The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-08-11

20 time as wiz adjust the volume OF The curren-
cy 10 the conamercia1 and industrial wants of
This is most important propositions It is an
assertion OF the power and duty Of Congress to
tion whenever the business of the country, de-
T,ar ~: a.. ...,-s-..o.
this time amongst the people of the West and
South on this point There are but few public
creditors in these sections 10 be benetltted by!
debtors, pubic and private. TO be ruined hv IL.
Senator Morton labors show that q trsfzing
presence has not been perceived in she Miszis-
slppi valley In truth, whatever sena-
the national attitude Of Hstlie = re,
publican party on the financial question is that
OF contraction, consequent low prices % the
farmer and mechanic, with diminution of
their tax rates, hard times to the poor. and all
who are in eebt, with vast boarded wealth in
the hands OF the favorites OF class legislation.
No candid and intelligent person will deny that
this is the position of the administration now in
ministFation so subservient to the power OF
money as the present. / speak not now of its
low uses In bribery and corruption, but OF that
sought 10 exercise in its own favor. What sim
gle demand OF the capitalist has this admins
made, as have shown, to forge a ne W meaning
on the face of the contract creating our public
debt, ard IL was granted before the present ad-
ministratiOn was month old, thereby adding
more than nve hund ed millions of dollars to
the lawful debt In the midst of unparalleled
monopolies OF the country demanded the veto
o. bin IN which it was claimed there were
some elements of popular relief, and the head
of the republican ORGANIZATION, he republican
president, promptly acceded 10 the demand.
A hundred similar concessions might be emu
manos. What have the people, therefore, of any
party or organization TO hope for from the party
now IN power? It belongs 10 the bond holding,
manufacturing, 1ailroading and banking mon,
opolies; IL has always implicitly done their bid
ding, and is doing so now, and will continue to
i Pxr ofsf II,
break their expressions, they must
look elsewhere for help. In contrast
with the principles of the party in power.
L place the principles of the democratic.
party on all the financial, industrial, and COM
mercial questions of the day. We challenge the
popular favor because we are on the side OF the
well known wants and necessities of the people.
Senator Morton claims that the republican party
IS progressive. On the contrary, Its only fnspi-
ration on the subject of finances, is the timid,
eowardly conservatism which always ennanates
1 once heard Z senator remark that nothing was
more cowardly than one million of dollars, ex-
cePt Two dnllons; Mhen the chled pursuit Of
the Golfers OF gold which ii has assisted its favor
its TO amass, then its days OF usefulness num-
bered. That such IL the attitude of the repub-
lican party to-day can not be successfully dis
puted. On the other hand, the democratic party
is unencumbered by such weights, and is IN q
position to became againin the future, as it was
once in the past, the universally recognized par
ty of progress. reform and development. Let it
convince the people that its organization is
placed squarely with the popular sympathies
and wishes, in favor of economy, retrenchment
agast the e tn Hs and
and, though individual members of the demo-
cratic party may in some instances mistake or
fall short of their duty, though have doubtless
done so myself, yet the people with unerring In
stincts will rally 10 flag and sustain US. 1t
must not be supposed that the democratic party
wiil do anything rash on the subject OF the
finances or any other subject. if it should
succeed to the control of the government.
There are 10 years in which to
convert an interest-bearing bonded debt ef
twelve bundled millions into a non-interest
bearing circulating medium. This can be done
at such interva.s and under such circumstances
as not 10 defarge or unsettle the legitimate cur
time comes for return to specie payment, Ii
will require no wiser stttesmanship TO provide
| for the redemption OF circulating currency In
coin, than for the payment of the same amount
| of bonds in the same way. The difference would
! be that the government would redeem its out
standing obligations from the whole people, and
ray them the gold instead OF paying it 10 the
| bondholders in violation of the law of the con-
tract: And ail this can be accomplished with
ont increasing our paper circulation beyond the
demands OF every true and legitimate business
interest Of the country; and in such increase,
the agricultural sections would be revived as the
| parched fields are by the welcome rai1.
THE TEMPERANCE ISSUE.
Senator Morton was pleased to refer in very
disparaging terms to the position of the demo.
| ocratic party on the temperance question. Ii
| is always unfortunate for the cause OF temper
ance when it is thrust by It's ill-advised friends
| into a political contest. History abundantly
shows that it was never advanced by poiitica
| discussion or partisan legislation. Intemper
ance has in all ages OF the world been recoa
as evil of giant proportions. but the innum err
able attempts which have been made by coer
Give and prohibitory laws to govern the variou,
| appetites of mankind have abeen, in every IN
| stance, conspicuous failures. There is some
thing repussive TO the nataral and commend
able spirit of personal independence in the ides
/ of determining by law how a man thal
exercise that primary right of nature
| TO eat and drink. Mankind has submitted
with impatience in all ages to such restraints OF
Inherent rights. 1t is for this reason that when
| ever the zealots and crusaders on this subject
/ have pressed their demands too far there has ali
ways been reaction most damaging to tn,
vidual responsibility, and can far better b,
prompted by moral and intellectual culture
| Than Dy cumbrous, nl-digested laws of NOR,
/ to be the sentiment OF the democratic party in
/ Indiana. jefferson said many years ago the
principsI Vices of the republican, party is its rest
less desire to govern everybody in all concerns
both small and great. TO dictate ON all mat
ters relating TO every phase of human exist
ence, assuming paternal policy as If the peo
pie wee children, calculating nothing from tina
sense OF individual responsibility which car
alone rescue man from the destruction of evi
habits. This characteristic pervades the entir
policy of the repub lean party, and is not con
lined TO its course on the temperance question
The democratic party has more faith in the peo
pie, individually and collectively, ana hence i
willing To trust them with larger liberties. We
hold IL within the proper scope OflegislatiOn Il
i regulate the sale of spirituous liquors, but no
| 10 prohibit it. The constitution OF Indiana pro
vides that all laws sha1 be uniform in thei
operations throughout the State, and icens.
system, which we propose, can not fail to be so
i The republican state platform declares Gil
4 favor of such legislation as will give to a ma
jcrty of The people the right TO determine fo
themselves IN their irrespective towns, townships
or wards. whether the sale of Intoxicating
liquors fof beverage shall be permitted
therein" Literally construed this is q declara-
ton In favor of the power of absolute prohibi
tion by the ''loeal option" of towns, township
and wards. This is in direct violation
of the decision OF our Supreme
Court in the Beebe case, as well as tn,
provision of our constitution above eited.- II
goes farther, too, than even the Baxter bill
but supposing it the intention o
the trainers OF that resolution to expires
only their approval of the local option featur,