The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1868-08-28
SDr asrntorn gGapettr, asenfnrn, loa.
WEO SHALL DECIDEs

The people of this country are at
present greatly exercised on the sub
ject of the currency, and the payment
| of the national debt. The policy of
/ the Democratic party is clearly defined
in the platform. The Radicals have
given no promise Of a policy on the
subject. The financial resolutions in
the Chicago platform are obscure and
equivocal, leaving room for any range
of Interpretation which may suit the
candidate, or the locality. Among the
farmers of the West, the Radical poll
ticians pretend to favor payment of
the public debt in greenbacks. With
the bondholders of the East, the same
Radicals bluster about payment in
gold, and denounce everybody else as a
repudiator. The platform speaks mys-
teriOusly about payment according to
the letter and spirit of the law, but
carefully omits to define what that
spirit is. Some Radicals pretend that
the platform means payment in coin,
but in Congress they advocate the
Democratic greenback policy. Many
members of the party insist that the
fve-twenty bonds, bearing six per
cent. interest, must be redeemed in
new bonds, bearing only four per cent.
interest. Other Radicals yet, denounce
the Democrats as swindlers and repU-
diators, because they propose to tax
the bonds, yet these same men renomi-
nate for seats in Congress the very
members who voted, in the last House,
for proposition to tax the interest, at
the rate of ten per cent. Since it is
vain to look for a solution of the Radi-
cal financial policy in the Chicago
platform, since the action of Congress
has been so shuffiing and cOntradic-
tory, and since there are so many ap-
parent divisions in the party, the peo-
pie have a right to call on Grant for a
distinct and authoritative exposition Of
his views, on this important subject,
so deeply affecting the interests of ev-
cry member of the community. If
Grant has any decided interest in the
great questions Of finance beyond
drawing his enormous life salary of
eighteen thousand a year, now is the
time to manifest it. 1t will not do to
take refuge in silence behind the Chi
cago platform, nor in the trick of mod
esty and naive pretence Of ignorance
of financial questions.
The people are anxious to know what
will be the policy of the administration
OF the next four years. Butler, since
Wilkes effected the reconciliation, will
lead the Radical party in the House,
and in case Of Grants election will be
his mouth-piece on the floor. Butler is
in favor of paying off the five-twenties
in greenbacls. He occupied the same
ground precisely with Thaddeus Ste
vens, and voted, besides, in the last
session of Congress, to tax the interest
on the bonds. He goes the full length
of the Pendleton theory, and would
carry majority of the Radicals in
Congress with him. On the other
hand, in the Senate, the advocates of
the payment of the bonds in gold, seem
to be in a decided majority, the only
Radical of any prominence in the Sen
ate who eSpOuseS the greenback theory
being Senator Morton, of Indiana.
This marked division among the Rad
icals would cause a rupture in the par
ty Immediately on the accession of
Grant to the Presidency, and would
prevent the adoption of any measures
of finance for the relief of the people.
Nothing but the cohesive attraction of
public plunder has prevented divisions
from taking place long ago. The Radi-
cal candidate, in justice to the coun-
try, should define his position at once
on this subject, unless he be determined
to remain mum, and adhere to his "nO
policy" programme to the last. But
it is not possible that the people of this
country will confide its great financial
interests in the hands of a man who is
too ignorant or too obstinate to declare
his opinions, if he has any.
THE RRAG GAME.