Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-08-09


country, while the demands Of the internal
revenue system are limited to liquors, tobacco,
banks and bankers, proprietary me- dicines,
and stamps upon checks. Under the new
system the people will be exempt en-
tlrely from all direct taxation by the Ma
tional Government 1t needs no argument to
show that all these measures combined con-
cur in aid of the policy OF the Government to
bring the paper money of the country to par
with coin at the earliest possible moment. BY
the establishment OF our credit upon firm
OASIS, S20O ,OOO 600 of the six per cent. bonds
have been redeemed, and in their stead 5000, =
100000 have been issued at the rate OF i.e
per cent. and, unless some unfavorabIe cir
cumstances arise, IT will be practicable to con-
tinue the redemption Of Outstanding six per
cent. bonds, and the issue first of bonds
hearing five per cent. interest and then those
bearing four and half per cent. and
tour per cent. This is a condition
OF affairs looking to the redemption Of
specie payments, which will not come from
any legislative enactment, but must be the
natural result of an existing condition of
things. The growth of the country under
wise administration of affairs, will soon enable
the Government to resume specie payments
without violence or injury to any.
The Secretary then proceeded to consider
Mr.. Greeley's position on the question of FL
nances. He has advised the Secretary to sell
the gold in the treasury and apply the pro-
ceeds to the payment of the public debt. This
would put II entirely out of the power Of the
Government TO resume specie payments; the
sale of gold in the Treasury, forcing down the
price unnaturally, would stimulate imports
IRON other counties, increase the balance of
trade against US, create unnatural and ex-
cesslye demand for com, and ultimately adj
vance the price of gold for the benefit of spec
ulators and gamblers, but to the great injury
of the country. This would end only in dis
aster and financial ruin.
We are advised to clasp hands across the
bloody chasm made by the war. He protest
ed against this advice. The doctrine it con-
tains has been the curse of the country from
the first, and it brought the South to the
brink of ruin. When the Constitution was
formed, and even before the Constitution was
formed, there was chasm wide and deep be-
tween the free and slave States. Often our
fathers shook hands AS brothers and friends
over this chasm and said, 1--WE will look in
to it no more-we will be to each other as
though it were not" But all in vain. Their
efforts failed Your efforts will fail. All eff
forts will fail if there be only the purpose to
clasp hands over a bloody chasm Is there
craftsmanship, philanthropy. or wisdom in
this adviceI
Why this chasm, first, deep dark, porten-
tous, and then bloody? Was not slavery the
cause? And is not injustice the essential
characteristic of slavery? Often enough. and
too often, have we clasped hands across the
chasm, the chasm made by injustice; and
now, after eighty years OF experience, are we
not bold enough to speak and to acc, pit the
words of truth? Ii so, then LIT ME say this
~ nm ha l.I Drn l,,;
tice, let it be cemented by justice so that
neither We nor our children can find line or
seam to mark the ancient divisions betweenus
This ''elasping hands" doctrine is the old and
dangerous advice of the democratic party, and
embodies the unsuccessful southern policy OF
Mr.. johnson.
He wished no one seduced by the idea that
the democrats are supporting q republican
Tor the presidency. Nearly all his supporters
arr from the democratic party.
The republican party offers you Presi-
dent, Senate, House of Representatives,
Court, and, above all, public opinion ready
and anxious even to give You protection in
all your rights, liberties and immunities All
this the dem cratic party denies by its history
its declarations, and by the vote of its repre-
sentative men. But, do you say, ''ls not
their candidate sufficient for us?" | answer
he was not sufficient tor himself, and he will
not be sufficient for you. For the bauble of
a nomination to the Presidency at the hands
OF his enemies he surrendered the treasures of
lite. If he had not the manliness to pre-
serve his own fame do you expect that he
Will have the courage to protect your rights?
When the war ended two great results were
sought by the republican party, not only by
virtue OF its own principles, but by its sense
of duty as the representative of the country
First-it aimed to secure equal rights for all
citizens of the United States; and, secondly.
to restore the seeding States to their ancient
and equal position in the Union. As far as
forms of law can secure these results
they are attained substantially but public
sentiment, North and South, can only accom-
modate itself gradually to the existing con-
dltion of things. In the North the democratic
party is known as the reactionary party A
democratic majority in the South, or in any
State OF the South, IS accepted not by repub-
licans OF ly, but by democrats s well, as a
declaration that, in the district of country
represented by that majority, neither immi-
grants nor capital will be safe.
He criticised the Cincinnati platform. and
said it was fashioned to suit the democratic
party. The effect of the prevalence of that
platform would be to cripple and destroy the
power OF the amendments to the constitution,
and to overthrow the rights of American citi-
Gems, white and BLACK. He spoke of the rich
soil, fine climate and resources of the South
and said it would be an inviting field for
Northern men of enterprise, if wise and
wholesome laws prevailed.
In the course of his remarks Mr.. Boutwell,
referred to the fact of single individual
claiming the colored race as his wards He
said that they were the wards of the nation,
and that every soldier has an interest in them.
He here turned to Gen. Common, who was up
on the platform, and in an allusion 10 his
wounds, brought down the house in three
cheers for the General. Secretary Boutwell,
was enthusiastically applauded.
The next speaker was the Hon. Lewis Bar
ker, who made one of the most effective and
t, ling campaign speeches ever delivered in
this city. lie commenced by alludng to the
very small element that had enlisted in
Maine from the ranks of the republican parry
under the democratic banner. 1t is inpur-
tant that we roll up large majority here in
September on account OF its moral influence
throughout the country. lie analysed the
platform adopted al Baltimore, the principal
show, to which the Cincinnati affair was but
II side show. They had there recitcd the
"a Il.