The examiner., 1882-03-11
Have the People Cause to Complain
 Mo- VIII

Have the People Cause to Complain?
 No. VIII.
 Those of you who have followed what we have had to say in previous articles will perhaps form some idea of the meaning of the phrase contraction of the cur rency."
 You will have been able perhaps to glance behind the curtain of this expression and see that every creditor that had moose around the neck of a debtor, was either willingly or forcibly compelled by one grand movement inaugurated by the gov ernment itself to tighten the nooses and strangle the men in their power.
 Now let us inquire what it was proposed to gain by this measure. The people were told it was necessary step that we must take to return to ''specie payments" The men who opposed the measure said it is just as inapossfB1e to return to specie payments as it is to honestly discharge debt of $5, with one dollar; but gentlemen if you mean to bring about that state of things which will make the people willing to exchange gold or silver dollar for a paper dollar, whenever the holder of 8 paper dollar shall wish to make the ex- change, then we say there is much easier and much less harmful, and perfectly feasible policy which you can adopt that will bring this about
 You ask what that policy is. We an swer, simply repeal the law by which the government was made to dishonor it's own greenbacks. Repeal the law which made the government say it would not take it's own notes in payment of taxes, but requir- ed the holder to go to the gold gambler and buy his metal before he could dis charge his debt to the government. Do th1s, and in these United States at least the paper dollar will not only be worth as much as the gold dollar but will always be preferred as medium of exchange.
 Do you ask proof of this we have only to point you to the first issue of greenback treasury notes, which were made full legal tender for all debts public and pri- vate, these notes have kept shoulder to shoulder with the gold dollar at all times, and when it took three dollars in the dis honored greenback to purchase one dollar of the robbers gold these notes brought the same premium why? because the hol- der could discharge his taxes to the gov ernment with them and hence it could do all the gold dollars could do.
 Although this destroyed completely all reasons which the enemies of the people could bring forward to back up their schemes, yet it was of no avail, for these men were bent on accomplishing their purpose at all hazards,-a traveller might as we'll try to reason with highway man.
 But says some one ''You say these men could not bring about specie payment, have they not done so ?'
 ) He answers no, and you will agree with us if you stop and ask yourself the question. what proportion of the debt of the people are now actually paid in specie you will answer at once that nine -tenths of all pay. ments are made with paper money. We will claim that this must necessarily be so, and must continue just as long as the fact remains that there is only one tenth as
 much specie in the country as would be . absolutely indispensable to carry on oul business transactions.
 But says the questioner: ssDo not try to dodge the question that way, what want to know is this, did you not claim that these men by their measures could not bring about such condition of affairs.
 That 8 greenback dollar would be ex' . changeable for gold dollar on demand
 And have they not done so ?"
 g We answer that such 8 state of affairs . has been brought about, but not by these measures.
 We once attended circus, where Ger
 tain of the performers were engaged II jumping over the backs of numerous horses, brought out one by one, placed
 side by side, until some ten or twelve were
 so arranged. Each performer successfully 7 accomplished the feat of leaping over thei l backs. At length the clown came out tt 3 attempt the same feat. Taking his posi- tion some distance from the horses, h. pulled up his collar, pulled down his hat } shook himself, spit on his hands, and witt 3 loud yell started on run for the horses
 but when he reached them, instead O Il clearing them at 8 bound, he laid down . crawled through under their bellies cam,
 out on the other side, strutted about, ant boasted of his accompishm ent. f This incident perfectly illustrates hoy 2 they brought about the state of affairs yor l speak of.
 You will remember; we said that if th, government would repeal the law dishon
 or1ng it's own greenbacks, and receive then
 in full payment of all debts and taxe , this state of affairs would come about o itself.
 Now after the Secretary of the treasury . John Sherman, had carried the countr, 7, through the misery and ruin which follow ed iii the track of the contraction policy
 he at length arrived at the day appointe, !, for the return of so-called specie pay Q ments. He proclaimed with much cere