The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-06-05
Communicated.
PAPER MONEY.

The trouble with government bank
ing is that no legislature is wise enough
to take the place of natural laws of
trade andregulate the supply of money.
If legislators were thus wise there
would be no need of specie at all. The
tlatlsts would be right.-St. Louis
Globe Democrat.
To the Editor San Antonio EVENING LIGHT:
In the article from which | clip
the above the CD. condemns without
STINT all money systems excepting such
as have specie base. There is there
fore no need of disappointing its
position. l simply design to say that in
what Is said above it has left itself no
foothold on its own terra frma, so to
speak. 1t can only feel its way to
safety in the field of paper money.
All laws are principles that never
vary, are the same yesterday, to-day
and forever, but they can only become
operative when they find conditions
upon which they can operate. The
laws of trade operate only under con-
ditlons that trade supplies. 1t is the
peculiarly of principles that they can
wait forever for the necessary condi-
tons. 1t is the peculiarly Of condi-
tons that they are always changing.
If Legislatures are not wise enough
as the CD. AYERS to "regulate the
supply of money, "they may become so.
That is matter of condition. If the
principle or law by which money is to
be supplied admits of its being supplied
in paper it can wait for conditions fav-
orable to its operation.
But suppose that money greatly in
excess of what is required for the op-
erations of the government and of
trade be furnished, how will
1t operate any of the evils incl
dent to the old money systems under
the control of banks or individuals!
How are mutations, stringencies, bank
ruptcies to be caused
Not dollar will be called into use
unless there is demand for it, nor with
out full consideration given. 1t will
bear no interest. 1t will not constitute
money in any sense till used. 1t will
be in the treasury wholly inert and be-
come money only when favorable con-
dltons for its operation and circula-
ton arise. There are no consequent
ces of any kind to the people. or to
commerce, or to government, that can
attend its lying inactive and unused.
Not one cent is lost or gained, no eff
feet Of any kind can result to trade or
commerce, no matter if ten hundred
millions of such money lay idly there.
If more gets into circulation through
the indiscretion of those placing it there
than is necessary for the purposes of
trade and commerce it can affect in
juriously, or otherwise, only those who
use 1t. 1t can not do any hurt per Sc,
because it bears no interest and if used
in payment of interest on interest.
bearing obligations the results, in
which1t is not itself a cause, can affect
those only who are parties to them.
What the Globe-Democrat really re-.
qulres of its money system is the pre-
ventlon of speculation, of losses bv
gambling, and ventures in any form,
which is impossible. The question of
money has nothing to do with that
question. Men operate in gambling
as efiectually without money No
matter what money system prevails
men will play, and will lose and win
A FIAT MAN.
Carolus Duran is much ridiculed nv Paris
art critics for his refusal of the oovernment,s