The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1870-01-25
Radical Ring-Leaders ssrappiing
NTH the Ereenhack Question.

with the Greenback Question.
Still another financial scheme has been
upon Congress, This last is
by Mr. SUMNER, and needs no other crit
icism than tosay that it is neither worse
or better than might have been expected
from that visionary. 1t possesses one
element in common with all the Radical
projects upon the same subject that is,
it is utterly impracticable.
The great multitude of schemes in re.
gard to our finances, presented by Radi-
Gals. in Congress and out Of Congress.
show two things pretty clesrlys first,
that the Radical leaders are not quite
equal to the occasion; and, secondly,
that they arc excited by fererish anx-
icy to- get rid of the question. Itwor
ries them day and night. 1t disturbs
their rest They fear they see "a cloud
net larger than mans hand" which
portcnris political hurricane.
That little cloud is neither more nor
less than what is commonly known as
the "grcenback question" We know
these Radical leaders affect lofty scorn
Of that question; we know that they as
sert with much emphasis that it Is dead ;
hut VIC further know that men don't
combat dead issues with the fierce energy
that is employed against this
I Every one of their great multitude OF
financial bills provides specifically for
paying the proposed new loans in gold
coin, Among them all there is not .
single one which employs the Language
of the act authorizing the issue Of the
fiye-twenties. Now the authors of these
hills scout the claim that this language
means anything short of payment in
gold then why do the gentleman in
their bills avoid this language with such
scrupulous care
MUxeEx's unfortunate reputation
speech was made the occasion for pas
sing resolution which, by Radical in
tcrpretation, promises the payment of all
the bonds in geld. These Radical finan.
( ~ az E.a p. . ~
ciiers went into iecstacies Of joy over the
unanimity with which the resolution
passed; they were profuse in theil
thanks to MuSaES for affording them the
opportunity to vote; they shook hands
and congratulated each other with greal
glee. Men don't rejoice with such exhu
berance ut the achievement of . little
triumph over something that is perfect,
|lifeless and harmless.
Tho truth is that the 'sgreenback ques
ton is nightmare in all the dreams oI
Radical politicians. The time is rapidly
approaching when financial questions
will oversbadow the negro question, and
that day threatens to be doomsday te
Radical power.
SO far as there is antagonism bctwccr
the bondholders' interests and the tax
payers interests the Radical party !:
Eirrevocably committed to the bondhold
|ers, and the Democratic party as square
" to the tax payers.
1t is true that within the influence o.
New York City many Democrats arr
against the greenbsck system; but out
side of that the Democracy is a unit
At any rate the greenback element il
the party has abundant strength to in
corporate its policy in our national plat
forms, and in all our State platforms
with the exception Of one or two States
wherein it is evaded.
Insthe Radical party. the bondholder
have influence enough to engraft thei
policy into the national platforms of tn,
Iparty, and into something more thar
Ihalf their State platforms The leader
have thus far succeeded in measurahl.
drowning the voices of the greenbacl
Radicals, By their loud clainor about re
construction and negro suffrage. Bu
negro questions are gradually sinkin'
down, and the great money questions ar
looming up: and if these money ques
tons become paramount while the Eve
twenty bonds are outstanding. and e
greenbacks below par, the Radical part.
lis inevitably doomed to defeat. If no
dissolution. @
It Is because they plainly foresee thi
that The Radical leaders are making sue
frantic efforts TO take up the fye-twent
bonds, and issue in lieu of them other
specifically payable in gold.ahout which
they hope. no dreaded "grecnback ques
ftion. can be raised. y
/ For the very sarrc reasons these lead
ers are eagerly grasping at every schem
which promises speedy return to sp'
Gle payments. When grccnbacks b
come Of the same value as gold, th
|"greenback question" as now presented
will have lost all its power. The prt
|jects for avcrting impending defeat b
! this process, are, therefore, quite as nj
lmerous as those for attaining the sam
end ty exchanging the ive.twensies 70
bonds expressly payable IN gold.
The only point on which our Radios
ananciers agree is, that the "greenbac
question: must, by some means, b
i kl,< :, ~