Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-08-11
Senator Thurman opened his political
canvass at Mansfield, Ohio, July 3lst.

canvass at Mansfield, Ohio, July 3lst.
Senator Thurman delivered his first
speech to-day In behalf OF the Demo-
cratic State ticket. While dissenting
from the financial plank Of the Demo-
cratic platform, he took occasion to
explain his own position ON this point.
He said "You, my fellow Democrats
Of Richland, are what are called hard
money men that is to say, we do not
believe In irredeemable paper curren-
cy. We believe that our currency
must necessarily fuctuate in value,
lead to speculation and extrAvagance,
and benefit no one but money shavers
and speculators. We believe that our
currency should consist Of gold and
silver, and for convenience, paper con.
vertible at par into gold and silver, at
the will OF the holder. In this we con-
cur with the uniform teachings OF tho
Democratic party; with the opinion
of every really eminent political econ.
omist tho world over with tho lessons
Of experience found In the history OF
every commercial nation, and with the
views of almost the entire body of
business men of America.
know that there are mon who adj
vocate the abandonment OF gold and
silver 90 money who scout tho idea Of
redeemability Of currency who assert
that Whatever the government calls
money is money, and who regard ir-
redeemable greenbacks as the best cur.
rency the world ever saw. But do
not think these men constituted q ma
jority of the late convention or of its
committee on resolutions. Had such
been the case their views would have
bean undoubtedly expressed without
ambiguity. But You look in vain in the
platform for the direct expression In
favor Of irredeemability, or direct
assertion that gold and silver should
be demonetized. Itadyocates the sub
stitution of grsenbscks for National
bank notes, but it nowhere says that
grecnbacks should be irredcemable.-
On the contrary, 1t contemplates that
they shall be brought to par with gold,
and although We may not bo quite
able to see how that can be done 10 the
mode proposed, its desirableness is
most distinctly and fully recognized.
IN 4
But do not assume to be infallihle,
and ruthlessly condemn men, sincere
a. am, who entertain different opin-
ions. Much less can I sanction the
disruption of the Democratic party
because In q single State IL has 90 hap
pened that the Convention to nomi.
nate State officers-only officers who
will have NO jurisdiction over the cur.
rency question-has upon this one
question adopted = platform that my
| judgment might not approve.
Senstor Thurman then passed to
other questions which were, he ssid,
even more important than that Of e.
nance. He said thst hS would show
why he and his colleagues could spp-
port this ticket without dIshonor or
inconsistency. His reasons were
briefly, that this platform was no more
infallible than oil the platforme. A
man would make himself ridiculous
by changing his party every time the
platform failed to suit him exactly
The currency question. does not lie
with the officers to be elected In Ohio
this year. but with Congress. He and
bis constituents considered that the
Democratic party, which had lssted
three quarters OF century, held TO.
gether by . bond that was not the co.
hesive power Of public plunder de.
served for its noble course in politics
and legislation, their warmest support
Senator Thurman finds great dill.
Guilty evidently to get himself in &C.
cord with the Ohio Democratic plat
form. There has been for years ,
battle between him and Pendleton on
the financial question, and from biz
remarks we see that he consoles him.
self with tho idea that the State Off.
Gers to be elected are not to be placed
In position where they can do any.
thing with the finances of the country
and 90 no concludes he can support
the ticket II they be pledged to Pen,
dletonian imitation. Then again hs
says man would make himself ridi.
culous by changing bic politics every
time the platform did not suit him
and he turns to what he deems the NO.
BILE course Of the Democratic party 70,
.nree quarters Of . century, and think
'ners is enough there to challenge hil
Wsrmess support. This ID not to b,
wondered q in regard TO Thurman
ior ne was fully In accord with the 70
beliious history Of the Democrat
party. Itwas fact that was upon III
lips Of everybody that tho mansion q
Judge Thurman during tho war was
hospitable and cheory place for rebe
officers who were prisoners durin,
the war in the region Of Cincinnat
while the Union hospitals OF our sisl
4 nO1dinra mnvAv ,n~~3vaI S.~-Ns