The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-12-27

Free Coinage OF Silver-RefoFm OF state
Revenue Laws-The senator.


Free Coinage OF snver-Reform OF State
Revenue Laws-The senator.
Seattle. Dec. 20. 1894.
To the Editor: / am asked: What Is
the paramount act of legislation imlne-
diately asked of our present congress?
What Is the lire OF legislation most
imperative on the incoming legislature?
What should be the policy OF the Populist
members at Olympia on the vote for
United States senator? These are three
questions, the answers to which could
be made to fill a book. and then might not
be answered to suit one in thousand of
the millions dependent upon the solution
of enc of them. Moreover, my space for
answer is limited. and therefore in
newspaper article we can only take a
bird s-eye view or the subject. and must
necessarily conderse our thoughts to
Very imperfect synopsis.
First-The paramount act required of
congress Is that which will settle the
money question. This, at this time, is
the ail-devouring sickness of our govern
ment. The disease is deep-rooted, and
nothing but heroic treatment will save
the patient The nation is sick unto
death. 1t Is useless to rave at the army
OF unemployed. or ridicule the hunger
that breeds discomfort. Government ex-
lists by the united will of the governed ex-
pressed in law. or Ii exists in tyranny ex-
pressed In force. The purpose Of law Is
justice, and justice is all that government
owes TO the governed. This is it's only
obligation to society. Charity mercy.
benevolence, paternity. are the attri-
butes of map. and, when usurped by or
attempted to be conferred upon the gov
ernment. must lead to and end in class
and the extinction of equal rights
Money, in the sense that 1t H. the medium
OF exchange, is the scales. the measure
of justice. in the material O.. commercial
traffic between men. Long before gov
ernIneat made money, man created or
invented his OWN medium of just ex-
change. In all ages men We're prone to
acquire and hoard, the precious metals
and precious stones. They were valued
not for money or trade. but as ornaments
and family heirlooms. In ancient times.
when the tithes or taxes were collected
in kind, and the failure of crops or the
result OF war prevented the kings store
houses from being well filed, resort was
had 10 the ornaments of precious metals
accumulated by opulent and powerful
families. The king in emergencies COLI
lected from such families his taxes in
the precious metals or ornaments, To
prevent loss or fraud the kings placed
their seals on such precious metals or
ornaments as they came into their nos
session.
Finally that bearing the kings seal
passed current without question, and as
the people sought for and valued more
highly that which bore the kings seal.
or fiat, all taxes were required 10 be maid
III the precious metals, and when received
into the kings treasury were stamped
with his seal, or fiat and with this
money, or nat. he paid his debts and the
obligations of hi. government. Such
money. then, became current among the
people. This in brief Is the history of
metallic money, which was first invented
about 1900 +. &. Now was the chance
for the usurer or banker. Metallic money
being scarce, he saw his opportunity 10
control IL. and he did so by the aid OF the
king or government. So that such men as
Scion, Numa and Lycurgus demonetizei
both gold and silver to destroy the great
power OF wealth ana save the republic
and she people from harbarism. Money
IS the life blood of commerce, of prosper
ity and civilization. Without :. our great
republic must wither and die. Therefore
its control ought not and cannot with
safety be placed in the hands OF the in
fividual. II is sovereign right OF gov
eranent only 20 make. coin or issue
money, and government should regard
less OF the wishes, wants or desires OF
other governments. first consider its own
people IL Is in duty bound 10 give them
sufficient medium OF exchange to do and
carry on their business. To do this 1t
should at once open its minis 20 the free
and unlimited coinage OF silver and gold
under the ratio OF IL 10 /. 1t should not
destroy its legal tender money. for. to
90 so is toeGontract oar purchasing power
and further ran us in debt by TIE issuing
OF bonds The 500 eoa. zoo gold reserve is
nothing but blind to cheat the govern
lnent The experience Of Secretary Car
ilsie proves this. This government can
and will exist without any reserve IL tae
letter OF the law as TO payment Of de-
nssnds against the treasury is adhered
10. What ia the reserve fars Certainly net
10 maintain cur credit. for It doesn't rep
resent 10 per cent. Of that. Our credit
IL based upon THE wealth and strength OF
the na:soa. Take away these and your
reserve would disappear like SNOW be-
fore the summers sun. II free coinage
Of geld ana silver Is not sufficient for
our business. then Instead OF calling In
or taxing. Jet congress Issue mere legal
tenser paper Or greeneack money.
II congress would do this. iet the tart.
aiene ard adjourn. our prosperity would
Ia assured. Business would soon adjust
itself and TIRE hum OF industry and pros
persty. instead OF the tramp CT the idle
and disseminated. would be heard
throughout thu land, The real and Only
question Of moment to this country now
before congress Is the money question.
! If they settle that IN tbs interest OF AMI
ia Justice 10 the people il viii settle al
others.
Seconss-Tiss Imperative work ot the
incoming legislature should he 20 reform
/ Tire revenue Jaw. Rssiuee tip.s penalty. in
tSrest ard expense 10 the delinquent at
least 80 Ter ceat.. simplify the machinery
Of assessing and collecting taxes ard
reduce the expense % government IL
should !faagurasc system OF state ami
caenty roads: reserve the school lands
Ter tbs seheolS. aa3 thus stop Their sale.