The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1868-05-12
PRINCIPLES-A DIA-
LOGUE.
Ola.

condition Of American poileicSs Fecentiy lnquir>
ed of prominent Democrat what are the pres
ent principles Of the Democratic party? The
following dialogue ensued:
DEMOCRAT, Why, sir. the Democrats have
always been frank in the statement of their prin-
ciples. You've only to read the platform adop~
ted at its last National Convention, and you'll
find them set forth in full.
FOREIGNER. have read it. and find the on
ly distinctive point in it to be that "after four
years of failure to restore the Union by war,
hostilities." I suppose the triumph of the gov
ernment over the rebellion in the fifth year Of
the war must have obliged the Democratic par
ty to admit that they were mistaken.
DEN. Mistaken! Sir, the Democratic par
ty was never mistaken. But, on reflection,
perceive that the present principles of the par
ty are not stated in this platform. The first,
that this is white mans country, and black
men have no constitutional right to vote, espe-
cially in reconstructing the Southern States,
and no power can give them the right.
For You have heard of Noah Webster,
have you not?
DEM. Heard of him, yes; aad he was not
only tae b=st Licographer of the English Ian
guage, but he was straight-out, old-fashioned
Connecticut Democrat.
FoR. Well, he defines Democrat to be one
who favors the extension of the right of suf
rage to all classes of men, How is it that
man can be Democrat solely because he oppo>
ses the doctrine?
Dem. Politics has changed since Webster's
time. He did not regard negroes as men,
FoR. Indeed. He defines a negro to be 'one
belonging to the black race of MEN,
Dem. Well, Webster is a mere pedagogue.
Our statesmen have tho't differently.
FoR. Who are your statesmen?
Dem. Andrew Jackson and
For. But Jackson led the free negroes to
the polls, and voted with them side by side.
Dem. Oh, yes, We would be perfectly wills
ling to LEAD them to the polls, but the mischief
is they wont be led. They march to the polls
| in platoons and vote against Us. But this is not
our principal point, now that negro suffrage has
prevailed all over the South; we have financial
politics. The National Bonds should be taxed,
and what is left Of their value after pay ing the
tax should be paid in greenbacks.
For. What is greenback?
| Dem. 1t is the promise of the United States
to pay certain sum Of money without inter>
| est.
FoR. And are the greenbacks ever to be
paid?
| Dam. No; they are to circulate as currency.
FoR. How long will they circulate as cur.
rency after it is announced that they are never
to be paid? And how much will they be worth
per dollar?
Dem. That is none of my business. The
Republicans issued them and must take care
of them.
For But Democrats hold them and will
suffer by their reputation.
Dem. Well, We'll consent to lose what we
have in greenbacks in order to break down the
aristocratic bondholders.
FoR. And who are they?
Dem. The Icih men-the Astors, Stew.
arts, &c.
FoR. But l am told these men own nc
bonds, and that nearly all the bonds owned
directly or indirectly by poor men. ST 3
DEM. 1t must be mighty indirect, then, I'm
sure L. don't own any. 5- @z
For Let US see. Have you any money in
the bank?
Dem. little, and my wife has deposit in
the Savings Bank, which she has saved from
her cheese and butter. @ @
f. You are both bondholders then. Are
your lives and property insured? ei
D. We have policy on our house. -t.i
holders?
D. How is that?
F. Nearly all the national bonds owned il
this country. are held by the National Banks
Savings Banks, Life, Fire, and Marine Insuranc,
Companies. These Companies in turn ART
merely agents for those who insure and deposit
and do business with them. In New Yorl
State the Savings Bank alone hold 40, ,OOO,oOt
in bonds. Those of Massachusetts, $25 900, 900
those of Rhode Island $4,000, 900, and nclu
ding the other thirty four States. it is safe t.
say that their Savings Banks alone hold $500,
600 COO, and that these represent the savings
J of three millions of poor people. The numbe
: of depositors in New York and Massachusetts,
together, amount to so4, sol persons, all o
whom are poor, and their humble savings woult
be swept away by repudating the Nationa
debt, one>seventh of which is due to them.
D. Is that so? 2 5 -.
F. Moreover, the Life and Fire Insuranc.
Companies alone hold $66 .0OO. .oOo in nssiona
bonds. How many should you estimate wer
held by the insurance compsnies of the entir
country
D. Perhaps $500. 900 more. 1 do no
know. -- s
F.. Nor l. but suppose tito be as you say
!, Now you know that the National banks owl
$349, 200, 600 in the bonds, and that the clas
!, who own and do business with those banks ar
not all milicnaires. They are well-to,do busl
ness men. and no more. About $500, ,Ooo,oo
Of the bonds are held A inse trnants In Carr, !