The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-10-14
BOB INGEREOLLS IDEA OF THE
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.

himself famo@ in his speech nominating
Mr. Blaine at thg cincinnati Convention,
and by his laudatlbn of the Maine Con-
gresham, showed rare capacity for de-
Tending swindling, which the leaders Of
the Republican party have vitalized, and
will continue to vitalize until the Novem-
Der election.
When it is remembered that Mr. Blaine,
whom Mr.. Bob Ingersoll desired to be the
nominee of the Cincinnati Convention,
has been a member Of Congress for the
past dozen years, during which time the
growth Of official corruption had attained
such magnitude that even the Republican
candidate for President says it must be
reformed and when it is further remem-
Ted, that never at any time did ne
{ Blaine) demonstrate with the leaders in
this corruption, OF attempt in any way to
check it. although well known to him, il
was clear that the advocacy Of his claims
before the Cincinnati Convention, by Mr.
lngersoll, implied on the part Of the latter
an utter contempt for honesty and honor,
and a willingness to lend his talents to
any cause however corrupt.
Mr.. Ingersoll was therefore greatly
sought As the campaign orator Of the Re
publican party. And We will call atten-
ton briefly to few of his utterances on
the greenback question, the making Of
which was as utterly discreditable to his
intelligence as their applauded reception
vas to that Of his listeners
says lngersoll There are some peo-
pie who have an idea that the Govern
ment can make money by stamping its
sovereignty on piece of paper. The Gov
ernmelt Of the United States is per
Petual pauper The idea that the Gov
ernment can issue money for the people
70 live upon is the same as the IDEA that
H,y hired man can issue cert ihcdteS u NJ
uat,btcjnsSs to him for ne 70 IRE on. The
sreenback is a forced loan II is debt
anu 4 - hiOitSdSo Oil SoHtiheiI VI
land. II is a mortgage on the Republican
party, on every blade Of grass, ON every
ear Of corn. on all the gold aud silver IN
the Nevadas, etc, etc Mr.. Bob Inger-
SOL Is a lawyer, We claim, although his
denial that the sovereign power Of a ma
non can stamp piece of paper and endow
it with legal tender qualities, and make it
money, shows that there are lawyers with
ut a know ledge Of law
Does Mr. Bob Ingersoll deny that it IS
one If the inherent and imprescriptable
rights Of sovereignty to make money, u
declare what shall be money, what shall
satisfy an execution, what shall pay a
debt Does Mr.. Bob Ingersoll deny that
We are nation, and therefore have not
this power inseparable from nationality
Either Mr. Bob Ingersoll must deny
that We are a nation, fully endowed with
national sovereignty, or he must affirm
that no ma ion has the power to coin and
regulate money, If it Is true that the
United States Government can not stamp
paper or coin, OF other material, and make
i; money.
II Mr.. Bob Ingersoll denies that we are
a nation, then he is a rebel according TO
the standards of his own party. He is a
States Rights man. Indeed, his is the
fl &c
eighty, for under the constitutional clause
which gives to Congress the right ''to coin
money and regulate the value thereof, "
the extremist State Sovereignty men have
always admitted that Congress has sover-
eign power over the subject. Tn. denial
of the coercive power Of the Federal Gov
eminent over State was mild treason
to the nation in comparison with the de-
NAL of the power to coin and regulate
money.
If Mr.. Bob Ingersoll denies that the
whole power over money-its making and
neutrality-suspicious. to the sovereignty,
one Of its essential and inalienable attrib-
uses, then he had better forego all pre-
lenses to being a lawyer.
If Mr.. Bob Ingersoll believes that it is
the material and not the Government
stamp that makes money, and if, acting
on that belief, he should put afoat piece
of gold worth ten dollars by the mint
standard of weight and fneness, and
stamped with stamp of ten dollars, we
fear his ignorance would not save him
from the penitentiary for having counter
feited money of the nation. The question
of the power of the Federal Government
to make greenbacks money is not one Of
Interpretation it is one Of nationality and
sovereignty.
We are glad that Mr. Ingersoll specifies
the reasons we have always claimed which
give value to the greenback. We are glad
that he has come to recognize that they
are mortgage on continent, on every
blade of grass, and every ear Of corn, and
on all the gold and silver of the noun
taiLs." 1t is this money. secured by this
mortgage from all fluctuations in value,
that Mr.. Bob Ingersoll wants to get rid
Of, promises that the Republican party
will get rid of-to make way for what
For the shinplasters of the bankers and
the currency mongers.
The shinplaster makers can well afford
to pay Mr.. Bob Ingersoll for his campaign
speeches.
Mr.. Ingersoll says that the greenback is
. mortgage upon the Republican party.
We frankly admit if such mortgage were
all chat gives the greenback validity, they
would be worth no more than the notes
Mr.. Ingersoll says he used to issue when
he got broke, or the notes of the ordinary