Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-09-23


over Eufope--Francs row very re.
cent exception. Il IL with this. with
these plans and schemes, that America
10 forced to struggle. The stoppase Of
silver coinage IL
1 NOW TIE TIRsT STEP.
| n successful, the demonetizing of sil-
yer and destruction Of the greenback
will be the next. We must crush this
monster before it grows strong. II il
grows powerful we are lost, or will be
forced TO destroy it by q terrible con-
vulsion Of some sort. But TO return.
Suppose silver deprecated below goldY
If . merchant buys in England = 100, 900
in merchandise he must pay in gold.
He briggs them to America. He must
sell for silver, and is paid in silver at
its value. Is anybody the loser9 The
Englishman buys 100000 worth OF
cotton or grain in America at the sill
YER standard. He sells in Europe at
the gold standard. Is anybody hurt!
Is not this mode Of trading going
on all the time with Europe and
Asia, greatly to the gain Of each,
as well as between many and some
times between most Of the European
States. We have surplus Of cotton,
human food, &c. Europe needs them,
and Europe has products we need
| quite as much. Europe exchanges them
for our surplus products. The balance
is paid in gold or its equivalent. This
| is the balance Of trade. We may ex-
change sI00, 900. 900 with Europe and
not q dollar cross the ocean. The bar
ter is made on q gold basis. II gold is
at a premium Of S per cent. we pay in
silver, or silver certificates, or in bills
of exchange at 5 per cent. premium.
We lose nothing; Europe gains no.
| thing, and rice rersa. Itis wholly i'm
material to both parties. When the
balance of trade is in our power gold
comes here from Europe when in favor
of Europe gold goes from us to Eu-
rope. Such is the law of trade, law
that cannot be changed by fleets or
armies nor by legislation.
A STATESMAN CANNOT BE A MUG
wUMP.
When the Herald ceases to DO
Mugwump, or learns to be a little hon
est and can look above New York and
at America, it may learn little home
spun, practical sense. To make war
on silver coinage is TO make war on that
which has been money all the world
over from the beginning-on that with
out which civilization would perish-is
to serve but one purpose; is to make
the rich richer, the poor poorer; is to
attack schools and colleges, manufacto-
ries and macbine-shops. and would end
in ruin or issuing vast quantities Of
paper money. To represent the ques-
ton as one between the silver-miners
and the people is sheer knavery-is
basely and designedly false.
Some years ago it suited the above
described selfish class to destroy in the
main fractional paper money. Then
they must have silver. and q law was
passed issuing many millions of bonds,
which we sold to buy and coin frac-
tional silver and silver dollars. These
bonds bear interest and add greatly to
our burdens. Some years ago this
same class had silver demonetxed, as
they are again scheming to do. This
added probably a thousand millions of
dollars to the five thousand millions Of
the debts ofthe people, and
ENDED IN A TERRIBLE PANIC,
and widespread bankruptcy. With the
balance Of trade, 1900, 100000 a year,
against us, we remonetized silver, re-
1uced the interest on the bonds, order
ed s2,000,000 to be monthly coined
and certificates issued therefor. Speed
lily the panic passed away, bankruptcy
ceased, every industry was on its legs
and active, and the balance of trade
turned in our favor $3.50 900, 900 year.
Our bonds came back from Europe,
the gold of Europe came rushing into
and in few years we found
ourselves in possession Of more gold
and silver than we could find use for,
with an OVERLOOKING Treasury, and vet
these people then predicted that these
laws would ruin the country.
These people are again making war
on silver as a mere stepping-stone to
iemonetize it, and to stop the issuing
Of silver certificates. They are ever
watchful to so change the laws that at
every turn Of the wheel the creditor
class and monopolists shall be on top
and the debtor aud producing classes at
the bottom.
" How long. o Catiline. will you abuse our
patience"
The Herald now again has its inter-
viewers actively at work. Interview
ing whom? Why these interested par
ties the very parties that are making
war on silver and on the people
interviewing whom? Statesmen. No!
The intelligent or well-informed repre-
Of farmers or laborers? No.
thinkers, political economists,
or disinterested people? Not at all
But bank presidents, manufacturers,
the presidents of fire. and hfe-insurance
of railroad and telegraph
companies, big sewing-machine agents.
Oh and SIGH. Now, | don't wish to
cast any reflection ON this class Of peo-
pie, but must say that they give no
reasons for their opinions, but in their
we find a vast amount of
selfconceit and presumptious AFRO.
gance, and he who goes among them to
learn political economy is but sheep
among wolves to learn mercy and
morals. Such men are not thinkers,
but actors. They are not architects
or builders, but mechanics. They do
not lay off the work to be done, but
do the work marked on the worlds
by the worlds thinkers
and human progress. They are, with
few exceptions, governed by the hope
Of present gain. They look not to the
future. These minds are active, not
minds. They form their con-
illusions not from the worlds wisdom,
nor from experience, but from the as
pect OF the present moment.
This class OF men, when the great
Napoleon came into supreme power in
France, had shaped the laws Of Franco