Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-08-26
Abilene Board Justified.

In refusing to adopt the text books
selected by the state commission
without inspection, the Abilene board
OF education seems to have done the
right thing. There is controversy
going on in regard to the civil gov
eminent book. The commission ac-
cepted the manuscript Of Prof. Kuhn
OF Holton and Crane Il Co. of Topeka
secured contract for its publication.
After it was in type and PACED, Supt.
Stryker discovered the following
which he ordered omitted.
"'In time Of peace, the regular reve-
nues ought to pay the expenses ofthe
government. But no taxation which
the people can afford to pay would be
enough to carry on a great war with
out borrowing money. During the
civil war the expenses Of the govern
ment were over ten million dollars a
day. A large part Of this necessarily
had to be borrowed
Also the clause, TREASURY notes."
commonly called 'greenbacks," are
promises to money. These circulated
from 1862 to 1879 without being re-
deemed by the government, and con-
sequently at discount. As they are
now redeemed on demand in gold and
silver, they are equal in value to
money
1t was claimed that these were
rank goldbug ideas and should be re-
placed by some Of Populist concoc-
ton, which he claims are non-parti-
san. The following was the matter
prepared for substitution:
"The power to coin money con-
ferred upon congress by the constitu-
ton, carries with it the power to Sc
lect the monetary material upon
which to coin or stamp the seal OF
sovereignty. Money, strictly speak
ing, is not material thing. 1t is
function or quality created by law,
and it may be attached to any appro-
pirate material by the sovereign
authority. When the monetary quail
ity has been attached to the chosen
material, that material becomes tan
gible money. Various valuable COM
modities have been used as money,
but have not been entirely satisfac-
tory, on account of their weight and
bulk, and because of their great fluct-
uations in value and frequent scarcity.
"a proper monetary material
should, ~ be cheap and easily pro-
cured, so that society may, al all
times, be able to supply itself with
money; (2) easily concealed that its
possession and transportation may
not be difficult and hazardous; (S it
should be convenient to handle and
count in large and small amounts; (4)
the tangible money should be well ex-
ecuted and difficult to counterfeit;
otherwise the counterfeiters will in
fate its value to the point of worth
lessness, as in the case of American
continental currency, the French as
signats, and the currency of Argen-
tina. Most Of the great paper money
mutations of history have been by
counterfeiters and spectators, and
not by the legislation of responsible
governments.
"In order to maintain the monetary
value OF paper notes, they should be
receivable in the revenues of the issu-
ing government, and lawful money in
all payments; and the volume must
be restricted in reasonable proportion
to the annual public revenues.
"The volume of such paper money
does not depend upon the accidents
of nature nor the exigencies of COM
merce, but, it may be definitely con-
trolled by law, in accordance with the
public interest and general welfare"
Wouldn't these be fine ideas to
teach the rising generation? We
don't believe there is a Democrat on
the school board who endorses the
above. 1t is in itself contradictory
and nonsensical, contrary 10 the state
ments of all recognized standard his
torians.
Meanwhile an anxious public is
patiently waiting the decision Of the
on the disputed questions