Nevada County picayune., 1885-10-15

war, While we admit the neceSSl' ty for reform in tue administration of public affairs, and changes in our fiscal policy, we are glad that we have not despalred of the Re public and tho institutions be- queathed to US by our fathers. With all sectional troubles settled, the State governments in the hands of the peoples n new Ad. ministration and a bountiflil crop of all kinds of bread-stuffs, Cer; tainly we should feel encouraged to continue peaceful measures. No, my friends, don't be alarmed-with free ballot and the Democratic party as your friend, your wrongs can all be lighted without an ap- peal to arms. What does he offer us as a cure for all the ills and wrongs of the people? Fiat mon- ey! Irredeemable, inconvertible paper currency. If his reasoning opon this currency proves any thing, then to establish this as the money of this country would stop thieving, fraud, and even adultery and forniication as we'll as all Oth- CT crimes. Now l know you do not believe any such fallacy. The medium of exchange will have but little influence upon the morals of the country. He tells us that this same man Lycurgus of whom you know but little, and of whom noth- ing was ever asserted that was not contra verted in order to lossen the hold of the money power in old Sparta, was compelled to stop tee coinage of gold and silrer and adopt fat money. This story is hardly consistent with the fact that silver was never used for money by the Greeks until long after Lycurgus. But if true it furnishes no reason why our Government in this day of advancement and progress should adopt his financial policy. If we believe half of what Plutarch says of Lycurgus we know he would not suit as a lawgiver for the United States. Among the many foolish laws credited to l,im there is one that required the virgins oceas- sionally to appear naked with the young men and tc dance in his presence Ou fsstal occasions. We have as much authority for aseribing to this law all the won- derful benefits which my friend claims for his irredeeMable iron money. With the same propriety we could insist that our Govern ment should adopt this as Q cure for our trouble. Iicurgus' code of morals is worth alto gether as much as his financial policy. Neither suits our people. The world moves. The laws of Lycurgus are not adapted to this age or people. If you want model of some :One before the Christian era. get a better one than Lycurgus.
 The gentleman asserts that Cal houn, Jefferson, Clay and Web ster all recommended irredeema. ble paper money as the best of cur rency, and 10 sustain himself in this he has read extracts from them and others denouncing the circula- ton of private banks aud the abuse of the power of Government cor poration; but even these garbled extracts do not commit a single one of them to the theory advanced by him. No such currency was ever in use in their time and not a single one of them ever counte- nanced or approved the idea of such money. It is unjust to their 1 fame as great statemen to impute { such a currency to them. No Democrat of prominence in their time ever conceded the right of Congress to make paper money a legal tender to pay all debts pub lie and private fruch less to make an irredeemable currency. He has quoted from Mir. Webster of whom l it might be said, that he was the strongest as well as the ablest of the paper money advocates Of his day. ard insists that he favored irredeemable money. In this he has done violence to this able statesman Although not Demo crat. so far from fayoring such money he insisted that tour money should be specie and paper con yertiole into specie on demand" !"