New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-04
Mr.. GAGE TO BUSINESS MEN,
BALTIMORE MERCHANTS GIVE Norh-
BILE DINNER

pv,.rroNs OF GOVERNMENT TO Buzz
>-rsa .DrRrssEs BY PosTMAsrER~GES-
ERAL GARY MR.. pINGLEY AND oThi'f'e
baltimore. Feb. 1.-Two Cabinet omceis
.r,ore the speakers at the annual dinner OF inc
u. "a Manufacturers Association TO-
,,ch. srS n wa. IN other respects one OF the NOS
ro..ha affairs Of the kind ever given III b"''
more Secretary Gage was the chleI sPe"N,
postmaster-General Gary was also on 'ne "'' %
were Congressman Nelson Dingley' CohsieSS'-na ,
Allen. Of Mississippi ana senator
principal toasts were:
THE Relation of Business 10 Government hances'
Response by the Secretary OF the Treasury
,sTbe Postal Service and Its Relation TO Com
r,ercc Response by the PostmasteT-GeneraH
our Industrial and BUSINESS ru'u'e' i'9f
by CONGRESSMAN Dingley. -
cuba" Response by Congressman 'o"" '
Allen. ?,
woman" Response by Congressman Joseph H.
Walker.
menu was elaborate Secretary Gage said IN part
vr Chairman and Gentlemen: With one or two
weeks OF uninterrupted leisure to prepare II, eno
TWO hours Of uninterrupted time TO picseA, w
mat,sr b both interesting and instructive in response
to suggestion so fruitful ~ that lhNoIs" ~
stey for me there has been no proper hour or
moment OF leisure in when I -, .oV he Great
theme here suggested. In this however, you have
suffered little or no loss since yGqp s Se7e had
so conservative regard for you shI n,N,y he
STomptly responded. Rive minutes" Through an
earnest appeal my part supported oy ,ne e. ~ Nv
cpSnosdea ten minutes more shall not abuse his
lberality prefer 10 sacrifice me snojecs, sn1na
simple branches OF the subject can be considered
and that in the briefes, manner ,.on ,,,, ~.
on ssa 9Fg s5sy @ sf5s
m
- the mails. in the maintenance OF the army ana
Navy in the general Of e and property
IN the collection of it's enormous revenues IL Is ~,
rospects and relations II stands supreme alone ana
Substantially unrelated. Its operations "ie'te' 80
the great sea OF business affairs moved through
individual initiative. wherein produc'.on. manu-.
thor being This is all as it should be. The Gov
eminent is an agency toy sPfGa go]sss b sy are
however the method OF its operation is intrusted
20 Duai Eody SenaTtneIt subject to frequent peri
odical displacements md subs ... -.
KssPng IN n1 ed 5hs bo o With the cons
tution for it's charter and the great legislative BODY
IN advance what practical operation demonstrates-
ponderosty sowncss. long contentious over VIA
and hasty stumbling affairs Of the greatest
moment. Let me not be misundeTstoo1 mess inS1s
dents 70 q Government closely held as ours
hepp IS 70 me of and ' odVontcees far out
Weigh lie perceived defects Nevertheless. these
% Ston aR influence s soSd be onn
within the circle Of its necessary and wel-recog-
erations not necessary 70 its own function It tres
passes upon the natural rights OF the citizen
AMERICAN THEORY OF GOVERNMENT.
Tho theory on which our Government rests Is the
ability OF man 70 work out his destiny; protect
him from unjust aggression IN his common rights
from enemies at home from foes without; do for
the whole body OF the State what the individual
Initiative could not secure, and leave men free 10
work out, through the paths q industry and entet-
prise their individual material salvation; TINS
understand 70 be the spirit and essence OF our
fore the State takes itself functions alien TO
own nature whenever II lnteTfereS unless 70
. gene genera sqq S snq ee Tcaons With each
other viii develop and carry forward. there is IN,
commercial exchange the Injurious influence Of a
BODY 9reen 70 ths s s Taa ~ be own evolutionary
tendencies. men engaged IN sowing resIing; max AK
business. win develop through lndyidus! nltsuve ,
pushed by necessity repressed by eXPsrience-those
and practices in mutual exchanges which. at
given time Will be best suited 10 their needs Leg
ana thus recognize a. law what has already become
good practice but IT in these Pa art sasgsr
that even legislative action thus limited may PVT
.Sa. wi Wise man once said in substance il not in
form: '"Thh best legislation touching the economic
relations o. men has been that which repealed pre-
II va. the Individual initiative that turned the
TS lime sS 9 tine 's into ron then into ee then
into the w-!ghty engines breaking the sod With the
sione or astocisted With others in free choice that
built shrs. established commerce GeveoPed me use
Ply individual taste and choice. freely acting, money
the force OF a law unwritten, resident IN the n
div!dual man as related TO ms le!oWs II Slow
g. R2 6 soa rS oT sna Hhoc oa
law. operating wisely. has given sanction and recog-
SOz Y9ss . has 5sr tried to create or ''ST''
What is thus Of production and It's tools, OF
commerce and its methods. Of trade and It's moneys
Is equally true Of that imponderabie thing which m
higher order Of society IS known as creoit CTedi'
Is a sentiment in the mind which induces the pos
SCISSOR Of a great thing pass 70 another thu use
and endowment Of that thing against the s%ReGsn
In the mind. legislation is po~erless 10 direct or
entries on books of account, bank checks and bank
notes the outward eVid ences that the phenoin-
eoHgsructivey certify in commercial life that value
has passed that 1t viii be used, malntaned or m
available FOR tho redemption or payment OF the
credit which II owes the fact q its transfer THIS
nature Of credit It's function and its relationship.
THE GOVERNMENT AND MONEY.
tits the Just complaint agains, Government issues
Of money that though obedient TO the legislative
will 81 Is nevertheless not In harmony With the
higher economic law which blesses the obedient
and Furnishes all violation. whether the violation
bs v!lful or through ignorance. a true credit in
strument truthfully evidencing that a thing Of
value has passed-yet still exists in fac, even II
Transformed IN shape and substsnce-such AZ in
strument is clothed with the quality Of legitimacy.
u the fact be otherwise. II the value passed has
been consumed destroyed or lost the credit nstru-
rnent itself becomes commercial interloper a
misleading token. nor can kings, emperors or SEN
change the fact
nave trespassed upon my time can only point
ss they i are 10 the atoo bear servceable as
the. are IN a great crisis. yet out Of accord with
the true economic laws. The vSiue for which they
wers originally issued inpDrdiately consumed
OF destroyed As reissuec. incy are evidences
Of a value already consumed by the issuer, or Of
service already past These notes operating in tho
commercial field. thus differentiated from the true
credit instruments which commerce can create
must somewhere work injury. even II cannot
distnctively point IL out. In my opinion n IS here
hnsiness rsceiEes an inInrv genorll and M-de-