Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1876-08-16

snch a crisis Of the history of the
country l rejoice that the eonven-
ton at St. Louis has so molly rails
ed the standard of reform. Moth
inc can be well with us or with our
affairs until the public conscience,
shocked by the enormous evils and
abuses which prevail, shall have
demanded and compelled an unspar-
ing reformation of our National
Administration, Gin its head and in
its members" In such reforma-
ton the removal of single officer,
even the President, is comparative
" trifling matter, if the system
which he represents, and which has
fostered him as he has fostered 1t,
is suffered to remain. The Presi-
dent alone must not be made the
scapegoat for the enormities OF the
system which invests the pnblic
service, and threatens the destruc-
\ ton of our institutions. In some
respects hold that the present ex-
ecutive has been the victim rather
than the author of that vicious sys-
TEN. Congressional and party lead
ers have been stronger than the
President. No one man could have
created it. 1t is thoroughly cor
rupt. and must he swept remorse-
lessly away by the selection of a
government composed of elements
entirely new, and pledged to radi-
cal reform.
The first work of reform must
evidently be the restoration OF the
normal operation of the Constitu-
ton of the United States, with all
its amendments. Tho necessities
of war cannot be pleaded in a time
of peace the right Of local self
government as guaranteed by the
Constitution of the Union must he
everywhere restored, and the CEN
,ralized almost personaD imperial
ism which has been practiced must
he done away, or the first principles
of the republic will be lost.
Our financial system expedients
, must be reformed. Gold and silver
: are the real standard of values, and
our national currency will not be a
perfect medium of exchange until
it shall be convertible at the pleas
ure of the holders. As | have
heretofore said, no one desires re-
return TO specie payments more
earnestly than | do; but do not
believe that it will or can be reach
ed in harmony with the interest:
!, of the people by artificial measures
: for the contraction of the currency
, any more than believe wealth anC
:, permanent prosperity can be Great
ed bv an imitation of the currency
: The laws of finance cannot he dis
s regarded with impunity. The ii
nancial policy of the Government
if. indeed, it deserves the name o
e policy at all, has been in disregard
of those laws, and therefore ha
" disturbed commercial and bushes
n confidence, as well rs hindered
2, return to specie payments. On
It feature of that policy was the re
;, sumption clause of the act Of 1879
which has embarrassed the countr.
7. by the anticipation Of compulsor.
II resumption for which no prepare
y ton has been made, aud withou
any assurance thatit would be prac
ticable. The repeal of that claus
is necessary that the natural oper
alton OF financial laws may be re
stored, that the business of tn
c country may be relieved from il
i disturbing and depressing inilrenc'
e and that return to specie pay
> nents may be facilitated by th
substitution of wiser and NOR
- prudent legislation, which sha
y mainly rely on judicious system
t public economies, official retrencl
he ments, and above all on the PRONE
ST ton of prosperity in all the indu
80 tries of the people.
- do not understand the repe
d. Of the resumption clause OF the A
he Of 1875 to be a backward step
b. our return to specie payments, b
II the recovery of false step; al
- although the repeal may, for tin
80 be prevented, yet the determinati
Of the Democratic party on I'll
subject has now been distinctly d
clared. There should be no hi
6. ORANGES put in the way of retu
Tor to specie paymenty. "As such
'ur hindrance," says the platform
I'VE the St. Louis Convention. "we {
IA nounce the resumption clause
tic the Act of 1875, and demand its
cir peal"
es- thoroughly believe that
Is public economy, by official retrenc
ex- ments, and by wise finance en-;
&c ling us to accumulate the precic
on metals, resumption at an early |
The Rod is possible, without product
ced an "artificial scarcity of curren'
md or disturbing public or commerC
ous credit; and that these reforms,
nii- gether with the restoration Of pl
ely government, will restore gene
5 of confidence, encourage the use
ing, investment of capital, furnish c
nse ployment to labor, and relieve
'ept country from the paralysis
the hard times"
With the industries Of the peo
ible there have been frequent interi