Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1896-10-24
MD. OCTOBER "a, 1896


The Cumberland Imes says tine
stamp adds to the value
Not bit of it.
1t merely certifes its value.
Then the Times illustrates its notion :
Suppose the next Congress should pass
law demonetizing gold, would it then be as
valuable as now? Would it be so valuable
when it was not money? Ifyou had your
choice between a pound of gold and pound
of gold dollars which would you take? The
word dollar on the latter pound decides for
you at once
The first question is absurd to start
with. The others are like unto it.
But if such "a step were possible, the
value of gold would remain so high
where legislatures are still sane that it
would probably be more rcluable Man erer
among those of our own people who
had not gone stark mad.
The government stamp puts a great deal of
value to either gold, silver, paper, or to a
man. There are a number Of men to-day
who would soon sink into oblivion were it
not for the government stamp that has been
put on them as office-holders.
A private in the army who may not have
been heard of becomes prominent and more
valuable man the moment Uncle Sam puts
on the governments stamp-an officers
badge.
When man is put on the police force and
given the city government stamp, he at once
is recognized as a more valuable man-an
elevated man. The same principles hold
with the metals. Gold needs the stamp as
well, even admitting its durableness.
THE government stamp" upon all
officer certifes to nothing but his
representative capacity. 1t confcrs
upon him not an atom of value.
Honor and shame from no condition rise;
Act rel youy payt-there all the honor lies
There are men in all departments of
the public service who are not whit
better, not as good, nor as valuable
as thousands who do not "sport the
government stamp"
Indeed, if the matter were viewed
Alright "the government stamp on an
army or police officer is certificate
to the fact that we are by so much
incapable OF self-government The
American soldier and policeman are
each a pelsonified declaration that the
virtuous must still be protected from
the vicious, and that the gold standard
of equal individual right to life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness is still
exposed to assault.
And while good money Is made of
refined gold, the bullion from which
office-holders are coined varies largely
IN fineness. Some are taken for su-
perlor physique, others for good judg-
ment, others on account of "infoonce,"
and others for yet other qualities, the
badge certiiies to nothing but lease
of 'brief authority"
1t does not confer on a man the sort
of title which admits him to circles and
societies closed to him before. 1t does
not necessarily increase his socia. cur
rency a particle.
But gold is gold the world over. For
small transactions the coin is pre-
ferred for large the uncoined is
equally desirable. Its value as a
medium of exchange is based on in
variable quality and set so deep in the
esteem of human cupidlty that no con-
gress, legislature, kingly edict, or
royal mandate, nor even judicial de-
cree can ever uproot it, "AU men
worship gold" said Propertius cen
turtles ago-true now as then, no mat
ter how unfattering the confession.
So that as long as "the right of pri-
waite contract" survives-one of the
vital rights--so long will "the govern
ment stamp per Sc fail to change mar
ket ratios.