The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1896-09-25
SILVER'S STORY
TOLD IN FOUR CElAPTERS-LlGHT
AND SHADOWS OF THE AGES.


1Ionometallism Has Ever Been the Instru-
anent of Tyranny In the Irrepressible
Conflict Against the Divine .Right of
Kings "-The Long Night of the Dark
Ages Followed Upon Silvers First Eclipse
The divisions into which modern soci-
ETY. is classed took their genesis no doubt
from differences OF mental capacity as
displayed in the beginning by compara-
tive degrees of manual dexterity. Some
by the exercise Of superior genius of in
ventive skill and mechanical cunning
being better equipped to conquer the ma
terials of nature and render them sub
servlent to their uses than others and
thus to surround themselves with greater
conveniences and comforts than were
possessed by their less fortunate fellows
Through this overmastering prowess it
is to be supposed that pre-eminent sue
cess in war and the chase was accom-
plished and chieftaincy ultimately
achieved. When power became perched
upon the banner of leadership, state
craft was born, and where higher de-
gree Of mentality was found sovereignty
naturally reached its early incarnation.
The Observation-Disclosures of Power
were not materially different at the OBJ
scure period when the first crude forms
OF social law were established than in
our own times: they were the dominating
forces which derived their potency from
the possession of wealth, as represented
by whatever articles the potentialities OF
riches were at the time centered upon,
whether it were flint arrow heads, animal
skins, canoes, sledges, shells, feathers,
oxen, or wives, just what, indeed, CHANGED
to be the chief objects Of human pursuit
and desire. AS time passed on and man
emerged from the savage state and en-
tered upon tribal relations, it became es-
sential that he should exchange the pro-
ducts of his improving industry with
those who, by differing conditions of en-
vironment, We're able to grow or create
articles of necessity or luxury other than
his own, and SO in the simplest way the
first
Rude Foundations OF Commerce
We're laid. For many centuries the oper-
ations of trade were conducted by means
Of barter, the mere offering Of one article
for another, and with the primitive wants
of mankind in the infancy of civilization
this system was easy, but as he progressed
in the intellectual scale mans desires
multiplied, his ambitions took wider and
nobler flight and the operations of ex.
change grew more and more complicated.
So it was that some masterful and dex-
trous mind conceived the time-saving and
convenient creation we term money, and
though at first this plant agent Of human
effort, whose discovery wrought mig hitter
results upon mankind than any other Of
which we have knowledge, was selected
from such perishable substances Of the
material world as feathers of birds, bark
of trees, pieces of flint, and teeth and
claws Of animals; these chosen instru
ments nevertheless possessed the ele-
mental functions of money and with their
first employment as such tremendous
step was taken in the uplifting of the
race, and the corner stone of the magnii-
cent
Splcndors of Modern Civilization
was laid With the growing refinement
of his broadening mind sense of beauty
began to illuminate the intelligence Of
the expanding man, and with the discov
cry of the precious metals he began soon
to weave with fire articles of adornment
as well as utility from the rebellious mass
thus made obedient to his hand and so
silver and gold gradually came to be the
objects Of the keenest desire.
From use as ornament it was but step
to convert these crude fashionings of bar
baric art and taste into service as con
yenient medium of exchange, and here
after but one more chapter waits to COM
plete this briefly related story of the
birth of metallic money. How far back
the first mint was founded we know not,
but coinage was one Of the arts of Egypt
ages before it enters into history, and
buried beneath its massive monuments,
and the still older ruins of unnamed
Etruscan cities, coins Of beautiful work
manship are found. From the native ore
+o tho chapa1aec naca Of rnn1+on ~ oo+o1