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The Mississippi Bubble by Emerson Hough
page 46 of 350 (13%)
What we need now is not so much negative measures as positive ones. We
must do this thing, and we must do it promptly. The question is still
of how it may best be done. Mr. Law, by your leave and by the leave of
these gentlemen here present, I shall take the liberty of asking you if
there doth occur to your mind any plan by which we may be relieved of
certain of these difficulties. I am aware, sir, that you are much a
student in these matters."

A grave silence fell upon all. John Law, young, confident and arrogant
in many ways as he was, none the less possessed sobriety and depth of
thought, just as he possessed the external dignity to give it fitting
vehicle. He gazed now at the men before him, not with timorousness or
trepidation. His face was grave, and he returned their glances calmly as
he rose and made the speech which, unknown to himself, was presently to
prove so important in his life.

"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 meeting, 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 human nature.

"It is true that the coinage is a creature 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 government.

"Now, 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
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