The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-08-05
GRAFT BROWN INTERVIEWED
His Opinion ON the Ohio Platform III
Campaign.

Gath, the correspondent OF tho
Cincinnati Commercial, recently in
terpiewed Gratz Brown of Missouri
on the political situation in Ohio and
reports hecoaversation AS follows -
L met Gratz Brown on Saturday
morning at the Lindeli hotel, and
graiitied desire l had felt ever since
/ had entered the State, to hear, his
views: &
"Gath," he said II have notion te
GO over to Ohio and make speech in
the campaign there"
"For Allen 2"
''Oi course. But it IS not so much
for Allen L care about as the financial
attitude of the Democracy there. be-
lieVe can nake reasonable reasoning
people see that the position Of the par
ty is sound and not Inconsistent with
correct principles OF political economy.
L said that [ was surprised to; hear
this from IL man who had been a Free
Trader in the Senate i'll the United
States, and alwaysa a severely logical
political economist. Governor Brown
remarkcd: -e teffH'i a.-'o-
l. my position is perfectly clear to my
mind, though ] may not be able to for
muiate it in IA conversation. 1t is this
| hold that the effort TO bring about
| specie resumption through contraction
Is iallacy. That while do not dis
unctly call for Imitation, l challenge
the administration party to the proof
that tc contract the currency is to
hasten the day of resumption.
There seemed TO be some casuistry
or novelty in the position, and Gteyer-
Enor Brown, in his cool scmi-indiEer-
ent, foransic way, proceeded: .
/ q am not obvious ofthe, chance of
having a nnitorn currency with the
! world. yet believe that the creation
ola national debt OF S2,50O,OOO,OOO,
all bonded, and in reality form OF
currency, has altered our relations
with The exterior world, The state of
things here 10 phenomenal. The cry
OF the country for ravocation, for bus
ness is the necessity of the hour, and
the year, and perhaps the years; tor
things grew no, better. l think l can
put on the administration party the
onas OF defending the depressed con-
dition OF the people and trade."i' -sA
"Well" said l, "Governor Brown,
have you no proposition to make To
point TO the depression is not to help
the country cut of it."
Lie said with kindling sensitiveness
eyes, have a proposition. 1 never at
tack without advancing something. l
hold that the National banks ought. to
be absorbed in the Government and
the green backs replace their currency.
For, what are these banks existing up
on except the credit Of the govern
ment? They are an institution be- |
tween the people and the currency, ad-
ding to our burdens by their exactiOns |
and enjoying almost a monopoly of |
what should be the Governments own I
Functions, to issue currency. / would I
begin by taking from those banks their
monopoly of the Government credit. |
a fter the groenback has become the
only form of currency, it will iappre-
clatc if not in the market, certainly in /
the minds,.of meu. Then l would |.
make the greenback in whole or in
part receivable for custom duties, and
thus instead OF the Government +bui-
ling gold as it now does, the enlarged
uses of the greenback will bear gold.
Do you understand me:"
l said l was beginning to. His eyes
seemcd to grow bluer and his beard
redder as he proceeded: s.tt
'The credit of the Government Of
the United States is such that it can
meet its interests by borrowing gold
on contract. at very lew, steady fig
ure! AT present the Government is
the principle upholder ola high rate
of geld, as it is always buying large
TO do the same, to pay their custom
duties. So.you observe that ten years
after the war gold is at LII. Ii the
will give credit to its own
uOtes the whole moral power of the
United States Will be exerted in favor
Of the greenback. The way to specie
L affirm, is not by contrac.
lion,a 1t may not be by imitation. But
It is by the. appreciation Of the green
back instead OF its degradation"
l explained to GOvcfner Bro Wn that !
was still bcfogged to know how con- $
ractiOn was not the way to specie pay I
nents. lie said: ..,,,., q
"Conlract? Contract what? You q
lon't contract the bonds themselves Z
which are bankable, changeable, in
Iced currency. These bends now sup. -
'ly the place OF Gotten to give us COM
nerciai credit in Europe. The banks. J
viii take them to meet yonr note. '
There are more than two Thousand \
Millions of them. You don't contract s
hat currency But yen do contracL s
hc small margin of the bank nstes II
which we nom -bondholders use and T.
Which is necessary fsr our daily int Z
ustry... You let the National Bank )
se all the bonds it will, but YOU, cut Il
he shop keepers. currency down.
,i;d do believe that The growing y
over of the bond over the gfcenback II
) q source OF irregu!arity and of hard =
imes. Here are all the, engines of. !
rork--a willing people, good crops, e
public credit-and still II
ne wheels of traffic are almost stop- y
ed. The Ohio campaign is available Il
. present this state of things, to the u
eepie. The public policy is q failure,
nd the Government, enjoying a cred
possessed by ne Nation in the world
eholds it's people out of employment
nd hard times growing, harder. a
IF what advantage is il to us that the g
anne of the country is solvent, while 81
le Inhabitants are insolvent The ~
usfness people of the whole country :.
re scratching hard to pay interest, ~
nd are glad if they can do, it. Now, u
he Democratic party in Ohio is not Fl
bligea in the pending campaign to ~
Ike the Initiative. Let it put the Ad- I.
party Oh the defensive" -
/ again, expressed to Governor b
rown my sHrprise to find the green CT
ack fever absorbing even himself. "
[e said: :.
Il believe in looking around US to :,
Ike a policy. These hard times, with ~
n 'abvndant, country, require a. solu-, W
OH. What keeps the people poor? b,
here is no idiencss, but no profit. ~,
he cause lies in 'an unaccsm modat- r
e policy OF the Governm ent toward Al
le people. >,to4.-5 ts s;.,;. GATH - a.
t-.,as .,a,.--..t s...l..- q.
a. ,tl rs 4aa ,t s"' -
-saI Imitation. fios,ss
The monopoly journals are determ;,. n