The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-08-01
Causlic Criticism on the Democratic Adminil-
tratiOn Of State Affairs.
SPEECH OF SENATOR THURMAN.

MANsFIELD Ohio July 81, 1878.
rhs following Is the speech OF hon. Allen G..
thurman, which was delivered here tonight
Ms. PRESIDENT AND FELLOW CIrIzENs-Ws are
at the commencement or political campaign
or more than usual importance. Two years
ago the democracy carried ohio by q small
majority. That victory preserved the Organlza-
ton OF the party and made other democratic VIC
tories possible. 1t was the iorerunner Of the
more extended triumpns that have since been
achieved. . You, my fellow democrats OF
Ricnland. are what are called hard moneJ men,
and am hard money msn-thaE Is to say, we
DO not believe in al irredeemaoe paper currency;
We believe that such q currency must necessarily
nuctu4te In value. lead to speculation and ex-
sravagance, and benefit no one bat money shaw
srs and spectators. We believe that our cur
rency should CONSIST OF gold and silver and, for
convenience, paper convertible az par into gold
and silver at the will OF the holder. In this we
concur with the uniform teachings OF the demo
cratic party, with the opinion OF every really
eminent political economist the world over, with
tue lessons OF experience found N the history OF
every commercial nation, and with the views OF
almost the entire body OF the business men OF
America. Now, 1t has been roundly asserted,
and with violence or speech that might be con-
sldered Incorporate, that
o. our late Convention means jus, the opposite OF
our opinions. that IL means an irredeemabe paper
curreacy now and forever, and consequently
;nat gold silver, or paper convertible into gold
and silver shall never form part or our cireulat-
lug medium. But certainly no such idea Is ex-
pressed In the platform, nor DO believe that II Is
entertained by majority OF these who approve
10. know that there are men who advocate the
abandonment OF gold and silver as money; VINO
scout the idea or redeemability OF the currency !;
who assert that whatever the government calls
money is money. and who regard irredeemape
greenbacks as the best currency the world ever
saw. But DO not think that these men consti-
tuted majority OF the late Convention or OF its
Committee on Resolutions. Had such been the
case their views would have been expressed with
out ambiguity. But you look IN vain 10 tho plat
form Tor direct expression in favor orirredsem-
aollEy, or & direct assertion that gold and silver
should be demoneaZed. II advocates the substi-
tuition OF greenbaeks Tor national bank notes, but
It nowhere says that the greenbacks should be ir-
redeemaole. On the contrary, 1t contemplates
tnat they shall be brought to par with gold, ana
although We may not be quite able to see how
that can be done the mode proposed, It's desira-
oleness il most distinctly and fully recognized.
And then, as TO imitation, tue platform does not
expressly demand moro currency. II denounces
contraction, put does not say in plain words, Give
US in1atioR. What IL does say II, 'That the VOL
ume OF currency be made and kept equal 10 the
wants OF trade;r and this Is all Now. I suppose
thar there Is not, and never has been. man in
any civilized country VINO would not say that the
volume Of currency should be equal TO the wants
or TRADE. To say SO is TO utter mere trusm,
mere abstractIon. The practical question Is,
Fave we that voiume row and upon tails a1es-
tios the platform is silent. To MIN who believes
tnas the present volume Is sufficient 1t means no
in1aon for In his mind 1t Is already quite equal
20 the wants Of trade" To another man. VINO
thinks that more currency Is needed, It does mean
expansion anu so, whether II means the one thing
or the other depends upon the preconceiVed
opinions Of every one who reads IL. suppose, for
instance, mat an Ohio member Of Congress, hsv-
Ing TO vote upon an imitation bill, should look to
this platform lor hts guidance, what light woulo
he getI WAas is there IN It TO tell him whether
ne SHOULD vote for increase OF currency OF ten
isilens, hundred millions, ave hundred MILL
tons or no increase a. ALI
New, the gentlemen WHO framed tnis platform
are able and bold men, masters Of the English
tongue, capable OF saying what they mean, and By
no means AFRAID 10 say II. When, therefore, they
plainly denounce contraction but fail 10 expressly
advocate imitation, Is not the presumption fair
taat they do not mean innatonf Understand
me, ana not defending the platform, for in soma
particulars do not ike IL, ana leave 70 those
WHO approve It the task or its advocacy. Nor ana
| criticistng It, for / save no disposition 10 20
critical aud leave that roe to our common ad-
versaries But think It but justice TO say that
tae platform has been construed 20 mean more
tnAn Is expressed In II, ana more than was meant,
as / believe, ~ those VINO framed it. In saying
this do not lose Mzht OF the Interpretation
placed upon It by some or It's friends 1 know
taat some ofits Uarmest advocates regard II as
A DECLARATION AGAINST GOLD
ana silver, and for an irredeemsbls greenbacR
currency now and forever, coupled with great
ana permanent Imitation; but Tor reasons that /
nave partly stated and others that have no time
20 state, 1 believe that thsss men are compare.
lively few IN number The truth II that there is
a wide diversity OF opinion among the people OF
ell parties upon this subject. There are demo-
cratic hard money men and democratic paper
money men, republican hard money men and re-.
publican paper money meH, democratic resunp-
Eonists ana democratic innationists and
republican resumptonists and republican in
dationists. Tie question 10 not strictly q
party question. Honest men Of all parties
may be found on IT'S Opposite sides, ana 80 It mas
ever peea after every great panic sy which the
country has been snioted. Important as this cur.
rency question is there are otner questions ts4t.
Ia my Judgment are stll more Important, and
these propose, in the course or the canvass, IA
discusa But have beea personally assaIied and
misrepresented. and the hard money dem cTata
ofOho, vita whom act. nave been Isunsco sIo y
them demanded that snouId say, frankly and
clearly, what they and believe, ana that
snould set forth way, without inconsistency NJ.
Mutation Or loss oil honor. We oaa SUPPORT our