The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1875-10-01

We did not think the Erie covention had
any business with Federal finances, and we
have not changed that opinion. Having an
utter contempt, too, for the ephemeral plat
form erections of politicians, except when
they are confined to the simple re-aflrma-
ton of defined principle, or declare oppos-
ton to acts of extravaganza, corruption and
usurpaton, or when new parties appear, we
seldom give them more attention than we
bestow upon other transient sayings. But
this one put forth at Erie has been so much
misrepresented, and possibly misunderstood,
that some comment seems to be necessary.
1t is not an "inhation" platform, as the
Republican press generally represent, under
the lead of reckless papers of their party at
Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Pittsburgh.
In that regard it is about as definite as Gen.
Jackson's famous declaration that he favored
a judicious tariff But it does oppose en-
forced resumption of specie payment i'll a
way or at a time that will destroy the pros
perity of the producing interests, the work
ing men of the country, and give harvest
of gold to brokers, bankers and money lend
ers at the expense of honest industry. In
other words the Democratic party is oppos-
ed to resumption that will literally con-
fscate the property of the great mass of the
people and place it in the hands of the money
lenders, great portion of whom are Euro
peans. Because of this feature of the plat
form, the paid and subsidized organs of the
brokers in New York, like the World and
Tribune as we'll as the whole kennel of small
fry Republican sheets that follow in their
wake, charge the Democracy with abandon
ing the HARD MONEY doctrines of the foun-
ders and ablest supporters of the party. Now
let ms see about that.
| When suspension has occurred and paper
money has ceased to command specie at the
pleasure of the holder, it is plain to every
body that it is only question Of expedi-
ency rs to when resumption shall take place.
1t must occur at some time, or the paper
money will become worthless, and the only
question is when? BY what means and
at what time can it best be brought about
in way to do the least injury and effect the
greatest good? A question of expediency, a
temporary measure, can not be distorted into
a principle, though principles may be effect
ed by it. The leading principle that gov
erns the Democratic party in the case, and
always will govern it, is contained in the
fact that that party was founded and is
maintained to promote the greatest good of
the greatest number. Hence it always de-
fends labor against unjust encroachmentsa and
oppression of capital, upon the principle of
protecting the many weak against the pow
erful few. That is just what it did when
it (at all tmes) demanded that bank
notes while forced upon the public as
a circulating medium should be redeemable
in specie at the will of the holder. Hence,
| also, land mark for precisely the same rea-
son and upon the same principle of action)
it now demands that specie payments shall
be reached in way to do no Injury to the
people-not by forced enactments of Con-
gress but by cutting down the expenses of
government by abolishing whole armies and
swarms of useless Office holders and greatly
| reducing the salaries of those that remain,
| by ceasing to make extravagant appropria-
tions of public money and by frugally hus-
| banding all the resources of the nation, and,
| in short, by confining the government down
to only actually necessary expenditure.
This will make greenbacks equal to gold and
there will then be no more trouble about
specie payment, and people can then ex-
change greenbacks for gold and gold for
greenbacks at pleasure. OF course, as de-
clared at Erie, National bank notes must in
the meantime be wiped out, which alone
will save the people not less than thirty mil.
lions year, and the circulating medium be
confined to gold, silver and government notes
bearing no interest.
We repeat that the Democracy are in favor
of hard money, as they ever have been, and
the only point at issue is how to make
the immense load of eight hundred mil
lions of paper money entailed upon the
country equal to specie, so that specie pay
ments may be resumed without doing great
injury to the country.
Treasury notes, the same as our green
were issued by the Democratic administra-
tions of Madison and Van Buren,, with the
| appreciation of those great apostles OF De-
mocracy, jefferson and Jackson. All these
had to deal with the question of resumption
of specie payments, and all insisted firmly
that it must be effected in way to do no in
jury to the business of the country and to the
great body of the people. The mere interests
of bankers and brokers were never allowed to
control by the Democracy and ought not to
be permitted to do so now
1t is seen, therefore, that all the blabber
of the Republican newspapers about the
Democrats abandoning their hard money
doctrines is sheer blubber, and that the par
ty stands where it always did, upon the
great fundamental principle Of THE GREAT
EST GOOD TO THE GREATEST NUMBER.