The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-12-27
Reported for the RE -oED-UNIoS]
"0LD CRANK'S' SERIAL SBRM0T.
CHAPTER II.
TExT-''As a man thinketh, so Is he"

!
Although there are an indefinite variety
of thinkers and thoughts in this world,
| there are certain lines of ideas which APP
pear to he almost universal; for example,
we all think nearly the same about right
and wrong, and so certain are we that
others think as we do, that we do not
hesitate to assert boldly that some things
are right and others wrong. This sense,
which is inherent, we have rightly
named common sense, and it is the best
test we have of any new thesis which
may be advanced. If legislators and re-
formers consulted this common sense
more and experimental less on theories
| and vagaries, probably society would be
bettered. Reflection OH what a different
course would have produced should also
serve as a guide to better future action.
Probably there are bur few persons
who cannot look back on their past lives
and see plainly that different course Of
action al times would have bettered their
condition.
Some poet has warbled:
Of all sad words, hy tongue or pen,
The saGdcst are these, 1t Iai9nJ have been.
The common-sense rhymester might
answer:
But if the gloom of those words you wish to
dispense,
You have only to thinll-it might have been
worse.
Rejecting on some Of our national
| transactions: When our Government il
| time OF dire necessity issued legal
tender notes, which time has proved
were actually worth their stamped value
IN gold or any commodity, suppose a law
had also been passed making il felony for
| any citizen TO exact any profit for eX-
! change OF coin, Except fair cOmpensa-
! ton tor transportation what would have
! been the result?
Ioes not common sense answer: Our
/ national debt might have been less; there
/ might be few less miiliOnaires. but the
] people would have boon benefited.
/ suppose such law was still in force,
/ and that all United States coins, whether
gold, silver or paper, were what their
| tender III any transaction where money
1 is used, including Government dues,
would not the people be benefited?
| Suppose our Government instead OF
| going into the market like a spcculator
and paying out gold for silver to coin.
! had accepted ali the silver offered at the
minis, and under wisely established
ratio of weight and protective require
ment of percentage for coinage, and If de-
slrable for loss by friction in use. ana
had returned the coined metal to the
| owners who would have been narned'
! suppose such policy had made our
| country the dumping ground for the sill
yer of the world las some men feared
! what possible harm could accrue to us by
letting foreigners have their silver in
American coin if theylso desired?
! Suppose that for the convenience of the
| people, our Government should establish
| storehouses for coin, or bullion, in CON
nection with the mints, and issue legal
! tender notes for deposits OF either gold
/ or silver, redeemable in either metal
| coin, at the option of the Government.
what possible harm could come to US bv
letting foreigners have legal tender notes
! Tor the metal they have deposited?
II desirable percentage could be re-
quired to cover cost of storage.
That silver is more desirable than gold
| Tor the lower value coins. and that gold is
more desirable than silver for the higher
| valued coins, is Self-evident; and where
/ both metals are honestly used for coin.
! it is self-eyident that the Governments
! establishment of ratio of weight and
stamp should fix the price Of the metals
unchangeably in that nation. The dis
/ advantages for transportation, because
4 OF weight, or bulk, can be and are obvi-
ated IN great measure by substitution of
/ paper coin, or checks. Common sense
! shows MS that it is the duty Of any GOV
eminent TO provide coin for the use of IFS
/ people, the stamped value OF which shall
! not be questioned in that nation,
/ Experience has shown US the disad
vantages of permitting individuals. com
panies or corporations 10 issue currency
| to be used as coin.
! That the world would be benefited bv
an international system OF coming equal
ratios Of weights and stamped values
| with an agreement that all such
/ coin should pass current in AN
such countries is self-evident. but
/ foreign nations have not yet shown Il de-
| sire for such system. They seem to be
/ satisfied with the present condition-with
the United States as a buver Of silver
with gold which seems TO our common
sense either unwise or culpable
policy, and until such nations
are far enough advanced In
civilization to set the welfare OF their
people before the welfare Of cliques. | am
patriotic enough 10 assert boldly iii fool
| Ishly) that our country is in a better con-
dltion. for adopting and carrying out n
common-sense system Of coinage, regard
less OF the policy Of all other countries
than any other nation on earth.
OLD CRANK.
TO be cOntinued.1