Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-11-30
A Communication.

f. {ifors IF the heHHebcc JpHrndi:
recent issue of Cincinnati jour
nal states that there have appeared in Ger
tain sections of West Virginia solid silver
dollars containing more silver than do the
standard dollars. and that The people read
ily take them. although they know tia
thew were not minted by th. government
These dollars are called countrrfeits
But let il be remembe rel that thtr niai
be a marked difference between cou1t, r
felt eoin and counterfeit bill.
A bank bill or government note ia
promise to pay dollar; counterfeit il 4
for,ied promise and, like all forgsIies, is
fraudulent and void
Ga the other hand our coin is not pr,'nt
ise 20 g,tg money but Is actual, bona fle
money it is the fixed measure of yalue
The gold dollar contains certain number
of grains of goll, the silver dollar a ser
tain number Of grains of silver. Cofigres'
has said thst 81 IT grains of silver shal
I be worth dollar. The stamp of the gov
ernment thereon is not promise % pay
but i, simply an sttestsiion of the weigl
and genuineness of the metal. II simp y
saws to the people This coin con'sin' the
required amount q silver. and it is wortf
a dollar
But these Vireinians say 'we'll make q
coin containing 400 grdinS of all, er, an
| IL S7l | I grains are worth dollar, - nv i
not our coin. containing nearly 29 grains
more silver. also worth doilr: Aud zinc,
it is the ,nttiasic value that counts. ~hv are
| not our coins an actual gHin To thu oli"r z
fu what resp CT, th-n, are the So VIZ
aini, dollars counterfeit; Because no
mint. i BY TIE government, 37l IA grains
psid By the government. adoildr. 500 grains
D i'll bv An individual, fraadt of cours'
Il ~ill not be contrnded that these
coins are not. uoder the Law. counterfeit
they certsinly are. and the makers aus
users thereof are guilty Of felony.
But Mr.. Editor, y hat think ,au Of con
li,ious viii h invite such coinage IS this!
What think YOU of financial lass which
make possible the anon ,ly of counterfeit
coin actually worth more than geauine
one2
What think You Of the policy of gov
eminent which forces the citizens of that
government to srept 81 4 grains OF
silver for dnllsr, wh' n tadjridHd3'
ran furnish 500 grains for a
dolltr, and even that at u good profit tG
them ELVES?
Is there snv wsrrant. in rhyme or ress IN
fo- such q eoarses
ID. the government has the p0,1er IL
saforce these conditions. shdiiit. therefore,
enforce them; Do mi1ht make right:
I.,here on~ c7is 81 morals for nations
and smother FIR m.ns Sh Ill the govern
men, 70 on a, f-~'iing rts people by the
peri al cal ISSUE OF colus1l tsl-eaood-!
1t is true that there has been no lew co n
age for .ome months past. but there are in
iicstions that tn wheels of the mint may
be started any day. AMI nes burdens be
addict to our already unbesrAble I'D.
Other measures, equally deplorsble, are
likely to fol o..
IL becomes the duty, Therefore. of every
patriotic citizen to c-iriti - and ienoun r
all attacks, of whstever ,tnre, fr ,m what
ever source. upon our nsapasi integrity a.
upon hi : own honor. Let there be no time
serv ng. no trsisieking with evil, n j, pitrins
Of the game of politics, no quarter and nc
compromise and the end need not he
feared for nothing can long Withstand the
intelligent demands of q reused anil right
Gus peop'e. G. s. HTcHBoRN.