The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-07-25
THE WEST AND SILVER.
A silly Western Newspaper of the Free
silver Variety.
United States Investor.

United States Investor.
On June % we said that Eastern money
would be kept from going West until the
silver agitation had ceased. A Western
paper, in commenting on this statement,
says: This is threat direct and pointed.
and will no doubt prove true to the extent
that the money power is able to subjugate
the people" On the first thought 1t seems
a waste OF time to notice utterances OF
this sort We should hardly feel like en-
tering into a controversy with the famous
coiored clergyman who insists so strenu-
ously that the world stands still while the
sun revolves around it-why should we
pay any attention to an economic PROPOSE
ton of equal absvxdity? For this reason
a denial of the Copernican theory by a
portion of mankind Is likely TO be attend
ed with no evil results. so far as the ma
terial interests Of the race are concerned,
whereas the childish views of the laws OF
money now so widely prevalent are calcu-
lated to keep credit in a state OF disturb
arce. thereby INJECTING incalculable mis-
cry upon every class in the community.
In no department of knowledge does SO
slight an advance appear to have been
made by the ordinary person as in politl-
cal economy. Even in the older conmu-
mites the average business man is but lit
tie yersed in the fundamental principles or
trade and in the new sections large pro-
portion OF the business men lack the long
experience in the conduct OF business ar
fairs which frequently goes a long way
towards offsetting a lack of sound theo-
retical knowledge Had the writer OF the
paragraph which we quoted above been
trained to think clearly on economic Ques-
tions he would have perceived the absurd
ity OF such utterances as the one we nave
cited in reference to the subjugation or
the people to the money power. The sub
jugation implied in this particular case Is
to be found in the admitted fact that East
ern capitalists will not invest their money
in the West until the fear OF further silver
legislation is allayed But does this con-
stitute a subjugation of the West by the
East? Is the East under moral or legal
obligation 10 lend TO the West? Assuredly
not The dominant feature of capital Is
its coyness. It is not 10 be commanded,
but rather entreated. 1t goes where 1t Is
insured the largest and safest return. and
this II does in accordance with the law OF
its very being. Were it not allowed this
privilege there would not be such a thing
as capital.
II. therefore capital does not seek the
West It is not the fault of capital The
people who have vast amounts of money
on which they are earning nothing or next
to nothing would be glad TO flood the West
with funds IL they dared. The writer
whom we have been quoting in this article
goes on to say that the Investor makes
the statement that the East has under
gone too many years OF hard financiering
to lend her wealth TO the West as long as
there is "a possibility of being compelled
10 receive silver back" This. he says, is
also a threat.
Now the Investor never made any such
statement What we did say was that the
East would not lend 100 cents with the
possibility of getting back only 80 cents.
Would our critic himself do otherwise?
or course he would not. What he should
learn is that sentiment does not rule
trade Hard and fast facts alone are TO
ne considered. and tne making OF these
facts Is largely in the hands OF the Dor
rover The West can have all the money
II wants IL 1t shows that Il can and will
paw Self-respect should debar the West
from seeking funds on any other terms.
There ia no other way to obtain money
except by begging or stealing.