The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-05-20

.
President. Election OF National Commit
| tee.
Messrs. Hinchcliffe, Of Illinois, and
Troup, Of Connecticut, we're appointed
committee to conduct the permanent
president to the chair.
Mr.. Durant was conducted upon the
platform and spoke as follows
Fellow Citizens-In answer to this flat
terlng call, Of which | am 50 entirely un-
worthy, find myself in the presence OF a
double duty-6rst, to thank you for the
distinguished honor you have conferred
upon me, and next, to express my pro-
found regret that its cause lies in the alb
sence Of the distinguished citizen whose
presence here we all desired, and under
whose ministration it would have been an
honor for us all to sit. | refer to a man
whose character is dear to the whole
American people, who stands now a speci-
men of the noblest citizen of the republic
a man who, when his name is pronounced,
thousands of the hearts of his fellow citi-
zens beat with emotions of Joy, and a man
whose heart, filled with the most gener.
GUS sentiments, had no aspiration but for
| the benefit Of the human race whose per
ception was equal to see, whose action
prompt to perform, all that was necessary
to promote the elevation Of humanity the
man on whose brow affection for the peo-
| pie will sit as the sun fingers on the high
est mountain tops as it sets. | refer to a
man whose character is not only true, but
whose memory (and may the day be far
distant when we come to speak of it), will
IL L e 81 L., Ill.
can people, and especially Of that large
portion which have received its benefits,
as the music we have listened TO in child
hood still fingers III our memories and
holds most sacred place i'll our affections
| refer to that illustrious man, Peter
Cooper. Loud applause. A sudden at
tack of sickness has prevented the fulfill
ment Of an intent which he had formed to
come here in answer to the National Com
mittee, to preside over these delibers-
tions but he has written an address wUr-
thy of the occasion, and worthy of the
man and he has confded the task to one
of his friends, gentleman who is present
and will now read 1t.
He then introduced to the convention
Mr. Zachas. of New York, curator of Coo
pei AHSAAbutOs anu WI. OOOPCA pOAoOhoA
friend, who proceeded to read the follow
ing address, which MIR. Cooper had pre-
pared to deliver himself to the body over
which he expected to preside
Mr. CooPERs ADDRESS.
GENTLEMEN OF THE CONVENTION
We have met. my friends, tU unite in
| * s. a.
bic, to remove a cause Of evil which has
shrunk the value Of real estate Of the
nation to condition where it cannot be
sold, or mortgages obtained on 1t for much
more than one-half the amount that the
same property would have brought three
years ago This dire calamity has been
brought on our country by the acts of our
Government. The first act took from the
National money It's power to pay interest
on bonds and duties on imports. The
second act has contracted the currency of
/ the country until 1t has shrunk the value
of property to Its present condition by de-
stroymg public confidence; and that with
1 out shrinking any Of the debts contracted
in its use.
do most humbly hope that shall be
able to show the fatal causes that have
been allowed to operate and bring this
wretchedness and ruin to the homes OF
| untold thousands OF the men and the
women throughout our country.
Facts will show that it was the unwise
acts of our own Government that have
allowed policy to prevail more in the
interest ot foreign governments than our
own.
1t was these unwise acts Of legislation
that brought discredit to orr national
money, as ! have said, by introducing into
the law tn. created it that terrible word
except, whica Iok from our legal money
its powers to pay interest on bonds, and
duties on imports.
The introduction Of that little word
ercept into the original law dre,c tears from
the eyes of Thaddens Stevens when he
looked down the current of events and
saw our bonds in the hands Of foreigners
who would be receiving a gold interest on
every hundred dollars Of bonds that cost
them but fifty or sixty dollars in gold.
But for the introduction Of that word
except into that original law, our bonds
would have been taken at par by our own
people, and the interest would have been
paid at home in currency, instead of being
| PAID TO foreigners IN gold.
An additional calamity has been brought
on our country by a national policy that
has taken from the people their currency,
the tools Of these trades, the very life
blood of the traffic and commerce of our
country
Facts show that in 1866 there was in the
hands of the people as a currency 8
per head, and that at q time of our greatest
national prosperity.
We have now arrived at q time of un-
| equaled adversity, with a currency in 1875
oI Sl7 33-lUO per capita, with failures
amounting to two hundred millions of dol
lars In year.
Among the causes that now affilct the
country, 1t may be well to look at the
enormous increase in our foreign Importa-
tlons, which amounted to 309 millions In
the year 1868, and increased to 684 mil
tiOns Of dollars in 1873, and was 574 mil
lions Of dollars In 1875.
| These facts show sufficient cause for
the paralyzed industry Of our country.
! They also show that Senator Jones' was
! right in saying that the present is the
time to undo the unwilling aud blunder-
ing work OF 1873. By the resumption act,
| W eooO OuCSt AZ AOtO Oy ttcf Heut usut ~ We
debt will be liable to have his property
sold out for what 1t will bring In gold.
! ! think you will agree with me, when
say that prosperity can never be re-
stored TO our beloved country by . nation
al policy that enforces idleness and finan-
clal d stress on so vast a number of la
borers and business men of this country
Our nations wealth must forever depend
on the application of knowledge, economy
and we'll directed labor to all the useful
and necessary purposes Of lie.
The American people can never buy any
thing cheap from foreign countries that
must be bought at the cost Of leaving our
own good raw materials unused, and our
own labor unemployed.
l find myself compelled to believe that
much Of the past legislation Of our coun-
trv in reference to Tariff and Currencv