The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-02-10
THE SILVER DOLLAR.

| are it's domestic commercial intercourse
the more it is necessary that its currency
should be adequate to tue demond, both
in quantity and in fractional value. Cur
rency, to be acceptable, must have an in
trinsic value, and from time immemorial
gold and silver have been recognized as
the current standard.
! As metals were too cumbersome for
transportation and subject to various
risks, commerce first introduced paper as
substitute representing commercial va
lues; the paper was made payable in me-
tai, but owing to it's availability and con-
venience, commerce accepted its face
value as an exchange according to the
standing and worth of the drawers. 1t
followed that paper currency or exchange
became the representative of the wealth
and credit of bankers and merchants.
In former centuries governments borrow
ed bullions and metals from bankers, the
same as private individuals, pledging
Jewels and other securities but as their
monied necessities became greater govern
ment loans were introduced, by which
bankers received government paper bear
ing interest for their loans, which paper
became current and cxchangcable from
hand to hand.
Therefore paper, however subdiyided it
may be, is the representative of large
| values in one mass or in one body corp0-
rate to be claimed from one or two parties
only, the drawer or the drawer and en-
dorser. Hence it follows that only few
can handle it, as its value is dependent Oh
three requisites: first, confidence; next,
means; and last, full knowledge of the
values represented.
Gold and silver, however, bear in them
selves the standard value Of what they re-
present and they are the recognized cur
rency of the people,
The fractional subdivisions of either are
according to their respective values. 1t
follows that gold being sixteen times
more valuable than silver is indivisible in
small fractional parts, as the lesser parts
would be so infinitely small as to be unfit
for use. Therefore gold has from time i'm
memorial been the representative of large
values, quickly computed and easily stor-
ed-the standard of wealth, handled by
the few.
Silver, however, of lesser value and cas-
lily subdividcd in available parts, has al
ways been the circulating medium of the
masses-it is the only one which carries
with it confidence and which is accepta-
BILE to the masses, as it's standard value
is within itself and cxchangeable from
hand to hand without any Intermediary.
Gold represents banking, the concentra-
ton of values or capital. Silver repre-
sents the subdivision Of property, the
small capitalist.
We have an example in England and
France, tue former owned by few land
holders and monopolized by large capital
lists, has gold basis for currency; while
the latter with silver basis for currency,
| is to-day recognized as the country whose
property is the most subdivided and whose
wealth is by far the greatest. For proof
the ease with which the French people
paid the Prussian debt.
A country as vast as ours, as diversified
in properties, values and commerce, re-
quires fractional currency which carries
| within itself it's own security and which
is available as we'll as indestructible.
Silver is the only agent which can be
used. Gold dollars have been rejected
long ago, being useless both from their
smallness and from risk of loss. Whenev-
er the silver dollar disappears, the paper
dollar will take it's place, as the country
requires the one or the other.
Whose paper dollar will the people &C.
cept7 No private circulation would be
tolerated; therefore the government would
have to reissue its fractional notes, or tn.
Nation Banks would have to be permitted
to flood this country with an additional
circulation.
The peoples money recalled and engulf
ed in the Golfers Of the bankers, would b.
reissued to them with the additional inter
est and commission of private enter
prise. Capital, already too much central
lied, would become more so, fastening OF
US the power of a treasury department al
ready too powerful.
No job is impossible to an American
and his recognized voracious appetite 70
gain, accumulation and monopoly make
any undertaking possible. No one will
J therefore, be surprised at the efforts of tn
great nanipulatioas against the silve
+ dollar.
They already own the government, tn
treasury, the banks and the carryin
agents of the commerce of the county,
! Give them the silver dollar, the only cm
rency of the people which the latter ca
. handle without intermediary, and ever
thing will be possible to them
The DoRcAs is hardly recognizable
this month, such an improvement hi
been made in the cover. For the benef
: of our r.aders, we extract the folfowin
e table of contents that you may ,jadge fl
: yourselves the value of the magazine :
Ribbon Embroidery, Lady's Hand Ba,
(crocheted,) Flutted Lace Omitted, y Or