Evening star., 1896-01-20
MORTON ON THE CuRRExcY.


What the Secretary Said at q New
York DfAner Saturday.
At the dinner given in New York Sat
urday night by the New York board Of
trade and transportation Secretary Nor
ton Of the Department of Agriculture made
speech, during which he discussed the
currency question. He said:
Possibly a currency commission, whose
duty would be to devise currency system
in stability and efficiency something like
that Of England, could, even now, at this
late day. if made up Of experienced bank
ers, merchants and economists, do very
much to restore tranquility and perma-
nency in both domestic and foreign conf
dence and commerce. Such a currency COM
mission might, in sixty or ninety days, per-
feet and report to the Congress of the
United States monetary measure or cur
rency system SO practical and plain that it
would command universal respect and COM
pei Congress to adept it
why cannot the New York board OF
trade and chamber of commerce formulate
such legislation, have it approved by all the
commercial organizations of the United
States and by petition pre- sent 1t to Con-
gress and demand its enactment? Why
should wage earners, bankers, traders mer-
chants manufacturers and railroad men,
who use vast sums of currency in their
practical, everyday affairs. leave the
mere politicians, theorists and vagarists,
whose exchanges consist in transferring
public offices from one set of place hunters
to another set? Why leave all, at this
critical and crucial period. wherein the
integrity, the honor and the glory Of our
common country are imperiled,- to the ad-
vocates of a financial scheme that would
dishonesty pay those whom We honestly
owe? Did not that class enact the Bland
Allison law of February 2S, 1878?
Recall that insidious beginning of the
malignant impairment of the credit of the
United States. and is it right, is it courage
jdstifiable that the associations and the
men who carry on the transportation and
do the business of planet should Feegate
the entire regulation of financial affairs to
political caprice?
All interests Demand Gold.
''Who among American citizens desire a
money for the United States of less pur-
chasing power in the markets of the world
than the money of England? American
labor, which offers for sale honest efforts
and valuable services. demands honest
money values therefor. American agricul-
ture furnishes food that Is dema nded by
the world and desires therefor money cur
rently In demand in all the markets of the
world. American manufacture constructs
molds. weaves and fashions it's varied
products with perfection and seeks to buy
with them that gold-acknowl-
edged TO be nearest to perfection as IA
cilitator of exchanges.
Citizens of this government, who have
by frugality, industry and painstaking ac-
quired property to conserve, demand that
currency. The wage-earned deposits in saw.
iEgS banks, amounting to hundreds of mil
lions of dollars, demand it. The holders OF
life Insurance policies, intended as bequests
to protect from want those whom they love
demand it. Commerce, boards of trade
common sense and an enlightened self-in
terest demand it. Love of home, love OF
country and honesty and honor demand it.
Our Superiority n Myth.
Then Secretary Morton referred to the
Venezuelan discussion in this way:
"As rule, the right, rightfully and right
eously declared. commands, even from
| rivals and enemies, respect and .admirat ton
out of which naturally grow solid friend
snlps. good will and lasting peace. And tn,
recent authoritative assertion Of the Mon
roe doctrine will prove no exception From
that message and its logic may be evoked
a new treaty between this government ant
Great Britain. which shall provide that ii
all time to come differences between tn,
two nations shall be submitted to the arbi
tratlon OF reason and right, rather than t,
that of the sword and might
| II, a1ter all these centuries of ALLEGED
civilization and Christianity, England ant
the United States-speaking the same Ian
ooS aioiA lne same anceStOrS
| and acknowledged to be the foremost, in
| telectually and morally, among the peo
pies OF the earth-must settle their differ
ences like wild beatst, by mere brute force
then Is our boasted superiority over sayag
cry and barbarism a myth
| Sucn humane treaty between thes,
| Two great Industrial nations would be /
| benignant consummation of all those gentl
| teachings which have been whispered fo
| more than eighteen centuries from the lin
| Of that crucified Teacher, the spiritual and
| moral splendor of whose being has LIGHTED
| up the mental and moral universe forever
| he who taught peace on earth and goo<
| will to men,