The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-12-22
Senagor MOrton's speech.

to day and tomorrow 10 Une great |
speech delivered by Senator MORTON
in the United States Senate on
Wednesday last. Different as it is in
matter, aud occupying as it does a
new field of thought, the present
speech, like that Of the distinguished
Senator on Reconstruction, viii have
a most powerful influence in Shaping
the opinions Of the people. The
Senator's RECONSTRUCTION speech was
everywhere regarded as definitely
settling the legality and neces-
sity of the reconstruction measures
Of Congress in the minds of ma
jority of the people. Its logic was
never answered, AMI its facts never
denied. From present indications we
think the speech of Senator MORTON
on Finance and Specie Resumption
will have an equally powerful in
Aucnce in shaping public opinion as
to the best policy to be adopted in
order to enable the Government and
people. once more to get back to
specie payments. Only few papers
have attempted to be witty over the
Senator's views. They do not attempt
to reply to his arguments.
The novelty of Senator MoRToNs
theory that specie payments may be re-
sumed by the Government without de
reasing the volume of the circulating
medium or materially interfering with
commercial values, may cause many
of the most intelligent business men
of the country to doubt its sound
ness. But the argument he advances
in It's behalf and the facts aud figures
he gives a. the basis of his argument
must be set aside before his theory is
condemned. IF not, there is but little
use in attempting to prove the correct
ness of any theory that has not had
the test OF actual experience. Oar
finances are in such condition that
some risk has to be run in order to
get the country back to gold aud
silver basis. Our condition Is anon
alons. There are no precedents so
similar in character to our present
condition that we may safely venture
to adopt them as presidents. The
question for the people is, what plan
seems to offer the most reasonable
assurances of success, and at the
same time will impose the lightest
burdens upon the people. So far as
we are capable of judging, we agree
with the Louisville Courier-Jowadl
that Senator MORTON has drawn the
soundest bill, and given the best rea-
sons for the several propositions con-
tanned in it, which have been present
ed so far for the consideration of
Congress" That the resumption of
specie payment must take place at the
earliest day practicable is demanded
by the people. They look TO their
legislators to originate the plan by
which that end is to be reached, and
Senator MORTON has unquestionably
suggested the plan which is liable to
the fewcst objections.
Senator MoRToN's speeches are
noted for their clearness of statement
aud freedom from rhetorical -four
ishes. Yet we fiud him using figures
o. the boldest aud most impressive
character. We copy few such from
his last speech.
In considering the time when the
Government should begin the process
of resumption, he says:
Will it be easier to begin the pro
cess at the end of FIVE years, the ma
ton suffering in the meantime all the
evils of depreciation? Shall the ma
non stand shivering for years on the
banks of this Jordan, and then make
the plunge, when the waters are deep
err, swifter aud colder than now?
The following is excellent in taste
and sentiment:
TO him the bondholder] the gov
eminent must keen faith, whatever
that faith may be; for good faith COW
ers nation like clear and refreshing
atmosp here, which imparts health anC
vigor to men. and through which al
nature seems beautiful and bright
but when faith is broken it is as i
the air were filed with noxious va.
pors which obscure the sight, impair
the health and end In darkness, dis
ease and death.
The following Is also good:
Contraction is the Sangrado policy
of bleeding the country nearly t.
death to cure it of disease which
demands tonics and building up.
We must not return to specie pay.
ments in that way by contraction
We must descend the mountain b,
easy slopes and gentle curves, though
1t may take much longer than Z
spring from the top of the precipic
aud be dashed IN pieces at the bottom
We copy still another;
The effort to force deprecated an,
irredeemable paper up to par by max
ing it scarce, and pinching the people
Is like an attempt to enhance the prize
of unwholesome provisions by pro
.ducing famine.
We confidently expect that ever
American citizen who feels an inter
est in his Government and desire t
gain some light on the abstruse queS
ton of national finance, will read an
re-read Senator MoRToN's speecl
All will find there condensed. III
substance of a great deal of researc
and thought, and obtain from tt
speech clearer and more satisfaction
views of the great problem to /
solved than can possibly be foun
anywhere else within the same limite
SPACE.