Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1881-01-15

An editorial paragraph in this.paper.
a few weeks ago. took the position that
financial arguments could now be
built on the supposltien that money is
scarce in the country. and gave the ag-
gregate amount OF circulation IN support
of the statement. A very good friend
of ours criticised the article, and said to
US that he did not think it altogether
correct, and beside. not in the interest OF
the people. We have no interest that Is
not the interest of the people. Whatever
We write is to inform them or subserve
their interest. They are entitled to know
the truth, else how a they arrive at
correct conclusions? We are Jefsrso-
man In our faith in the Intelligence OF
the masses when properly informed.
Many politicians and writers underesti-
mate this intelligence, and occupy =
lower plane because of their mistake,
than they might otherwise dc. 1t is =
very transparent trick of q certain sps-
cies of journalism to gam the favor of a
class by always insisting that they are
maltrsated and abused, and their inter-
ssts neglected. Nobody ismors beslob-
bered IN this way than are farmers,
and no class sooner distinguishes be-
tween the sycophant and the true friend.
There is ne sense, that we can see. in
telling a man he is Q baby and dent
know how to take care of himself. At
any rate when we were . farmer we
should not have thanked anybody tor
that kind of talk. Neither can we see
the utility OF assuring a man that he Is
sick when he is well. The country may
not be ~ prosperous al it might be.
though Tiers is a possibility that it will
be worse before it is better; everybody
may not be rich, and have money to
throw away, but we believe it is true that
there is more money in the country at
large now than " before. and that tho
same statement may be made Of Lsfay-
cite county A banker in this county.
net OF this city, told Us, in July, that
there was over $500. 600 lying unused in
the banks OF the county. and that. in his
opinion, these institutions would have to
reduce their rates to 8 per cent, or a r
ry q great dsal Of surplus money idle.
His prophecy has recently been con-
firned by the remark OF another banker.
Usually. at this time Of year. the banks
are hard up, because of the demands
made upon then by stock dealers and
feeders. The gentleman we speak Of
assured rs that 1t was his opinion that
there was In the county, to-day. $780,
OOe 10 of unemployed money. Now,
what is the amount Of currency
in the country7 The report of the
comptroller. at Washington. shows
it to be as follows illegal tender notes.
$346, 6S1. 016 national bank notes. $685.
1884, 10Y gold coin. $454 OLE. oso; silver
coin, $15s, 271, 1927; total, $1.so2. 1885,
480. It is. true that part Of this money
is held in the treasury tor various rea'
sons, but a. it is usual to reckon th'
whole circulation Of foreign countries il
getting at their per capita, we shall d.
SO in this case. There are fifty million
people in the country. This gives. then
to each man, woman and child, 326 05
This may not be quite as much as woul'
be convenient, but in the distribution i
is more than likely that agriculture
communities have rather mere thai
their quota. as it is tho grain and bee
Of the country that have brought in it
surplus wealth. In fourteen months tn
expansion In the currency outside OF tn
paper. $40. 9o1, $50 silver, e1a,4s4,ose
total, S191, S50.7S4. There has neve
before. been as great an imitation excep
in the fiscal year 1863 s. We are in
slined to think that if the country Ca
continue for q year or two longer to hav
good crops that 1t will have as great q
amount Of circulation a. was ever dream
cd of, even by Brittsn A. Hill, and tina
the increase will DO the legitimate barn
ings OF the people, which will give US
permanent prosperity, which no vii,
schemes of initiation eyer could.