Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-09-20
on THE OTHER TACK.

4
on THE OTHER TACK.
The New York democratic State conven-
ton has placed itself id opposition on the
currency question to the democratic State
convention of Ohio and Pennsylvania. To
read the platforms of the democracy in
New York in regard to the money ques-
ton, and then compare it with the demo-
cratic platforms in Ohio and Pennsylvania
one would suppose. did he not know the
facts, that they were the platforms Of diff
ferent and autagonistic parties.
The Ohio and Pennsylvania platforms
declare THAT the contraction OF the
money currency and circulating medium
heretofore made by the republican party,
land the further contraction proposed by
lit with . view to forced resumption of
specie payments. mas already brought
disaster to the business Of the country
"aud threatens general bankruptcy" and
demands '.that this policy be abandoned
On The other hand the New York plat
form declares for "gold and silver as
1.-The only legal tenders" for mo curren-
"cy unless redeemable in coin.' and for
steps towards specie payment" II also
declares that "the present depression OF
"businsss is caused by the unhealthy
"stimulus Of excessive. deprecated and
"irrsdeemable currency y thus attributing
to too much currency what the Ohio and
Pennsylvania brethren attribute to too
small an amount. Aud as If the declara-
ton Of these sentiments were not sufficient,
1t adds:
..In fhe face Of the fact that the recent
"fall of prices has followed repeated intia-
"tion. any attempt to increase the curren-
ICY would be worse than Intellectual to
"reviye prosperity, for it would interrupt
1.-THE healing processes of industry. II
would be- worse than futile to restore
..conedence, for It would create distrust
land new uncertainties In business par
"alyze the beginning of enterprise, rob
labor Of it too scanty employment. and
while Siding the progress ofadminstra-
''tive reforms, intlict lasting dishonor on
1.-THE credit. the intelligence and character
"sf The country" 4
Now this is a singular state Of affairs.
1t may be all clear to democrats, but to
the common mind it is an astonishing
phenomenon to witness such contradic-
tons - appear In the platforms above.
The direct conflict of abstract principles
10 bad enough, but when the Ohio demo-
Gratis denounce the republican party as
responsible for the depression in business
because of contraction of the currency,
while the New York democrats denounce
the republicans for the hard times because
Of ineosiom Of the currency. things become
strangely and wonderfully mixed, so that
it would puzzle a Solomon to tell what
the principles and opinions Of the demo-
cratic party are and what they are not.
II the democracy can harmonize in
their coming national convention there
must be a surrender OF principle on the
currency question, on one side or the 9TH
er. which will destroy public confidence
in the party and its candidate. If the
question were simply whether Tilden.
Pendieton, Hendricks or Thurman should
be the candidate for President the vote of
the convention would settle it; but a
division of sentiment so marked as VIC see
Ia the democratic party at the present time
upon the subject OF the currency cannot
be settled so that it will be satisfactory to
all concernsd. Appearances all portend
q fierce fight in the next national demo-
cratic convention on the money question.
in which Tildsn and his friends and plat
form will be driven 10 the wall and the
inhationists be triumphant.
U