Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-06-20
APracficaI Man ON silver.

10 he Edttor OF me DiSp0tch'
1t appears to me that in the discus
sion of any subject facts are always
stronger than theory, no matter how
plausible the latter may be put forth.
1t also appears to me that plain COM
mon sense is the best sort of sense, and
so when a man comes along backed up
by facts, one would show a lack of
such common sense to push facts aside
and hitch on to some beautifully
expressed theory.
Now, there appears to be right much
discussion going on in some newspapers
as to the value Of gold and silver, and a
great deal Of such discussion is mere
theory. For over thirty years l have
done large credit business, and there
fore think am in condition to speak
as to the part that gold has played since
the banks of the country returned to
what is called "specie-paying" basis.
For years past it has never entered
into my head when | sold a man bill
of goods, or made him an advance,
whether he would pay me in currency,
in gold. or in silver, and consequently
every single one Of my debtors had a
perfect right to pay me in either. 1t
may be in "theory" that silver dol
lar is not worth in gold anything like
its face, but it is fact in my COM
munity that man, after chewing a
seller Of an article down to per-
haps below cost, can still pay for
such article in silver dollars, using
such dollars at the rate of one hundred
cents. The square, honest truth is that
it never enters into the heads of men
when trading to stipulate whether the
goods are to be paid for in currency, in
gold, or in silver; consequently any
man can buy for one silver dollar Just
as much Of an article as he could
buy for gold dollar. So long as that
is the case the great bulk of the people
do not care one cent whether a silver
dollar is worth in buying gold fifty
cents in the dollar or one hundred cents.
If the people can get one dollars worth
of goods with silver dollar, and could
get no more goods for dollar in gold,
it matters precious little to them what
theorists may tell them of how much
more value gold dollar is
than = silver dollar. Very certain ]
am that if were to tender you, or any
other man Of sense, silver dollars for
debt that you would taks the silver,
At any rate, would be glad to-day il
every customer that owes me would
pay in silver dollars. Now, | have
stated the everyday practical work
ing of things in my community, and
my belief is that the same state of
things exists generally throughout the
country. My belief also is that there
is not q single house at the North who
sends drummers down South to sell
goods on basis that +" if paid for in
gold they will sell cheaper than if paid
for with silver" The presumption is
that such goods will most likely be paid
for in currency, but there is nothing
whatever said when sale is made about
either gold or silver. II this be so. then
is it NOT a practical fact that it does not
appear that in the business transactions
Of our country gold is rated higher than
silver? The business is done on such
q basis az would 60 to show that neither
buyer or seller cared a copper whether
gold or silver was worth most. To
be palmer, when trading neither OF
he parties ever think Of silver
'r gold. Nov, when 1t becomes
settled fact that people all through
he country are advertising thst they |
viii sell goods cheaper for gold than |
or silver. and when that becomes an |
custom in business, then 1t |
ronld appear time enough for common. |
ense folk to insist upon 1t that enough |