, 1896-10-03

SdoAA'A = NFN'N
by to solicit space IN Your semi-We,k Y, to
give my opinion on n subject which, occupy.
ing as it does, at present, The attention Of lie
people of our great Northern neighbour,
conjecture will be Of more importance aud in
terest H. your readers some AZ least than the
usual every day gossip. This am tie more
stimulated to 90, w hatever may be my fat q,
by the words OF Lord Bacon, "A cripple on
the sight road beats a racer on the WI ong.'
And it is my humble opinion, avow, that in
the present instance you have, human like,
taken the wrong road.
By your permission then Sir, I will ven
ture to begin the reply to Y ours of Avis
No. rs in the form Of 'hree que stions:
ta) Is it Sin the power of Cove mme nt to
fix the value on anything whatevel?'
o. Is silver capable of answo ring the
purpose for coin as well as gold?
To- Are the people of the U.S.A. justified
in endeavouring to establish the free coinage
Of silver?
70 the hrst. while admitting that value
lie. exchangsable) depends on the sspply
tent. They, with the peoples support of
course) for..instance, fix the value Of their
money, irrespective of its composition, and
their valuation hold good in their dominion
at least. Governments also contribute to-
wards the increase or decrease Of the value Of
many other things, within their territory. it
is we'll known that the sugar bounty Of the
German Government, contributes towards
placing in the markets Of the world annually.
thousands Of tons Of su gar, which very likely
could not be otherwise grown and manuftc-
lured in G.. and actually lot be sold at pre-
sem current prices, and which, must to a
great extent, affect the va ue of sugar. And
lust as sure as the free trade policy of the
British Government ~cheapens this article III
Britain, protective duties would raise its
value therein, and give their sugar growing
colonies the benefit. Again, were our own
Government f, i. to quadruple our import
duties Il do not advocate this it woald have
the effect of raising the value Of imports in
this island.
The present value of gold is, to a measure,
attributable to that which you state, Via: its
being The standard in England, which is I'm.
doubtedlv the greatest commercial nation Of
the woIII. and one of its chief creditors
facts which keep up the demand for the yell
low metal, through out its worldwide EN-
pire. and the countries with which it mostly
deals.
The actions of Govern ments are, as likely
to affect the value Of "whe at or cotton" as any
thing else,
Did not the War of Secession" increase
the value of both these articles, by, to a Ger.
tain extent, obstructIng their cultivation,
and increasing the home demand, to supply
the conflicting parties and by the blockade
of the Southern Ports
Would not war now among all, or a part
Of. the worlds great powers, change the
present value of grain; and supplies of all
kind-even money-by the increased de-
mand.
Is not the reported recent increase of Ger
man duties on Russian imports, bound to
raise their value in G., ard decrease it in
R., until other markets or more consumption
be found for their surplus stock What
would letters patent OF International laws
be worth whatever other wise lie their merit
we're they not countenanced and supported
by Governments Why, not the paper ON
which they are printed or written.
The shield generally carried 10y policemen
is, in some instances, l believe, made of
copper or brass, but its bearing the Govern
ment's court-of-alms makes a great differ
ence between it, and all ordinary piece of
copper or brass. A flag or standard is after
all generally made of cloth, under ordinary
circumstances, not worth more than q piece
of cloth of the same size and grade, but 1t
represents the full power and might of the
nation carrying or flying it, and therefore OF
far greater calus. &c, &c, &c. There are
some places which, through their locality,