The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-07-22
STATE BANKS THE ONLY REMEDY

Everywhere in Ais country e is recog-
nlzel that the seat Of our troubles +: in
cur finances. Those who proposed 10 end
those troubles by having the government
com unlimited quantities Of silver dollars
that were TO be effective in payment Of
whole dollars Of debt while worth in
fact. only nc.y cents each are fast fall
ing OF. Great masses Of men often fan
under decisions that hold their minds in
subjectlon for surprisingly long times
but the delusion always wears away in
time and right finally asserts it.
self in every case. That is hap
pening now. The free silver Idea was
always a delusion and nothing more, and
its victims are waking up now and will
soon cast It off entirely. That nostrum
therefore, for curing our financial Ills
may be put down as having run its
course.
Nevertheless. mon go on showing that
they perceive our difficulties TO have
their origin in our currency laws. while
all continue TO beat about the bush and
vainly cry that the difficulty is with the
finances and that Congress should remove
It. vet what do we hear them suggest as
the measure by which those difficulties
should be removed silver being dis
posed Of. the patent medicine men seem
all TO be baked. We hear nothing but
the complaint. but nobody tells us what
will cure Il. Last week there was
meeting Of tho bankers of New York
State at Saratoga. Many of fits members
made speeches. all emphasizing the fact
that the country's troubles rested with
its finances. but no plan for a solution OF
those troubles came from any Of them.
Stephen NJ. Grislyn. president Of the
Union Bank. OF Brooklyn. made what
was. by common consent, declared to be
the most notable speech Of the meeting.
And what had no TO say ? Hear him.
He saidi
1T f. within the province Of this as
ISOLATION TO criticise and discuss any
and all questions Of public policy. cs-
pecially when they relate 10 the CONNER
cial condition OF the country In fact,
there IS no cass Of citizens who are so
well able 20 do this as the men who
manage our financial Institutions. They
are more in touch with the people and
understand what they need far better
than the average legislator. for his action
Is largely governed by political considera-
ton. The past four years has been a
period OF great trial and strain upon the
business community, and ] hold that
politics has been mainly responsible foi
this. We have too much legislation, too
much politics, and too much changing Of
laws for the purpose Of party advantage.
10 admit 81 long commercial prosperity
et any one time This must change: re-
lief must come rapidly; the country can
bear no further depression. The business
interests. weakened by IT'S long fight
against adversely, cannot stand another
attack.
Il take the liberty OF Offering some
practical suggestion upon the question
before us and for the consideration OF
this convention. In the first place. no
great change will come unless Il comes
from the people. Let us send men 10
Congress who Will not spend most Of
their time in looking after patronage for
their friends. or combining their efforts TO
those measures which only 0ffoct their
constituents. but men who arc large
enough and patriotic enough 20 legisate
Tor the people OF the whole nation. The
three great questions which stand in tho
way OF business prosperity arc the tariff,
the currency and the labor questions.
In regard " the agst, would appoint