The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-09-22

0kAI11&kS OkoWAut SGSb - ~
TnE GnEATEa USE OF GOLD.
There u % much gosd In this country
that u h becoming . question with
bankers and others who are insrusted
with Its care ty the owners. whether II
win not be wise to encourage IL USE
Gold = NOT used In the East and Middle
states nsariy 20 much AZ IL Ia on the
Pacific coast. where Il has always been
preferred 70 payer or silver. II ~
easier 90 handle and cleaner 70 carry
In the pocket, but the Eastern people
have become 50 much accustomed TO
carrying . 'wsd" Of bills. that both
gold and silver have fallen into COM
payativs disuse.
The stock of gold in the United States
exceeds that in any other country In
the world. md u estimated 60 Be 1s7s.-
lA.ooo. and h equal to sos per cent. Of
n our circulation and 5i2.sl per capita
a. our population. France. With the next
largest stock. ssie. soe.oee. exceeds NJ In
tt per capita, S2I.os. Nowhere in all
the world h the Influx Of the yellow
metal 30 great a. In this country. but
Il does not 60 In 30 large = measure
into circulation. Since July I. 1898. the
gold In circulation has grown by 49,
loo.57e. and the net amount tn the treas
ury. then Siss. l4s.7is. has become about
$eSs. 90. 00o-ths highest figures In our
annals. There u. therefore. plenty OF
gold for . much more liberal use than
now.
Ellis H. Roberts advises bankers 20
make a more free use Of gold. not only
because Of the convenience TO the public
bat because OK the object lesson II VIII
afford. He says that II the factory hand.
the artisan or the iaborcr II paid of Ia
silver dollars. or their paper represent
atives. silver certificates. and he can get
a. much for those dollars N for any
other kind. it r. difficult for him 90
underssand-parsicnla when he sell
dom sees goid-why 4, IL not just a.
good a.. IL not better than. gold. i, Is
difficult. IL may be added, for him 90
understand why the silver dollar should
not be Just as good IN unlimited guam
;ity as II Is now. and taking advantages
Of this the free silver SPEAKERS have
urged upon him that IL IL quite a. good.
although care IL taken 20 ignore the
facf that It's value In because OF its
present inserchangeability with gold. 10
Is hard TO make him understand that
back OF the silver dollar. the United
States note. the treasury note. or the sii-
yer certificate. there stands. In TN
daun'ed integrity. the gold dollar.
Onc reason why the use % gold has
not been more encouraged 4. that IL IL
subject 10 - slight abrasion. bat the ex-
perience Of the Pacific eoas,. ard par
ticu'sriy California. i that The ioss
through abrasion IL very ,nsignircan,
We arr practical people. and II we
are accustomed "a the free use az gold
the idea wouii - disr.llesi that II Is.
90 use an expression ~tsca the Bryaults
dearly ioyeg "a coward" ard people
would rssi.z. that the rcAagn Z. fisap~
pears from circulation IN times n panic
Is thai IL is regar:e; as being invariably
safe and thore<rre THE b-z, Kind %
money 20 hold on - for perfect safsty.
We have already forgotten the lessons
taught during the war ~ the sepFecla-
sian % currency. II was not az rod a..
guild then. ana u never wGii - snl~~s
II IL bases u.oE gid. The American
eagle should carry with 9. 90 every per-.
scn that sense 81 security which 4. felt
tn the English sovereign. ;hs Prencs
Napoleon. ar; cse German dsuhie
crown. which are Is constant circz.sz'ion
II ali European cour.rsxs Banners have
bearded Eoli rot because they vixhr.
90 withdraw IL from circulation. hut
because 90 the sense 90 security. tuf
this has her nssssaken policy. ard
TT evil - Il was shown asrtng ~.
campaign II 1854