The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-10-07
SPEECH OF THE
HON. D. W. VOORHEES,
LOvELAND. OHIO OCT. a. 1875.
THE SPEECH OF MR.. VOORHEES,.
DELIVERED AT

tasta INIT nome so important as this. The present
contest is also peculiar. IL Is peculiar In the
fact that the republican party, having rendered
an issue on the financial policy OF the govern
ment, has since sought TO escape from its discus
sion. The leaders, finding themselves beaten in
argument and deprived OF the sympathies and
sunnort of the people, have endeavOred to create
an issue of religious Intolerance. The loud de-
nunciation of the Catholic Church, and its ten
denotes is only for the purpose Of d.verting the
public mind from the financial issue, on which
The measure Introduced into the last legislature
Of Ohio by Mr.. Geghan, and now generally
known nv his name, is one
Which no friend of religious liberty can criticse
or condemn. 1t simply provides as under
stand it, that the unfortunate, the sinful those
that are in prison or in bonds, shall have the
same religious liberiy-the same right 10 choose
their spiritual comforters-thst those have who
are free ana on the outside of prison walls. Ii
provides that the guilty criminal may choose
ms h nSpin t6ef NAV turn To- Christ i'm ms
own way. An opposition 10 such a law eVlnces
the worst form of religious olgotry that mas been
known in the world for over 2UOyears 1t is impos-
sible for the enlightened people OF a great Amer
lean state at this peTloc OF the world 20 endorse
such an opposition. Rather will they turn with
disgust and horror from the teachings of those
who would lead them into such an unchristlan
in the Union, whatever its political complexion
may be, which has not a law upon its statute
books substantially similar TO
THE GEGHAM BILL;
q
religious II eedom and common justice 1t ought,
at the meeting of its next legislature, TO repair
the deficiency. The people of all classes, condl-
lions and colors, in prisons as well as palaces
should be secure in the selection of their spir l.
ual teachers, without let or hindrance from
any earthly power. The real issue, however, in
Ohio at this time is between the millions VINO
labor and the privileged few VINO do not,
involving the relief or the further OPP
preston of the former class. This issue
Is not a new one, On the contrary, it is
very old. In one form or another it has existed
since the earliest history of the human race. In
tabhshed them by law. In All ages ana coun-
tries there has been class who believed that IL
was their right 10 live upon the labor of others
hive have always existed and exist now. Some
times this has been ca led eudalism, still oftener
slavery but at all times 1t has been the same in
principle; or the millions u, OF voters IN the
either in the fields, in the mines, In the work
shops or on the whaTves of your great cities, yet
the remaining one:ffth govern and shape all
Coming so late into the present canvass OF
Ohio, it will perhaps not be possible for me 10
q deid OF debate which has been so thoroughly
occupied, but shall at least speak plainly on
the side of the people, whose interests are thus
ignored. Monopoly and privilege can always
secure able ana powerful ad vceates- They baN e
the meaus to do so, and they are using them
now. Their agents are in the field full of pre-
There is no form of denunciation in which
they do not indulge toward the friends of the
people No epithet can be found sufficiently
coarse, in their estimation, TO characterize their
opponents. They recognize their adversaTies
only as lunatics or knaves, We viii meet them in
different spirit. They shall be met by the power
of reason. We can afford TO employ argument
alone, for it s9st aims US Those who stand upon
the power of truth, while those who are exaspe
rated by sense of weakness and of approaching
defeat betray an evil temper in the advocacy of
bad cause.
RESUMPTION THE FOREMOST ISSUE.
in fha AM min af
this hour is the resumption of specie payments.
Less than two years ago, in December, 1873
when the financial panic had strewn the coun-
try with business wrecks and distress, there was
not public man in the United States audaciOus
enough to breathe such purpose When con-
gress convened at that time, the presiden', him.
self in his annual message, recommended an
increase in the volume of our currency, to give
relief to the business interests of the country.
A measure or this Kind was introduced INTO
congress and supported by the most eminent
leaders of the republican party 1t was also so
democratic party that it was hailed everywhere
as q victory for the people. 1t will be remem-
perez a red a m efat e Paine %
accomplish that object in congress, II brought
its finally OmnipOtent influence to bear upon
the executive himself. He vetoed measure
which he had himself recommended, and from
that hour to this has given shape to the policy
of the republican party on that subject. In GER
tain localities the republican party has strug-
power, but, however reluctantly, its position has
finally been taken throughout the country, II
now stands the avowed advocate of the forced
resumption OF specie payments, regardless of the
ruin and distress such a course may infiict. Be
fore examining the mode by which the resump-
ton of specie payments is TO be compelled by
law, let Us for a moment consider what is meant
by a specie basis. This government at the present
time possessed OF not more than Sl5O,oOO,OOO of
god, If that much. Our paper circulation may
be placed at about S73O,OOO,000. These two
amounts of gold and paper must be reconciled In
order TO have real, and not fictitious specie
basis. Let the advocates of specie resumption
inform US precisely what they mean before they
amount of paper circulation, so that each
who holds paper dollar can, whenever he de-
sires. obtain for 1t a gold dollar? Do they mean
that if all The people holding the entire paper
circulation should Cd the same day be o the
same mind, and desire the redemption of their
currency, they are to have it redeemed in coin?
dths is meant we can understand them INDEED INDEED
states-the Chicago Times
MEETS THIS POINT sQUARELY.
1t says the correct policy is to destroy
and burn the money now In circulation
in the hands of the people, until there is no
more of it than gold and silver to redeem it,
While we can clearly understand this PROPOSE
ton, and viii it is the only one that fairly
meets the issue, yet the imagination OF man can
structive consequences of such an atrocious
policy. With no more currency in this country
scenes sH Of G0in and would
ensue would cause the civilized world to
stand aghaSt with horror. One-haIt the people
of the United States would have to abandon
their property to the pd gqver Rnnid nor I0T
bring one dollar per hundred; wheat
thirty, cents per bushel; corn ten cents a
beg on the streets in vain for bread and his wife
and children would perish at home for want OF
it. The mines won be abandoned, vast manu-
featuring districts would lie desoate, shipping
would rot in the harbofs, workshops would be
silent everywhere, the rivers would be nndls-
turbed by steamboats, raj roads, instead OF Delne
merely bankrupt as now, would be abandoned