The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-22
DENSE IGNORANCE.

Astst were tuo lOuOWhS.
Believing that a ship canal connecting the
waters Of Puget sound and Lake Washington
would be OF advantage to the nation in general
and the state in particular, we demand an APP
preparation of Q full legal tender issued espe-
ciaily for such purpose, and further to employ
Idle labor now looking for relief from the gen.
eral government
We also ask an Issue OF legal tender to aid In
tho construction of wagon roads throughout
the state.
Resolred, That we demand that the legislature
enact laws authorizing the empowering and
compelling the state OF Washington to own,
open up and operate a sufficient number of coal
mines in the state OF Washington to supply fuel
to the people Of the state ut actual cost together
with such roads aud means of conveyance as
may be required to place the product of the coal
mines Of the state upon the market in the cities
and towns of the state of Washington, and we
demand of congress an issue of legal tender
notes direct to the people for this purpose.
The above resolutions are instinct with
the grossest kind of Ignorance. Nobody
save very ignorant man or hopelessly
insane person could have seriously formu-
lated such nonsense, and convention
that could adopt such resolutions is too
stupid to go indoors when it rains.
Whether it will rain or shine thirty days
hence is matter of opinion, and on that
subject the guess Of an idiot. full of sound
and fury, would be as good as that of John
Sherman or Senator Carlisle, but the con-
stitutional powers of the government of
the United States are not determined by
the aspirations of idiots, the wishes of i'm
beetles or the logic of ignoramuses.
The authors of these resolutions seem to
be under the gross delusion that it is the
business of government to support the
people instead of the people to support the
government. Congress, under the river
and harbor bill, might constitution
ally vote an appropriation in aid
of the Lake Washington canal
as q work of national importance
in its relation to the harbor of Seattle, but
congress has no more power to appro-
pirate money to build wagon roads in this
state than it has to appropriate money
to manure the abandoned farms Of New
England, or to build courthouses or jails
for this state.
1t is not easy to understand what the
writer of these resolutions means by ian
appropriation of full legal tender is
sued especially for such purpose" but We
assume it is an effort to enact Senator
PETERS method of initiating the currency
by making every appropriation OF money
basis for initiating the currency to the
extent Of the appropriation of the public
money. If that is what the resolution
means, then it il proper to say that con-
yhny ynfn Oft of
the public money, raises that money by
taxation and not by a new forced loan in
shape of a further issue OF legal ten
der notes. The government does not
today as it did during the civil war pay
its bills by forced loan, by the issue of
legal tender prornissory notes; it pays its
bills by taxing the people instead of in
flating the volume of its legal tender
notes. During the civil war the govern
ment was unable by taxation or borrow
ing to raise money fast enough, so it issued
its bills Of credit and made them legal
tender.
The government of the United States
does not furnish money for its people. 1t
pays its bills and obligations by taxation,
when it can: it may borrow money on its
credit; il may com and regulate the COIN
age of money, but cannot constitutionally
create money; and the trouble with the
authors of these resolutions is that they
do not perceive the difference between real
money and 4 mere promise to pay real
money; they do not perceive that it is not
the province of any government to fur
nish money for its people.
The second resolution, which demands
that the state of Washington furnish coal
at cost To the people of Washington, is
born of bedlam. If the state of Washing
ton may furnish coal at cost to the people,
il may furnish all other necessaries of life
at cost; this would be rank state social
ism. with all its implied consequences of
the suppression Of individual aspiration.
enterprise and industry. There has been
no successful experiment of state social
ism in America since Peru, and when
Pizarro touched that with the point Of his
sword il tumbled into ruin like = house of
cards. Until our form of government
changes the state of Washington is not
likely 10 become an organized experiment
in state socialism.
But If the state of Washington should
consent 20 own and operate coal mines
in order 20 furnish the people of Washing
ton With coal at cost, what power has con-
crcss 10 Issue legal tender notes direct 70
the people for this rurpose?" Il is no
more the concern Of the federal govern
fuent If the state OF WASHINGTON Consents
10 own and operate coal mines and fur
uish coal Al COS. to the people. than il is
the concern OF the federal government
whether the state OF WASHINGTON ends its
close season for grouse in August or July
This resolution seems to imply that ian
issue Of legal tenders direct to the people"
vas equivalent &c 4 ,oan or gill Of money
20 the srte Of Washington by the United
States, just ike the gif. to the Worlds
far.
TO issue legal tenders direct to the peo-
p!e FOR this purpose" Is an absurdity I'M
less Ne understand = money gift 20 the
state fo- the people. for no issue Of legal
tenders ever otherwise gets 10 any people
excep; those who have collateral with
which 10 borrow money. or have some
thing " intrinsic value With which to bay