the States to pay their taxes
every other means failed, lie used his private
credit, which was always higher than that
of the Government" He discovered abuses
everywhere, and promptly corrected them.
In single day were brushed off 146 super
40 tons OF hay for certain point was re-
ducetl by him to twelve tons, and this proved
all abundant supply" Taxation and economy
were the two pillars supporting his financial
structure ST. ,1f hay have II no ts Systs Of taRcs e.
Southern States, except that which results
from The plain, self-eyident dictates of moral
honesty" Morris was great tinancier, md
history will yet dc Justice TO his work. iii the
words Of Samuel Dreck, 'His patriotism was
upon the wealthy III moments Of civil conrno-
ton, and he freely risked everything in Il
good cause"
Alr. Bolles has seen everything from the
cold prosae side: HIS style is elear; his
structed; his meaning never. in doubt lie
has been a faithful student of our early his
tory. We are curious to see his comments
on our, financial history front 17So- to 1850.
y w took sxseption II the :? beSinnng i. to some
quote single example. tits found on page
"When the present Constitution was
fralned,n he: says, its authors, fresh with
the recollection of the terrible losses and ini-
quities which had sprung from the legal
tender laws, endcayorcd to guard as strongly
as possible against the perpetration OF so
grave AT injustice III the future; but within
i hundred years, the barriers set up in the
dee nane oeef @ on ta aow
necessity greater than the preservation Of the
Constitution,-a defense which many would
have regarded as justldable,- e,--but.N upon the
ground, forsooth, that the act was indeed
Wien, if it be read in the light! Of history
especially Of the debates thereon at the time
OF its creation, nothing can be clearer than
that the frstmers Of that marvellous instru-
ment meant and said just the opposit to that
which is the Supreme comFt n 81 the United
As between Mr. Bolles'' Interpretation and
that of the Supreme Court, we are inclined to
agree with the latter.
(The Financial History of the United States
urer OIL Political Economy in the Boston
University; New York: i. Appleton " Co.
Price, $3.50.
TIE ELECTIVE FRANCHISE IN THE
UNITED STATES.
Mr.. Mcmillan, under the above title, has
issued n new and enlarged edition of work
originally published some three or four years
ago. Three chapters have been added; and
Gov. Seymour, OF New York, has prepared 4
preface. In this preface hesays: ''The author
of this book has set forth in a clear, full way
the action Of political parties, and the degree
to which they modify the theories OF our
Government. His work can be read with
pTnilt. by all who care to 1earil' the actual
WORKINGS Of our system OF elections. lie
urges changes in our laws and constitution
which lie thinks will cure the mischief
Of which he speaks. With regard to
this plan there will be differences of opinion.
But, if it should not meet with favor, in de-
vising and stating it he puts. the wrongs he
would remedy III strong light. The value
of his book does not alone grow out of the
wisdom of his scheme. but arises more IRON
the recital OF the evils he would cure, and
his reasonings about the theories OF our Coy
brought about BY the activity and organiza-
tion Of 4 few, and it also shows how large 4
share Of public evils is chargcable to those
who neglect their political dulles. There is
ITO small number who feel that close attene
ton to their own affairs and utter neglect OF
their country's interests are meritorions.
their indifference grows ont Of their igno-
rance Of our political institutions, they, be-
yon1 al others, vii bs : benefited by reading
This preliminary statement by Gov. Sey-
mour well defines the scope Of the work and
the purposes. Of its author. lie does not
seek q Utopia He is wise enough to prefer
rather than to desire to reconstruct the
whole fabric of the Government to remedy
some defects. Nevertheless: we do notllnass-
inc that the words now spoken for The thou-
sandth time, at least, on the Importance OF
real reform is to be effected, will have any
more weight than they have had before
There has been improvement andsprosress
within the past decade, but 1t has been spas
medic nen and unsuStaaem IN mr. Nf mqSt fade den
tons and conclusions: Is it correct to say OF