The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-08-30
what Relief?

The condition OF affairs throughout the
country Is sad to contemplate. That
which msy be observed in our own city is
likewise true, in many instances 10 a
greater extent, in all other cities. Bust
ness snd dwelling houses in great num-
bers are empty, manufacturing establish
ments are suspending. Public works are
dead. Property is shrinking in value at a
fearful rate. Laborers wander about the
streets unemploye ed and begging for bread.
Trade is stsgnant. Our business men are
tumblipg from day to day, deprived as
they are, to q great extent, of Southern
market for their meats and manufactures
Payment of debt has almost ceased, and
collections and foreclosure trials are ear
fully multiplying, there being almost
eleven hundred new cases for the Septem-
Der term ofthe Superior Court, and enough
in the Circait Court to swell he aggregate
number to over twelve hundred. The cal
endsr of the courts in other cities exhibits
the same measure OF distress. In the
country, the farmer too feels the same
p Dching depression; the prices of his pro-
duce so declining as to ill compensate
him for the years labor expended.
Winter is approaching, during which
the demand for labor will be
less and ~ the expense OF living
greater. The poor must have more food,
more clothing, more bedding, more shell
ter, more fuel. How are they to procure
these necesssries They are already look
Ing with painful anxiety for solution of
this question.
Sucn. in brief, is The actual condition OF
things and the question is, how can IL be
made betterf How can it be prevented
from growing worss? The short answer
to this question is, by the renewal OF busi-
ness which will re-smploy Dor. All the
elements of prosperity are still here-the
farms, the workshops, the people, the me-
chanical skill are still in the country-put
lite and bus ness activity are gone-sll is
stsgnsnt; capital lies still; refuses to en-
gage in enterprises and give employ ment
to labor, and why? Because of uncertain
ty banging over the financial policy of the
government. The business prosperity or
adversely of the people depends, to great
extent, on the administration of the fiuan-
ces OF the country. Through this instru-
mentalitv the administration can stimulate
prosperity or destroy, it can give relief,
or bring distress upon the people, Now,
what do the Republicans propose to do to
relieve the distress that is upon us and
to avert further suffering? Do they pro-
pose to aid in the revival OF business, the
unemployment Of labor In short, the resto-
ration of pros perityf
They do not. The only measure they
propose is one to augment distress. That
measure is the resumption of specie pay
ment January l, 1879. To accomplish this
it W II be absolutely necessary TO contract
the present volume of paper money before
that time, at least one-half Such con-
traction will necessarily occasion still fur
Their decline in values, prolopg stsgnstion
of business, and intensity distress. This
the Republicans themselves are now forced
to admit. But having adopted the meas
ure in the interest of the bond-holder, they
dc determined to adhere to II, while confess
sing it Ia against the interest OF the people.
This Is the financial issue referred to
by Fitzpatrick in his letter to Hayes
In which he admits the Republican party
must 60 10 be wall, unless, they can buy
o the poor voters with money on election
day. Hence the Republican party. In
utter disregard of the interest and welfare
OF the people, have determined to carry