The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1876-08-17

he represents, and which has foster
ed him as he has fostered it is suffered
to remain the President alone must
not be made the scapegoat for the
enormitie which safflict the public
service aud threaten the destruction
of every institution. In some res
poets hold that the present cxecu-
tive.
HAS BEEN THE VICTIM
rather than the author of that vic
ious system. Congressional and par
ty leaders have been stronger than
the President. No one man could
have created it, aid no one man can
amend it. 1t is thoroughly corrupt
and must be swept remorsely away
by the action Of a government COM
posed of elements entirely
NEW AND PLEDGED
to radical reform.
The first work Of reform must evil
IDENTIFY be the restoration Of the nor
nal operation of the Constitution G.
the United States with all its amend
ments; the necessities of war cannot
be pleaded in a time Of peace; the
right Of local self-goyernment, as
guaranteed by the Constitution, must
be everywhere restored, and the cen
tralized, almost personal, imperialism
which has been practiced must be
done away, or the first principles Of
the Republic will be lost,
OUR FINANCIAL SYSTEM
of expedients must be reformed; gold
and silver are the real standards as
values and our national currency will
not be a perfect medium of exchange
till it shall be convertible at the
pleasure of the holder. AS | have
heretofore said, no one desires q re-
| turn to specie payments more earn
estly than | do. But l donot believe
that it will or can be realized in halt
mony with the interests Of the pco-
pie by artificial measures for the con-
traction of the currency, any more
than | believe that wealth Or perma-
nent prosperity can be created by
the imitation Of currency. The laws
of finance cannot be disregarded with
IMMUNITY. The financial policy of
the government, if indeed it deserves
the name policy at all, has been in
disregard of those laws, and therefore
has disrupted the commercial and
business confidence as well as him
dered a return to specie payments
One feature of the policy was the re-
sumption clause of the act Of 1875,
which has embarrassed the country
by the anticipation Of compulsory
resumption for which no preparation
has been made, and without any as
surance that it would be practicable.
THE REPEAL OF THAT CLAUSE
is necessary that the natural opera
ton of financial laws may be restor-
ed, that the business of the country
be relieved from its disturbing and
depressing influence, and that re-
turn to specie payments may be fac
ilitated by the substitution of wiser
and more prudent legislation which
shall mainly rely on judicious sys-
TEN of public economies and official
retrenchments, and, above all, on the
promise of prosperity in all indus
tries of the people.
| do not understand the repeal of
the resumption clause of the actof1S7j
to be u backward step in ourreturn
to specie payment but the recovery
of a false step, and although the re-
peal at this time may be prevent
ed, yet the determination of the Dem
ocratic party on this subject has now
been distinctly doclared-that there
shall be no hindrance put up in the
way of return to specie payments,
"As such hindrance," says the plat
form, eve dcnounce the resumption
clause of the act of 1875,
And demand its repeal, and thor,
oughly believe by public economy
by official retrenchment and by q Ii.
nancial policy, enabling us to accu-
mulato the precious metals, resump.
ton at an early period is possible,
without producing an artificial scar,
city of currency or disturbing pub,
lie or commercial credit, and that
these reforms together with the res,
toration of u pure government will
restore general confidence, encourage
the useful Investment of capital, fur
nish employment to labor andrelieve
the country from a paralysis of hard
times. With the industries of the
people there have been frequent in.
reference, Our platform truly says
that many industries have been i'm,
poyerishcd to subsidlze few, our
commerce has been degraded to an
inferior position on the high seas,
manufactures have been diminished,
agriculture has been embarrassed
The distress Of the industrial classes
demand that these things shall be
reformed. The burdens Of the PEG.
pie must also be enlightened by q
great change in our system of public
expenses. The proaigate expondi.
turo of which increased taxation
| rrn,, e. nov no,il, Ia 1870 10 etc :,