Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-12-19
THE TRADE DOLLAR.
speech Delivered on the Subject by
Representative Lanham--u0w
II was Received.
Imperative Need OF Liquidation for tho
Sake OF tho Poor and Ignorant-A
Government Obligation.

correspondence OF the Gazette.
WASHINGTON, Dec. II In the house
on Saturday last Mr.. Lanham delivered
a strong speech on the subject OF the
trade dollar and the obligation OF tho
government 70 redeem II at Its par value.
The speech elected the attention OF the
house, and at its conclusion Mr.. Lauham
was warmly applauded and congratulated
on all sides irrespective Of party. As the
subject Is one which will Interest every
reader OF TIKI GAZETTE, we make the fol.
lowing copious extracts from IL.
The law which brought the trade dollar
into existence is ~ follows;
The silver coins OF tho United States
shall be a trade dollar, half.dollar, or
hfty.cent piece; quarter.dollar, or
twentv-hve-cent piece; a dime, or ten
cent.pieoei and said coins shall be legal
tender at their nominal value for any
amount not exceeding Sb In any one pay
ment.
Act of 18th February, 1873.
No statute could be made more explicit,
and the fundamental laws of society re.
quired OF all our people full respect for
and warranted full confidence In It's
validity and integrity. The phraseology
OF the act could not possibly have hegot.
ten In the mind of any rational or patri-
otto citizen the slightest suspicion as TO
the sincerity and honest purpose OF tho
government There was no room for
construction, for its meaning was ex-
press and apparent. 1t afforded
the upquestioned right TO buy and
sou with these trade dollars and
70 utilize them for any and ali
monetary Z.
coin, and led the citizen 10 feel that nd
could confidently rely upon the good
faith--yea, even the best falth-of his
government, TO sustain and secure him In
the use Of q coin created, made current.
and regulated In value by its authority,
whenever O currency becomes dehased
or dlshonored by the net Of its author,
the stverer and primary consequent in
lnfles are apt to be n0rno by the poor aud
ignorant. Their "short and simple an
nals' are not complicated by bank nc.
counts or scientific financial calculations.
When they see a shining silver coin.
with stars around It's border, enclrclinn
mo Goddess OF Liberty enstamped, and
IN God we trustn on the oAe side. with
united States OF America az plurlhns
unum," the great Amefcau eagle, 'aYO
grains 0iaon aud "tyade.dullarp on the
other, the great body OF them viii he con.
tent with the Inspection which reveals
huch proofs Of money, aud the desire for
possession win dispense with further In.
curry into laws cxtant or laws repealed,
imports Or exports, Chinese or sycees.
lLAughtw But they can and do feel
Acusely sense OF betrayal of their con.
nuence when kitty realize that their gov
eminent has permitied 10 be left upon
tnelr hands an unourrent and degraded
Ine secretary Of the treasury by allow.
ing the coinage TO continue after July,
1915, ano oeyoud the amount "suflcioni
70 meet ihe export demand for the skme,''
nan enabled designing persons to pro.
mote domestic circulation aud placed the
government IN the attitude u PASSIVE
permission and acquieserce II not actual
cooperation In the work Of furnishing