The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-05-11
ADVICE TO BANKERS.
Comptroller Eokels' Words oi
Wisdom to Money Kings.
THEIR DUTY TO THE GOVERNMENT

Tho Bankers of This Country Can III
AGord to Assume an Attitude Of In.
difference Toward tho Financial Rep.
resentatives of the Government That
Has Been So Generous with Them.
WASHINGTON, May 1.-THE directors OF
the Washington Loan and Trust company
gave dinner last night in honor of tho
new comptroller of the currency. During
the course of the evening Comptroller
Eckels expressed his thanks for the COM
plimcnt bestowed upon him and said in
part:
'If l am to judge from this evidence o
friendship may we'll believe that here al
least those most to be affected by the actl
of the comptroller have no fear of sudden
destruction coming upon them, nor are
they disturbed over the idea of the doing
Of some indiscreet and i'll considered act
on his part that will lead to unutterablt
confusion and possible disaster.
'The banking system which you repre-
sent is too great, and the interests which
1t involves too far reaching in their i'm
portance to - lightly dealt with or hastily
acted upon. 1t may be changed in the
future. under pressure Of new necessities
but such change will only be wrought
dibST u CouSlutIutlUu COu1uttnSufhtC WIN
the magnitude Of the subject and for the
betterment OF the system 1t win moi
come as result of political changes, mol
for the furtherance of political desires.
Its strength and its existence must al
ways rest in the confidence which the peo
pie have in it, as best securing to them the
fulfilling of their wants and the absolute
safety of its obligations.
''But whatever the future of the ma
tional bank may be, to its past none will
deny the praise which in the highest. de
gree is its due. Its advance as factor in
the financial world, despite the prejudice
against it at the outset, and the doubts Of
many at the present time, is SO remarkable
that we may well believe the people feel
that it has contributed substantial benefit
to the public good.
'But while the banking interests take tc
themselves much Of the credit for the re
suits accomplished by the national bank.
ing system 1t yet must be conceded that
its great success has arisen through the
knowledge on the part of the people that
the national bank was distinctly child Of
the government, and as such, through its
fostering care, afforded a safety that be-
fore, under another system in times less
prosperous and states less rich, was want
ing.
Because of this / believe that upon
every national bark is placed the moral
obligation to hold itself in readiness at
all times and under all circumstances to
assist the officers of the government in
every time Of distress in maintaining the
nations credit. am aware that no legal
reason exists for such course, but having
drawn so much Of wealth and power to
themselves through the generous dealing
of the government with them, the bankers
of this country can i'll afford 10 place them.
selves in the attitude Of looking with in
difference upon the anxiety Of the financial
representative OF the treasury when tho
financial integrity OF the government is
threatened. A proffcr Of help from .hen ut
such n time, spontaneous IN its character
and patriotic in its motive, would disarm
thousand critics who are loud in their
denuneiation Of it ami reconcile them to a
system which they charge with being the
recipient Of special privileges denied to
themu