The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-18

ting vehicle. He gazed now at the men
before him. not with timorousness or trep-
idation. Ills face was grave, and he re-
turned their glances calmly as he rose
and made the speech which, unknown to
himself, was presently to prove SO inn
portant in his life. Sc
my lords said he, ,"and gentlemen of
this council, I am ill-fitted to be present
here. and ill-fitted to add my advice to
that which has been given. It is not for
me to go beyond the purpose of this meet
ing, or to lay before you certain plans of
my own regarding the credit Of nations.
I may start, as does our learned friend,
simply from established principles of hui
man nature. -
1T Is true that the coinage Is a crea-
ture of the government. Yet I believe it
to be true that the government lives
purely upon credit: which is to say, the
confidence of the people In that govern
ment. ~
Nov, we may reason in. this matter
perhaps from the lesser: relations Of our
daily life. What manner Of man do we
most trust among those whom we meet?
Surely, the honest man., the plain man,
the one whose directness and integrity we
do not doubt. Truly you may witness the
nature Of such a man In the manner OF
his speech, in his mein, in his conduct.
Therefore. my lords and gentlemen, it
seems to me plain that we shall best gain
confidence for ourselves II We act In the
most simple fashion -.
Let us take up this matter directly
with parliament, not seeking to evade the
knowledge Of parliament in any fashion;
for, as we know, the parliament and the
king are not the best bedfe1lows these
days, and the one Ia ready enough to sus-
pect the other. Let us have bill framed
40 a he
decisions of these learned gentlemen
present. Above all things. let us act with
perfect openness. st
LAS to the plan ttself,t 1t seems that a
few things may be held safe and sure.
Since we cannot use the old coin. then
surely we must have new coin, nailled
coin, which Charles. the earlier king OF
learned friend has wisely stated, the loss
In any recoinage ought, In full Justice and
honesty, to fell not upon the people
of England. but upon tho government OF
England. It seems equally plain to me
there must be a day set after which the
old coin may no longer be used. Set 1T
some months ahead, not, a. nay Lord
Keeper suggests, but q. few days; no that
full notice may be given to all. Mako
your campaign free and plain, and place 1t
SO that it may be known, not only OF par
lament, but OF all the world Thus you
establish yourselves In the confidence OF
parliament and in the good graces OF this
people, from whom the taxes must ultt-
mately come" K r.
Montague's hands smote again upon the
table with a gesture Of ennviction. John
Locke shifted again Ia his chair. Sir
Isaac and the lord keeper gazed stead
lastly at this young man who stood be
fore them, calmly, assuredly, and yet With
No assl1rnr,tfon In his uaien.
Moreover" went on John Law, calm
". there is the further benefit to be
gained, ais am sure my cDuntrynan, Mr.
Paterson, has long ago made plain. II
is not quite question OF the wealth. OF
England, but a question Of the confidence
OF the people in the throne. Ihere rs
money in abundance in England. 1t is the
province of my Lord Chancellor to
wheedle it out OF those golfers where 1T Is
concealed, and place it before the uses OF
the king. Gentlemen, tt is confidence thai
we need. There will be no trouble to Sc
cure loans of money in this rich land, but
the taxes must be the pledge OF your
bankers This new Bank of England VIII
furnish you what moneys you may need
Secure them only by the pledge OF such
taxes as you feel the people may not re-
sent; give the people, free Of cost, a coin
age which they can trust; and then. II
seems to me, my Lords and gentlemen
the problem of the revenue may pe
thought solved simply and 5easlly-solVed
too, without irritating either the people o,
the parliament, or endaHgering the rela'
tions of parliament and the throne.
The conviction which fell upon all found
it's best expression in the face Of Mon
tague. The youth and neTN ousness OF the
man passed away upon ttaas instant he
sat there sober and thoughtful, quiet anc
resolved.
"Gentlemen," said he, at last, my
course Is plain from this instant. shall
draw the bill and it shall go to parma
&ment. The expense Of this recotnage
am sure we can find maintained by The
stockholders of the Bank of England, anc
for their pay we shall propose a new taz
upon the people Of England. We shah
tax the windows of the houses Of England
and hence tax not only the poor but Inc
rich of England and that proportionately
with their wealth. AS for the coin Of
England, it shall be honest coin, made
honest and kept honest, at no cost to the
people Of old England. Sirs, my heaH Is
tighter than it has been for many days.
The last tree Of formality in the meet
ing having at length vanished, Montague
made his way rapidly to the foot of thu
table. He caught Law by both his hands
"Sir," said he, you helped us at tn
last stage of our ascent. A mistake herr
had been ruinous, not only to myself AM
friends. but to the safety Of the whole
government You spoke wisely and prac
tically. Sir, If can ever in all my III
serve YOU, command me, and at WhateVe
price you name. am not yet done witt
you, SIR" resumed Montague. casting M
arm boyishly about the others shoulde
as they walked out. 1--WE must meet agai,
to discuss certain problems OF the cur
rency which, bethink me. you have studied
deeply. Keep you here in London, for
shall have need of you. Within the 1nonth
perhaps within the week, 4 shall requ1r'
you. England needs men who can a.
more than dawdle. Pray you, keep mt
advised where you may be found" =
There was ill omen in the light reply
'eWhy, as to that, my lord" said Law, u
YOU should think my poor service useful
your servants might get trace OF me a.
the Green Lion-l1nless I should be II
prison! No man knoweth what may
come" ~ !,
Montague laughed lightly. AT tn
Green Lion, or in Newgate ITSELF SAX
he. BE ready. for have not yet don'
with YOU"
CHAPTER VI.
The Resolution Of Mr.. Law.
The problem of England's troubled
finances, the questions Of the coinage, th
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