Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-06-23
"Cam's" silver Article I'm the Dis
match Of the Goth Instant.

To the Editor of the Dispatch:
1t is hard to conceive that this writer
meant to advocate the idea that the
public should have no concern as to
what was the quantity of silver in a
dollar, and yet in SO many words he
presents to the public just this view as
conclusive way of settling all further
consideration of the silver-dollar ques-
ton. In old times a school-boy would
have been hauled up by his school
master for such they were called them
for such an abortion Of reason. If
half the value Of silver dollar may
pass for silver dollar simply because
the Government has stamped it as a full
dollar, q fourth and even still less
quantity would lin the sense in which
Cam treats the question: answer quite
as well. And the whole question of
silver, as well as all others, would be
left to the mercy of the Governments
telling the lie as it pleases. Whatever
the Government may say or do seems
questionable, and we may have no
further concern, if it has decided
matter. Such is the blind infatuatiOn
Of the day.
We are sure the Dispatch by its
heading, "a Practical Man on Silver"
does not mean to go so far as to approve
Of his views.
Gam" sets up certain facts and con-
cludes (not reasons) from them that the
short-weigbt dollar is really a dollar,
and good enough for all purposes.
Courtesy encourages rational re-
Spouse on the ground that the said
writer has not studied the question, and
might therefore be open to conviction,
otherwise disgust would prompt us to
indifference that arises from sense Of
the hopelessness Of perdition itself in
his case.
The facts Gam" cites may be, and
doubtless are, facts, but the reasons
| for them are left out Of the question.
If short-weight dollar will pass, then
we cannot affort to pay out full-weight
dollars. Just as the best men have to
stay at home, because the less capable
have traits of character that COM
mend them to the listless political
populsce. Can it be a mat
ter of doubt as to whether we would
not prefer a full-weight dollar to q
short-weight dollar? And if the two
were in circulation would not the " full
peights" be bought up even at pre-.
MUM and sold to the Government to
be made into the short heights ~:
The reason for fact is Of far more
consequence to us than the fact itself
The fact that the sun shines and gives
heat is clear, but the reason and uses
for it, which we should understand, arc
far more important to us than the mere
fact that we see and know the sun shines
and gives heat. II our reason stopped
here and was satisfied with this know
ledge, we should be apt to consider tn,
seasons a matter Of indifference, ant
plant in winter instead Of spring
People take a short-weight dollar be
cause they know they car pass it ava.
directly. They will never keep then
on hand, but take them to the bank
for deposit, if they have not otherwis
needs to pass them off. But how abou
the banks, who will have them accumu
lating in their vaults, and when tn
day Of reckoning comes their vault
will be full Of them, and they wi
neither be able to pay them out or e
the Government to give full weight fc
them? Oh no The short-weight do
lar was a mighty good money and ever
body took it, but even the Governmer
will not take it then, and it has mad
no promise to take it.
"Csm" says "it never enters into Ii
heads Of people when trading to stipl
late whether the goods are to be pal
for in currency, in gold, or in silver,
and this he calls I" the square, hone.
, truth" But Z" Cam knows that whit
I one merchant takes another has to tax
also that if he refused the silver do
lar and demanded the gold every maj
woman, and child would 60 TO the stol
that was most accommodating, and h
square truth is not {" truth on u
square," offered as he offers it. An
be knows, too, that these merchsa
, himself included) would not take the
dollars IL they knew they had to kee
! them stored away rs the banks hay
to do.
But the subject needs no furth'
. comments. IL looks rather like y
would favor spurious money as Il