The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-08-02
Chr 9ailg Aso,sa.
Continued from second maze. !


question the platform is silent. To him
who belieyes that the present yollme is.
sufficient it means no initiation, fol in his
mind it is already quite equal to the wants
OF trade. To another man who thinks
that more currency is needed it does mean
expansion, and SO whether it means the one
thing or the other depends upon the pre-
conceived opinions of every one who reads
it.
Suppose, for instance, that an opposition
member of congress having to vote upon
an imitation bill should Look to this pla;
forn for his guidance Whit is there in
il to tell him whether he SHOULD vote for
an increase OF currency Of zen millions,
hundred millions, FIVE hundred millions, or
any increase at all? The gentlemen who
framed this platform are masters Of the
English language, capable OF saying what
they mean, and not airaithto say it, Still
the platform has been distorted Ia ,nean
more than it says. ln saying this | do not
lose sight OF the interpret alton placed upon
it by some of its friends know that
some OF its warmest advocates regard it as
a declaration against gold and silver, and
for an irredeemable greenback currency
now and forever, coupled with great and
permanent imitation; but for reasons [ have
stated, and others | have no time to state
believe that these men are comparative
ly few in number
The truth is that there is a wide diver
si!y OF opinion among the people of all par
ties upon this subject. There are Demo-
Gratis who are hard money men and Deuo-
Gratis who are paper money men; Repub-
lican hard money men and Republican pa
per money men; Democratic resumption
lists and Democratic inhationists; and Re
publican resumptionists and KepuIlIrar.
int1atlOnists. The question is not strictly d
party question. Honest men of ali parties
may be found on its opposite sides. and So
it has ever been in every great panic by
which the country has been afflicted.
have not heard an argument, pro. or con
that has not been advanced hundred
times ia Europe and America before the
panic of 1878, but in the end the truth il
sure to prevail. aud in the meantime hare
words and bitter accusations serve no gooo
purpose. No man has firmer conviction.
on this subject than have. They are the
result Of much experience and of long, pa
tient and conscientious study. | have ex
pressed them time and again in converse
ton, in public meetlngs,in conventions ant
in MY place in the senate. l stand By
them, whatever may be my political fate
but do not assume to be infallible ant
ruthlessly condemn men as sincere as an
and who entertain different opinion
much less can sanction the action Of
convention chosen to nominate state officer
! only officers who will have no jurisdiction
: over the currency question-and yet ha
adopted platform that my judgment doe
not approve.
Senator Thurman then passed to othe
questions, which vera he said, even NOR
important than that of finance He sal
that he would show why he and his co
leagues could support this ticket without
dishonor or inconsistency. His reason
were briefly that this platform was no NOR
: infallibie than are all platforms. A ma
would make himself ridiculous by changin
his party every time the platform failed I
suit him exactly. The currency questio
does not lie with the officers to be electe
in Ohio this year, but with congress. II
and his constituents considered that tn
Democratic party, which had lasted thre
quarters OF a century,was held together
bond that was not the cohesive power
public plumber aud deserved for i
noble course in politics and legislatio
their warmest support.
The ramainder Of the speech was devote
to local isues.
CINCINNATI, July 3l,-The polite
campaign was opened on the part of Il
Republicans, in Lawrehc county ,to-da
with speeches by Gen. R. B. Hayes. Ca
didate for governor, and Senator Sherma