The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-05-24
THE GRANGE ADVANCE:
WEDNESDAY. MAY 24, 1876.
H.u. YoUN 6, Publisher 4 Editor.
Which is Democracy?,

1t has long been question with
a good many people, as to what are
the principles of the democratic lead
ers. We arrived, several years ago,
at the conclusion that "get office"
was the one ruling principle. So
far as the leaders are concerned,
anything more than this "cometh Of
evil, for it may offend some whose
votes might otherwise be obtained.
We have recently been reading up
the platforms Of the State demo-
cratic conventions held this year,
and find the usual diversity Of senti-
ment manifested in different local.
ties. Except in regard to the one
thing, i. e., turn the republicans ont
Of and the demofrats into e05te, there
is no accord of sentiment whatever.
On finances, the tariff, the civil serv-
ice, and other really important ques-
tons, the partyis utterly at variance
in different localities. For instance
the Ohio State convention resolves:
That we favor a return to specie payments
when the same can be done without serious
~ disturbing the business Of the country,
and to that end, and in order that the
debtor class may not be further embarrass-
ed. we demand the repeal Of the resumption
&C: Of 1878, and oppose any measure of leg
islation which shall absolutely fix a day for
such resumption.
That the charters Of the national banks
ought not to be renewed, and each of said
banks should be wound up at the expiration
Of the term for which it is chartered, and
in lieu of it's circulating notes, treasury
notes of the United States, convertible into
coin on demand, and receivable for all
debts or taxes due the United States, should
be issued to the extent required by the ne
cessities of the government.
The Iowa convention takes oppo-
site grounds and declares:
That inasmuch as gold is the recognized
standard of values throughout the world,
and furnishes the basis for general trade
and commerce, We favor an carly return to
specie payments, because it will place the
business interests Of the country Oil sure
and satisfactory basis, and secure us from
the uncertainties attending the existence
Of mixed mediums Of unequal values. At
tho same time we declare that the sudden
resumption Of specie payments, such as
contemplated by the so-callcd Sherman
resumption act of 1875, will cause wide dis
aeter and ruin to our business interests
that it has had and is now having a blight
ing effect on all industry, and being one of
the many b|undcrs Of the republican party,
should be repealed.
Now, this is all nonsense. If the
gold basis" as meant by these res
olutions, is the one desirable and
imperatlvely demanded condition,
the sooner it is reached the better.
And inasmuch as we have already
gone a great way in that direction,
why turn back now, with an inten-
ton to resume this path hereafter?
Is not this promise of being better
prepared for the journey, by moving
in the opposite direction, palpably
Elusive? Reaching a gold basis
means the contraction of legal ten
der currency to very small volume,
and the corresponding expansion of
private credit. Can this be prepar
ed for by Initiating the currency be-
You'd its present volume? Can its
difficulties be obviated by stopping
where we are? We cannot think so.
We cannot avoid the conviction
that, if specie resumption is the
proper thing, the sooner: it is attain
ed the better, and that to rest where
we are will be merely prolonging
the misery; while moving temporal
rily in the opposite will only entail
upon us the endurance of a repeti-
ton of the misery we have already
suffered besides that which must still
be undergone to attain the result
which is sought.
But why not be wise now, and in
stead of seeking to reach the unat-
tainable condition of specie or me-
tallic currency, rest satisfied with
the greenback system, with no 9TH