The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-10
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE
REPLY TO COLONEL IRISH.

OBSERVATIONS ON HIS DEFENSE OF JUSTICE FIELD.
To the Editor OF the San Francisco Cdtt-SIR:
l must take time at the outset to say that
Justice Field has cause for pride in the true
knight who steps forth and stands fast for his
good name as the ablest jurist who holds that
the constitution does not authorize the Govern
ment to make money out of paper instead OF
gold that of right will pay the debt one man
owes another for Colonel John ?. Irish is easily
the first Democrat in the State or on the coast
in the use of tongue or pen, and l have not a
doubt that he speaks and writes as he thinks
of his own free will and not for pay inrgold or
place; and he has the CRITIC state his views at
time when the willy politician lodges issues
or skulks under antiquities.
Our contention is this:. / assai1 and he de-
fepds sNIr. Justice Fields minority opinion in
the legal tender cases." my charge being thal
Justice Field was guilty of betraying the peo-
pie into the hands of the money power by luT
dicial decision so far as he could decide with
the other eight Justices of the court in the ma
iority against HMM his intent, guilty.
In defense of him Colonel Irish is content
with simply citing Madison, Polk, Walker, Til
den and Historian Bancroft as holding the
same views as Justice Field: but 1t must nave
been hard for him as Democrat to have to
omit the names of Jefferson (the father OF De-
mocracy). Jackson, Benton, Calhoun and
Chase who held, as the Supreme Court holos
that the Government has the fullest authority
to issue treasury notes 9uQ ClOtHe tneiu Will
all the legal tender fiat of gold itself, and that
in SO doing it does not impair the obligation OF
contracts.
ties, let me add few more illustrious names.
Aristotle said, money exists not by nature,
but by law" Franklin said, "Bills of credit
made a legal tender" had no equals as .inoney.
Victor Bonnet said that treasury notes were
better than gold and silver John stuart Mil,
Browning Price, Daniel Webster and Henry
Clay held like views. Clay said: whatever
bpT 90 IN
OF public dues is money, no matter Rhat It's
form may be, treasury notes, etc. such
paper is money"
But l forbear In these days of dukes,
bikes" and "pugs' we must be brief to ind
space in small type for theme that goes to the
very roots of our civilization. Let us turn for
moment to the charge that legal tender paper
money "lmpairS the obligation OF contracts"
! l say no. II yes, then what OF all the debts
paid with greenbacks during the war and for
thirty years thereafter? According 10 Justice
Field and Colonel Irish. are these debts legally
and morally paid? Is the title to farm
bought and paid for with greenbaeks thirty
years ago, or last year, still vested "constitu-
t1onally" and morally i'll the original owner?
must ask Colonel Irish questions on an
other point. II the Government cannot make
legal tender money out OF paper, and If all the
gold we have is less than third part OF the
money needed for transacting the business OF
the country, what are we to do? Are the people
TO be made dependent upon the paper bills OF
our private, and falsely so-called National
banks? All, this is the very theory that be-
trays our people into the hands of the money
power and which has such charms for Presi-
dent Cleveland and the great gold lords OF
America and England.
If Colonel Irish is right in saying that Lin
coin Yves converted by Tilden to the gold stand
ard and was led to believe, with Justice Field,
that the Government had no constitutional
authority to issue greenbacks and make them
legal tender money for all debts, but "was
overfuled by his Cabinet" he will have to
bring forth proof of it, for all the evidence is
against him, and L challenge his statement
and resent the charge that Lincoln twas over
ruled b. his Cabinet"
After having cited Madison Polk and 9TH
ers as holding like views with Justice Field
Colone! Irish concludes by saying: ait ap-
pears, then, that Justice Field is guilty in
very respectable company | concede it, All
the responsibility of his day was on the side of
| Judas. All the rich responsibility OF England
| tempted Arnold to his fall
JOSEPH AsBURY JOHNSON.
IL Essex street, San Francisco.