The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1868-05-08
The Greenback Issue.

The platform of the Democracy of Hi.
nois has no uncertain meaning upon any OF
the propositions it enunciaies. II is full,
clear, and explicit upon ali the great issues
now before the country, and in full accord
with expressions of the Democracy OF Ohio
and Indiana at their recent State Conven.
tions. Upon the public debt taxation, and
national banking questions, the position Of
the Democracy in these three great North
western States is Identical. And upon those
questions, which SO directly affect the gen.
erai prosperity and welfare, they express the
almost unanimous sentiment and wishes OF
the people. The few that are interested in
bonds and national banking from considera.
tions Of personal interest, may object TO the
enuncioted financial policy Of the Demo.
cratic party, but there the opposition ceases.
A it was in was in Ohio and in this State,
The Democratic Convention of Illinois re-
IsponJed, with the utmost enthusism, to the
declarations of it's platform upon financial
questions. minority of the Committee on
ResO utions desired 10 90 further than even
the report of the majority. They offered
an amendment, instruc,ing the delegates to
the National Convention from Illinois 'to
insist upon the policy Of paying $40 bonds
in the lawful money of the country as a
part of our national platform
The platforms of the Democracy o!
Illinois. Ohe; and Indiana. recognize the
obligation OF the Government to discharge
the public debt contracted in pursuance oi
law 10 the uitermost far,hng, and just &C.
cordng to the terms Of the contract, in gold
when the Government is pledged to poy in
gold, and 10 legal tender notes for the vast
bulk Of the Indebtedness, the five.twenties
which was contracted in paper declared iy
Congress 10 be lawful money, and which
was 10 be redeemed in the same hind
There is no squirting at reputation. o:
charged by our party opponents 10 any
Iof the authorized expressions OF the
4 Democracy. The Democracy OF Illinois
doclare that the national honor finan
ciaily in orr hands will remain ss uusuled
as it ever has been in oil other respects. -
But the Democratic party do no; propose to
go further than is nominated in the ho0d =
The public creditor has his rights. but he
will not get more than his contract calls for.
a nd an already tax-ridden people will no,
submit 10 !nrtber exac,ions. Thad Stevens
Chairman OF the Committee on Ways ant
Means, stated distinctly when the FIVE
twenty loan was authorized that it was pay
Of the country. That was the con'rnct.-
That debt was created when greenbacks
RAGGED from $50 to $50, and would |, be fail
or just for the creditors TO insist upon q psy'
ment'in gold! II credit invested in bond:
when two dollars in greenbacks could be
bought for one dollar in gold, and il those
bonds should now be placed on a gold basis
he would, at even the present value Of gold
he receiving about sixteen and two.thirds
per cent. on his investment annually, rate
of interest that. in six years. would amount
to sum equal to the principal OF the debt.
Can the bondholders expect that the peo
pie will be willing TO pay. every cum equal
TO the principal Of the debt in interest, " ith.
out diminishing the debt a farthing!
The party Ia power il makiog no effort
10 diminish The public debt lessen the bur.
dens of the Taxpayers. According 10 the
las, report of the Secretary Of the Trea sury
there appears to be about one hundred mil
lions Of gold in the Treasury. II this was
converted into greenbacks at the pressn,
market value Of gold, it would cancel $13S,.
100000 Of fve.twenty bonds. upon which
there being paid gold interest Of So, 2so..
200 annually. Is not this sum worth cav.
|ing--a sum equal to about one. ninth Of the
entire annual expenditures Of the las, Dem.
ocratic administrations!
There is now due, at option OF The Gov.
ernment, about five hundred millions Of the
5-2O honds, upon which we are paying elk
per cent. in gold-thrty millions in gold
annually. Is not this sum worth savng?--
nd would not tho saving be a great yelief
to the taxpapers Of the country. That much
OF our public debt. or rather the interest up.
on IL, could be stopped, II the party 10 pow
A. lsax 4 fD