The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-05-23
,,scuss,oN DOES THE WORK.

nIsCUssiON DOES THE WORK.
There is nothing like discussion for IN
forming the mind. II communicates ne'
ideas and causes each mind TO evolve ne'
ideas for Itself. Eighteen months ago
would have been preposterous to ask con
gress TO repeal the act imposing a tax
ten per cent. on the issues OF state banks
Al that time nlnety-nine men out o.
| every hundred believed that Government
issues OF paper currency, and our prosper
tv. were inseparably united. But the
Governments usurped connection with our
money has been fully discussed in that
,,,nr,,ai mon have begun to understand
that the Government has no rightiui CON-
nect,on OF any sort whatever with money
except 10 coin It. and that paper suosu-
tutes for money belong TO the domain OF
nrivate enterprise. until now 1t Is quite
possible. II is indeed probable that the
House Of Representatives will repeal the
| hiu ,mnosing the ten-per-cent tax. This
mighty change is the work OF an intelh-
gent and Independent press.
The majority Of the Committee on Bank
ing and Currency is undoubtedly against
the repeal Of the law. But the reporter
of the washington Post. who is on the
ground and mingles every day with the
members. says that a large majority
Of the Democratic members Of the House,
all the Popuists. and a few Republicans
will vote for it--enough TO make ma
iority. The Post adds. speaking OF the
Cox amendment to the Brawley BILL
which repeals the tax Internationally;
Striking corroboratlon Of the accuracy
of the statement 20 this effect hereto
fore made. was furnished by representa-
tive Everett. OF Massachusetts,, in the
course Of Fridays proceedings. lie SAID
he had been at home CBoston) several
DAYS. and while there had learned that
the sentiment Of his people on this sub
iect was radically different from what he
had supposed IL 10 be, and as result OF
the information derived from this personal
contact with his constituents he should
probably vote 10 repeal the law. one Of
the Maryland delegation, which has gen.
orally been supposed to be solidly op-
noged 10 repeal. is now said TO be in favor
Of the Cox amendment
There is a compliment to discussion and
an Independent press. Twelve months ago
Mr.. Everetts Massachusetts constituency
might have been put down as unit
against repeal of this tax. Now it is so
strong for repeal that Mr.. Everett feels
compelled to vote for it. Maryland, too
has been a very citadel Of opposition to
repeal, and Mr.. Rayner's violent oDposi-
ton to it has gone a long way towards
inclining men to revise the favorable es-
innate Of his common sense, which his
advocacy Of repeal Of the Sherman law
secured him.
The future is big with promise for our
institutions. We had the happiest form
of government before the war that any
people was ever blessed with. and its hap
piness consisted in the fact that the
powers of the central government were
confined to a few purposes which were
side of these named purposes it had no
more existence than the Government of
Japan has here But its usurpations dur
ing the war. which the condition Of the
country caused all men to acquiesce H.
brought on the rottenness and corruption
of that and the subsequent period, concen-
trated the control Of the countrys money
and paper substitutes for money in. the
Governments hands. introduced into our
institutions the principle Of protection"
for individuals, and turned our institu-
tons into one vast theatre for jobbery
and robbery. But we see signs that the
press is bringing things around to their
old mornings We are going to repeal the
protective tariff laws, the law TO tax our
banks issues, and favoritism coming TO
an end. so every man can have equal
opportunities.