The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-04-25

ASK mighty 1unny questions. Ne KNOW WcuucT
'rossums is high or low jest ms WI knows
about evcrting else. When trades OF n pair
OF fat possums md gets II good deal OF some
ting else fur dom. knows dey is high: and
when only gets little fur dom. knows dey
is low. We always trades 'possums fur some-
ting besides 'rossums. and dat Is do way we
finds out how much dcy is wufr."
The colored mans logic impressed me very
forcibly could not resist the conclusion that
his rode OF testing the value OF an opossum by
comparing the amount OF other things which
tho orossum could be exchanged for. at differ
ent times. was correct and conclusive.
The exchanging power Of an opossum de-
termined the value OF the opossum. And this
purchase. or trade. was not made for similar
opossum. but for the various things which
supplied the real or fancied wants OF the COL
ored man.
Then it occurred to me. II that wers the
proper method of finding out whether opos-
sums were high or low in value. was 1t not also
tho true way to ascertain whether dollars"
had risen or fallen In value1
This horrible thought kept mo awake all
night tried to reason it down. but could not
because it was SO clearly true. Meantime the
cold chills ran down my back. and instinct told
me my duty was to suppress it as suggestion
OF tho Evil One. Because. II tho colored man
was right about opossums. then it followed
that Grover Cleveland was wrong about dol
Iars;" and it could not be possible for an
illiterato colorcd man to know. moro about
value than such great mind as that OF tlcre,
land. But finally the morning dawned and
the genial sunshine drove these unpleasant
While further conslderin: tho idea Of one
dollar. tho remark. Of tho coorcd man. One
'possum wufl anudder 'possum.' kept ringing
al all n m rad n huI n lun
at tho eomicaiity Of number OF elderly men.
whom had always regarded as learned fnnn-
ositich a and Being Believed by millions Of per-
sons proud ot their intelligence.
ments aEt n gold Hw Were ,' so lc"k ss that they
must be abandoned. and felt mortified by the
Tnplensapt reflection 3 TINT the ointellectuG
felt confident that possessed other argu-
smash YOU like bus;" That is Just what. i
when called on N him in the next day j.. '''''
mo- and had Thought / would surely call to
10 remarked that i was important at the
outset to find out what we agreed on. OF
ssh or
else. without u correct knowlcdge Of tunda;;
men'n sp rpSr pie New York ts the ce sM
got on tho u right tracR; And what ssyItsh IS
2 student Of any department OF human
ea Gm for the
principles. these remarks pleased me. re-
Piled that unless PERSONS premises were
sardi"s " ap ok Very wo sai be.
Put tho p a%pnr 4rf 9 part tS'E s s ssa
principles. Now. ploasc stat what yon cor.
lhe value Of gold. teil me Whit addition, evi,;
Tsp XGs have f" as n n vao
which under all circumstances is always tho
snme. This mysterious quality makes the
lust as no bushel measure possesses caIac!ty,
and Is. therefore. u correct measure OF size
stick measures length and a. pound weight
measures weight has LcIn dSmnnnsfTa a II
NJ. Evarts. As money measures value. Just rs
nothing can be u rcal honest money unless IT
lis iS is nossessed only by, gold; Legislation
ms no effect on tho value Of gold or silver or
lnyth,,rg else Our money should conform to
Af.or Ind recited these plain iacts. which
ire epd9rsGd BY every ,'man'" Writer IN tho
But. to my surprise. he smiled
Lnu inquired. IN u pTONoklHE HlilIlHeT', " alt |
ny financial idens rested on the foundalions |
ust stntcd. or II thcro was anything else | |
'cpiud: What more do you wnntf Those
nd this Is recognized the world over"
,os an Mi intrinsic value. What 10 You moan by
Intrinsic ynluoY" replied that gold was the
,rolnct Of labor and that it possessed Won
lerful Intrinsic vnlne-that IT,, value wns in
ide OF It. lust as -four Is inside OF wheat. or
acclnrino matter inside OF sugar; As gold
lad inherent. intrinsic yaluo that IL 70 say.
nside vulue-it followed AS an inevitable con-
sequence that this value was unaffected by
stances. and therefore tnvariable so
hat tho gold dollar was fixed; unchanged.
md Interchangeable measure of va!u
Although | felt confident my last remarks
would confuse the silver man. or. as we used
q say In the army when we had nnlsheu an
neniy, would "sweeten his coffee. the eyas-
,eratfng fellow looked more self-conlident
han ever and said: do you rest your case
10 these propositions and admit that; II they
re not true. the system 81 finance founded
pon them must necessarily pc q iniss ara
mistaken one and not conducive TO the Lest
is In operation Remember. ! sey the ma
erX 81 ne tsbpdeney Of making Your financial
deas the national policy is to enrich small
"Certainly."I replied. am ready to rest my
ase on the statements have made because
early All M fellow bankers regard thom rs
but / am an old mnn. and It tires me to
rite; so must close this letter right here.
An OLD BANKER