New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-01-10
CUPPFNCJ- THINKERS.

Representative Buckner wants to tinker the
currency again. 1t would be of no use to ask
why he should meddlc with a currency that the
world considers singularly excellent. For Mr.,
Buckner does indeed represent n large class of
politicians, who are firmly persuaded that
whatever Is is wrong--unti they have fixed it.
To their ewes Creation was botch. The laws
of nature are bunders There is one chance,
and only one to get the universe into decent
running order, namely, to employ them to
mend it.
For John p.
Robinson, he
sez the wordn go right ef he hocrs out Gee.
Statesmen of the BucknCr variety have done
a good deal of tinkering on the currency al
ready 1t is the wcll-niGh unanimous opinion
of mankind that they have not helped it. In
fact, excepting the currency thinkers them
selves. it is the verdict of mankind generally
that the United States currency would have
been quite spoiled years ago, If it had not been
in many respects the best ever devised. Silver
coins were added, which the United States has
for years tried in vain to force INTO general
circulation A vast load Of useless silver lies
i'm the Treasury, like an undgCstcd ana indi-
gestible cold pudding on delicate stomach,
causing financial nightmare. These are the
doings of the thinkers. The rest of the system,
which works easily and well, adapts itself
readily to the changing wants of different To-
entities and shows so much strength that not
even the blunders of Democratic statesmen
have been able to dcrauge it seriously, Is the
work of men who suppressed a rebellion, abOi-
ishcd slavery restored specie payments, and
performed other great works which were sol
EMMY pronounced absolute Representatives, by
Buckncr and Company. Men Of large brain
and large courage, these were; men who laid
broad and deep foundations for work that was
10 endure; men who had studied with con-
scicutouS care the results OF past human effort
in all lands, the grand work of the worlds
master builders, and the miserable failures of
many generations of thinkers ana demagogucs.
" hat these men did for the country. Its won
dcriul strides of progress tell by their fruits
shall We know the thinkers also they prlclcd
hole IN the currency system by the Carlisle bill
of last February, and the result was panic,
until the President stopped the hole with "A
veto.
Mr. Buchucr wants to get rid of greenbacl,s
aud National bank notes, and to substitute
Treasury notes. Also he wants to provide for
an unlimited issue of certificates fer any bull
ION that may be deposited III the Treasury,
- $40 grains of gold. OF 4l2I2 grains of
sil:er, to the dollar, The details Of these bills
might be worth discussion, if the main purpose
and effect OF them were not mischiryous. But
it i. no. for the public interest to issue United
States obligations of any kind in place Of bank
notes. Tie people who wonld suffer most from
such a change are just those whose interests
Mr. Buclner prolosseS TO chiefly consider,
namely, those who do not reside at OF near the
great commercial centres. But 1t Is the pccu-
liar gift OF the thinkers, in all ages, that thcir
laundering experiments usually come back
with crushing effect upon themselves, as the