The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-03-14
VfnGicnfIos orm Correct Policy

Never was there SO signal an advance and vim.
dication of Just measure as in the adoption by
the republican state convention of Indiana of the
following resolution:
1.-THE public debt, made necessary by the re-
bellion, should be honestly paid, and all the
bonds issued therefor should be paid in legal
tenders, commonly called 'greenbacks,' except
where; by their express terms, they provide
otherwise, and paid in such quantities as will
make the circulation commensurate with the
commercial wants of the country and SO as to
avoid too great an imitation of the currency and
an increase in the price of gold"
That is the doctrine promulgated by the En-
Qaner nearly year ago, and so eloquently stated
and illustrated by Mr.. Pendleton in his Mil
waukee, and other speeches. How it was then
met by the leading republicans, let an extract
from the speech Of Senator Morton, in August
last, at Columbus, Ohio, answer. Said Mr. Nor
ton, in noticing the proposition to pay the FIVE
twenty bonds with greenbacks: "The black
cloud OF reputation is already above the horizon,
its bosom, charged with the livid lightnings of
dishonor and destruction, and it is only waiting
for a breeze democratic breeze, to spread it
over the land" and he added
"One of The latest forms in which reputation
has show its horrid front is the PROPOSE lion to
pay OFT the whole national debt in greenbacks.
SAID very prominent democratic speaker the
other day. we must pay the national debt, every
dollar OF it, butw must pay it in greenbacks"
Will not stop to discuss the breach of faith.
will not stop to consider what would be the
effect upon the currency and business of tho
country to issue thousand millions of green
backs. Ii the grcenbacks are to be redeemed,
then the body of the debt is not paid, only
another form OF obligation given for it,. If the
greenbacks are not to be redeemed. then the
whole debt is repudiated. 1t is very absurd to
talk about paying debt by giving another obi.
CATION for it which is not to be paid. And no.
tice this is weak device of the enemy by which
they approach direct reputation"
Within six months after the above denuncia.
ton OF the democratic plan of paying the public
debt, and getting rid of a mountain of taxes, the
republican state convention Of Indiana acknowl-
edges the justice and propriety Of that plan, and
adopts it as a leading plank of its platform
What higher honor could be paid to the sagacity
of the democracy, Mr. Pendleton and the En-
quner, than by adopting their financial policy,
and repudiating as unjust Senator Morton's de.
nunciation of It! Ard vet Senator Horton is
paradsd as one the great lights of the country,
whose utterances on public affairs should DO re.
garded as if they were the words of divine in
spiration.
| We tell the people of this country, who are
oppressed by taxes too grevous to be borne, and
who are suffering under stagnation of business
and hard times without parallel in their history
that the democratic policies of finance and resto-
ration can alone lift them into prosperity. In
fne, that the dmocratic party is the only party
that knows how to administer this republican
government with success. Its past history and
present condition is full vindication of the JUS
tice and correctness of cur assertion Cincinnati
Enguirier.