The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-06-05
Currency and the Conventions

Every plan for settling the currency
question having been voted down or veto
ed, it is not probable that anything will be
done by the present Congress. The first
session oflthe Forty-third Congress will ad-
journ, leaving the greatest question before
the country and the most important one
that can engage the public attention as a
people, one on the right determination OF
which depends, more or less, the fortune OF
every individual the credit of the country
at home and abroad, perhaps the stability
| of the governments Just where it was
found. Yet it cannot be said that the contest
| in Congress has been without effect. Nor
has the discussion of the matter by the
press of the country been lost The pub
lie have become convinced that the ques-
ton is an all-important one, and that it
must have an early solution. The debate
has spread among them, too, some knowl-
edge of the scientific principles in accord
ance with which the question must be
solved. And, now that the present Con-
gress has failed to give any settlement to
the currency question, the people will see
to it that the next one shall. The failure
of Congress to dispose OF the problem
shifts it to the shoulders Of the people
Undecided in the Senate and the House, it
it will be decided at the polls this fall
This is fact which the political conven-
tions to meet soon would do well to bear in
mind. There are seventeen State Conyen-
tons announced already to meet between
June 10 and Aug. &c. These, as well as
the conventions which are to succeed them,
should introduce into their platforms reso-
lutions showing where they stand on the
currency question. The course of Con-
gress on the finance bill makes this a ne
cessity. Meet the question the conven-
tons must Shirk it they cannot. 1t is
the question of the day. The people de-
mand that they shall take cognizance of it.
1t is the question on which the elections in
the fall should be made to turn. Candi-
dates should pledge themselves to one side
or the other on this all-important problem.
The candidate for election or reelection to
Congress who is non-committal on the cur
rency bill and the Presidents veto, or on
the course he will advocate himself, wheth-
er as Senator or Representative, when the
question comes up again, should be brand
ed as a coward, trickster, and pettifog-
ger. The people will and should insist on
catechising Congressional candidates on a
subject of so much Importance to the whole
country. What the people will demand
we have little doubt of. Not an argument
can be advanced in favor Of more incon-
vertible paper. Time and facts have ia.
ken all the bottom out Of all the arguments
Of the intiationists 1t was argued that
more money was need to cure the crisis, to
make money easy, and to move the crops
There has been no more currency issued
yet the crops were moved, the panic is end
ed, and money is easy, Thus facts as vel
as the President have vetoed imitation and
the people understand the logic of facts
1t the conventions understand them as
well as the people they will need no fur
Their advice as to their course in reference
to the financial question: Chicago TTi
buRe