Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1875-08-07
POLITICAL.
senator Thurman on the
Democratic Platform Am
Endorsement and COndcm-
nation.

Senator Thurman addressed q
democratic meeting here to-day
In the course of his remarks he
said:
"You, my fellow Democrats, are
what are called hard money men,
and / am hard mouey man--that
is to say, we do not believe in an
irredeemable paper currency
We believe that such currency
must necessarily fiuctuate in value
lead to speculation and extrava-
gance, and benefit no one but the
money shaverS and the specula-
tors. We believe that our curren-
cy should consist of gold and sill
yer, and for convenience, paper
convertible at par into gold and
silver, at the will of the holder
Now, it has been recently asserted
that the platform of our late con-
vention means just the opposite of
our opinions that il means an ir-
redeemab!e paper currency, now
and forever, and, consequently,
that gold or silver, or paper con-
vertible into gold or silver,
shall never form part of our circu-
lating medium, but certainly no
such idea Is expressed in the
platform, nor do / believe that it
Is entertained by a majority Of
those who approve it, I know
that there are men who advocate
the abandonment oil gold and sill
yer as money, who scout the id
of redeemability of the currency,
who assert that whatever the gov
eminent calls money is money and
who regard irredeemable green
backs as the best currency the
world ever saw. But 1 do not
think that these men constitute a
majority of the late Convention,
nor of its Committee on Resolu-
tions. Had such been the case,
their views would have been ex-
pressed without ambiguity. You
look in vain in the platform for a
direct expression in favor of ire
deemability, or a direct assertion
that gold and silver should be de-
monetized. 1t advocates the SUBJ
stitution of greenbacks for national
bank notes, but nowhere says that
greenbacks should be irredeema-
Bile. On the contrary, it contem-
plates that they shall be brought
to a par with gold, and although
we may not be able to see how that
can be done in the mode proposed,
it's desirableness is most distinctly
and fully recognized; and then as
to imitation, the platform does not
say in plain words, Give us Infia-
tion. What it does say is that the
volume of currency be made and
kept equal to the wants of trade
The practical question is: Have
we that volume now? and upon
this question the platform is silent.
To him who believes that the pres
ent volume is sufficient, it means
no imitation, for in his mind it was
equal to the wants Of trade. To
another man who thinks more cur
rency is needed. it does mean ex-
pansion, and SO, whether it means
the one thing or the other, depends
upon the preconceived opinions of
every one who reads it. Suppose,
for instant, that an Ohio member
of Congress, having to vote upon
an initiation bill, should look to
this platform for his guidance,
what light would he get? What
is there in it to tell him whether
he should vote for an increase of
currency of ten millions, hun
dred millions, five hundred mil
lions, or no increase at all? 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 it.
When therefore, they plainly de-
nounce contraction, but fail to ex-
pressly advocate imitation, is not
the presumption fair that they do
not mean imitation? Understand
me, / am not defending the plat
form, for in some particulars L do
not like it, and / leave to those who
approve it the task of its advocacy;
nor am / going to criticize it, for /
have no disposition to be critical,
and / leave that role to our COM
mon adversaries. But / think 1t
but justice to say that the platform
has been construed to mean more
than is expressed in it, and more
than was meant, as / believe, by
those who framed it. In saying
this / do not lose sight of the inter-
probation placed upon it by some
of its friends. / know that some
of its warmest advocates regard it
as declaration against gold and
silver and for an irredeemable
greenback currency now and for
ever, coupled with great and per-
manent imitation, but for reasons
that / have partly stated, and
Others that / have no time to state,
I believe these men are compare
4:.,o1xv four IN nupahar Tho truth