The Portland daily press., 1875-09-11

the plainest principles of common honesty.
During the first year of the war the United
States found its treasury empty and we we're
spending two millions per day. The govern
ment hadn't money and to raise it it did what
the individual does-gave its 4 ote for it and
stamped upon G what the individual cannot
I'll at it should be legal tender for debts. This
act was debated long and ably in the Senate,
and the great constitutional lawyers, among
them foremost the late William Pitt Fessen-
den, were in serious doubt if the United States
had the power to issue these notes. There was
one argument which settled the matter. The
fate of the nation was in the balance and they
threw the constitutional doubt into the waste
basket, and voted for the legal tenders and saw
ed the nation. The Democrats, some of them
the same that are now clamoring for more
greenbacks, every mothers son of them voted
against the measure. But it was carried. The
first issue was $4,000, 900, and it went like
dew before the sun, and before the close OF the
session another $150,000,000 was issued and
gold commenced to rise. When Congress next
assembled another 100000 900 was issued, and
in this very bill was inserted provision bind
ing the nation that in no event should the legal
tender issue ever exceed $400000,000. 1t was
deemed necessary in order that the credit of
the nation should be kept up that there should
be limit, and we pledged ourselves to the
money lenders of the earth that in no event
should the legal tender issue ever exceed S4OO,-
100000. We carried on the war without ex-
ceeding that amount, and now ten years after
the war has ended, when the revenues are
abundant and the national debt is being paid
at the rate of one aud half million month
l can conceive of no diShOnOr more absolute
than the violation of this pledge.
Mr.. Blaine then proceeded to notice the OPP
position of the Democrats during the war to
the issue of paper money to carry it on. In
contest in New Hampshire, where it was pro-
pesed to transfer the Granite State to the rebel
side, Mr.. George of that state exhibited speci-
mems of continental money, and said that 1T
took $4,000 of that money to buy poor break
fast. and said that the present paper money
would be no better.
Another plan of the Democrats of Ohio and
other states is to abolish the national banks,
call in the $417 100000 of government bonds
they hold, paying for them in greenbacks. II
am surrounded, said Mr.. Blaine, "by bust
ness men Of experience, at whose feet can sit
and learn, and if it were possible, would like
TO have their opinions of the effect of an act
putting the 1000 national banks of the country
into liquidation Can any one predict the re-
suit to business? Yet the Democracy of the
West are unite in their hostility to the banks
and that hostility is determined.
He was aware that many Democrats were
sound on the financial question as individuals,
yet so great was the force of party dictation
with them that they yielded. Senator Thur
man was sound financially. He had frequent
ly talked with him, yet when the democracy
of Ohio declared for initiation and the dishonor-
ing of the national promises, the statesman
wrigged, straddled and lodged. The Democra-
cy of Maine will cheer soft money. platform
if it is promulgated by the Democratic party of
The Pennsylvania Democracy declared for
hard money last year, but the convention
which has just adjourned declared practically
for initiation and against national banking.
Indeed, so decided was the convention on the
matter that it refused to hear a member speak
Nnt no of
Pennsylvania had boosted that it would stand
firm as do the Maine Democracy today One
OF the leading issues in the campaign of 1876
will be on the question of an honest observ-
ance of the nations pledge to its creditors and
the return to a sound financial basis
There is still another issue. It isn't the bloody
shirt, but an issue growing out of the consttu-
tiOnal amendments. He was confident that it
was not the desire of a majority of the Demo-
cratic leaders to annul tn 18th Constitutional
amendment. They would not have slavery re.
stored; yet that amendment aboishing slavery
owes nothing to the Democratic party, but as is
well known, was fought by its leaders at every
point. Many individuals really desired to vote
for the amendment, among whom be thought
was Col Sweat of Portland, then member of
Congress, but party discipline was so strict that
he didn't dare to do it.
Nor was the 18th the most important of the
constitutional amendments. The war over,
four and half millions of people were on our
hands What should be done with them? They
can't vote, have no right in law. cannot testify
in the courts, are not protected by law. Some
thing must be done; hence the necessity of the
18th amendment. But this amendment coz
fers benefits upon others.
Notbing in the Constitution defires citizen
ship, Mr.. Calhoun declared twenty-five years
ago that there was no such thing as citizenship
aside from that which was created by the sew
eral states. 1t was not only the cOlored people
who gained citizenship by the 18th amend
ment, but all inhabitants of all races, colors
and conditions. Yet this amendment was
fought by the united Democratic party. There
is reason for it, for the 14th amendment cuts
up by the roots the idea of citizenship as regu-
lated by states.
Mr.. Blaine then read the amendment: GAIL
persons born or naturaliZed in the United
States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof.
are citizens thereof and of the state in which
they reside. No state shall make or enforce
any law which shall abridge the privileges or
immunities of citizens of the United States
nor shall any state deprive any person of life,
liberty or property. without due process of law,
nor deny to any person within its. jurisdiction
the equal protection of the laws" What ex-
cuse is there for voting against that amend
ment? What, then, must be the intent and
the purpose of a party which is led to oppose
such proposition? But, gentlemen, We don't
want to go back to the old issues. This is an
issue of to-day. When the next Congress
meets the Speakers table will be covered with
bills offered by Democrats to repeal the Ku
Klux law. What is the Ku KIux law? There
is great deal of complaint about it. Many do
not understand it, and those who most de-
nounce it are in the condition of the Illinois
farmer who was denouncng the Republicans
for giving every negro a bureau when white
men couldn't have anything more than hair
trunk. 1t is merely law which provides that
the United States shall step into the state and
protect the citizen in his right to life and iber
tV when the state cannot will not
these rights.
But this is Capitalization, you say. Yes, it
is; and desire to measure my words when [
say that desire to centraiZe sufficient power
in the federal government to protect the rights
of the humblest citizen of the United States.
The Ku-Klux law does not despise the rights
of citizens in the states, but says that these
rights must be conferred upon all. In the
matter of punishmentS, it will not permit
white man to be fined 80 for an offence for
which the colored man is whipped at the whip
ping post. This law would be repealed were it
not for Republican President and Senate. He
was glad to recognize better state of things in
the South, but it has been greatly aided by the
Ku-Klux law.
The Democratic leaders are very tender
about the issues growing out of the war. It's
bloody shirt, Yet these samei men held the
animosities growing out of the war of 1872
mere skirmiSh-for years, and yet speak in
disgust of an old federalist. Such blind preju-
dice lasts for years and years. Can we, then,
be expected to forget war which cost SO much
crutches, while there are vacant places at every
freside, while there are 100000 dead, during
the same generation?
Mr.. Blaine closed by briefly summing up the
work of the party in the past
Democratic Ward Caucuses.
The following delegates were elected at the
varda loo To IN