Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-17
FRIDAY. DECEMBER II, 1897.
CURRENCY REFORM.

All the sincere advocates of currency
reform, whether they are welded 10 the
national banking system as system, or
favor State banks of issue, unite in the
cry for more currency" No one who
has read the proceedings OF the various
monetary conventions that have been
held, or has studied the plans for cur
rency reform, worthy of consideration,
that have been promulgated by individ-
uals. can fail to be impressed with the
recognition these proceedings and plans
contain of the fact that the basic trou-
BILE of business as affected by the cur
renoy problem is lack of currency or
want Of an elastic currency. Another
point on which there is great unanimity
among earnest currency reformers is the
necessity OF getting rid of the endless
chain"-the gold demand notes
The latest illustration of the truth of
this contention is found in the proceed
ings of the Southern Bankers Conven-
ton, Just held In Atlanta. Here, too the
keynote struck was more currency and
extirpation of the endless chain" The
note vibrates throughout the conven-
TONS suggestions as to reforms needed,
and its plans for carrying out those re-
forms.
That the action Of the Southern Bank
eYs' Convention will have any effect in
bringing about immediate currency re-
form does not enter into our calculations.
AS we have frequently said, we do not
expect the present Congress to do any
thing more than juggle with the currency.
Yet every convention Of the character of
the Atlanta gathering is building for the
future. All such discussions as took
place in that body tend to educate the
masses up to an appreciation OF the needs
of a financial system that will conduce
10 the business as dissociated from the
speculative interests of the country and
consequently tend also to educate them
up TO the duty of sweeping out Of power
the Republican party, which In finances
is the slave OF the speculative element.
This or that plan of reform OF any par
ticular monetary convention or confer
ence may not afford the solution of the
monetary problem, but out of all the
plans of all such assemblages we hope
for the development finally of some
genuine and practical scheme that Will
relieve US Of the crying evils of the eX-
listing banking and currency system.
When that scheme shall have been de-
yeloped, the next thing TO do will be to
elect a Democratic Congress and admin
jstration, for the people may as well con-
slider 1t settled that without the latter
contamination real currency reform will
never be attained.
And while on the subject OF banking
and currency conventions. we would say
that we are glad to learn that Mr.. VIII
liam r. Trigg, of this city, has been
called TO represent Virginia on the Execu-
tive Committee Of the Indianapolis None
tary Convention. Mr.. Trigg has long
been an earnest currency reformer, and
whether we differ with him or not as TO
the best means of attaining the end, we
can rest assured that ali plans that come
before him will receive from him careful
and Iiberal-minded consideration. In his
statement before the Banking and Cur
rency Committee OF the House curing the
last session of Congress, although he was
not i'm accord with the silver movement,
he Indignantly challenged the sugges-
ton that the silver men of Virginia were
dishonest, and defiantly stood up for the
honor OF his State. He declared with
emphasis that the silver men were as
honest IN every respect as were the gold
men. and. added he. "My State IS never
rejected upon that l am not angered'
knowing. as l. do the honesty OF her
people and their acts" Furthermore, all
through his statement on the occasion
referred to Mr.. Trigg vigorously antago-
nzsd the proposition that the South was
lacking in knowledge OF financial ques-
lions and was not The peer of the North
IN ability to deal with them. and adduced
potent facts and figures 10 sustain his
position.