The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1883-07-19
WAS 1T IGNORANCE OR RAsCALTTY

WAS IT IGNORANCE OR RASCALTTY?
The question of the relative general intel
ligence of. the. northern and southern peo-
pie, especially that of the masses, is often
discussed, and so positively is it asserted in
the majority of cases that the north is i'm
measurably in the lead, the public seems
tacitly to have come to believe or admit
the statement. The recent experience with
the trade dollar in New York and other
cities, throws flood Of light on this delicate
subject. This species of money was not
minted or coined by the government as
money or to be used as a circulating me-
dunn, but to put into convenient form a
certain quantity of bullion to be shipped
into China. 1t was a scheme, to which the
government was party, to get lot OF our
silver into the east, and when the collars
got out among the people in this country,
they were at discount from the first. For
three or four years at least they have never
passed in the south for more than SIS cents
and even the news boys and boot blacks on
the streets knew them by sight and their
exact marketable value. AT no time for
three years past, has IL been possible to
pass these trade dollars in Texas, or in the
southern states for more than IS cents, and
all knew that they could not be made to
take to them except they themselves were
willing to receive them. They were re-
garded and handled in fact through the
south, about a. bullion would have been
under like circumstances and in like guam
titles. So much for the business sense and
general intelligence of the southern
masses. Just about month
ago these facts so long known to u.s.
began to force themselves upon the north
arn mind. Until this time this trade dollar
S4s been circulating in New York and the
north, dollar for dollar with good standard
money, and II tn, bankers and business
men knew the difference, they kept quiet
and continued 10 push them off upon the
laboIing people. Finally q reporter Of one
Of the great New York dailies discovered in
some way that trade dollars were only
worth about IS cents, and this piece Of in.
formation, COMMONLY known in the south
ever since the trade dollar made it appear
ance, was published as great discovery
and made q sensation. People quit taking
the money and various schemts and propo-
sitions are being discussed as TO the adyiss-
bility and justice in congress redeeming the
whole number OF them issued, on the
ground that fraud, for which the govern.
ment is responsible. has been practioed
upon the people. In other words IL
1. determined 10 ask for a premium upon
the ignorance Of the north. The TACT is,
the north comes out from three 70 four
years behi nd the south and west in the &C
QUESTION Of the peculiar information sur
rounding the cnining and circulation Of the
trade-dollay. Whether II IL q case Of ras-
caIjty, where ell knew that false value
was being'given 10 certain piece Of money,
but BY tscit consent kept quiet until the
reporter exposed the true
status OF affairs, or whether, a. seems 10 be
the case, III was unsdultsrsted Ignorance,
we neither. care nor know. We only know
that upon Q matter Of 70 great Importance.
which every citizen would be supposed By
the courts Of justice 10 know al sbout. the
south was four or Eve years ahead Of even
New York city In learning and scting upon
The fnrfa