The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-08-01
ADDRESS OF SENATOR THURMAN.


the cour Of his remarks he said: you, my Eel
, low Democrats, are what are called hard mone,
men, and an hard-money man.that 10 TO 50.
we do not believe 10 IN irredeemable paper cur
rencv, we believe that such currency must neces
sarly fuctuate ia value, lead to speculation ant
extravaganza and benefit no one but none.
shavers and spectators.
NJ We believe that our currency should consist o
gold and silver, and, for convenience, paper con
vertible at par into gold and silver, at the will o
the holder. Now it has been roundly ASSERTED
that the platform Of our late Convention means
just the opposite Of our opiDions-that it means
an irredeemabe paper currency, now and forever
and, consequently, that gold and silver or paper
convertible into gold and silver shall never form
part Of our circulating medium; but certainly nc
such idea is expressed in the platform, nor do
believe that il is entertained by . majority Of
thOee who approve it,
abandonment OF gold and silver as money; who
scout the idea of the redemptionability OF cur.
reDcy; who assert that whatever the government
| calls money is money, and who regard irredeem.
| ever saw. But do not think that these men
| constitute majority Of the late convention, or
OF Its common reso utions. Had such been the
case these views would have been expressed
without ambiguity. But you look in vaih in the
platform Tor direct expression in favor OF ire
demptionabiity, or q direct assertion that gold
and silver should be demoralized.
1t advocates the substitution Of greenbacks for
national bank Lotes. but it no where Gays that
ereeubacks should be irredeemable; on the con-
trary, it contemplates that they shall be brought
to par with gol and although We may not be
quite able to see how that can be done in the
mode proposed, its d=sirableness is most
distinctly and fully. recognized. And then, as to
initiation, the platform does not expressly de-
maDd more currency; it denounces coptrsc ion
but does not say in plain words, Give rs inda-
ton 3"
What it does say is, that the volume Of cur
ha ,a1o nd lnof al 20
trade, and this il all. Now, suppose that there
is not, and never has been, . man in any civil
lied country who would not say that the volume
OF currency should be equal to the wants of
trade. The practical question is: Have we that
volume now? and upon this question the plat
form is SILENT
To him who believed that the present volume
is sufficient it no initiation, for in his mind
it is already equal to the wants Of trade. To an
other man who thinks that more currency is
needed, it does mean expansion; and so whether
1t means one thing or the other depends upon |
the preconceived opintons Of every one who |
reads it. Suppose, for instance, that an Ohio |
member Of Congress, having to vote upon sn |
initiation BILL sh uld look to this platform for bis
what light would he get?
What is there in 1t to tell him whether he /
should vote for the increase OF currency to ten |
millions, hundred millions, five hundred mil
lions. or no increase at all Now, the gentle
men 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 expressly advo-
cate imitation, is it not the presumption fair that
they do not mean imitation? Understand me. I
I'm not defending the platform, for in some par
.culars do not like it, and leave it to those
who approve it the task of its advocacy
Nor aY criticising it, for have no disposition
% be critic, and Leave that role to our com.
non adversaries, but think it but Justice to cay
hat 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
aging this do not lose sight Of the interpretA-
ion placed upon it by some Of it's friends.
l know that some OF its warmest advocates re-
ard it as declaration against gold and silver,
nd Tor an irredeemable greenback currency now
III alton but, for reasons that | have partly
tated, and others that have no time tn state;
elieve that these men are comparatively few in
lumber. The truth is that there is wide ,
iversity OF opinion among the people Of oil !
arties upon this i'm ortant subject.
There are Democratic hard money and Demo-
ratio paper money men, Republican hard money :
len and Republican paper money men, Demo- !
ratio resumptionists, and Republican infaton-
is. The question is not strictly party ques-
on. Honest men Of all parties may be found
q its opposite sides, and as it has ever been, :
ter any great panic by viii h the country has
cen afflicted, no man has firmer convictions on r
lis subject than have.
They are the result of much experience and of :,
lorg, patient and conscientious study. have !.
spressed them time and again in conversation Il
public meetings. in convention and in my
ace in the Senate. stood by them whatever
infallible and rrthlessly condemn men as sim g
re as l am who entertain different opinion
UGH lest can l sanction disruption of the q.
smocratic party because in single State it has =
tie State officers only, officers who will have no n
risdiction OF the currency question, has upon =
lie one ques ion adopted . platform that my f.
dgmeDt does not approve.
have been . Democrat all my life, and when
d where to be Democrat was to be politically :.
tracised. have chung TO the party in it's e
rkest hours, Is well as in its b ightest, with 90
netting akin to devotion, because my head -
heart approved it's fundamental principles.
yet look to 1t as destined to restore to
8 Republic constitutional, honest and
onomical government to promote fraternal %,
lngs between all its parts, and to perpetuate d
Q institutions for sges to come, and can not "a
any word or act OF mine, contribute to it, over
t. is iDfallible know that it has committed ~ ~
ors. and that every party has committed them "a
also kno that it's principles are sound, and VI
purposes are honest and patriotic. 60
I therefore deserves and commands my sup m'
t, and although my influence may be small,
my service little worth, it has q just claim
them both. can not deny that the hard
ney Democrats Of Ohio with whom act have
N taunu and ridiculed, and self re spect and WI
duty owe to them demands that should col
4. nkly and clearly what they and believe, Lu
that should set forth WHY, without in th'
humiliation or loss OF honor, we can kiI
port our ticket. 81
nave said, and repeat it. that We can, with to
dish 1nor or sure nder Of any principle, sup .
t the ticket, and / have given you soma "N
sons for this opinion. No platform was ever ha
,pted by any party convention that in every ira
ticular received the approval OF every mem prt
Of the party. art
here is always something Inserted or some. the
ng inserted, or something left out that causes BEE
icis m. People have, to great extent lost dot
h in platforms. Again, the currency aues- oh
4, SO far a. legislation affect it. lies with sor
lgress. say
he officers to be elected in Ohio this year will the
Q, as already said, no jurisdiction over it. Bit
Is q national and not . mere State concern, Ge
although every State has perfect right to dec
ress its opinion on it, and may very properly the
so. Yet Its solution is devolved upon the tina
resenta ives Of all the States in Congress as Gus
lbied and the drafting of national platform not
n it. to be submitted to the people is the Thu
e Of national convention. his
II. Thurman also reviewed the action Of the bis
II I'll ,.a Al |