The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-09-09
STATE CONVENTION.
Debate on the Financial Plank Of the Plat
form.

The debate on the financial plank Of the
platform in the Opposition state conyen-
ton, held in the State House, at Spring
field, on the Goth ultimo, was one of
the ablest and most interesting of any on
like occasion The remarks of ex-Gov-
ernor Palmer and Of Hon. VIM. Il. Nor
rison,of Monroe are reported in full below :
REMARKS OF EX-GOVERNOR PALMER.
Mr. PRESIDENT trust the conven-
ton will allow NE to occupy its attention
briefly, while address myself to the ques-
ton now before it,
Mr.. President, this is the very crisis OF
this movement. The state central com
mittee of the Democratic party met at Chi
cago with a large number Of gentlemen
friendly to Its object, and they agreed upon
platform which has challenged admra-
ton throughout the whole country. | have
read the newspapers published in nearly
all the states and that platform has re-
ceiyed almost universal commentator. 1t
has been read and discussed; and, gentle
men of the convention, it has been under
stood to pledge the Opposition party OF
this state to the immediate resumption Of
specie payment 1t is understood by ev-
cry intelligent man in the country to mean
this and no more; that from this time
forth the Opposition party OF this state
will look to the speedy resumption Of spe-
Gle payment as the highest and most i'm
pOrtant object, and that they will continue
to look in that direction and will never
withdraw their attention from that object,
but will press forward as rapidly as the in
terests of The country will allow until WE
reach the point Of specie resumption.
Mr.. President, the reason why the coun.
try hungers for specie payments is this
That, though it cannot exactly be deter
mined, at this time, just how to accomplish
the object, every thoughtful man feels that
to-day our condition is terrible. When
congress is in session the people look to-
ward Washington and trenble lest some
burden should be laid upon the prosperity
of the country by contraction, or values
destroyed by expansion; and the country
looks to the Opposition to save it from Il
political currency.
Let us have a natural business currency
that will regulate itself, and we shall not
depend upon politicians for the volume of
the currency. Great applause
That Is what is meant by the cry of spe
Gle resumption
| understand, Mr.. President, that al
though there is difference in the Ian
guage we use, this whole body agrees ON
this point | have named
Then again, the last clause in the reso-
luton, and the one most seriously contro-
verted,is, shall the Opposition party pledge
itself TO the payment of the national in
debtedness in coin Shall we do it? |
take it tor granted that whatever else may
be said OF the Oppositioni it is the expecta-
ton that we will return to specie payment,
and that we will pay the national indebted
ness In coin. But gentlemen say, if we
are to do so, why say 80? Why, gentle |
men oi the convention, it is proposed to |
say SO now Tor the reason that your adver |
sarles insist that you don't mean that.
1our adversaries say you deny that this
was the original obligation of the contract
with the public creditors. 1t is said, as
my friend, Judge Allen, said, that an act
OF congress, interpreting the contract is
not binding. Judge Allen says he is not
pound by congressional Interpretation of |
tng contract he Is only bound by Judi |
cal Interpretation. Sir, the conclusion
that may be drawn from that mode of rea-
sonlng, Is what the country breads. and
therefore you are diStrusted
MIR. President. let US then leave No
ground tor doubt upon that point If We
mean to pay the national debt in coin iet
Us make that pledge to the country
One word more This platform has been
published The majority nlstfarn' 'I leu
been generally read. 1t is mnderstoo l,Ie
now if you alter it the country viii saw Nh
DO You alter it? If you use other -:
they will say you have another maau;u n'
II you soften 1t they will say it is because
you can stand 1t as it is. | tell you. gen
.,smen .t VI the convention, if you believe
what TINS flrst resolution says, it is MAT.
yer =, tit j d. consequence that you DO not
uepy II II this majority report expresses
the views OF the party, let me impIore Won
70 stand by II, because the country looks IA
TINS as the beginning of a new organic.
va Democrats recollect the time when
sua alu fought breast to breast over the
ga Holosiuon Of standing By the faith
~ .ne nauon: Let US stand by il now.
80 III y" ~ ~ forward, and in words that
:. ~ uoupI pledge ourselye TO stand |
~ Wy .ee.onai hongr. But if new yorus |
arg pIoposeu, VIII be said by the peonJe
We lear you nave some other neap;pT I.
Is vital to the success of this pIo~e,
.hst this Chicago platform should b. I a5on
ted az 1t IS. lGreat applause. "1'p-
~ mas gone out to the country. and If :,
Is altered the country will believe you mean
something BY the change My friend, Mr.
hrnuen, from Adams county, saws he
wants to pay the debt according to the act
~