Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-08-11
The Democratic Party for In
flation and Reputation.

of sound currency. The republican
party we know by its past and present
declarations to be for sound monetary
system. And until less than year ago
there was nothing heard from the demo-
cratic party of the State of Maine but
sentiments favoring hard money, SO that
we are frank to say we believe the mass
of that party in the State is in favor OF
currency as good as gold. Alter MI.
Allen was nominated as the democratic
candidate for Governor of Ohio, last year.
on an imitation platform, some OF the
leaders and organs of the Maine de-
mocracy began to advocate soft money
ideas, but we doubt if they effected any
change in the opinions of the large body
of their party.
But the time has come when democrats
who are honestly in favor OF a sound
currency will have to consider whether
they are going to support candidates be-
lieving like themselves in hard money. or
turn their backs upon principle and sup
port soft money ticket because it is
labeled democratic Hayes and Wheeler
and the platform upon which they stand
are unequivocally in favor of sound
currency. Tilden and Hendricks repre-
sent imitation and reputation. Mr.. Tilden
argued in favor of specie payments up to
the time of his nomination for the Presi-
dency, but since that he has been cap
tured by Hendricks and other initiation
leaders of the West, and in his letter of
acceptance signified his surrender by
demanding the repeal of the act of 1875
for the resumption of specie payments
The capture of Mr.. Tilden was effected
by the argument that the Western in
fationists would not support him unless
he yielded to their demands. The same
appliance was used upon the hard money
democrats of the House. until at last they
Welded about the same time Tilden did,
and voted to repeal the resumption act OF
1875, the formal pledge Of the nation that
specie payments shall be resumed at
fixed time As a specimen of the argu-
ments which have been employed to bring
the democrats in the House to surrender
to the indationists. we copy the following
letter from Mr.. Hendricks to a prominent
democrat, which was circulated where it
was supposed it would "do the most
good"
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, July "a, 1876.
My Dear Sir:-A repeal of the resumption
clause in almost any form will elect the State
ticket and carry the Indianapolis district. If to
obtain report from the Committee it be necessary
to give the assurance that it shall pass without
amendment, that assurance should be given, un-
less the condition qualification of the repeal be
really Objectionable. The form Of repeal is not
now very important for the people understand
the difficulty Of obtaining an unconditional sur
render. 1t is not Objectionable to retain per
cent. of gold in the Treasury. Cannot you and
others who are in favor Of repeal unite in giving
the Committee the assurance of passing bill as
reported, if that be necessary to carry report
The repeal is the important proposition; the form
is not so important. Truly,
T. A. HENDRICKS.
The democratic House yielded in order
to carry the Indiana State ticket, also the
Indianapolis district, which would re-elect
to Congress one Landers, who believes
that pieces of paper issued from the
Treasury bearing on them the words,
"This is a dollar" are just as good as
gold dollars, and may be issued in any
quantity.
With how much satisfaction the letter of
Mr.. Tilden is regarded by the Western
infationists and repudiationists may be
seen by the following extract from the
Cincinnati Enquirer, the leading soft
money paper of the West:
"Ifany Western democrat had been nominated
for the Presidency, it is doubtful if be would have
put into his letter of acceptance such PRO
NOUNCED PROFESSIONS in fapor Of the
WESTERN BELIEF concerning the currency.
We do not think that any Western candidate who
could have been nominated would have been in
his accepting letter so brave in defense of the
friends of currency reform as Mr.. TnDEN has
Oeen generous anu StateSm1nllke we OppOSeu
the nomination of Mr. TILDEN. When nomi-
mated, we gave him support. With his letter be-
fore u.s. we cordially call upon our friends every
where to give him an earnest support. lie has
left no excuse for third party"
With these evidences before them that
the democratic ticket is in favor of soft
money and the reputation of the pledge
to resume specie payments, we ask those
members of the democratic party in Maine
who are in favor of hard money if they
propose to support Tilden and Hendricks
and their rag money doctrines? 1t is
plain question addressing itself to their
judgment and conscience. Many demo-
Gratis in the East have already abandoned
Tilden and Hendricks because Of the soi,
money platforms on which they stand.
and more will leave them if they regard
principle and desplse the want of il
which is manifested in the democratic