The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1868-07-25
sPEECH OF
GEORGE FRANCIS TRAIN,
ON FINANCES.


Long Brauch has its General Gran
Albany its conventiou-Saratoga it
Judge Chase--while Clifton Spring
has its George Francis Train. Hi
swinging round the circle with John
son to Chicago, and Ben Wade's party
through the western States, seems to
have sent him into the water cure fol
repairs. The moment ho arrived he
was waited upon by committee of cler
gymen from all parts of the Union on
behalf of the ladies to address the sew
eral hundred guests at the springs, but
Mr.. Train said that he was on the blue
list. Organizing Credit Mobiliers-
Credit Foneiers-building Pacific rail,
waya-estabGshing cities, and putting
up hotel in sixty days on his princi-
paiity at Omaha, and making speeches
all along the line, we should think
would use up most any constitution,
But Mr.. Train seems to be fire proof.
After repeated promises to speak,
which had not been fulfilled, he came
to time on Wodnesday,,nightt to a crowd
ed hall, and made one of the most extra
ordinary speeches we ever recorded.
Wishing to caution the nation against
demagogues, he said for once he would
personify the demagogue in order to put
loyal men on their guard. We do not
intend to give an elaborate report of
the speech or the interruptions, but we
have caught sufficient to make it point
ed and of interest. Mr.. Chapman, of
st. Louis, was called to the chair.
Mr.. Train, who was received with ap-
plausc, commenced by reading the fol-
lowing resolution
Resolved. As our national debt was
contracted by imitation, by imitation it
shall be paid.
/ Mr. Chapman, of St. Louis-What
do YOU mean by that proposition?
Mr.. Train-We mean Cup with
groenbacks and down with specie pay
ncnt." Laughter and applause]. All
those in favor of greenbacks say aye.
[ Loud cries Of aye]. IF the people pre-
Ter eroenbacks without interest, why
force them 20 take bonds and notes with
interest! [That's sol. The statistics
show that out Of thirly-six millions of
people only half million pay an income
tax on a thousand dollars. Hence it is
iairto suppose that the number will GOV.
or the bondholders- The question ari-
ses is there sufficient virtue & generosity
in the other thirty five and half mil
lions to vote to tax themselves to pay
these FIVE hudred thousand bondholderS.
[Cries Of yes], The demagague will
make much Of this point. Laughter.
And joC must meet him squarely or
he will have the argument. The New
York Herald closed one of its leaders on
the national bank by saying since Hor-
ace Greely by bailiDg Davis admits that
there is no such crime al treason, our
national debt is a national swindle. IA
voice "the Herald is no guide to public
opinion."] You are mistaken. Ben
nett always looks ahead. His hot shot
into the national banks are riddling
those pet presidential making institu-
tions.
He is the first to see a change in the |
minds Of the public, and an experience
Of thirty years has made him prophet
as well as fortune. [Applause.l Many |
years ago he told me that panic was a
coed thing for city or natl on. Chi.
cago was built out of imitation. The |
panic came, bankruptcy followed, but
the substantial stores, the magnificent |
residences, the splendid city and two |
hundred thousand people remained |
there Loud applause.l Give us
greenbacks, We say, and build cities,
plant corn, open coal mines, control rail |
ways, launch ships, grow cotton, estab-
lish factories, open gold and silver
mines, erect rolling mills, start the su-
gar cane, and sorgum and tobacco once
more. Turn NiagrR Falls into Man
chester. loud Hpplause.1 Vote ten
millions bonus if We finish the Pacific
railroad before 1870. [Cbeers.l Vote
subsidies for steamboat linesito Europe;
dig a canal from lake Michigan to the
[applause] aud remove the
capital OF America from the corrupt and
God-lorsaken sink of iniquity, Wash
ington, to Columbus. Nebraska, ninety
six miles west of Omaha, the geograph-
ical centre of our four million square
mlle nation, Loud cheors.l Garry
lny resolution and there is sun shine in
the sky. CApplause.l Vote McCul-
loch's English plan of paying English
men one dollar for what they paid forty
cents for and disaster wrecks our tinaus
cial ship. Greenbaoks will start us a
head again at forty miles an hour.
Specie payment will produce regular
smash up.
Friedrich the Great, built up Prussia
on paper, and Englands power was Das-
ed on grcenback currency. TThat is
true. PIT saved England by GREEN