The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-02-10
mo Step Backwards"

The New York Ttnses OF the 9th gives the
suggestion of the Democratic party on the cur
rency question. 1t is very evident that they
are at sea, aud that no proposition will be sub
mitted that takes definite form for action du-
ring the present session OF Congress. 1t is a
touchy question, and will give the leaders in
Congress on the Democratic side no little un-
easiness and trouble. The Times says
For party Which processes to favor no back
ward steps on tho road TO specie payments, the
Democrats lave displayed most relparkable cp-
position to every step forward which the Re
publican Party has taken toward that end
Since the opening of The present session of
Congress, thirteen bills and two resolutions
bearing on questions OF national finance have
been introduced by Democratic members of
the House of Representatives. All of these are
hostile either in letter or spirit to All early re-
sumption Of specie payments, and all propose
in one form or other. to dishonor the SOL
emn pledge of the natioa on this and kindred
subjects
The session had hardly begun wien five bills
were before the House for the declared purpose
of repeating the Resumption act of last Janlra-
ry. These were introduced by Southland. of
Ohio Jones' of Kentucky; BIZ chit, of Ten
Then followed another group of bills similar to
the one introduced by Mr.. Bssy in the Senate,
providing for the payment OF duties Oh imports
in legal tender notes. These were fathered by
Sparks, OF Illinois; Stone, of Missouri; Riddle,
of Tennessee, and Lartsell, of Illinois. Mean
while, the more cautious spirits who either
claim or aspire to the position OF leaders in Il
party which seems but little disposed to foil w
any of them, took d hand in the business OF fl
nancal prescription. Mr.. Wood produced his
plan ito facilitate the resumption of specie
payments without coutrat ton Of the currency
Mr.. Morrison submitted his method Of pre-
pairing for the resumption of specie payments, ~
and Mr.. Payne introduced the conference bill
ito provide for the tvery) gradual resumption
Of specie payments" Then there WAS the in-
etfectuaI attempt of Mr.. Rea, of Missouri. to
force the previous question on his resolution
attribptng all our commercial woes to the re-
cent contraction OF the currency, aud Mr.. Hol-
mans, to secure 4 suspension OF the rules for
the Introduction of his resolution protesting
against the adoption OF Il specific period of re-
sumption. Finally, Mr.. RitIla, of Tennessee,
presented his thnly-concealed bid for repudisl-
ton in the form of L bill making the interest
bearing obligations OF the United States pay
able according to the proper legal construction
! Of the laws under which they were issued"
One and all of these bills are measures to
provide for a breach of public faith. Those
which profess to be in the Interest of specie re-
sumption are rs obviously calculated to defeat
II us the hrst oatch OF DIS Ii winch men fresh
from lnilatiohls5s constituencies III the West
ana South openly stated Their purpose to stop
all tuflher advances. on the way toward hard
money. IL IS Instructive 70 observe, however.
with how much energy Democrats who hole
any position before the country idisclaim oppo-
s!tion to the general prlnciple That the Govern
| nent notes should be brOuyht to Oar with coin
Even those Who, like Mr.. Bo2gT, faYor a MoIl
fed form of Reputation, in the substitution Of
legalteuder notes for gold in the payment OIL
Customs duties are obliged, for the sake OF APP
pearances, to pi ofess belief that by adopting
appear. 1t is trtie1 that there is not the same
agreement among members of the Democratic