Seventeen Talks on the Banking Question: Between Uncle Sam and Mr. Farmer, Mr. Banker, Mr. Lawyer, Mr. Laboringman, Mr. Merchant, Mr. ManufacturerFowler, Charles N. (Charles Newell)
History
Seventeen Talks on the Banking Question: Between Uncle Sam and Mr. Farmer, Mr. Banker, Mr. Lawyer, Mr. Laboringman, Mr. Merchant, Mr. Manufacturer
Fowler, Charles N. (Charles Newell)
Banks and banking -- United States; Currency question -- United States
MR. MERCHANT: I have put more work into the question of our Government
issues of money than into any subject in my life in the same length of
time, principally because I knew Mr. Farmer used to be what we called
a Green-backer some years ago and I wanted to be ready if he happened
to still entertain those ideas and was still subject to those fits of
madness that came over him before he paid off the mortgage on his farm.
But that's ancient history now, and he's holding the mortgage on the
other fellow's farm. Now, Mr. Farmer, don't get hot, for I don't mean
any disrespect to you, but only to recall that craze for fiat money
when you and I were much younger than we are now. Then again, you seem
to have had a real revelation during our last talk, and to have been
converted to the principle that there could be too much paper money.
MR. FARMER: That's all right, Mr. Merchant, but I well remember that
I was not alone when I used to advocate greenbacks without limit. Mr.
Banker over there was in the same boat with me.
MR. BANKER: Right you are, Mr. Farmer, and there was not a man in this
immediate neighborhood then except old Judge Jones who did not agree
with us, but we've traveled some since then.
MR. LAWYER: Well, gentlemen, I am a little surprised to find you all
so completely convinced that Government issues of money are to be
condemned before a fair trial. I half imagine that Mr. Manufacturer
over there will sympathize with me in my contention for the
constitutional power, and the wisdom of issuing United States Notes.
MR. MANUFACTURER: You are very sadly mistaken about me; I am ready to
prove that you are mistaken, both as to the wisdom and constitutional
right of the Government to issue money even if you are a lawyer,
and ought to know all about the constitution. I don't claim to know
very much about the money question, generally speaking, but like Mr.
Merchant I have made a special study of this particular feature of it.
I am convinced there is only one side to this question, however many
sides there may be to some other phases of it, and we do not have to
leave the history of our own country for overwhelming proof of the
folly of it. I for one do not believe that the Government has any
constitutional right to issue money.
MR. LAWYER: Well, Well!
MR. MERCHANT: We'll make you say "well, well" before we get through
with you, if it takes till morning.
MR. MANUFACTURER: It won't take until morning and when we get through
with him, he will be finished for fair, I think.
MR. LABORINGMAN: We are evidently going to have some fun tonight. You
seem to think that you have Mr. Lawyer in chancery. Now, blaze away. I
want you to nail Mr. Lawyer on the greenback question, if you can; for
he has been getting the best of you on several occasions; personally,
I hope I will never get any less of the greenbacks as they are good
enough for me.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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