The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1869-09-15
OHIO POLITICS.
Speech of Hon. George H. Pen.
dIetOn Rt CincfnRatf-VarfO
Topics Discussed.


Topics Discussed.
CINCINNATI, September IA
large number OF Mr.. PendIeton's
friends called at his residence on their
way from the Fair, yesterday, and
insisted on q speech. He begged of,
but finally consented and spoke over
an hour, supported on his crutches.
Among other things he said.
l cannot agree with Governor
Hayes that all the vexed questions of |
happily settled. That the greatques' |
Gon Of liberty and union, and the re- |
construction of the Union have been |
made safe, L cannot agree that: that |
retrenchment, economy and honesty |
have been introduced into the man
agement of Federal expenditures {;
that the burdens of taxation have
been reduced and their weight upon
people has been lightened; that sound
judgment and freedom from bad in
| fuences have been brought to the
exercise OF immense power by the
| Secretary of the Treasury; that bust.
ness is active; that enterprise is act
| i've; that vlgor, and eneryg, and in
dustry are bountifuIly rewarded; that
| employment is abundant; that daily
merce on the ocean and on the land
Is prosperous, and, therefore, can
not serenely, as does our worthy
Governor, turn my face from all
| questions of Federal politics and look
only to State affairs. It ought to be
so. If it were not for the schemes of
consolidation if State affairs were
lfet to State management; if Federal
affairs were kept within the scope of
constitutional provisions it would be
go. But cannot pretend to believe
what know to be false. I cannot
say the Union is restored when Vir-
ginia and Mississippi and Texas are
under military goVernos and Georgia
is without representation in Con-
greSs. Peace is restored when admin
istered by drum head court-martial.
The constitution is maintained when
we know that the Supreme Court is
only waiting an opportunity to de-
clare the reconstruction acts uncon-
stitutional. I oppose the adoption
of the fifteenth amendment because
it Is material radical change in our
system of government. 1t destroys
the relation of the States to the Fed
eral Union, which constitution If es'
blished degrades them, takes away
from the States, without their con.
ent, that essential attribute of self
governing community, the right to
determine who shall exercise the
right of suffrage; because it was in
tended to and will introduce negro
suffrage in Ohio against the will of
her people.
Two years ago the people of Ohio,
without distinction Of party, by an
immense majority, refused to amend
the State constitution, after full ar
gHment and full consideration of ne
gro suffrage. I see no reason to be-
lieYe they have changed their Opin'
ion. 1 object to this adoption, be-
cause it is part and parcel of the
scheme to flood the county with the
forced importation Of Chinese Cool
les, and bring into our midst an al
leE race, and repeat Jim q more diff
cult form the social and government
tai question which have so unhap-
PLY divided our people.
The last report of the Seer etary
shows that he is boarding $1O1, 2l4,
366 in coin, and $12, LA, 900 in cur
rency. To what good purpose ?
Why are the people paying six per
cent, in gold, as interest on the pub
lie debt, while the Secretary is hoard
ing this immense amount ? Each
1 .
six or nine millions, and with the
proceeds he buys bonds, giving in
the market for them twenty-five pei
cent, above par. They are redeem
. able on their face by law in equity
They are payable in legal tender
notes. Holders gave legal tender
for them, when legal tender notes
were worth not more than half what
they now are. Contraction brings 8
, universal fall of prices of goods and
: labor, while debts, taxes and money.
ed obligations remain fixed. The
man who has money becomes much
richer. The system Is radically un-
just. Debts contracted on our expan.
ded currency should be paid in the
, same currency. The dollar which is
paid should be of the same value as
the dollar which was loaned. The
whole policy of the administration
should be reversed. Pay the debt
pay it honestly, according to the con.
tract; pay it in money as valuable IS
, that which was received for it: pay
/ it in legal tender notes, abolish the
: National Bank system; pay off the
) bonds on which they are founded;
) save yearly interest; use every appli.
ance of economy and management III
) advancing this policy. Then, when
; the debt is paid, when taxes are re-
duced, when seventy-f1ve millions
suffice for the Government, when
? all property is subjected to a just
!, rule of taxation, if it be advisable tC
contract the currency and resume
specie payments it can be effected
J without disaster, and the inevitable
, suffering can be borne.
The weather is clear, and the ther-
mometer stood at ifty-four degrees
at three O'clock this nnOrninO