The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-08-05

vain in the platform for direct expression in
favor Of irTedeemabilsty, or direct asseruon
that gold and silver should be demonetized- 1t
advocates the substitution OF greenoacks ior
national bank notes but IL nowhere says that
the green backs should be irrs deemable. On the
contrary, IL contemplates that they shall be
brought 20 par with gold, and although We may
not be quite able 10 see how that can be done In
the mode proposed, its desirableness is most
distinctly and fully recognized. And then, as
TO imitation, the platform does not expressly de-
mand more currency. 1t denounces contrac-
tion but does not say in plain words. give Us In
fiation. What ii does say is, shat the volume
wants OF tSade;" and this Is all Now, suppose
that there is not. and never has been, a man In
the volume of currency should be equal to the
wants of trade. To say so Is TO utter
MERE TRUIsM.
a mere abstraction. The practical question is
have we that volume now and upon this ques-
ton the platform Is silent. To him who believes
that the present volume is sufficient, 1t means
no imitation, for in his mind IL Is already quite
sseqzaI to the wants of trade" To another man
who thinks that more currency Is needed, It
does mean expansion, and so whether IL means
conceived opinion OF every one who reads 1t
Suppose, for instance. that an Ohio member of
oo ~ sbis or his suidapee
Whist light would he get2 What is there in II to
tell him whether he should vote for an increase
of currency OF ten millions, a hundred millions,
Now, the gentlemen who framed this platform
are able and bold men, masters OF the English
tongue capable OF saying what they mean, and
by no means afraid to say 1t. When, there
n STe sHy Expressly savosae n
ton, Is not the presumption fair that they do
not mean imitation? Understand me, am not
do not Ike it, and leave to those who approve
II the task OF It's advocacy. Nor am cr1ticiSiDg
il. for have no DISPOSE ion to be critical. aEd
think IL but justice to say that the pla form
has been construed to mean more than Is ex-
pressed In 1t, and more than was meant, as be,
do not lose sight of the interpretation plsced
upon Ii by some OF its friends. know that some
of its warmest advocates regard 1t as declara.
deemable 'sreenback currency now and forever
coupled with great and permanent imitation I;
but for reasons that have partly stated, and
Others :. that have no time TO state. | believe
Der. The truth is that there is a wide
DIVERSITY OF OPINION
among the people of all parties upon this sub
ject. There are democratic hard-money men
and democratic paper-money men, republican
hard-money men and republican paper
men; democratic resumptionists and demo-
cratic infiationists, and republican resumption
lists and republican infationists. The question
is not strictly party question. Honest men OF
all parties may be found on its opposite sidesanu
so II HIS ever been after every greai panic by
which the country has been affiict- d. have
not heard an argument, pro or con, that has
not been ad anced hundred times In Europe
and America before the panic of Is 3.
and in the mean time hard words and bitter
sccusatio; serve no good purpoee. No man has
IL mer convictions on this subject than have.
They are the result of much experience and OF
a long, patient ana conscientious study. have
expressed them time and again, in conversation,
i'm public meetings, 10 conventions. and In my
place in the Senate. Istsnd by them whatever
may be my political tate; but do not assume
to be infa iible and ruIhIeSsly cordemn men as
al n I nn Ter al II nj mn
TO-. Much les can | sanction disruption OF
the democratic party, because in s. single state
nominate stale officers only-ofiicers who will
have no jurlsd elton over the currency question
nl nSS, upoA that nv indgment does g
not approve L have been democrat
all my life, and when and where to
have c'ung 10 the party IN us darkest hours
as well as in its brightest with something akin
approved its fundamental principles yet
look TO it destined to restore to the Republic
constitutional. honest and economical govern
ment, to promote fraternaI feelings between ali
its parts and to perpetuate free Institutions for
ages to come; and can not. BIZ any wo,d or act
that ii is not infallibe, for party is infaible
know that IL has committed errors, and that
snow that its fundamental principles are
sound, and that its purposes are
HONEST AND PATRIOTIC.
1t therefore well deserves and commands my
support, and although my influence may be
small and my services little worth 1T has a Just
claim to them both that L cannot deny. have
thought it proper to make these remarks in my
first speech of the campaign, and possibly
once for all. it may so happen that, my
known, il will not be necessary
to repeat them. And important as this
currency question is, there are other questions
and these propose, in the course OF the canvass
to discuss. But have been personally assailed
and misrePEesented and the hard.money dem
tainted aud ridiculed and self-respect, and the
duty owe to hem, demanded that should saw
| that should set forth, why, without inconsist-
ency, humiliation or loss ofhonor, we can sup
port our ticket: And, besides, my Constituents
have right to my opinions on public af-
fairs. be they worth much or little, and have
no dspositon 70 eo1ce tne 70 cha IaseiiIy,
| to be true. have said, and repeated II, that we
| can, without dishonor or the surrender of any
| given you some reasons for this opinion
| but not all thar NAV be given, and
though 1he esc task savs may seem SsIan super per
with il a little longer. And, in the first place,
observe of policica pie tforms In general, that nc
platform ever was adopted by any party conven
4 lion that, in every particular, received the ap
prevail of every member of the party. There 4:
| always something inserted or something left Out
| that causes criticism. Indeed, tbs business O
/ platform making has attained immense, ano
some persons think unIeasoneDle, proporuonl
| sufficient TO know that man was a federalist OF
/ a democrat TO know what were his politica
opinions. Then IL was not deemed necessary fol
/ either party TO solemnly promulgate creed ev
i cry year, much less to resolve upon every minu
| tia of public concern. Then
| PLATFORM MAKING
as a means of success, not of the party, but n
the party, had not been invented, much less be
comes fine art. But now we have nearly o.
quite a hundred state platforms CONSTRUCTED
every year. and how many minor platform
J a ithmetic is scarcely sufficient TO tell. Anc
these multitudinous deliverances are, as nigh
well be expected. as various and changeable a
Them any year may be found reflected ever
opinion however crude, and dogmatic judg
: nient upon every measure. however minute
The next wear repeats the process with the sd
: ded element of gross inconsistency with tn
| work of the preceding years; so that Ii maj
were to pin bis AIM implcltiy 20 patio. ms u,