Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1903-11-20
JUDGE r11zaEnALD,s HOOK.

~
The following review Of Judge Fitz.
gerald's book On the silver question Is
taken from the New York American Of
November Z. Tho article is accompan-
led by u portrait Of the author. 1t
Gays:
GThis remarkable volume Ii an tx
haustive treatise ON money, scienhiical-
ly treated aud logically presented by
the famous justice Of the SupremeCou
OF Nevada, Judge a.. L. Fitzgerald, who
is recognized throughout the whole
country as an able authority on the
money question. This valuable work
comprises some SEQ pages, presenting IN
original view OF this important question
and go comprehensively has this been
disclosed that we are of the opinion TINT
this work should have beer entitled
She Economics. Law and Statesman.
ship OF Money" rs this title would
be a correct index Of the con-
tents.
Judge Fitzgcrald's book Is divided IN
TO three parts. Part ono asks and an
swers the question, What is money?
Meaning what is money il any land and
country at any time. In the first chap.
ter OF part ono are found numerous
quotations from the best political econo-
mlsts and authorities extant. The sub.
sequent chapters OF this part are devot'
ed by the author to proving with true
logic Pnd appreciated accuracy tliat
these quoted definitions cannot be true
MS these authorities do not distinguish
money from any commodity. This, he
claims, developes their definitions OF
money in fog, mist, and uncertainty,
involving its authors and empio, ers III
constant contradiction. Then comes
the simpler clearer and almost mashe-
NAUTICAL accurate definition Of the auth
or. BY explanation and illustration the
subject is made clear, aud the reader
feels that mental satisfaction resulting
from a complete understanding of the
authors logical solution that Money Is
that thing which pays Il debt or dis
charges any obligation, whether the
creditor or tho oblIgec is willing or IN.
willing it should pay or discharge it,
After discussing this Geliai:iou and the
effect Of Tire laws upon it, the author
goes on to pom. on; the important re-
suits OF the application OF this Colutiun
to the present financial and monetary
system in thus country i'll Il real and ap-
-araN - ..,I,., 10 80 H..
wide difference between these wide
measures OF value, that is, the author
asserts. the chief cause OF the financial
trouble now impending over the country
ury, prophesied last Gall, would be the
case.
Tho second part OF this work is de.
voted to propounding and answering the
question, what is T. oncy in the United
States?' 1t demors,....ya clearly TINT
money is fixed 10y our Constitution in
gold and silver coin only, that the act OF
Congress "monetiZinR the grecnbacks"
(viz., giving them the quality OF tender,
% almost universally, although tau.
tologically, called illegal tender') is Il
plain, clear. palpable, unmIstakable,
usurpation OF power 10y that branch OF
the Government; and TINT the act OF
Congress demonetizinG tho silver coin
OF this country; was another plain, I'm.
mistakable usurpation OF power by that
body. Judge Fitzgerald does not lose
sight Of the second decision OF tho Su.
preme Court over ruling its first ON this
subject UNFOLDING Congress, This
-greenback" enactment he declares
violates the Constitution aud cannot bt
a law in the United States. In making
this point clear the author has found il
necessary to give a comprehensive dis
sertatioD on the Nature ~ Government
in General, and the Nature OF the Gov,
eminent of the United States in par
ticular." 1t is asserted that for forty
yelrs the Congresses have failed to grnsI
the true, scientific definition Of none,
embodied in the Constitution; that this
came body Inns nbdicGted the powers
which are rightly theirs and usurpet
powers to which they have no constitu,
tioual right. To these reasons the au.
thor attributes all the monetry troubles
and their attending evils, which he dc
%claros, can only be rtmcdicd by Con
grees, which either fails to sec its dui,
or for reasons unknown refuses to take
action IN the matter.
In part three Of this work ure to bt
found, "Viewa, Supplementary, Corrob
orativc and general in which the auth
or has answered all the principal ar
gumcntF Of the "Gold Men" as we'll ~
correcting tie mistakes Of the "Silvel
Men, Tho author, believing tho situn,
ton should demand strong words, In,
used them, but without yillificnliob 81
abuse. lIc claims that q eli party &,
the campaigns of 1896 md 1909 mistoOl
tho true issue In contest, and advance
an original argument in streDgthcnin
this assertion. From cover to cover the
book shows the deep, earnest, aud hon.
est conviction OF The author md while
everyone will not ngFee with him, got no
II Of the many readers ri this import.
mt scholarly work will faii to apprc.
cinte the authors plea for cconomy.mor.
nliiy and NATIONAL patriotism.
a.. 80. -