Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-12-31
not have been favored BY birth within

49,
sachusetts and Boston and her mer.
chants. There are times even in Bos-
ton. when the Governor counts for
something, but not on this occasion :
and it will be gratifying to hear from
these gentlemen out of their large in
formation and experience, who have so
kindly come to our chief city to speak
freely upon the great topics that
they must, rs public men, be 1
Immediately engaged in. For me ID
might be said, 'Silence is golden 7
and speech is silver As the dis!
cussion is to turn somewhat upon the
questions of currency, and as we have
still the old-fashioned idea that the
gold dollar worth leo cents is better
than the silver dollar worth only IS.
we shall of course follow out the de-
scription and set great deal more by 81.
lence than we do by speech from the
Governor. There is one subject upon
which Boston merchants are agreed,
and that is the prompt passage
Of national bankrupt law. Now
that the flag floats over every part
Of our territory; now that in every
part loyalty to the Union is recognized
as never before, it is time that this
great nation, disrcgarding the little
limits Of boundaries between the STATES
for this purpose, shall have the benefit
Of broad enactment that shall to lch
the great and almost unlimited extent
Of trade"
Senator Edmunds opened his speech
by facetious reference to the New Eng
land weather, unexpectedly propitious
on this occasion. lie said - The fun
damental idea of bankrupt Law is a
fair division of assets. The Constitu-
ton Of the United States, which made
us all citizens Of every State in which
we chose to take our abode, has given
every citizen positive position as of
right wherever he places his domicile.
SO long as it respects the relations of
citizen to citizen, man to man, social in
stitutions to social institutions. There
is no such thing as separation
of interest; there is one unity of Ameri-
can citizenship, Of American industries.
American rights and interests, that be.
longs to us all. Out of it comes the
necessity Of uniformity. Everywhere
in the republic there should be the
same relations-trust, confidence, and
responsibility between the creditor and
debtor. There is one thing rather wider
and more worth thinking of. When we
look at the iealousies and discords
that seem to be threatening society
in all parts Of the globe,
we may be assured that it grows
out Of the fundamental sentiment Of
intrinsic discomfort. There is no gen.
uine discomfort in any considerable
part Of the body Of society that does
not have some small origin of justice
and truth to stand upon And the
speaker urged capitalists among his
hearers TO closely investigate these
signs OF dissatisfaction to the end
that the causes therefor may be re-
moved, and that the relations between
employers and employed be strength
ened upon basis Of justice and right.
Mr.. Edmunds also urged honesty
among manufacturers and square deal
ing in all trades, and said d" If 1t he a
crime for a man to get possession Of an
other mans money or goods by any
kind Of concealment or misrepretenta-
ton, is 1t another thing for man to
sell to bis neighbor, as some of our
British friends very often do, piece Of
cotton cloth that is represented to have
so many ounces in the yard, but about
half Of which is made Of chalk or glue;
Now, if we could provide bankruptcy
sy stem that would enter into the morals
of trade for cash and should be in.
spired with the principle that what is
good between the borrower and lender
is good between the buyer and seller
the thing that you sell having to be the
thing that you say yourself, and the
thing you buy ha, ing to be always the
thing that you expect to buy-then
1t would be good thing
for the country. 1t might be a
good thing, but it would not quite
90 for the sort Of people here among us,
TO mix up the question of bankruptcy
with the mere relations of buyer and
borrower and lender. The principle is
one that enters into every business re-
lation, and that principle is square deal
ing. And when YOU have got that
principle carried INTO effect you will
have made great advance in the pro-
gress and order of society. ! was going
10 speak about the tariff, but as usual
hen ! get mp to 10 anything go into
bankruptcy at once" Loud applause.
during which the speaker took his seat.
Msyor O'Brien was the next speaker,
and said if vote were taken to-day in
this city Boston would unanimously IA
vor the repeal Of the silyer-cOinage law,
and would be as unanimous in favor Of
a national bankruptcy law.
Collector Saltonstall wished it to be
understood that he felt it an honor to
represent such a President of the
United States as President Cleveland.
There can be no difference of opinion
as to the honest intention OF Grover
Cleyeland-a man who is ready to
sacrifice himself in every way, body
and soul. for the welfare Of his country.