The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-09-18
THE RAG.BABY PARTY,

1t would be matter of unbounded aston
ishment to cold Hickory" and sold Bull
ion" if they could walk out of their graves
and find the party claiming to be Demo-
cratic and in the direct line of descent from
them, adopting as it's cardinal principle,
paper money in place Of gold They would
certainly disown this profligate heir in some
of their choicest strong language. When
the Democratic party in the great central
States of Ohio and Pennsylvania place the
party squarely on a rag money platform,
and 60 into the campaign with their sue
cess staked almost exclusively on the issue,
that the future money of the United States
shall be paper and not gold, it is enough to
make old Jackson and Benton Democrats
rub their eyes, and inquire whether they
are not dreaming. But such is q literal
fact. How can the party in Pennsylvania
be for rag money, as national money and
the party in Maryland be for gold?
This thing is impossible. The greater
State must inevitably overshadow the lesser.
And if the party can elect their ticket in
Ohio and Pennsylvania on this issue in
October next, they will insist on the rag
money principle being made cardinal
feature in the national platform of the
party next year, when Presidential can
didate is to be placed in nomination. What
will the Democrats of Maryland do under
such circumstances? Will they embrace
the rag baby as they did Mr.. Greeley' Will
The Cecil Democrat take off its hat and
swear by the greenback, throwing gold to
the dogs? and with that system of pure
philosophy which recommends Mr.. Carroll,
Mr.. Woolford aud Mr.. Gwinn as spotless
candidates for the suffrages of the party,
while admitting that they were nominated
by one of the dirtiest rings in the country,
demonstrate the superiority of rag over gold
money. We warrant The Democrat would
counsel its followers, as confirmed and bless
ed members of the party fold, to give in their
adherence to the rag baby, as it did to en-
brace Mr.. Greeley. That the party organs
of Maryland would counsel such a course, no
man of common sense will doubt. There
is no truth or honesty in them. They will
pursue any course, counsel any thing to
gain or keep power and Office.
What would be the inevitable consequence
of an exclusive paper money! The rise of
gold to an inconceivable premium; the re-
pudation of tho Government debtor if
the Government received only paper money
in pay for taxes and all duties it would
have no gold to pay interest on the public
debt, and of course there would be no pos
sbilty of paying the debt except in paper.
The promise to pay would be the pay, and
those who held Government bonds and
greenbacks would be NO better off than
creditors who hold the promisory notes of
a bankrupt merchant. This is true pic
ture of the rag baby system which has been
adopted by the Democracy of the two lead
ing States in the country, and if they are
successful with that issue, it is understood
that the whole party will adopt it as the
main plank in their Presidential platform
in 1876. The leaders of the party vino
stand ready to do it then would proclaim it
now throughout the country, if they thought
ite1pedient and the way to Office and power,
even at the cost of national bankruptcy.
The advanced rag money men stand ready
to proclaim reputation at the first success
of the party on the rag money platform.
Is it not about time for the honest men
who have made it their boast that they have
always voted the Democrat ticket without
investigation, to call halt, and ask them
selves if this can be the ideal party which
was made glorious by General Jackson in
his fight for gold against national bank,
or if it is not something essentially differ
ent that they have been supporting, whose
principles are entirely foreign to their no.
lions of what the Democrat party of their
fathers was? Men of sense and sturdy
independence 60 to studying about this
thing, and make use of your own judy
ment in the inquiry.